I do have one question: Is there anyway to change the default photo folder? I keep all of my photos on an external drive and it is a bit of a pain to have to always go back to the target drive/folder manuallyi when working on more than one photo during a session.

Re #8, in most cases you can see a program is registered by using the "About" menu entry on top. Or Help/About. Or because the "Register" option is no longer available. In other cases a not-registered program asks for the key when you start it, whilst a registered copy will just start. Like today.

I hope to install the program later today, but can anyone confirm that the Activate.exe registration process registers this program for ALL USERS, not just for the administrator who installs it?

I activated it and got the usual popup saying it was “Activated”, which happens every time you install a GOTD program BTW – which is different from "REGISTERING" a program however. If running Activate.exe is all that is necessary to Register/Activate it, why does it give you a place to enter a Serial Key when you click on "Enter the Serial Key", but doesn't give you a serial key anywhere to enter? Is this the 'Legal/Paid version" even though it doesn't give you a key?

Thanks :)

When I tried to reduce the size of an image, the instant I tried to SAVE it, I got a pop-up saying "This feature is available in Registered Version only. Buy it now?" (Then it gives me a place to answer YES or NO, and a place I can "Enter The Serial Key.")

Well, I looked all over, and didn't see a "Serial Key" this time, which usually shows up on the Notes page.

ALSO, I performed all the instructions and DID get the usual tiny pop-up saying this had been "Registered With Giveawayoftheday."

So what is the story? I'm told I am Registered, but I'm given no "Serial Key" so it doesn't perform like a purchased copy.

Raymond I am not sure you understand what this program does. If you use Irfanview you can resize but only to other sizes which keep the aspect ratio. This program allows you select aspect ratios which would normally make the photo distorted giving you short fat people or tall skinny people. The program allows you to select the important bits that you don't to be distorted, in this case the people and the program ensures they stay the same so that generally you can't tell that the aspect ratio has been changed.

Yes Raymond most photo software do resize but does it do without distortion like this one?

Thank you. One thing: Could you have it remember the last setting so I don't have to select it over & over again each time I change the photo please? Then it would save a lot of time. Unless I'm missing something, please show me.

@8, > how do I know it is registered?

Help menu item.
Registered version should ONLY show; About & Help.
(It should say nothing about Order or Enter key.)

Gray. Gray. Gray.
Gray makes it very difficult for me to read.
There should be a Preference to change the UI color.

#5: "Application Error – “Illegal Instruction” and the program terminates.
Running Windows XP-PRO w/SP3. Previous versions of this program have worked without issue..."
.
The changelog shows that while v. 2.5 has improved, you're not missing out on a whole lot if you stick with the previous version. A potential problem is if you no longer have the old version, which would happen if you install it to the same folder -- you might want to copy the single file somewhere else temporarily just in case. TeoreX is quite nice in making sure that the new serial number you get when you run Activate.exe will still work with older versions.

What's new in iResizer 2.5
Added new aspect ratio presets(include common print proportions)
Added new options for aspect ratio presets(Maximize, Minimize)
Added recent files list
Optimized memory usage
GUI improvements
Added ability to move the image around while holding the space button
Added HiDPI and Retina display support
Minor bugs fixing
http://www.iresizer.com/download.html

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#10: "I have the previous program, 2.1, never used it.. this time I looked for reviews before downloading. The two reviews I looked at were reviews you might give if you read the company ad..."

Google "seam carving" & "inpainting" [with or without quotes] for info on the basic techniques these apps use. While there are not loads of companies writing this sort of software, TeoreX isn't the only one, e.g. one or more comments usually mention it's built into P/Shop as well. What might give P/Shop or seam carving plug-ins an edge is all the other tools in a full-fledged image editor, which can sometimes help to make up for the technique's limitations.

How does iResizer [& Inpaint] compare? To me [& maybe just me] this sort of thing is like another sort of tool entirely -- a wrench is a wrench & what matters is that it fits to tighten & loosen nuts & bolts without breaking. Some wrenches are longer, some shorter, & they can have different angles, so I choose the one that works best for the task at hand out of my toolbox. Working on an image sometimes iResizer [or Inpaint] might work best, sometimes another tool fits a bit better.

iResizer [& Inpaint] are small programs with very minimal impact on Windows, so I always keep them when they appear on GOTD -- there are a great many apps for working with images that I avoid because they're the extreme opposite, &/or I feel they're [far] too costly for what they could do for me. That said, I also use this sort of app much less often than some -- I've never for example cut someone out of a group photo, as shown on the iResizer home page.

RE: seam carving itself... it all started as a scientific project to develop a way to scale images designed for PCs/laptops &/or print to small cell phone screens. The research proposed a new, *content aware* method of analyzing an image, so that everything *But* selected content could be stretched or shrunken. Certain types of images work better than others -- the classic examples are photos of deserted beaches with a few palm trees scattered about. TeoreX tries hard to develop ways around these limitations, but as xCurt mentioned in the 2nd comment, figuring out how to accomplish what you want can sometimes be some work.

Software can do some really amazing things with images nowadays, but while it might recognize something like faces, figuring out what's in the background is something only we humans can do well -- there are just endless possibilities. Some things like a field of grass or an empty beach can easily be stretched or shrunk, but a busy city street, not so much. To get the best results from seam carving software don't ask it to do something it can't -- don't expect it to somehow know what's in the background you want to resize. If the background's complex either don't show it to the software [e.g. crop 1st or do the resizing in pieces], or tell the software to ignore parts of the image & deal with those later, or just skip resizing a particular image with seam carving software.

* * *

#13: "I would suggest Irfanview. You change one set of numbers, click “Keep aspect ratio” and you’re done"

Different breed of animal entirely. That's not to say anything bad about Irfanview. The whole idea of using iResizer is to *Not* keep the original aspect ratio, yet not distort portions of the photo that you don't want distorted. The best example I can think of at the moment is wide screen TV... There's still loads of 4:3 programming, but they've only sold 16:9 TVs for years. If you watch a 4:3 program or movie on a 16:9 HDTV, either you have pillar boxing & a correct aspect ratio, or the video is stretched wider, filling the screen width but making everyone in that program appear shorter & fatter. If there was a video equivalent to iResizer, everything on screen would be wider except the people.

It is good for average user, but is not great if you want perfect picture. The joining seam is visible. Any graphic software can do resizing to any size with aspect ratio intact, that feature is useless.

WARNING: You can be told by both the GOTD little window and the “successfully activated” page that iResizer is activated and, still, it isn’t. So, before the end of this giveaway, make sure to load an image, modify and try to save it. If the program accepts to save the image, it is actually activated. If it asks you to register, run the activate.exe again until it works.

I've installed on Windows7 64bit OK. Used it to remove my mother in law, but after trying to Save As, it directs me to their web page to buy a lisence. It's obviously not activated, despite several attempts. Anyone have any ideas what I'm doing wrong? Thanks.

Eraser? Did anyone get this to work.

Tried it on a few images and like it. Have used PicResizer for years and find this iResizer a great improvement. Sadly, Help only links to online tutorials page which looks skimpy on features instruction - has only about five helps - meaning need to send email to Support unnecessarily for a main button on workpage.

OMG! The very first picture I tried, I removed the middle person sitting on a coach. Perhaps there is a learning curve and I have not gotten on it yet, but the result was horrible. The right person's arm was removed (not marked to be removed) and their face was condensed so badly I thought I'd puke. I'm walking away, at least for now. Based on my first effort, I'd never use it again. But, I might try. Although I don't think so.

You have to select the proper aspect ratio, it will not do it for you.

I would suggest Irfanview. You change one set of numbers, click "Keep aspect ratio" and you're done. Takes seconds, can automatically slightly sharpen. I've been a professional photographer since the 1960's and have had my work in major publications and newspapers, I buy software all the time, APS, Lightroom, etc. I use Infanview all the time. (Yeah, it suprised me too....!!)

Thankyou again GAOTD. I had 2.2 from the previous giveaway. This one installed without a hitch. :)

This might be just me, but, IMHO, it would have been more intuitive to have areas not to be altered marked in red (= DO NOT TOUCH THIS!) and areas where modifications are authorized marked in green (= THIS YOU CAN REMOVE OR STRETCH) rather than the opposite. Whenever I use this program (which does the job, by the way) I always start doing it the wrong way.

I have the previous program, 2.1, never used it.. this time I looked for reviews before downloading. The two reviews I looked at were reviews you might give if you read the company ad rather than actually using the program. Nothing in depth. So, yes, I will down load this one to update what I have. Sort of like that box of stuff on the top closet shelf... too good to throw out... no immediate use.... may never use.
SUMMARY: Reviews said little, do I really need this program??? Doubt it.

@ #8 Steve: If you ran the Activate executive it would have took you to a new page telling you that it was activated.

I ran the activation process but how do I know it is registered?

I missed this download in the past and hope it would come back. Downloaded and installed on Win 7 Pro with no problems. Seems to do as advertised. I like it so far. First time using this program, so I have a learning curve, but thats my problem not the programs!

Installed and run fine on my XPSP3. tried the 16:9 to 4:3 trick by removing "a middle man" on the result I can notice the "border". It's not soft enough. It will be better if there was an adjustment for that.

I had ver 2.2 installed so this is good upgrade, I noticed added selection/marking tools

Application Error - "Illegal Instruction" and the program terminates.

Running Windows XP-PRO w/SP3. Previous versions of this program have worked without issue. Too bad, earlier versions were fine programs!

Hmmm, I like this function removing unwanted parts in the process and putting both objects closer.
Currently, I keep watermark software on my PC. http://download.cnet.com/Watermark-Software/3000-12511_4-10965009.html
It can add frames, watermarks, resize and rename in batches.
I will keep these two software for now until alternatives appear.

I had version 2.2 from an earlier giveaway. I chose to install this into the same folder. The process was smooth and easy. Running the activate.exe registered the program with no problems. As with all programs from this publisher, each new version brings improvement to both the function and look and feel of the program. If you have an earlier version, it is well worth it to install this. Thank you GOTD team for all you do and thank you to the publisher, TeoreX.

PS... I can only hope Inpaint 6 will be coming our way.

I have purchased a license for this, so I can recommend the program. But you need to learn how to use it! You cannot just do a lot of things, and then expect the program to understand all you have done! You should not changed too much at the same time, but figure out the new proper dimensions (which sometimes can be a little difficult), and maybe only change one dimension at a time.

Installed and registered without problems on a WIn 8.1 Pro 64 bit system.

The iResizer 2.4 was a GiveAway on December 10, 2013 and version 2.2 on July 5, 2013. Here are the old reviews:

http://www.giveawayoftheday.com/iresizer-2-4-for-win-and-mac/
http://www.giveawayoftheday.com/iresizer-2-2/

A (Russian) company without name and address, focusing on photo manipulation and removing unwanted objects, regularly participating here with good products.

Upon start a dark resizable (lightroom sytle) interface opens, you can change language and marker size. That's it.

This is not a simple "resizer" tool, it does not give different resize algorithm (lanczos, spline or whatsoever), but it manipulates the image in different ways - it's more a "remove unwanted objects" program :


Areas marked with green marker will remain unchanged as long as possible during resizing.
Areas marked with red marker will be removed first when resizing to smaller size and multiplied first when resizing to a larger size.

The screenshots show, what this program does :
http://www.iresizer.com/screenshots.html

This works like the Theorex Inpaint with additions to resize and change aspect ratio.

In my test, there is a small programming error. If I change the marker to "erase markings", I cannot change back the marker to green (keep) or red (delete). There a many undo steps available and a copy&paste action from the clipboard.

Does what it claims, with the addition, that the result is of course depending from your source image and the precision you mark what is wanted or not.

It's worth to try this "more than a resizer" tool.