donald, glad you made it - there is a lot to explore, around 980 tutorials on one of the YouTube channels alone, www.youtube.com/pdhowler - there are playlists, one for PD ARtist, but lots of things there from Howler also applicable for Artist edition, just not the animation/video parts.

starting point to many tutorials at thebest3d.com/dogwaffle/tuts

starting point to PD Artist specifically at thebest3d.com/pda

I just uninstalled DPArtist using Revo Uninstaller, and the PDArtist uninstaller had left behind 721 registry keys!

Stephen Kunkel, this often can be reset by running it once as administrator.
http://www.thebest3d.com/howler/steam/runtime-error-339/index.html

RANDY :K, on the taskbar, right-hand side look for the arrow in the UP direction, click on that then put your arrow over the icon of McAfee click on them for the menu to temporarily disable the internet protection. Also I have found a link to help you further ...


https://www.bing.com/videos/search?q=how+to+disable+net+protection+for+macafee&docid=608039123971933351&mid=9519771B46E9CC5E206A9519771B46E9CC5E206A&view=detail&FORM=VIREHT

yes, there are two runtime distributables for C++ or such getting installed. No restart needed though, at least not on my WIndows 10. What OS are you on? What made you conclude that a restart was needed in your case?

Twisted Brush is indeed a good choice too, and we've worked together on some things in the past such as Lua filters. If you have Lua (gluas) filters without extensions that are unique to T.B. or to P.D., you can use them across the two and likely also the GIMP

Philip Staiger,

Thanks for that bit of information, it should be useful and I'll try it out sometime. Nice to know there are "gentlemen's agreements" to share efforts between developers.

BTW, I had a bit of a time finding this page again -- it's a bit of an orphan page. I could only find a link to it using the Archives calendar on the home page, knowing that it was (one of) yesterday's offer(s), or by a search for "dogwaffle" of course. Did you know that the previous day/next day links to titles at the bottom of the Sept. 2 & 4 offers do not link to this page? I suppose the GOTD staff has to make a choice when there are multiple titles offered on a single day.

Again, thanks for your generous offer of this fine program here on GOTD!

it will fail even without closing the zip, because you can run the setup.exe alright but it won't look for the dependent other file in the zip, it expects it in a space like a Temp subfolder. Somrthing like that. I rarely find it working when installing from within a zip directly, unless the installer is fully self-contained. This one isn't, so much better to extract the files from the zip than try install from inside the zip

After downloading and saving the zip, extract its content. Don't enter the zip to run from inside of it. Extract the files into a subfolder. Right-click the zip file and use Extract All. Should create a subfolder of like name. You can then enter that subfolder, and find the 3 files:

C:\Users\Owner\Downloads\PDArtist11-dh19ai

Readme.txt --------- 2.17 KB (2,226 bytes)
Setup.exe ------------ 2.42 MB (2,542,688 bytes)
Setup.gcd -------------- 106 MB (112,070,950 bytes)

If you have difference sizes, your download may be incomplete. I dunno.

Here is a step by step installation guide, my experience.

http://thebest3d.com/gotd/how-to-install/

It's 11.4. The 6.00. is internal numbering. The 11.4 at the end is the version.

JimK, think of the 6.00 as the generation of the software (linked somewhat loosely to how many times the laptop died or was stolen and much of the code had to be rewritten - yes there is a story behind it there :-) ). But indeed the final number reveals the version number.

Philip Staiger, Thanks for the explanation! And would you mind sharing what's the limitations of the GOTD version compared to the one offered on your Website?

And, I want to thank you for the very useful videos you have on your YouTube channel! Keep them coming!

I'm surprised about this comment, i.e. the old GUI feeling (?). It's rather new, IMHO. Reminds me of After effects and others, not older than 4-5 years ago.

Where did we miss the turn of the century? Just curious, care to explain? I got used to it.I may be blinded.

ocimpean, the 50% discount is good through end of September. And you can use it in two ways: either to upgrade to PD Howler, or to get PD Artist at discount (resulting in around $13.50) if you missed installing it during the free 24hour period.

Or if you told a friend and they want in, they can have it for the price of a movie ticket or two Ventis, basically.

Robert L., you're Rembrandt, don't take that away from Picasso :-)

Try 3D rendering a landscape with Puppy Ray, starting from a elevation map in filter > Render > Plasma noise...
then filter > Transform > Puppy Ray > Puppy Ray GPU

and open the "More" option for extra controls.

Come back when you're done exploring. Say,... in 2 years?

Okay, I will do that Philip Staiger.

JimK, If it installed correctly, you should be able to find it under the "recently added" tab on the start bar (windows 10) or by typing "Project Dogwaffle Artist" into the search box.

JimK, you don't get these installation steps?

http://thebest3d.com/gotd/how-to-install/

Check the size of the big file of 3.

Stewart Wallace, that's odd. I had no trouble with it, even with antivirus (ESET). On WIndows 10.

The zip archive you get to download has 3 files, one is indeed the setup.exe, and it will use the bigger file (over 100 MB in size). It will go through a normal installation, typical installer stuff. It also installs MS runtimes that are needed.

If you want to send me the image for testing, send it to Dan_Ritchie@hotmail.com

fran, that's odd. I don't recall seeing such isues. What image format did you try, what dimensions in picel width and height?

We have a few ways to get the image into the program. If the converters and importers fail on your system, try through the clipboard (but only RGB will go through, no alpha). Still, copy your image from an image viewer into the clipboard, then find in Artist an option like menu: Image > Clipboard > (couple of options). Or simply Ctrl-V.

Hi, thanks TK and Daniel Ritchie, I don't use drop-box, so cannot send my results for all to see here, sorry, but will send my samples to Daniel, who kindly left his address for me. I do not understand myself why PD Artist won't open my photo in simple way when I have no problem opening it in Corel, or any other photo Software!?

fran, I'll load a few sample images that load fine for me, 1280x720, in various formats. look in www.thebest3d.com/gotd/sample-terrains

there will be a jpeg, bmp, tiff, targa (tga) and some png. Plus a native layered (.lyr) format which contains both the main and the swap image.

If you can't load these, there might be probably an issue with the ImageMagick convert.exe on your installation or system. My first guess.

Philip Staiger,
Hi, thanks for stepping in, viewed Your samples, they tell me very little, sorry. Earlier posted my results to Daniel Ritchie, is He on Your Team?? Asked if the problem is obvious and solution found to post it here as well. Other than that - seems to me if simple jpg format, small size 187KB, and 1280x720 has to use ImageMagic conventer to place picture into PD Artist in the first place - then regular user won't grasp (from GOTD Description of Your Software above) that it's not as easy as it looks!..I'm not exactly a novice when it comes to using Artist Software, I grazed my teeth:) on Corel and Adobe creating digital images from 'scratch', or using photos in them, but cannot recall problems simillar to Howler!

just FYI I went through the exercise of downloading/saving these various formats and save them in a place, then in PD ARtist used File > Open... without issues.

If you keep an eye on the Windows taskbar, you may briefly see an icon appear and disappear, that's the ImageMagick convert.exe being called for converting some of the formats. For some formats only.

Targa (*.tga) is loaded by our built-in native reader. Layered .lay format too. Other formats are typically converted internally to tga and then loaded (leave a temp file named TempTga.tga or something like that.)

If you don't see that working, perhaps the a/v is blocking convert.exe, or perhaps the system has too few resources/too little free RAM? hard to say at this time. You probably have a top notch PC, I'll assume so. Then you can try to fix the issue, good luck finding the root cause. A better approach is to convert to Targa and load as that. It is lossless, better choice anyway.

There are seveal other places with natice loaders, even for Jpeb, Tiff, Png and Bmp. One of the importers, I think General File Converter, perhaps?

And there's also loading to the custom brush from the brush menu (Brush > Open) and then storing the custom brush as image, and from stored image to current image. Just a few clicks to nirvana, in case you just can't figure out why your system won't do it the obvious way. There's always a root cause, an underlying reason, but who's got time to waste trying to figure out what it is? I try not to get stuck, use other ways to get the image in. EVen through the clipboard when the image is just RGB without alpha.

I hope this helps.

Once more thing to try: Create a new image from scratch, and save it. Does that work?

Philip Staiger,
SOLVED! Hi Philip, thanks for Your latest reply and interest in problem I was experiencing yesterday. I seems to be solved!

I exchanged couple of e-mails with Daniel Ritchie asking me for some general info about my OS, 'graphic card' a.s.o to establish if there was anything 'unusual' with my machine causing PD Artist 11 behave in such way. Don't think there is, but after admitting I installed this Software on my external Drive E - He came with an idea that perhaps I ought to disable file-system caching for that Drive to see if that helps. Couldn't do it, was too tired to figure out how and where (as silly as it sounds!), properties didn't have that option obvious, but having other Software and Games installed on that Drive and working without any problem whatsoever - I just installed PD Artist on Drive C instead, and it worked like a charm!!:) My sample pic opened entirely (without black block) and after applying one Effect - could save it too.

Out of curiosity..tried to run Artist from E again - same problem! Comparing BOTH Installation Folders of this Software it became apparent that Drive E has at least 1 more File in it that Drive C didn't. Indeed, the 'culprit' was 'Temp Tga', size 3.51 MB, of my sample pic of course (I checked in Corel PSP not knowing what this 'strange cookie' was..)

Don't ask me 'how' it got there in a first place, as I tried all sorts described in my first Comment above to make it work (yes, black block was there from a word go!) Deleting this File (Temp Tga) results only in it being 'cached' again and again into that Folder, so that particular Installation is beyond repair. Other one works, so I can simply put it in a bin? Shame, I tend to keep my Drive C as roomy as poss.

Thanks again Guys for Your collective Help here, I like solving Puzzles..ideally in Games only! Hope I could shed enough light thou, if some Improvement to this Software can be made to avoid such problems in future, Developer!

fran, the point was to see if you could open any of these images, various formats, doesn't matter what they contain, in terms of imagery, but they're a given size and format. Mind you, some of these formats have extra options, for example TIFF and Targa have various types of compressions possible, such as Jpeg, LZW, and more.

Yes you could say Dan Ritchie is on the team. He IS the team lol. He's the author of Dogwaffle. I am on his team :-)

granted, it could be different with the exports. that and the 32-bit vs 64-bit code, that and one more little thing about alpha-opaque layers. Oh well, it can't be perfect in all ways imaginable. There are plenty of joyful moments to be had. One can only focus on so much.

If you want to load the Jpeg without the ImageMagick converter (convert.exe) try the General File Converter, it loads Jpeg directly if I recall.

are you still unable to just open those sample files, by the way? Perhaps your antivirus is blocking the converter from ImageMagick?

Philip Staiger,
Hi again, thanks, all Samples You posted and I d/loaded can be viewed properly (opened) in PD Artist installed on my Drive C. All of them. Other copy of PD Artist still on my Drive E can only show properly LYR Files, rest of them show with black block on top. By default my Corel PSP opens all other photo/image extensions You came up with, on all of my Drives, unless Software has own, 'native' ones, but only PD Artist installed on Drive E has problems opening them properly. NO Conventer shows up when I simply try to open them. My active antivirus Prog SecureAPlus always asks for permission to open anything 'new' (unblock and trust) and I allow it when it comes to most GOTDs, including PD Artist 11. I normally use 'Total Image Converter' when I have to.

Hope I understood all technical issues You asked me to take into consideration, but please, remember I know zilch about coding, programming etc. I ain't an expert in that field, Sir!:) I like no hassle Programs that deliver simple things, even if 'magically' (behind the scenes) they are complicated..Folks pay good money for that, and to be able to create their magic art pieces in return. Simply. Thank You for Your time and attention, even if I'm left without real answer what went wrong with my first Installation, when second one was done in exactly the same way and works?..

TK,
Hi, thanks Mate, interesting point of view! Permissions in the list of 'Security' properties of any Software we install vary (some will have 'Everyone' listed there, some won't) and only those of us who actually 'study' the whole Installation of Programs in detail - either in Virtual environment, or ordinarily on PCs, including Registry with Window's based Systems - will know what goes to 'under-belly' of each of them. Regular user has no control over these matters with exception of deciding (where possible) where Software is installed on our machines and deciding 'who' we trust.

The path for PD Artist 11 You've mentioned, with possibility of removing 'Everyone' Permission doesn't exist on the list of Programs I have there (in Virtual Store Folder), neither do any of other 'Howlers' I have (Howler 8, Special Ed, or 8.2 Special Ed, which accidentally open only when 'Run as Administrator', unlike PD Artists that open either way)

I don't believe the 'faulty' installation of PD Artist on my external Drive that doesn't work (no matter what!), and second copy on C that works - DEPEND on those Permissions to deliver 'orderly' performance?
I don't exactly know how Your exercise worked regarding performance alone, since You said after removing 'Everyone' from Properties changed nothing, except vulnerability from hackers, as I understand. How Developers deal with 'security measures' when they design their Software is up to them, they run the Show!:).. We can only take care of our Programs and safety of our machines by having decent Antivirus Software protecting us. But like I said, interesting point of view, and perhaps alerting Folks to examine these Permissions from time to time if something suspicious comes to light..
Did You too have Howler that didn't work?

TK,
Hi, thanks TK, I'm on Win7 Home Premium pre-installed by Dell. I'm the Owner, Admin, and User in one! (practically the only one, not counting family, of which nobody has to use Guest Acc. to use it!) and it drives me absolutely potty to see so many Accounts (in 'Home' version!!) with different Permissions a.s.o, as if it was Office network of a bunch of people doing their stuff daily and having to be logged in, each individually, mad! - when all I want is to be in full charge of my own lap. Yes, I visited countless blogs (including utterly useless advice from Microsoft Windows) how to claim 'ownership' of your machine. But..gave up trying, or changing anything in Registry for that matter (like in previous versions of Windows..) Win7 at least is more 'stable' regarding fiddling and tweaking Reg to get things working, so no more 'Kelly's Corners':) and rest of them.. Anything for easier life and practicality!

So - if that's the reason (being logged in as user) I cannot alter anything in path You've mentioned (for PD Artist and other Howlers) solely to make it WORK - so be it! No, my particular case installing Artist on external Drive and causing it not performing properly (conclusion that Dan anticipated) - cannot be resolved - unless recreated by someone else, best of all Developers themselves, to either establish it's not a good idea and make sure folks are advised against it from word go, or indeed make sure that next versions of PD Artist can be installed on flash drives (like so many other Programs can) and work flawlessly?..
Thanks for paying attention to my case, also post-giveaway. You're a goodden!:), as we say in UK.

Kennan Cay, Have you tried disabling your anti-virus before downloading?

Kennan Cay, Our installer is wrapped by GOTD's wrapper installer. It can sometimes be blocked by antivirius programs.

Kennan Cay, I've added a step-by-step installation guide at thebest3d.com/gotm

If your experience is different, please describe error messages, differences in file sizes, how tou downlaoded and extracted the 3 files from the zip, etc...

Philip Staiger, oops sorry, gotd, not gotm

Aris Sinatsakis,
by default, Windows doesn't run any program as administrator:
right click on te program icon and choose "run as administrator".

TK, Sorry, it could be your antivirus, or the GOTD wrapper causing problems. Our installer installs the program properly and registers it. We do not force the program to run as administrator because this caused some problems with some tablet hardware. The program is an Active-X server, and it needs to self register, and that requires administrator rights. Programs do not get administrator rights under Windows, even if the user is an administrator. Adding a manifest does not solve the problem. This is a windows feature, not a bug. It's not improperly written. It's just a limitation of COM, that MS added for security.

TK, it's the COM, it's an active X server. That's about all I know. Dan can add more to it.

Are you saying it can be done without elevating it to admin level?

Bart, Try another browser. It should work.