I agree with #80, it made worse the pictures I used for trial.
However, I have to specify that such pictures are portraits, where the features of face became flatter and the light reflection of the model's black hair turned out to be smoothened (just the opposite of the beauty of raven hair).

Where is the manual option? In the version at trial, you could only choose from 0 to 100% about 4 parameters and cross fingers.

I uninstalled it before giving it a second chance with landscape pictures.

Annual prescriptions are a big turn off and likewise pain in the... thank god very few of the 400 programs (and three computers!!!) I have require that. I will tolerate with Anti-virus but little else. So be friendly and offer for $19.95 say for at least 2 years or optional version upgrade (most of us will bite) As has been said their is no shortage of apps that we are all used to sharing without learning or adding anything new.
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I have two Gateway computers. Downloaded and installed ok on one but crashed second unit, trashed out boot path and I am still trying to recover. Sure wasn't worth it!

After installation I got a screen saying the software was activated and it worked fine. I also sent for a free key but did not receive a reply. Now, 24 hour later when I open the app it says the trial period is over. Not a good experience.

#28 Same problem here.

This thing is pretty much useless...I tried it on a number of different styles of photos, and the effect on each was almost negligible and in some cases made it worse. There are only 4 parameters that can be adjusted, which is ok if this is designed for 8 year olds. I used both automatic and manual modes. -- Plus -- This thing has other problems....It never remembers the last directory you used...each time you open a file, it ALWAYS goes back to the default "pictures" folder. Also, sometimes the adjustment controls will freeze up and you must restart it (Win.7-64). -- AND -- Here's the biggie...It seems to use only one core of a multi-core machine....I'm running an I5 quad core with meters on all cores...when this thing is processing a photo, core 1 goes to max and the other 3 cores remain at nominal idle. -- Very bad...needless to say, I uninstalled it.

@ Giovanni, your alternatives are always worth at least an investigation!

So definitely stay !!!

As for today's offer, I will thumb up as this program can help the novice in photo optimization.

For myself, I have since gone beyond just automatic corrections and love getting my hands digitally dirty (so to speak).


So thanks to GOTD and Engelmann Media GmbH for helping creating a passion in new dabblers in photography.


The Dragon signing out and wishing everyone a nice whatever you celebrate (or non-celebrate) this Holiday period.

Hey Ashraf! Great to see you back!

Is anyone else having a problem with the activation program being unable to connect to the Internet? I have tried multiple times to start the setup program (activation runs immediately) only to have a pop-up say it's unable to connect.

Also, Giovanni, I agree! Your input is extremely valuable and I appreciate it very much!

Thanks GOTD for another excellent software giveaway. I have used it to optimise an old photo and it worked very nicely.

Giovanni, we all love your reviews and your wonderful long lists of freeware alternatives. Please continue your reviews, GOTD wouldn't be the same without your valuable suggestions and advice :)

Have a great Christmas everyone!

Cheers,

Kathy

Installed in vista. as administrator. Changed language to english
started program as user -> menu's are changed to german. Can not change as user the language to english

Missing: No 100% preview only a cropped version left right, so no good possibility to see effects of noise and artefacts reduction when moving sliders. liked: the improvement of the white color in pictures.

Uninstalled program and reinstalled. same issue. However the second time the serial number was not asked.

So the uninstaller does not remove the licence key. Confusing: options menu missing saves settings
button only back and reset. Back functions as back and save probably.

Registration Confirmation
Thank you for your confirmation. You will now receive all requested information.
And thank you again for your interest.
Your
Engelmann Media GmbH The End . No Key

I am not knowledgeable in the least concerning computers or computer programs, so input from others is ALWAYS appreciated by this newbie! It was a sad day when Ashraf felt he needed a break from this site. As others have previously stated, it is a wonderful gift to see you back here, Ashraf! Thankfully, Giovanni (and many other helpful commenters) continued to comment on the programs. I think that you are ALL wonderful and generous people to take time out of your day to share your knowledge with us. My expression of gratitude seems so small in comparison with all the help you have given to me, but it comes from the bottom of my heart! Thank you, Thank you, Thank you... you are all important to me - don't ever feel that you are anything but important! Hugggzzzz from Sally

It's great to have GIOVANI's comments here every day. I like Ashraf's reviews as well. This adds to the classiness of this website.

What I don't understand is how comments get through moderation that go something like this: "Installed, activated windows 8 but I don't have time to test it today. I'm too busy. I hope it really works like they say." OR like this: "I guess this like photochop editer, One click for picture is good." These are SPAM comments. These are everyday time wasters made by people with obviously too much time on their hands.

The sad part is I often miss other good comments because I often "moderate" this website on my computer by using my own flexible algorithm that only shows comments from specific users such as Giovanni, whiterabbitUK, Classic Car nut, Ashraf, FranisBorne, etc., ..... but new or occasional commenters get missed, except in cases like today where I had the time to go through a few dozen.

Thus, many good comments are never seen here because of the "NOISE" aka SPAM.

As Giovanni might say, this is just my 0.000000002 cents for what it's worth.

@Ashraf - Thank you!! Your opinion is very helpfull, allways.
Thank you, GAOTD, it is good piece of software.

This is a great little program. If you need to fix up a picture and need it fast, this is the one to have. That's what it's meant for. If you have a batch of pictures that need a lot of help, and you want to spent the time, then by all means use one of the full featured programs. They really can be both on your computer at the same time. As for the Dot Net junk, if Microsoft wasn't so greedy and would share a little info, then programmers would not have to use them. Put the blame where it belongs.

Another tool to add to the graphics toolbox.Does what it does pretty well but,like most tools,is limited-hence the toolbox of various programs.Thanks GOTD & ENGELMANN for another option when working with photos.BTW-welcome back ashraf, good to see your posts again

This is a simple program but worth downloading. For free it is worth it. Give it a try for yourself.

Since others are allowed to give their praise , I would like to be allowed to disparage Assraf. He does nothing here but give misinformation and is here to promote his web site. Why can't more people see that.

Thank you

@ Giovani: I am glad that you've decided to continue posting your insights and alternatives. I am certain that the vast number of comments above, coupled with your always high "useful comments" votes - often above 100 !! - show how valuable you are to this website. I, for one, wouldn't bother coming here much anymore if you left. I'll add that it's good to see Ashraf's reviews posted without having to trek over to his website as I sometimes do. Ashraf also adds net positive value to the thread.

It's the same too at game.giveawayoftheday.com - if it wasn't for Stephen, "WhiterabbitUK" - his reviews, many follow-up comments, and moderation abilities, (THANKS!) I wouldn't seek that site out each and every weekend.

Thanks also to the people who operate the GOTD and GGOTD websites. You have made a positive contribution to the computing world!! Thanks for allowing people to post their comments, good neutral and bad, on items offered here.

No NO NO Giovanni. I'm with @55. Keep up ALL your great work.

Giovanni, are you kidding me? You are the one commentator that I look for everyday. Matter of fact, I save your comments everyday in case I am in need of a good freeware program in the future. So please don't change anything, I don't even know who this Ashraf is and don't really care.

Giovanni & Ashraf

The only thing better than having Giovanni -or- Ashraf here is:
having Giovanni & Ashraf here.

Each has your own style, each is knowledgable, the comments of each are sought after immediately after seeing the GOTD. Even when we know that we will not download it.
Sometimes people download the GOTD because of your comments.

There is room for both of you.

I've already written several times here all the bad I think of MS' framework 4.0.

Quick review
Today's GOTD installation aborted and software deleted.

Rationale

Software requires .NET 4.0
(And apparently 3.5 as well, but this one I don't care.)

Conclusion
1. People @ GOTD *should* advertise .NET requirements, at least. It's been asked many times (not by me), but never taken into account (not by me either). This failure makes many people lose time and energy (including me).
2. Thumbs down.

@38 - true but only if you are relying on a plugin that you have not purchased. Some of the optimizations work without the watermark. If you decide to buy one plugin, then get the professional Perfectly Clear - it is the only one you will really need to use. It is a top notch Photoshop plugin that is truly superior. Athentech, who makes perfectly clear is set to release a standalone version. But until then, the PhotoPerfect express with the purchased plugin is about the best you can do for not too many dollars. It just depends on how much you value those photos.
As you can see from the praise, this SGP or photomizer does a fairly good job at optimization. Very nice for free. And they will likely offer a discount to step up to photomizer for SGP users. Again, a good deal. But if you really value those photos, and you shop wisely, then get a top notch optimizer and you will consistently be happy with the results.

Installed and activated without problems - without turning off my antivirus and whatever else there is to turn off. The software did perfectly what it said it would.



Thumbs up! Thanks for a great software.

@15 Jooberdoober, I didn't want to turn off my antivirus and firewall either, so I didn't and it worked.

It installed just fine on Windows 7 64bit. Received the license key very quickly. Opened it up and began editing pictures immediately. Very user friendly. A handy tool. I think it would be great for people who have lots of pictures, but don't really understand how to use the computer very well. Or who don't want to take the time to manually edit all of them.

Good to see you back Ashraf, your opinions and recommendations are always welcome

This software is not impressive at all. Its workflow is bulky, just like its email registration, which always puts me off straight-away, although I always use a disposable address. I do light/basic photo optimizations on a daily basis, and I could not see any time saving features in their automation process. My basic, simple, free image viewer (FastStone) is just as good. Uninstalled

Okay, this is not that good. I have tried to find an easy to use photo program because I have picture it premium 10 which I use, but it hangs up on my win 7 machine because it's an old program. It works, but hangs periodically.Trouble is I have tried at least 20 or more and none are as easy, self explanatory or full featured as it.
Okay, I tried today's program against picture it 10 and though the picture looked pretty good, I simply click contrast autofix in picture it and the picture looks much closer to the actual item I took the picture of. And, you can crop your pictures and do a million other things you cannot do with this basic program.
Also, when you open a picture, you can only open one at a time, meaning you cannot batch edit and every time you open a new picture, you have to navigate to it because the program just takes you to the my pictures folder and not to the last folder you were working in. This seems like a small issue, but it's huge if you do a lot of pictures, because it take a lot of time.
Definitely not a keeper nor something I would ever pay for.

#27 No,No Giovanni! As much as I am glad to see Ashraf return I sometimes scan to look for your comments first. You can spot your comments fairly quick because of all the free alternatives you provide which have proved to be some great and useful programs. Don't change a thing .....actually, more! more!

to my #9 after using imager for Windows partition:

This version didn't destroy older Photomizer/SGP installation.

I never will deactivate antivirus or firewall for any software and I succeeded without such foolishness.

Requested key 2ce at different addresses, never received. It said it was activated in the manner typical of most GAOTD programs, but the program wanted a key as per the readme file. Never received, uninstalled. Too many good freeware programs to fool with this.

@Giovanni, I have long come to this page mostly to read your informative and helpful posts. There is room for both Giovanni and the also respected Ashraf. Please continue to post ! I suspect Ashraf won't mind.

Three cheers for Ashraf and Giovanni!

Happy Dae·

@Giovanni -- Please don't go away or feel useless! I love the way you compare the giveaways to the free alternatives. It's really helpful in deciding whether the giveaway is better for certain needs or not. Whether I download or not, I've taken to copying and pasting your comment for future reference when looking for programs. I have an older computer and reformatting is my most frequent solution when it stops performing well, so being able to replace my programs is slightly important to me. So don't stop. Besides, you might not always agree with Ashraf either, and varying viewpoints can always be useful! Thank you for all your postings, past, present and future. =)

Giovanni, I agree with "Midwest Guy" that you are one reason I continue to visit this site. I treasure your comments and free alternative recommendations. Please continue to offer your opinion.

@ Chris, post #35: Thanks for that timely post: why is it that GOATD seems to attract so-oo many who evidently know nowt about NET. framework but love to bustle in here and make a fuss about it???

Answer: for the same reason these review threads are so often riddled with posts about how WoT says this and WoT says that -- individual ignorance becomes shared bliss when it's time for a witless moan. Add the pro-Wot and anti-NET posters to those to whom server-side spamming control and disposable emails are waaaay beyond their comprehension and I'd really, really love it if, just once, GAOTD could offer something which in the blurb says:

* WoT doesn't like this developer's website;

* this developer will email you discount offers at bargain prices;

* you must have NET. installed on your computer to use this software.


And then we could all sit back and watch the uproar.

Giovanni, always appreciate your input & time with your additional suggestions. As others have suggested in the past, maybe you could help us differentiate WHY, your favorite freewares are chosen. Or maybe just why you like the top 2 or 3 as opposed to a list of 10+. An additional sentence would make a big difference in helping to decide. (imho) Thx again.

I'll second #36 Midwest Guy. I don't even bother with Ashraf, I usually copy Giovanni's comments and suggestions for later use.

As for the .Net Framework, they probably don't understand that they need multipul .Net Frameworks to run programs from different years of Microsoft's life. To have many different .net frameworks is NOT unusual and is just a requirement of Windows to run certain programs.

Been using SGP for the past year.

Need to do a quickie fix before printing/email out your work? This is a no-brainer (literally). Glad to see it offered today. Thanks!

ASHRAF!

Your fully in depth reviews, and Giovanni's searches for alternatives should really GAOTD a more excellant experience, welcome back.

Regarding SIMPLY GOOD PICTURES 2 - Don't expect miracles, even though it's in their product description!

Nonetheless a tried and true image handling program for handling those improvements automatically. In fact, it makes a nice first step for those with experience who want to save some time from doing it manually.

I'm running Vista Home Premium, when attempting install I received a popup that said "this operating system not support, runs on XP or newer".

If they don't know that XP is previous to Vista, then I don't trust them to know much else. Sorry Englemann, that is too simple an error.

giovanni.....keep up the excellent work....don't change a thing !!!! useless ? wow...are u kidding me ??? how could u say such a thing ??
I want to give you a hug !!! lol

It should have been mentioned that this requires the Microsoft .NET Framework and that there should have been notice of that dependency.

After downloading the software and trying to use it, I find that the software cannot be used due to the dependency on .NET Framework.

My time and bandwidth have been wasted.

Welcome back Ashraf.

Think this needs Net4.0.

I wait until the streets are well aired and then I look for Giovanni's deliberations - Always a great read and most informed of all posters.

no 19 above should have pointed out that Photoperfect express puts a huge watermark on the resulting "improved" image, therefore making it useless.

I was impressed when I compared the default "fix" provided by this program compared to the "One Step Photo Fix" available in the commercial program Corel Paint Shop Pro X4.

I played with this on several pictures I have taken over the years and seem to come to this conclusion- It will not make bad pictures into good pictures, but it will make good pictures into very good pictures, and very good pictures into excellent pictures.

The most dramatic differences was when I tried in on some photos that were always my favorites that I didn't think needed ANY fixing, but I was wrong- running them through SGP2 did show noticeable improvement. May have to invest in the version that allows batch processing...

"Since our friend Ashraf has finally decided to come back here, my presence in this forum could become quite useless…"

Giovanni, If you really believe that, then you're mistaken. Your presence on this forum is one reason I visit it and I'm sure I'm not alone in saying you would be sorely missed.

WTF... I think you need to learn what the .NET framework is before you start to complain about it. .NET is a programing framework that is native (.NET 3) on VISTA and newer OS machines. This framework allows users to safely interact with the OS using managed code (code that is safe for your system and in most cases will not result in harm being done). Other languages such as C++ require installation files to work as well, they just aren't pushed in your face as much as .NET. I'd love to know how .NET pollutes your machine... Do you even understand GAC and how registration of .NET and COM objects work???

I have this program and it works fine. It is very suitable for processing those secondary shots you took on a trip and one or more of photos you might not have given a second look to might prove to be of value after using this simple photo adjuster. It is NOT Photoshop by any means but adequate enough.