Sebastian, thanks very much for posting the beta version. In the short time that I have run a few tests I have a few initial comments, more to follow after I can compile more comparisons:
- This version is very stable on Win7 64bit
- It is on average 2 times faster than the current production version
- The current algorithm to merge a bracketed set is excellent. way better than the released version. I ran through it a previous set of blue lights in a dark background. The released 1.4.2 produces a merge in which areas of blue are bright magenta. The magenta is completely gone in this beta.
- Excellent avoidance of blown highlights
- I LOVE all of the extra fine controls for highlights, shadows, clarity, etc.
- I have gone back to redo previous bracketed sets made with SNS1.4 and other HDR apps. The results with this beta are way better so far. So now I HATE you for all the work I am going to have to do to re-process many of my "challenging / difficult" bracketed sets.... BUT I really LOVE you for enabling me to do so.
- I think you have focused on the critical attributes of the program. I have no problem with incompatible presets, it's not an issue at all.
- Alignment is not a critical issue either at this time as I almost always use a tripod but it would be nice to see improvement over time.
- Chromatic Aberration reduction would be a huge time saver for me and is one of my priorities for future releases.
- The only thing I realy do NOT like about this version are the the way the tabs on the far right work BASIC, ADVANCED, COLOR, OTHER. Is there any way you can make them lock and stack. It is extremely annoying when they switch from one to another with a mouse-over. They should require a solid contact to turn them on and off. Ideally a little icon that can open that menu. You can stack them when opened. I do not mind using a scroll bar. Often I need to jump back and forth to parameters which are in more than one parameter set and I would like to see both parameters at the same time. Perhaps I am missing something like ability to dock these palettes elsewhere but I do find the mouse-over tabs very annoying.
Cheers, Murray