Convert black and white photos into real life-like color, in just a few minutes *Simple operation - child's play, yet a photo artist's envy *Results that rival even original color snaps *Based on Timebrush RLC technology used to colorize black and white movies *Great gift for anyone on any occasion

Blackmagic / RLC technology has received raving reviews and featured in several renowned publications and trade events - including Adobe Photoshop  Focus Guide, PC Utilities, Computer Arts, Your Family Tree, The Family History Show 2004 London, Film Mart 2005  Hong Kong, FICCI frames 2005 and several others

See all blackmagic awards & reviews

 

Colorization is the art of adding Color to monochromatic photos such as black and white, sepia tone, infra red [ IR ], etc. Coloring of black & white photographs has been in practice for quite some time. Originally, it used to be done straight on to the picture negative. With the advent of computers and graphics programs it became possible to add hues to a scanned version of a print. NeuralTek pioneered a new system in 1999 called "Real-Life-Colour", which for the first time made it possible to obtain Colorized results to rival even the original Color photographs. With RealLifeColor™ technology, Coloring of pictures has also become quite simple and time efficient, making the process fun to use and enjoyable.
BlackMagic is a shareware graphics software utility based on the RealLifeColor palettes. BlackMagic allows one to easily convert black & white photos to REAL life-like Color.  BlackMagic is a great tool for photography hobbyists & professionals, or anyone who wishes to Colorize monochromatic images...it
makes a great gift for anyone, on any occasion.

Just some of the things you could do with blackmagic

BEFORE 

 AFTER

Sample photo images Colorized with BlackMagic 

If you do not see a slide-show above, please click here

 

 

BlackMagic photo coloring software for Windows Vista/ XP/ 98SE
current Rel 2.85 from US$39 + free updates for 1 year

 

product description

different blackmagic editions

price-feature COMPARE

system requirements

free trial-download / updates

support/ forums/ faq

affiliates - spread the magic

press/ editorials & awards

contact information

feedback or questions - Call +61 408 268762

10:00 am till 8:00 pm (Sydney Time GMT+10 hrs)

support@neuraltek.com   

 

PRODUCT DESCRIPTION

BlackMagic is a photo coloring software for PC Windows, released as shareware; it is used to colorize Black & White, BlackMagic virtual box-shot Sepia, or IR (infrared) photos, or to Color-correct ones with faded or inappropriate colors. Being extremely simple to use, its a software that transcends age and professional  boundaries, providing an immense sense of achievement, pride and satisfaction for kids and adults alike. The resulting Colorized photos have optimally saturated and consistent, correct hues - giving the appearance as if the photo had originally been 'shot' in color! BlackMagic delivers such professional grade results with the minimum of fuss, and just a few minutes worth of effort. BlackMagic incorporates "TimeBrush™ RLC [RealLifeColour]™" standard. The TimeBrush RLC technology was specifically created for colorizing black & white motion pictures of the Hollywood fame. This feature provides BlackMagic the ability to render superb, rich, vibrant looking colors, that are not under/ over saturated, yet look completely natural.

Colorizing Photos - the ISSUES

Colorizing black & white photos can get quite involving, depending upon the quality and sophistication of the results desired. The process involved can be very tedious and challenging, taking a day [often several] to completely colorize a single black & white photograph to professional grade quality. The typical 'paint' computer programs usually require the operator to select individual hue [color], opacity [transparency], etc., for coloring a specific portion of the photo. This is further compounded by the need to 'guess' the right hue/ saturation values to color a certain object, which can take several hit-and-trial iterations, with no guarantee of a 'best' match.

The whole process may need to be repeated hundreds of times over to finish a single photograph...even then, the results often leave much to be desired, and rarely resemble the 'real life colors' that we are used to seeing in color photographs Even with all the professional care and sophistication, it is common to get results depicting improper color matches, over saturated colors, dull/ faded colors, or over-emphasized/ blurred edges.

The BlackMagic Difference

BlackMagic resolves all of the above problems associated with colorizing black & white photos, and more. The system uses state-of-the-art Neural Net algorithms to provide dynamic parameterisation. This means that the user is not required to pick specific color hues or the associated values/ parameters - she/ he works by simply identifying the 'type of object' to be colored. BlackMagic then automatically performs the needed calculations to continuously vary all required parameters, based on the content of the photograph/ region being colorized - all done in the background transparent to the user. This process ensures consistent as well as optimal selection of hue, brightness, saturation, opacity, etc. for colorizing any object/ region of the image, without the guess work that would otherwise have been required.

BlackMagic provides several tools, to most expeditiously apply RealLifeColor palettes to a monochromatic image. It is available in several versions, to suit every budget and need.

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DIFFERENT BLACKMAGIC EDITIONS

BlackMagic is available in following flavors to suit different requirements:

HE [Home Edition] is a low priced consumer version suited for home PC users, this edition of BlackMagic provides a fun way for Mums/ Dads, and the kids alike, to have fun Colorizing Black & White photos from the family album, or to re-Color the ones that did not come out quite right. BlackMagic HE supports a maximum processing resolution of one million pixels, suited for printing at A4/ Letter sizes (similar in size to 8" X 10" photo prints) on most consumer-end Color printers (such as Color photo ink-jet printers). This edition makes a unique gift for any occasion, or an invaluable addition to your or your kids' personal software library. Photos Colorized using BlackMagic HE are indeed masterpieces that you or your kids create; the results are sure to provide a tremendous sense of achievement, pride, and satisfaction, besides delivering professionally restored family heirlooms to be admired by generations to come.

BE [Business Edition] is primarily aimed at small, individually owned/ run photo restoration services, this edition of BlackMagic allows for processing at up to 4M-pixel image resolutions for higher resolution prints. The Business Edition also offers additional functionality, tools, and palettes over the HE version.

PE [Professional Edition] is the ultimate photo-Colorization tool, and offers a rich set of tools and palettes for an unprecedented level of productivity in Colorization projects. The PE version supports processing at any resolution [virtually, limited only by the computer's resources]. It offers additional features and functionality over Home or Business Editions, and will suit large photo processing/ restoration studios, or photo artists.

BlackMagic offer a vary attractive ROI, considering that getting a single Black & White photo Colorized from a photo-studio may cost between US$ 50 - 500.

All BlackMagic Editions come with full on-line help/ tutorial, web/ e-mail support, and free product updates within the same major release.

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PRICE - FEATURE COMPARE

The following table provides a detailed price/ feature comparison between different BlackMagic Editions.

Supported OS versions: Windows Vista, XP, NT, Me, 2000, 98SE

BlackMagic Version 2.85 Price/ Feature Comparison

Home Edition

Business Edition

Professional Edition

Current Price  [ex local taxes]

from US$39

BUYNOW

from US$89

BUYNOW

from US$189

BUYNOW

On-line Help & Tutorial

Full + Pop-up

Full + Pop-up

Full + Pop-up

Common Image Operations

Load, Scan, SaveAs, Print, LoadAsGray, Invert (convert from neg)

1 MegaPixel Max Processing Resolution

Load, Scan, SaveAs, Print, LoadAsGray, Invert (convert from neg)

4 MegaPixel Max Processing Resolution

Load, Scan, SaveAs, Print, LoadAsGray, Invert (convert from neg)

Un-limited Processing Resolution, Max Resolution Limit selectable

Supported Image Formats

Windows BMP (load & save), JPEG (load & save)

Windows BMP (load & save), JPEG (load & save)

Windows BMP (load & save), JPEG (load & save)

Rendering Tools

Selector, Eraser, Smart Paint-brush, Selection-paint, Magic Touch-paint

Selector, Eraser, Smart Paint-brush, Selection-paint, Magic Touch-paint

Selector, Eraser, Smart Paint-brush, Selection-paint, Magic Touch-paint

Rendering Tools - Options

Overwrite/ Layered Mode, Brush Size & Shape selector, Brush Selectivity control, Quick Brush Size/ Shape selections

Overwrite/ Layered Mode, Brush Size & Shape selector, Brush Selectivity control, Quick Brush Size/ Shape selections, Magic Touch-paint Integration control

Overwrite/ Layered Mode, Brush Size & Shape selector, Brush Selectivity control, Quick Brush Size/ Shape selections, Magic Touch-paint Integration control

Current Selection Display

Tool & Hue

Tool & Hue

Tool & Hue

Image Window Information Displays

Image width & height, X & Y coordinates, RGB component values at cursor, Hue at cursor

Image width & height, X & Y coordinates, RGB component values at cursor, Hue at cursor

Image width & height, X & Y coordinates, RGB component values at cursor, Hue at cursor

Image Window Controls

Un-do, Pressure damper, Caption, Rendering in Zoom in/ out state with auto-sync

Un-do, Pressure damper, Caption, Rendering in Zoom in/ out state with auto-sync

Un-do, Pressure damper, Caption, Rendering in Zoom in/ out state with auto-sync

Colors & Palettes Selection

69 Neural Net pre-configured palettes w/ dynamic parameterization based on TimeBrush RLC standard

69 Neural Net pre-configured palettes w/ dynamic parameterization based on TimeBrush RLC standard, Free Color Picker (RGB/ HSL)

69 Neural Net pre-configured palettes w/ dynamic parameterization based on TimeBrush RLC standard, Free Color Picker (RGB/ HSL), 'Clear' palette mode for use with 'Tuning' controls [see below]

Custom Palettes & RGB Tuning

 

Load & Use existing BlackMagic Custom Derivative Palettes [.bcp files]

Create, Load & Use existing BlackMagic Custom Derivative Palettes [.bcp files] Direct modification of Neural Net palettes through Red, Green, & Blue channel variation and saving the results as ".bcp" [BlackMagic Custom Palette] files

Luminance

 

 

Modify gray-scale level for parts in the original image

Saturation

 

 

Modify Dominant hue level in the final computed Color

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SYSTEM REQUIREMENTS

Minimum system requirements to run BlackMagic :

  • Windows 98SE, ME, 2000, XP, Vista (or later) equipped PC w/ Keyboard, and hard-disk with minimum 5 MB free space for the program.

  • High resolution pointing device such as a mouse, pen/ tablet, etc.

  • Color Monitor + Graphics card capable of minimum 800 X 600 display at 16 bit [for BE/ PE a fast Graphics sub-system capable of 1024 x 768 upwards resolution at 32/24 bit Color depth, and min. 32MB Video RAM is recommended].

  • Minimum 24MB memory [128MB+ recommended for BE, or 500MB+ for PE] [actual memory required will also depend upon the size of the image]

  • Hi Resolution Scanner [OPTIONAL] to scan images

  • Printer [OPTIONAL] capable of Color photographic quality output.

* Please note: Though any Edition of BlackMagic can be run on the minimal system specifications, more system resources may be required to handle larger graphics, especially with the Professional Edition. Our tests indicate that to process photos at around 14 Mega Pixel resolution, a Pentium IV or equivalent system running Windows 2000 or higher at 1.5GHz+ with 500+ MB system memory, and a fast Graphics sub-system capable of minimum 1024 x 768 screen resolution at 32-bit Color-depth w/ 64MB+ video RAM, should be considered desirable for a fair response time.

** Though BlackMagic is technically supported on PC Windows, some users have reported using it on Mac OS using a bridging software to emulate Windows. If you wish to use BlackMagic on a Mac, the prudent thing to do is to try the free shareware version and see if it works under your emulation environment; if it does, then you can purchase a license.

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free trial-download / updates

Please follow the appropriate link from below table to download and try BlackMagic, or to get the latest program update. 

EULA: BlackMagic use is subject to an End User License Agreement [EULA] - you may review the terms of this EULA by Clicking Here.

The same program archive works for all BlackMagic Editions, including the Trial mode. Specific program versions are enabled based on the License KEY you purchase. The trial [shareware version] lets you trial most of the Professional Edition functionality. To compare features amongst different BlackMagic Editions please Click Here.

Important download and installation instructions:

1. Click on the download links in the table below. This will take you to an external hosted page for Blackmagic. Click on the "Download Now" (or similar) link on that page to begin downloading the software, then follow any instructions provided.

2. When the download is complete, run the install file [blkmagic.exe] and follow instructions or just click on "Finish" button for a Default installation.

3. Running the installer as in step 2 above with default options will install BlackMagic Trial on your PC and create a program group called "BlackMagic by NeuralTek" in your Windows "Programs" menu [accessed by clicking on "Start -> Programs" from the your desktop]. To run BlackMagic, select the item "BlackMagic Program" from from this group. Also consult the "BlackMagic Notes" item in this group for late breaking information etc.

Note: If you get an "unknown publisher" or similar warning after running the install file, simply ignore this and select "Continue/ Run".

ITEM

TYPE

LOCATION

LINK

Latest BlackMagic 2.85

self-extracting ".EXE"

Neuraltek server

DOWNLOAD

Supported OS versions: Windows Vista, XP, NT, Me, 2000, 98SE

Please consult the "readme.txt" file included in the archives for latest information and installation notes.

If you experience 'slowness' or other difficulties downloading through above links, please click here to download from a Simtel mirror.

If this fails too, please e-mail webmaster@neuraltek.com

If you have problems installing/ un-installing or un-archiving, please refer to FAQ in the SUPPORT section, or e-mail support@neuraltek.com.

Trial Limitations

The trial version of BlackMagic lets you evaluate all functions of BlackMagic Professional Edition software, with the following noted exceptions:

1) Image size is limited to a maximum of around 500,000 pixels; larger ones are automatically scaled down, while maintaining the original aspect.

2) Hard-copy prints carry a BlackMagic logo, and are limited to half the size of the loaded image.

3) The trial license expires 10 days after the installation.

If you have trial'ed an earlier version of the software and the trial period expired, you may still be able to trial a newer release [the trial is reset by a new release if there is substantial functionality change since the last release]. Included documentation provides details of features & differences between various BlackMagic Editions.

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BUY-NOW/ UPGRADE/ CROSS-GRADE

Buy with confidence - online or over the phone using a major credit-card - following any purchase link from the tables below will lead you to secure payment page. We partner only with leading e-commerce companies, so that your buying experience is safe and hassle-free. The information you supply on-line is encrypted using the highest encryption standards, and you immediately receive your License KEY by e-mail upon payment confirmation. 

You may also choose to pay by PayPal, Wire-transfer, Fax, or through postal mail. Whichever method you prefer, please proceed by selecting an appropriate "BUY-NOW" button link from the tables below.

Note: If a particular purchase link does not work, it may be down for maintenance - please use an alternate Point Of Sale from the tables below, or try after a while. If you continue experiencing difficulties, please e-mail sales@neuraltek.com. For urgent purchase assistance, please SMS or call +61 408 268762

To access the lowest $39 price for Home Edition, please follow the link from PayPal POS table.

 POS #1
SUPPORTED CREDIT CARDS
PAYMENT METHODS On-line, Phone, Wire, Fax, Postal Mail [you will get to choose the payment method in the order form]
DELIVERY METHOD Key delivered via e-mail immediately upon payment authorization.
SECURE ONLINE PURCHASE LINKS Home Ed US$49.00
Business Ed US$99.00
Pro Ed US$199.00
Upgrade Home Ed to Business Ed US$58.00
Upgrade Home Ed to Pro Ed US$158.00
Upgrade Business Ed to Pro Ed US$108.00
ADDITIONAL PAYMENT INSTRUCTIONS If you prefer to pay via phone, wire transfer or check, please first access the order form through above links and complete the required details. Then in the "Payment Method" field click and make your selection from the drop list - you will then receive full details for completing your purchase on the following page.

 

 POS #2
SUPPORTED CREDIT CARDS
PAYMENT METHODS On-line only [used primarily as a backup in case the BuyNow links in above tables are down for maintenance].
DELIVERY METHOD Key delivered via e-mail, usually within 36 hours of payment confirmation. For immediate Key delivery, please use the Plimus payment links in the above table.
SECURE ONLINE PURCHASE LINKS Home Ed US$39.00
Business Ed US$89.00
Pro Ed US$189.00
Upgrade Home Ed to Business Ed US$54.00
Upgrade Home Ed to Pro Ed US$154.00
Upgrade Business Ed to Pro Ed US$104.00
ADDITIONAL PAYMENT INSTRUCTIONS To pay with "e-check" you will need a PayPal account - visit http://www.paypal.com and select the "Send Money" tab. If you wish to enter a valid 'Tracking Code", you should use payment links from the "Plimus" table above [Tracking Codes are optional, used for tracking vendor referrals].

EULA: BlackMagic use is subject to an End User License Agreement [EULA] - you may review the terms of this EULA by Clicking Here.

Privacy Policy: NeuralTek does not store or even 'see' the financial account information that you submit [such as credit card numbers] - these are encrypted following the highest encryption standards, then passed to the relevant banking institution for processing. NeuralTek only receives your order fulfilment details, and will only use this to contact you regarding product support, informing you of new updates/ products, etc. Specifically, NeuralTek will never sell or share any of this information with any third party; plus in all our mailings, you will have the option to discontinue receiving further communications. 

Refund Policy: Refunds are only provided under special circumstances, and upon NeuralTek's sole discretion. As a matter of general policy, we do not provide refunds once you have received your permanent License KEY [due to the nature of electronically delivered KEYs, we have no enforcement mechanism to get the 'sold goods' back]. With shareware such as BlackMagic, you have the opportunity to try the software features before deciding to purchase - that's perhaps the best GUARANTEE you can get for your  total satisfaction.     

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SUPPORT/ FORUMS/ FAQ

For BlackMagic technical support, please e-mail support@neuraltek.com

BlackMagic FAQ 

General

Why is there only one trial version, while BlackMagic is available in three flavors? Which program edition does the trial download relate to?

The BlackMagic free trial download is common to all the BlackMagic editions. The trial lets a user test most of the Professional Edition functionality - which automatically includes all features and functions of the Business and Home editions of the program. To compare features available in each of the program editions, please consult the Feature Comparison Table.

Do I have to download something again after buying BlackMagic?

The same program archive you downloaded (trial shareware version) will be enabled (un-locked) after you enter a valid license key. The license key is sent to you via e-mail once your payment has been authorized. This license key "knows" which program edition you purchased, and will 'un-lock' the corresponding functionality. You should however check the BlackMagic web site for new versions/ updates, and if a version later than the one you downloaded before is available, you could download the newer version and install over your existing installation - effectively updating your BlackMagic license.

If I previously trial'ed BlackMagic and ran out the entire trial period, can I re-trial a newer program version?

Most newer program versions (updates) re-set the trial; so the answer is yes - we would definitely like you to try any new features/ improvements. The only exception is if an update release does not introduce much over and above the previous release.

How do I un-install BlackMagic

Unlike some other programs, BlackMagic does not install files all over your computer, or in your system folders. Hence there is no need for special un-installer. To un-install, simply delete the folder where you installed BlackMagic (first making sure to backup any personal files/ data you may have in there), then delete the corresponding program group. Future releases may include an un-install program that does this automatically.

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What is your policy on Free Updates?

Effective 1 Dec 2003: Irrespective of the date of your purchase, or the release/ version you buy, you are entitled to free updates for a whole year from the date of your purchase.

Can I upgrade to a higher program edition, or a higher program (major) version?

Absolutely. For example, if you purchase the Home Edition, then later realize that you require the functionality of the Business Edition, you can upgrade to the higher edition by paying the price difference plus a small administration fee. Similarly, if you purchased version 2.5 Home Edition, and wish to upgrade to version 3.1 Home Edition or Business Edition, you can do this by paying a reasonable 'cross-upgrade' license fee. For the latest upgrade/ cross-grade options, please visit the BUY-NOW section.

Technical

Is there a tutorial or step-by-step guide to getting started using BlackMagic.

Yes. Please refer to the section 2.1 of the help docs which are included in each program archive.

Where can I find a complete reference of all the tools and functions in BlackMagic?

Section 3 of the help docs provides a complete reference of tools, palettes, and operations in BlackMagic.

Is Blackmagic compatible with Windows Vista?

Yes, release 2.85 onwards will work under Vista.

 

Do you have a question not addressed above? Please contact support@neuraltek.com.

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SPREAD THE MAGIC

Earn top commission re-selling BlackMagic as an Affiliate - or earn even more by pre-purchasing licenses in bulk, then on-selling or bundling with OEM products. All you need, is a web-site with a fair volume of visitor traffic [or be willing to build and promote one], or alternately have access to other retail/ distribution means, basic understanding of e-commerce concepts, and be willing to conform with our highest standards of Customer Service.

Two ways for you to resell Blackmagic:

1. Join the BlackMagic Affiliate Sales Program at ClixGalore - click here - earn up to 20% per sale

2. Pre-purchase BlackMagic licenses and get up to 70% discount/ commission

We will provide you with a stored value key generator which will allow you to generate and issue license keys direct to your customers, or retail Blackmagic as a package/ OEM bundle - please refer to the discount table below:

Quantity Price per Unit
10 - 19 20%
20 - 39 25%
40 - 59 30%
60 - 99 35%
100 - 199 40%
200 - 499 45%
500 - 999 50%
1000 and above 60%
5000 and above 70%

Please contact admin@neuraltek.com

or call +61 408 268762 for Bulk licensing.

 

CONTACT INFORMATION

Postal Mail

   NeuralTek

    P.O. Box 582, North Ryde Business Ctr.,

    NSW 1670, AUSTRALIA

Telephone

    +61 408 268762

    9:00am till 9:00pm, Sydney time (GMT + 10)

E-mail

In relation to Press reviews/ Editorial requests, or business related matters including OEM, bundling, business alliance opportunities, volume discounts, etc., please email

admin@neuraltek.com

For technical support, or product license keys, etc., please email

support@neuraltek.com

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NOT RECEIVING A RESPONSE TO YOUR EMAILS?

Dear customers,

If you are having problems contacting us or in getting a response to your e-mails, please note the following:

We respond to most e-mails within 24 hours. If you have not received a reply after 2 days, it is most likely because of your spam filter - turn it off please, and write back to us so we can get through. This is most common with customers using Yahoo mail.

Please send all support requests to support@neuraltek.com and  always put the program name about which you are writing in the subject field.

For urgent matters please call +61 408 268762 between 10:00 am till 8:00 pm Sydney time (GMT +10 hours). If you call after hours or if the phone is unattended, please be sure to leave contact details including best time to call you back and your country/ area codes. You can also send an SMS to the above number - we will call back.

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Content, trademarks/ logos, © NeuralTek [ABN27064583633], unless otherwise noted; items not owned by NeuralTek, and not specifically acknowledged, are the property/ copyright of their rightful owners. Sample images are the property of their rightful owners/ copyright holders. Specifically, Neuraltek does not claim any rights to the original copyrighted material, or its Colorized version. These are presented for critique and demonstration purposes only, as per provisions of "Fair Use" under international and local copyright law.