|
BlackMagic
is a photo coloring software for PC Windows, released as shareware; it is used to
colorize Black & White,
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.
^^top^^
|
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.
^^top^^
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 |
^^top^^
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.
^^top^^
|
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.
^^top^^
|
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.
^^top^^
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.
^^top
of faq^^
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.
^^top
of faq^^
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.
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
^^top^^
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.
^^top^^
|