Does Anyone Ekse Use Macinery HDR Software?

[russellsnr]

Hi, Anyone that uses Machinery HDR Effects that can help me before I go completely bald with pulling out my hair?
I purchased this HDR software as I felt it did a good job on production of natural looking photographs with the use of HDR, anyway you can only purchase via download and it is activated by the company via email to protect against piracy I assume.
My problem is I use a computer that is NOT connected to the net (photo only) on this instance I connected it just for download and activation but now when I try to use the software I get an error message saying no Internet connection available I have emailed the company but all I got back was the following
To authorize Machinery you need an Internet connection.
A connection is needed only for the time of authorization. After it
you can disconnect computer from the Internet.

Did this but still get error message when I try to boot from desktop icon so sent another email and the reply was
By disconnecting from the Internet you probably change your PC's
configuration, e.g. by disconnecting your network card or external modem.

So if anyone else has this software "Do you have the problem when not connected to the net"?

Many Thanks
Russ

[GeoffWessex]

There may be some users of 'Machinery HDR' on this Forum, but there's a link on their website to a Flickr Group... it has 47 members. You may want to join that group and ask your question - some other software companies have similar groups and they work well. You just need a Yahoo address to get a free Flickr account.

It's a Polish company - maybe they're having a translation problem with your emails.

[russellsnr]

Originally Posted by GeoffWessex

There may be some users of 'Machinery HDR' on this Forum, but there's a link on their website to a Flickr Group... it has 47 members. You may want to join that group and ask your question - some other software companies have similar groups and they work well. You just need a Yahoo address to get a free Flickr account.

It's a Polish company - maybe they're having a translation problem with your emails.

Hi, Thanks for the reply, I am already a member of both the HDR & Machinery HDR groups on Flickr
Again Thank You
Russ

[GeoffWessex]

If you're using 'dial-up', you'd get 'allocated' (by your internet provider) a different IP number every time you connect........ perhaps that's what's making the software company not 'recognise' your computer. I can't see why the software company would need you to be online every time you use the plug-in/program - but perhaps it does for the initial confirmation of licence key.

[russellsnr]

Hi, Got it sorted at last, the only way seems to be remove your cable from your router if you want to work with it off line.
Thanks again
Russ

[GeoffWessex]

Good - now can you come back here with your opinion of the program, once you've got the hang of it? It looks like it's very capable and I like the results on their website.

[russellsnr]

Hi, Geoff, As you where the one and only responder I thank you for that.
I am only an amateur so I don't think I am really qualified to give an opinion but!!!
I hope there are going to be two photos below taken with a Canon 1Ds Mk II, 17-40mm Lens and of course a tripod was used.
I put the images through Lightroom 4 and just did a white balance correction to what was a total 7 images, then exported to the desktop as Jpegs I then ran the Jpegs through the two programs I like for natural looking photographs I did also correct lens perspective when doing the white balance correction. SNS-HDR and Machinery HDR are the two choices with the SNS-HDR photograph first up.
I feel that the Machinery HDR software drops away as there is a need for some contrast IMO in the photo, but I must point out they do advise this in there instructions for use.





Thanks Again
Russ

[GeoffWessex]

I definitely prefer the top image - SNS HDR. The second one looks quite 'flat', although perhaps there are other settings that could be used.

An Estate Agent would benefit from that effect - I remember a long conversation soem years ago, when HDR was first becoming popular, with a 'Real Estate Agent' in the Pacific NW of the USA.... he was going all out to get good images of the rooms of the houses he was selling (including a few exterior views through the windows). He eventually learned to make HDR pictures of rooms that would grace the Ideal Home Exhibition.

I'm on the look out for a flat in the UK right now and using 'Rightmove'. Clearly, most of the people who take the photographs for an 'Estate Agency' are morons with shiny suits and a point and shoot cameras who wouldn't know a decent photograph of a room if it bit them on the ****. Some of the agents even try to get away with just one image, of the outside of the flat or house - ridiculous! They're not even making an effort!

[russellsnr]

Originally Posted by GeoffWessex

I definitely prefer the top image - SNS HDR. The second one looks quite 'flat', although perhaps there are other settings that could be used.

An Estate Agent would benefit from that effect - I remember a long conversation soem years ago, when HDR was first becoming popular, with a 'Real Estate Agent' in the Pacific NW of the USA.... he was going all out to get good images of the rooms of the houses he was selling (including a few exterior views through the windows). He eventually learned to make HDR pictures of rooms that would grace the Ideal Home Exhibition.

I'm on the look out for a flat in the UK right now and using 'Rightmove'. Clearly, most of the people who take the photographs for an 'Estate Agency' are morons with shiny suits and a point and shoot cameras who wouldn't know a decent photograph of a room if it bit them on the ****. Some of the agents even try to get away with just one image, of the outside of the flat or house - ridiculous! They're not even making an effort!

So you want to buy a House/Flat? The one in the photo is for sale My house
In GREECE
Russ

[GeoffWessex]

Originally Posted by russellsnr

So you want to buy a House/Flat? The one in the photo is for sale My house
In GREECE
Russ

I'm not in the market for Greece just yet.... but it's certainly crossed my mind. What would a 2-bed house cost on one of the islands? (Not one of the islands where nothing's changed for hundreds of years, but something a bit more 21st century - with all the utilities working reliably)