PICCURE anyone?

[elsa hoffmann]

Anyone using this?

http://piccureplus.com/

piccure+ is a powerful program to correct optical aberrations and camera shakes causing a loss in detail. It is the only software solution that does not need to rely on any predefined lens profiles to correct lens softness but capable of determining the unique optical imperfections of your equipment. This means: piccure+ is probably the cheapest way to significantly upgrade your equipment. piccure+ can be used for every camera and lens combination and is available as a standalone program with a powerful batch processing functionality. piccure+ also installs as a plugin for Adobe® Photoshop®, Photoshop Elements® and Lightroom®. With piccure+ you will not need to spend a fortune on expensive lenses any longer.
Your license will activate two computers. It does not matter whether you are using Windows or Mac or both. Our support will help you out in case you need a new license (e.g. you changed your equipment).

[Bjørn Rørslett]

So far I can only be certain that the module nearly brings my powerful computer to a halt and that it gives a new understanding of the phrase "slow as molasses". Does it work? No idea. Perhaps in an hour or so when the program completes the first test image?

Do note the program installs "phone home" components and won't install if you deny it such access.

[Bjørn Rørslett]

The first test image was a total fiasco. Piccure+ only made it much less sharp.

[elsa hoffmann]

Thanks Bjørn - much appreciated.
The only feature I would be interested in - is the "de-haze" which is in the new CC anyway (not that I have CC yet....) and I would be interested so see how the two process the same image.
cost in Sa is roughly $140 - not exactly cheap

[Bjørn Rørslett]

Original to left, Piccure+ to the right. Not what I would call an improvement

(and yes, I gave it a tough case to match to elevated claims of the makers).

[elsa hoffmann]

ouch!

[Bjørn Rørslett]

My own words are not suitable for the web.

Suffice it to say Piccure+ failed miserably on this image file. That after locking up my computer for nearly 15 minutes - on a 16 MPix image....

[John Geerts]

Ah. That is clear.  Thanks for the test,  Bjørn.

[Bjørn Rørslett]

I assume the program does better on other less exacting files, though.

[elsa hoffmann]

well if you look at the examples they posted - you would have expected a LOT more.

[Bjørn Rørslett]

If one is willing to pay $140, yes indeed expectations should be higher. I just happened to work with a file having tons of optical aberrations so naturally thought to test the claim that you could "save thousands of dollars" by using a mediocre lens and then run the images through Piccure+.

Reality bites, as usual. There is no free lunch, literally, here. Even were the program to improve image quality, you do have to take the processing time into account. Surely this will make any decent work flow grind to a halt if every image is to be run through Piccure+.

[elsa hoffmann]

absolutely - there is no point in waiting 15 minutes to process one image. By then you could have gone out and photographed the subject again!
well at least we now know ! Nothing ventured - nothing gained.

[Bjørn J]

Never heard of Piccure, so I was curious and downloaded it. Upon installation one of my protection programs warned me that Piccure wanted an obscure and indecipherable command to run each time my computer started. I denied of course, and the program quit installation. Fine with me, I deleted all traces of it.

[Bjørn Rørslett]

Bjørn J: that was the phoning home component.

[Bjørn J]

Bjørn J: that was the phoning home component.

Good thing I stopped it then 
I hate that phone-home and activation nonsense. Actually I have cracked my fully legal Photoshop to avoid contact with the Mothership. When it comes to computers I have plenty paranoid characteristics - don't get me started