Alternatives to QImage?

[Stanley Krute]

Hi Caitlin

Qimage is $45, not $79.

Worth every penny. It has no competition
as regards output quality. Layout flexibility
and printer control are excellent. Just takes
a while to penetrate the UI.

-- stan

 

[John Beardmore]

Upscaling can't add missing detail but it can, if done well, increase the
number of pixels in the image so that the resultant print doesn't show
individual dots. Qimage does it better than any other piece of software
currently available.

Even Photoshop ?


Cheers, J/.

 

[Jon O'Brien]

Hi Wookie. Long time no see.

Even Photoshop ?

Definitely. Qimage has several interpolation methods that beat
Photoshop's best-shot bicubic interpolation hands-down. The best of the
lot being Pyramid.

Take a look at: http://www.ddisoftware.com/testpics/new-pyr.htm for
samples (or maybe 'resamples' would be more appropriate).

Jon.
(cody from CIX)

 

[Hecate]

SNIP

http://www.ddisoftware.com/qimage/ordering.htm says "Downloadable demo
($44.95)".

Anyways, the prints are better than from Photoshop due to superior
interpolation (up-sampling) and loads of printer specific controls
(and then some) which, once mastered, make the USD 44.95 a (IMHO)
no-brainer. Ranks high amongst the ""best $ 45 spent" category, for me
anyway.

Lazy question <g>: I've always used PS. Does QI softproof and use
proper colour management?

--

Hecate - The Real One
(e-mail address removed)
Fashion: Buying things you don't need, with money
you don't have, to impress people you don't like...

 

[Jon O'Brien]

Lazy question <g>: I've always used PS. Does QI softproof and use
proper colour management?

Yes. It uses both monitor and printer profiles.

Jon.

 

[Bart van der Wolf]

Does QI softproof and use proper colour management?

Yes, softproofing is available on the Page preview, and the program is
fully color-managed (the author is pretty well CM versed). Besides
that, IPTC info can be edited/searched/printed.
The GUI may take a bit getting used to, but it is built for optimal
througput and is very efficient in actual use.

Bart

 

[Hecate]

Yes. It uses both monitor and printer profiles.

Thanks Jon. I read your answer above as well, to Wookie (whom I assume
you know <g>. I've always thought that apps like QImage were a waste
of time. Now I'll have to try out. ;-)

--

Hecate - The Real One
(e-mail address removed)
Fashion: Buying things you don't need, with money
you don't have, to impress people you don't like...

 

[Jon O'Brien]

Wookie (whom I assume you know <g>.

Not in person but we shared an online conferencing system (until he got a
life) many years ago. I'm still a member, which tells you all you need to
know about me, I suppose.

I've always thought that apps like QImage were a waste of time. Now I'll
have to try out. ;-)

It was only because the photographers on the aforementioned conferencing
system spoke so highly of the quality of the prints it produces (though
not the UI) that I had to try it out. Since getting it set up properly, I
haven't used anything else for my prints.

Jon.

 

[John Beardmore]

Hi Wookie. Long time no see.

Indeed ! And much water under the bridge !

Definitely. Qimage has several interpolation methods that beat
Photoshop's best-shot bicubic interpolation hands-down. The best of the
lot being Pyramid.

Take a look at: http://www.ddisoftware.com/testpics/new-pyr.htm for
samples (or maybe 'resamples' would be more appropriate).

Hmmm...

Not sure I could say which was best really without seeing the original
'analogue' view.

I guess the bicubic had obvious artefacts with straight edges, but old
pyramid perhaps has more on the white curved surface.

I guess new pyramid is the best on detailed examination. Very
interesting !


Cheers, J/.

 

[John Beardmore]

Thanks Jon. I read your answer above as well, to Wookie (whom I assume
you know <g>.

Oh dear ! I have been around a long time !

Don't think I've made serious use of cix for over 10 years, probably
rather more !

I've always thought that apps like QImage were a waste
of time. Now I'll have to try out. ;-)

I'm getting curious too despite having the usual photoshop / pagemaker /
indesign kit.


Cheers, J/.

 

[Hecate]

Yes, softproofing is available on the Page preview, and the program is
fully color-managed (the author is pretty well CM versed). Besides
that, IPTC info can be edited/searched/printed.
The GUI may take a bit getting used to, but it is built for optimal
througput and is very efficient in actual use.

Thanks Bart

--

Hecate - The Real One
(e-mail address removed)
Fashion: Buying things you don't need, with money
you don't have, to impress people you don't like...

 

[Hecate]

Oh dear ! I have been around a long time !

Don't think I've made serious use of cix for over 10 years, probably
rather more !

I'm getting curious too despite having the usual photoshop / pagemaker /
indesign kit.

Me too

--

Hecate - The Real One
(e-mail address removed)
Fashion: Buying things you don't need, with money
you don't have, to impress people you don't like...

 

[Bart van der Wolf]

On Tue, 2 Aug 2005 00:15:17 +0200, "Bart van der Wolf"

Thanks Bart

You're welcome. The program has its own Yahoo -() support group at:
<http://groups.yahoo.com/group/qimage/> which will show the author's
responsiveness to issues raised (if deemed justified and beneficial to
a broader audience, usually within 24 hours, IOW very well supported,
within (the author's) lifetime free upgrades).

Bart

 

[Jon O'Brien]

Don't think I've made serious use of cix for over 10 years, probably
rather more !

I hope you're not still paying your subs because you're not in the user
list any longer (unless you have an account under another name). However,
you /are/ still listed as a mod of the Brief conference!

Jon.

 

[Jon O'Brien]

I remember cix.... <g>

You speak of it as if in the past tense. News of its death is exaggerated
(if only just).

Jon.

 

[Jon O'Brien]

Not sure I could say which was best really without seeing the original
'analogue' view.

Yes, there's nothing like seeing the hardcopy results. You can download a
trial version and give it a test drive, though.

I guess the bicubic had obvious artefacts with straight edges, but old
pyramid perhaps has more on the white curved surface.

'Old' pyramid didn't last long. It was his first attempt at the algorithm
and was fairly quickly replaced by the current version.

I guess new pyramid is the best on detailed examination. Very
interesting !

I wouldn't dream of saying 'I told you so'.

Jon.

 

[Ed Ruf]

You're welcome. The program has its own Yahoo -() support group at:
<http://groups.yahoo.com/group/qimage/> which will show the author's
responsiveness to issues raised (if deemed justified and beneficial to
a broader audience, usually within 24 hours, IOW very well supported,
within (the author's) lifetime free upgrades).

I can also add Mike is quite responsive to support requests via e-mail as
well. I can up against some color management issues that was causing
crashes during soft proofing images modified in a specific work flow.

 

[Hecate]

You're welcome. The program has its own Yahoo -() support group at:
<http://groups.yahoo.com/group/qimage/> which will show the author's
responsiveness to issues raised (if deemed justified and beneficial to
a broader audience, usually within 24 hours, IOW very well supported,
within (the author's) lifetime free upgrades).

Thanks for the link. I'll take a look. And I'll download the trial
and give it a whirl in the next few weeks (As soon as I get time
<g>).

Thanks again for your help

--

Hecate - The Real One
(e-mail address removed)
Fashion: Buying things you don't need, with money
you don't have, to impress people you don't like...

 

[Hecate]

You speak of it as if in the past tense. News of its death is exaggerated
(if only just).

Yes, I know it's still around, it just seems to be something that was
around in prehistory ;-)

--

Hecate - The Real One
(e-mail address removed)
Fashion: Buying things you don't need, with money
you don't have, to impress people you don't like...

 

[Ed Ruf]

Thanks for the link. I'll take a look. And I'll download the trial
and give it a whirl in the next few weeks (As soon as I get time
<g>).

Thanks again for your help

One tip to start with. If you put files in the queue by selecting or
dragging them to a page with one layout and then want to change the layout,
be sure to select the files in the queue first.