What happened to GraphicConverter??

After using the free version many years ago, I paid for Graphic Converter some time ago and had version 5.8.1; after reading your post, I checked their website and downloaded the latest version (5.9). Once installed, I opened it and found that you do have to enter a registration code or use it free for a set number of days. So, I guess you do have to pay for it. I've found it well worth the shareware price.

Interesting. $2,000+ for the MRP and balking at paying $30 for a wanted shareware program. BTW, IIRC, it's always had a use restriction unless you popped to pay for registration.

If need to save money then I recommend that you give ImageMagick a try
http://www.imagemagick.org/script/index.php

It's a very powerful command line tool.

Mac Mini Mac OS X (10.4.6) Core Duo / 2GB

I've been a GraphicConverter user since 1998.
Back then it was free upgrades for life. This changed a few years ago and I was forced to buy a new registration.
The "bundled" version included with some Macs was only going to work with that version number. Upgrades must be purchased.
Apple has often included third party software as part of their installed OS. Upgrading it was always the responsibility (or option) of the user.
You purchased a new machine. Someone else installed software on it and this software will vary from year to year (even month to month).
I had to send a check to Germany and received a CD in the mail a few days later. It was actually faster than I received QT Pro (NY versus Germany) upgrades.
Lemke makes a great Mac product. He updates the software about 5 times a year and is always adding new features.
My (old man) advice?
Save some money by cutting out some other purchases and, when you have the $30, buy and register your copy of GC. I use it almost every day.

Try going to VersionTracker.com and search for GraphicConverter. On the Info page for it there's a dropdown menu that will let you select an older version of the application. The link to download it will be below and to the left of the menu, not the normal download link above. It's always for the latest version. This may let you get the older version that does not require a code.

While you're at VT do a search for image editor. You'll find a number of them, commercial, shareware and free, that might be of interest to you. Gimp is a very powerful editor, not unlike Photoshop, that's opensource. There's also Seashore that's based on Gimp. Lot's of possibilities.

I'm a QT Pro guru and use it to reduce (batch) file sizes for use in QuickTime Pro.
Helps make my "image only" QT .mov files load quickly when viewed from browsers.
I also use it to reduce the file size of any image I attach to an email (or Web pages). No one needs a 3MB attachment to their email. I can do a nice image at about 30 Kb's.
Plenty of third party tools can do similar.

QTK

I've had Graphic Converter for a few years (purchased version) but I've never really gotten into it. I've resorted to a little piece of freeware called Image Well to reduce image file sizes for e-mail. I know it can be done in GC, but I've never surmounted the hurdle to learn how. It just seems very nonintuitive to me. Any suggestions?

Thanks,
Steve M.

Steve

Open the image. Click on Picture in the menu bar, click on Size.

For email set it to 72 dpi, and set the dimensions of the image you want.

Save as jpg. Better still SAVE COPY as jpg!

Job done.

jbiedlin:

I've used Graphic Converter for years not only to resize photos, but to adjust colors, brightness, contrast, get rid of red eye (excellent), and to change the format (convert) of a document or image (a handy tool if you have something you can't open or need to send it via email in a different format, e.g. convert from .jpg to .pdf). I've found it easy enough to use.

QuickTimeKirk:

When I purchased my new iMac, I contacted Lemke via email and he sent me a new registration code for the latest version free. I just downloaded it and entered the code. I don't know if that was a one time thing, but he didn't ask questions except wanting proof that I paid for it in the first place.

Barbara,

What's the difference between Red Eye and Red Eye Pro under Effect in GC?

Thanks,
Steve M.

Steve,

You got me on that one - I have no idea. I just tried it and there didn't seem to be a difference. The only thing I noticed was that with red eye pro, the cursor changed to a circle by itself so I could just click on the eye; when I selected just red eye, I got an alert to first select the area. I also actually checked the manual (for the first time!!) and the instructions only mention "red eye" and "red eye settings". No mention of red eye pro. BTW, the settings let you adjust the color; I've never changed that, the default has worked fine for me.

Thanks, Barbara!

Steve M.

From the manual:

"The Red Eye Pro option darkens the pupil and reduces its size at the same time. Select the red pupil and choose Red Eye Pro from the Effect menu. Nothing will happen at first. GraphicConverter switches to a special mode similar to the eliptic selection tool. Select the iris (the area around the pupil that is blue, brown or green). Once you have made the eliptic selection, the pupil is darkened and made smaller. You can specify how Dark and how small the pupil should be (Reduce Level for Pro).

The Red Detection Level decides when a red tone is recognised as a pupil and blackened. It may be worthwhile setting the threshold value high in pictures with a lot of red so that parts of skin you accidcentally select are not darkened."

It works well.