PDA

View Full Version : Any diff with stand alone plugin photomatix ?

bubba zanetti
26th of August 2009 (Wed), 05:42
Ive got the sample plug-in running in CS3 and i notice that its $79 USD to buy it alone. The whole shooting match including that & the stand alone programme is $119 USD.

I cant really find the info i want but is there any difference between the plug-in & the stand alone bells & whistles wise ? Do they do identical things ?

Im cool just using the plug-in so thought i'd ask if im going to miss anything with not buying the whole thing.

Rgds
Scottes
26th of August 2009 (Wed), 06:33
You can't do batch processing with the plugin, nor tone compressor. The preview window is smaller. I don't think you can go from Lightroom to Photomatix with the plugin only.

For the $20 extra, I'd get the full program. Besides, if you look for a discount code - they're all over the place - you can get 15% off, so it's only $5 more than you plan on spending.
sas8888
26th of August 2009 (Wed), 07:31
Its $40 difference
sas8888
26th of August 2009 (Wed), 07:57
When I purchased it last year there was something in the FAQ about the standalone working better than the plug-in. I can't find that now. There also have been an upgrade since when I purchased it. They might have fixed that now.
polarbare
26th of August 2009 (Wed), 08:30
I have both and always use the plug in. Never had an issue.
Scottes
26th of August 2009 (Wed), 08:48
Holy crap, I'm finally going to disagree with Brad!

I have both, and never use the plugin.

The lack of tone compressor and the preview size are both serious turn-offs for me. But probably not $40 worth - but I bought it long before the plugin existed, so there was no question about which one to get.
polarbare
26th of August 2009 (Wed), 09:50
:lol: it was bound to happen sooner or later.
bubba zanetti
26th of August 2009 (Wed), 14:48
ok cheers guys. Appreciate the answers.
tmcman
27th of August 2009 (Thu), 22:21
I use the standalone to put together multiple exposures
and the plugin to bang out a tonemap of a single exposure
to include as a 30% opacity layer if the original needs a little help.
bubba zanetti
28th of August 2009 (Fri), 01:26
Tks guys...got the full shooting match with the 15% off. A free pizza is a free pizza.

Still trying to work the stand alone out though as im not used to it. It does not appear to like to load up from the tool bar (mac) ...maybe it requires 32 bit the same as the plug-in. Im very new to this.