RE: Filters Unlimited BETA2 available!

["Martijn W. van der Lee" <mwvdlee@open.net>]

> > 2) It was easy to import my own filter archives (using Harry's PiCo
> > for converting the plugins to .FFL format) and it does seem somewhat
> > faster than FF (though I've done no real testing).
>
> Well, unfortunately it's not faster than FF. It's still an
> interpreter and this takes some time to execute. I'm working on a x86
> code JIT compiler but it's currently not stable enough to be
> released. The main thing is that it works - then I will spend some
> time on screwing up the performance.

Well, speed isn't the most important things. Personally I see FU (or FUN,
let's vote) as a way to store the masses of FF filters in one submenu, and
as such a speed increase would only mean added bonus.

> > 3) Being a filter-author, I'd like some protection against rippers,
> > I know it's not hard to recompile FF filters, but FU makes is VERY
> > simple. What do all you gals/guys think, do you think there's an
> > added risk to using FU.
>
> The same problem already exists in PiCo and nobody was crying.
> Believe me or not, I've spent a lot of time thinking about this
> problem. But I didn't found a solution. For the first version of FU I
> had in mind that the filter developer provides a password for
> encryption of the code. But this is a problem for Actions where I
> need the code without knowing the password. The only solution I could
> think of is recording the bytecode in Actions... hmm I will think of
> it.

I was probably a bit unfair and must admit that if anybody wanted to hack
the filters they would just need a simple hex-editor to do the job. All I
say is that it would be nice to have a way to protect the code.

> > 4) I'm currently thinking of supporting FU, but in order to support
> > it, I'd need a registered copy, and to be honest, $35,- is just too
> > much (especially with the, probably more expensive, FM getting ever
> > nearer). If it were about half the price, I'd be the first in line.
>
> [Martijn, look into the private email]
> Well, Filters Unlimited is a commercial product and compared to other
> plugins very cheap. Do you know a commercial Photoshop plugin for
> less than 49 USD? I think regarding to the "unlimited" amount
> of effects you can get, Premiere and Actions compatibility, the price
> is OK. FM is a different story and I don't think that both products
> will interfere.

True. It's cheap compared to other plugins and I can understand you want
some physical appreciation for your work, but I honestly believe it would
sell better at a lower price (and I mean better as in "more profitable").
Splitting the price in half might be a bit too much, but a price of, say,
$29, would be about right. Then again; this is just my opinion, and I don't
know about any marketing-research you may have done.

> > 5) What about the extra functions? I noticed an new intensity
> > channel, but no new functions. How about a FF-like program with
> > iteration abilities (ie. while(<expresion>)? <true>:<false>, just
> > thinking out loud), is this hard to do? I've seen tiny
> > basic-interpreters doing this.
>
> This is the domain of FiFo and FM. FU is designed to be strictly FF
> compatible and has just some additional functions. These will be
> documented in the FF reference of the final release.

Fair enough. It's just that I got a bit anxious when I heard about the
possibility of new functions. Can't wait 'till FM gets out. FiFo is good,
but still does not allow me to work with complicated histograms and such.

> > 6) And now some small suggestions (please stop me if I'm getting
> > annoying): How about a small indication on the progress when
> > starting FU on a CMYK picture? (FU converts CMYK pics to RGB for FF
> > processing, right?),
>
> Yes, that's right. I will add this to my todo list. Unfortunately,
> the color conversion routine of Photoshop are very slow. I don't
> know why there is such a big difference between changing the image
> mode and using the color conversion proc...

Hey, it's still infinitely better than just RGB support!

> > If you're still here; please note that I may be nagging a bit, It's
> > my nature. Don't take it personal. If I didn't see a future in this
> > program, I wouldn't bother giving my opinion.
>
> I appreciate any comments in any form. Thanks a lot.

You shouldn't have said that :)

regards,
Martijn.