Softpedia >Mac >Multimedia >Helicon Focus >  Changelog

Helicon Focus Changelog

What's new in Helicon Focus 8.2.14

Mar 10, 2024
  • OpenCL support for Apple Silicon systems running macOS 14.4

New in Helicon Focus 8.2.13 (Jan 30, 2024)

  • OpenCL support for M3

New in Helicon Focus 8.2.12 (Jan 25, 2024)

  • OpenCL support for Apple Silicon systems running macOS 14.3

New in Helicon Focus 8.2.11 (Dec 13, 2023)

  • OpenCL support for Apple Silicon systems running macOS 14.2

New in Helicon Focus 8.2.10 (Oct 29, 2023)

  • OpenCL support for Apple Silicon systems running macOS 14.1

New in Helicon Focus 8.2.9 (Oct 6, 2023)

  • 'Split by time' fixed (regression in 8.2.8)

New in Helicon Focus 8.2.8 (Sep 30, 2023)

  • OpenCL support for Apple Silicon systems running macOS 14.0

New in Helicon Focus 8.2.7 (Jul 26, 2023)

  • OpenCL support for M1 systems running macOS 13.5

New in Helicon Focus 8.2.6 (Jul 12, 2023)

  • Poor retouching performance fixed

New in Helicon Focus 8.2.5 (May 22, 2023)

  • OpenCL support for M1 systems running macOS 13.4

New in Helicon Focus 8.2.4 (Apr 18, 2023)

  • OpenCL support for M1 systems running macOS 13.3

New in Helicon Focus 8.2.3 (Jan 30, 2023)

  • OpenCL support for M1 systems running macOS 13.2

New in Helicon Focus 8.2.2 (Dec 21, 2022)

  • OpenCL support for M1 systems running macOS 13.1

New in Helicon Focus 8.2.1 (Oct 28, 2022)

  • OpenCL support for M1 with macOS 13

New in Helicon Focus 8.2.0 (Sep 19, 2022)

  • OpenCL support for M1 with macOS 12.6
  • Bug fixes

New in Helicon Focus 8.1.2 (Aug 2, 2022)

  • OpenCL support for M1 with macOS 12.5

New in Helicon Focus 8.1.1 (May 18, 2022)

  • OpenCL support for M1 with macOS 12.4

New in Helicon Focus 8.1.0 (May 18, 2022)

  • OpenCL support for M1 with macOS 12.3
  • Capture One plugin updated - support for the latest versions of C1
  • 3D Viewer: exporting OBJ + MTL fixed - the model will be textured properly after importing into 3D editing software like Blender, C4D etc.
  • Command line options "--zoom" and "--relief-amplifier" added to the 3D Viewer, so these parameters can be specified when opening the viewer from a script
  • Helicon Focus: various bugs fixed

New in Helicon Focus 8.0.4 (Feb 11, 2022)

  • Fixed crashing on using Paint with pattern brush

New in Helicon Focus 8.0.3 (Feb 11, 2022)

  • Fixed crashing with OpenCL error during rendering (e.g. when your graphics card does not have enough video memory to complete rendering)

New in Helicon Focus 8.0.2 (Feb 4, 2022)

  • Render preview - explore various combinations of rendering methods and parameters in real-time mode
  • OpenCl hardware acceleration supported on M1, M1 Pro, M1 Max. macOS 12.2 required for OpenCL to work on M1 systems.
  • Overlapping option added for substacks
  • Layer export speed-up
  • Multiple improvements and bug fixes

New in Helicon Focus 7.7.6 (Jul 30, 2021)

  • Fixed Helicon Focus crashing when OpenCL error occurred

New in Helicon Focus 7.7.5 (Jul 20, 2021)

  • A plugin error when exporting from Lightroom fixed (only occurred on a small number of systems)
  • DNG format support added to the Capture One plugin on Mac

New in Helicon Focus 7.7.4 (Jun 22, 2021)

  • Lightroom plugin improved to allow multiple parallel export tasks
  • Lightroom plugin: preset added for exporting raw to Helicon Focus in DNG format
  • OpenCL crash fixed that occurred when source images had significantly different sizes
  • OpenCL crash fixed that occurred when manual focus detection area was enabled

New in Helicon Focus 7.7.3 (Jun 16, 2021)

  • A suggestion to install Adobe DNG Converter no longer shown when working with JPEG or TIFF images
  • Publishing of the resulting image to Facebook failure fixed

New in Helicon Focus 7.7.2 (Jun 3, 2021)

  • Various rendering bugs when using OpenCL fixed for all supported GPUs
  • "Open with" menu in Finder will now contain Helicon Focus for supported formats (images, videos, project files), and Helicon 3D Viewer for .h3d model files

New in Helicon Focus 7.7.1 (May 25, 2021)

  • Automatic brightness bug in OpenCL mode fixed
  • Method A OpenCL implementation fixed
  • Lightroom integration fixed for batch mode
  • Nvidia 9xx GPUs support fixed

New in Helicon Focus 7.7.0 (Apr 23, 2021)

  • OpenCL acceleration: all recent AMD graphics card supported (Radeon VII and other Vega variants, including workstation and mobile GPUs; Radeon 6900[XT], 6800[XT], 6700[XT])
  • Various bugs fixed
  • 'Add current sources' option in batch mode loads all files from the current source image list to batch mode. Now it's possible to split stacks exported from Lightroom

New in Helicon Focus 7.6.6 (Dec 1, 2020)

  • CR3 raw format supported (but only when saving the results to DNG; saving to TIFF/JPG doesn't transfer the metadata)
  • Options to hide the tool bar and the status bar added in menu - View (useful for smaller screens)
  • Erroneous message "Cannot save project when another output was used as source" fixed
  • Color tint when exporting layers fixed
  • Numerous smaller bug fixes

New in Helicon Focus 7.6.4 (Dec 1, 2020)

  • Reliability improvements - a number of issues causing Helicon Focus to crash fixed

New in Helicon Focus 7.6.3 (Jul 27, 2020)

  • Multiple reliability improvements, bug fixes
  • User interface improvements: options to "Show grid" and "Hide source file name" are added under the View menu for retouching; missing keyboard shortcuts added (Save all, Open stack), previously existing shortcuts made visible in the menu
  • (Zoom in/out, Folder monitor). Tab order in the "Preferences" dialog fixed
  • Batch processing: "Split stack" and "Apply parameters to other stacks" performance improved significantly
  • Projects can now be loaded in command line mode
  • Multiple "Save all" bugs fixed
  • AMD RX 5000 series graphics cards supported for OpenCL acceleration

New in Helicon Focus 7.6.0 (Dec 2, 2019)

  • 30% speed up on CPU
  • optimizations for AVX-512 capable processors
  • Apple notarization
  • 'Save All' feature added
  • minor bug fixes

New in Helicon Focus 7.5.8 (Dec 2, 2019)

  • Incorrect trial version limitations bug fixed
  • Open recent option added

New in Helicon Focus 7.5.6 (Dec 2, 2019)

  • Translation and help update
  • DNG converter update
  • Saving activation code for automatic registration
  • EXIF and XMP handling fixes
  • Watermark on saved images in registered Lite version bug fixed
  • Minor fixes

New in Helicon Focus 7.5.4 (Apr 22, 2019)

  • Colors in navigator window fixed for DNG stacks
  • Brush size per brush type preserve fix
  • Lauch without OpenCL if previous launch with OpenCL failed.
  • --disable-opencl command line option added

New in Helicon Focus 7.0.1 (Sep 4, 2018)

  • New feature: Folder Monitor
  • New feature: Manual focus detection area adjustment (can be enabled in Preferences -> Autoadjustments): shows a blue rectangle of selection area and allows you to adjust the area of alignment of frames in the stack
  • New feature: Crop result image automatically (Preferences -> Autoadjustments): lets you auto-crop all images in the stack, e. g. when there are artifacts on the edge of the image, or when there's an are that lacks focus data. Cropping the image properly helps avoid focus stacking artifacts induced by such useless areas
  • User interface somewhat reworked, the list of rendering results moved to the bottom of the window. The minimum allowed height of the main window has been reduced, it can now fit the screen on some laptops where previously the window was too large for the screen
  • Method B reworked, it now produces good image in some of the difficult cases that previously resulted in artifacts
  • Performance improved, especially on multi-core systems
  • Memory consumption optimized, it is now bound to a certain fraction of system's total memory (configurable in Preferences -> Performance). Within that limit, Helicon Focus will use as much memory as possible to avoid re-computing things, and, ultimately, to speed up rendering
  • Disk cache optimized to avoid situations when all the free space is used up by Helicon Focus
  • Numerous bug fixes and stability improvements

New in Helicon Focus 6.7.2 (Sep 1, 2018)

  • Updated Adobe DNG converter
  • Minor performance improvements

New in Helicon Focus 6.7.1 (May 27, 2016)

  • Lightroom integration: Helicon Focus no longer exits automatically upon saving the rendering result
  • Batch processing, command line mode: TIFFs are now saved with LZW compression by default
  • Some other minor improvements

New in Helicon Focus 6.6.1 (Mar 7, 2016)

  • Minor performance improvements
  • Idle CPU load reduced on OS X
  • Fixed "phantom" brush strokes that were sometimes applied when switching source images

New in Helicon Focus 6.6.0 (Mar 1, 2016)

  • 3D Viewer video export error on OS X fixed
  • Fixed saving results as DNG in batch processing mode
  • Drag and drop support implemented for the batch processing dialog
  • Fixed splitting stacks by shooting time
  • Fixed a couple errors in managing stacks in the batch processing dialog
  • Silent compilation: fixed the message about missing DNG converter
  • Color profile is now properly applied in silent compilation mode
  • Fixed rendering grayscale (single-channel) and 4-channel (alpha) images (all processing modes)
  • Output image DPI is always set to the value specified in Helicon Focus settings now
  • Rendering performance improved on multi-core CPUs

New in Helicon Focus 6.5.2 (Jan 13, 2016)

  • Fixed the program freezing on startup on some machines where it has never been run before
  • EXIF metadata is now properly transferred to the resulting images in batch processing mode
  • Fixed a crash or lockup when cancelling render in progress
  • Fixed integration with Helicon Remote on Mac OS X
  • Error handling improved in some cases

New in Helicon Focus 6.4.1 (Nov 4, 2015)

  • Fixed a rare render issue

New in Helicon Focus 6.4.0 (Nov 4, 2015)

  • New feature: the resulting image can be shared on Facebook
  • A few minor user interface improvements

New in Helicon Focus 6.3.8 (Oct 18, 2015)

  • Retouching: fixed a crash when trying to use another output as source
  • Retouching: fixed an error that was preventing you from retouching pixels that are entirely on the source image
  • Panorama stitching crash fixed
  • Focus stacking progress indicator fixed
  • Another rare crash fixed
  • Added support for dropping folders (including arbitrary number of subfolders) the same ways you drop files
  • Auto update issues fixed

New in Helicon Focus 6.3.7 (Oct 18, 2015)

  • Fixed the memory consumption issue that appeared in 6.3.6
  • Fixed the image loading error when changing the RAW codec while an image preview was loading

New in Helicon Focus 6.3.6 (Sep 24, 2015)

  • Many minor stability fixes

New in Helicon Focus 6.3.5 (Jun 25, 2015)

  • Many minor stability fixes.

New in Helicon Focus 6.3.2 (Apr 30, 2015)

  • Improved export layers functionality
  • Added Texture only option for retouching brushes
  • Fixed RAW-in-DNG-out mode
  • Many minor stability fixes

New in Helicon Focus 6.3.0 (Mar 17, 2015)

  • RAW-in-DNG-out mode, which allows to process RAW files in native color space and save result as DNG file
  • Many stability and performance fixes

New in Helicon Focus 6.2.2 (Sep 6, 2014)

  • Bug with saving TIFFs is fixed
  • New method of auto-splitting panorama and HDR stacks

New in Helicon Focus 6.2.0 (Jul 7, 2014)

  • New Enqueue stacks window for processing of multiple folders
  • Splitting stacks by number, time interval and exposure
  • RAW development with native Mac OS X codecs
  • Retouching using other output images

New in Helicon Focus 6.1.2 (Jun 11, 2014)

  • Fixed bug with saving TIFF files
  • Fixed DPI info in output bug
  • Fixed Lightroom plugin bug

New in Helicon Focus 6.1.0 (May 13, 2014)

  • Raw development settings
  • Command line mode fixed

New in Helicon Focus 6.0.18 (Jan 30, 2014)

  • Better performance and scalability
  • Simpler and faster interface
  • Asynchronous stacking
  • Ability to save projects and continue retouching later
  • Better RAW handling

New in Helicon Focus 4.2.9 (Jun 19, 2012)

  • Added plug-in installation for exporting images from Lightroom.
  • Added new render method "C".
  • Updated Helicon Focus engine.
  • Improved performance for application processes.
  • Fixed some UI bugs.

New in Helicon Focus 4.2.7 (Dec 14, 2010)

  • Improved stability while processing a lot of images

New in Helicon Focus 4.2.6 (Nov 5, 2010)

  • Fixed an issue with retouching on Mac OS X 10.5.x.
  • Fixed a few translation issues.

New in Helicon Focus 4.2.5 (Sep 20, 2010)

  • Fixed issue with alignment of images.

New in Helicon Focus 4.2.4 (Sep 7, 2010)

  • Fixed processing some Nikon RAW files

New in Helicon Focus 4.2.3 (Aug 14, 2010)

  • Added Photoshop-like dragging in retouching mode.
  • Improved overall stability.
  • Fixed a batch of UI issues.

New in Helicon Focus 4.2.2 (Jul 13, 2010)

  • Updated image processing engine.
  • Improved performance.
  • Improved stability of Helicon 3D Viewer.
  • Improved stability of 32-bit version.
  • Improved support of 16-bit images in Micro Panorama and 3D-models export.
  • Fixed several issues with exporting web-animation.

New in Helicon Focus 4.2.1 (Oct 3, 2009)

  • Fixed random crash on processing big number of stacks.
  • Improved error handling.
  • German localization is improved.
  • Fixed issue when 3D-models were flipped after export from Helicon Focus.
  • Improved export from Helicon 3D Viewer.

New in Helicon Focus 4.2 (Sep 5, 2009)

  • Introduced German localization.
  • Introduced export result as web-animation.
  • Introduced 3d-viewer and export result as 3d-model.
  • Tested on Snow Leopard.

New in Helicon Focus 4.1.1 (Jun 28, 2009)

  • Introduced possibility to specify directory for temporary files.
  • Introduced opportunity to change output image DPI.
  • Improved performance.
  • Improved image processing.
  • Fixed a batch of UI issues.

New in Helicon Focus 4.1 (Apr 16, 2009)

  • Starting from 4.1 we dropped support of the Mac OS X 10.4.11 (Tiger); Tiger users can download Helicon Focus 4.0.5 with Multiprocessor support feature enabled for all types of licenses (Lite, Pro, Pro X64).
  • Multiprocessor license is replaced with Pro X64 license for all users.
  • Introduced possibility to run in 64 bit mode for users with Pro X64 license.
  • Improved performance.
  • Fixed a batch of UI issues.

New in Helicon Focus 4.0.4 (Mar 31, 2009)

  • Introduced possibility to clean dust artifacts.
  • Improved overall stability.

New in Helicon Focus 4.0.3 (Mar 31, 2009)

  • Improved depth map visualization performance.

New in Helicon Focus 4.0.2 (Mar 21, 2009)

  • Significantly improved performance and memory usage.
  • Introduced depth map visualization while using copy source retouching tool.
  • Corrected saving of 48-bit images to PSD format.
  • Introduced possibility to save results in number of additional image formats.
  • Improved overall stability.

New in Helicon Focus 4.0.1 (Jan 31, 2009)

  • Improved performance on PowerPC machines.
  • Improved stability in Panorama and Saving modes.
  • Introduced new interpolation methods.
  • Introduced more Photoshop-like keyboard shortcuts.
  • Introduced more actions in po-up menu of the source images table view.
  • Fixed a batch of user interface issues.

New in Helicon Focus 4.0 RC16 (Dec 30, 2008)

  • Fixed various crashes while working in Retouching mode.
  • Improved zooming.
  • Improved performance of undo/redo in Retouching mode.
  • Auto update is improved.
  • Introduced "Check for Update" menu item in Application menu.

New in Helicon Focus 4.0 RC15 (Dec 29, 2008)

  • Improved performance while using brushes in retouching mode.
  • Fixed some of UI issues.
  • Improved progress indication.