CombineZP is the next application in the CombineZ family of image stacking programs. While it can look and feel like CombineZM the two are not compatible. In particular Macro Sets written for one will not work on the other. Because of this if you wish to run the two programs side by side, they should be in different folders. Many of the familiar macro sets have been updated and included in the packaged version of the program, and brief descriptions of them added to the Help system.
New Features
I have included a Simple Mode using a Tool Bar interface, the complex looking menus posed difficulties for some people. The old menu system is still available via a button on the Tool Bar, and the Tool Bar can be restored by an item on the View Menu. The Options Dialog on the File Menu now includes a button to switch On/Off Simple Mode at startup.
A new stacking method is included, the Pyramid Method. This has involved creating a new Pyramid Menu, and expanding the Default Macros.
All of the text displayed by the program as dialogs, menus, on the progress box and as messages etc. is now in the Resource section of the program. This makes it easier for anyone who wishes to translate this into another language. All text handling now uses the Unicode system, this includes file paths etc. meaning accented characters should now work properly.
The name of the Macro running can be added to any frame generated by it, see the 'All Methods' Standard Macro for an example.
All of the features in CombineZM are included. Some of these added recently include colour manipulation, a more flexible Find Detail function, new Macro Commands including the ability to save frames inside Macros, an Automatic Shift and Rotate alignment function, and a Help system.
Please note the following restrictions/requirements for CombineZP to run properly, and legally.
Where possible please make sure you have the latest version by checking the date in the 'About Box'.
Questions of a general nature can be asked at:-
I have fixed a bug in the Batch Processor that prevented macro sets other than the default one from being selected. All sets in the same folder as CombineZP.exe should now be displayed.
I have replaced the frame grabber functions with Direct Show versions (they used to be WIA). This means that the camera manufacturers settings dialog is directly available, you can choose preview and capture frame sizes and the frame rate of the preview.
I have removed 'New Stack' from the Acquire submenu and added 'Empty Stack' to the file menu in it's place.
You can now use the number pad '*' key to choose whether a frame is used or not, it has a toggle action.
I have added further functionality to the 'Correct Brightness' function that is used to remove dust spots and correct for uneven colour/brightness due to camera and lighting effects.
I have also corrected a few bugs, e.g. the wrong text was being displayed in the Progress box in some circumstances.
The Help files have been modified to reflect these changes.
CombineZP Package and the .zip folder version of the same.
I have fixed a bug which allowed you to reserve more memory than is available on your system. All of the files that are in the .zip and .msi versions are now available seperately as listed below along with the two versions of the package and the source as a zipped copy of my Visual Studio C++ workspace.
Gnu Public Licence, you must aggree to the terms of this licence if you use this software. Also you must honour the copyright of Microsoft and other components of the packages.
CombineZP Package and the same as a .zip folder, to install the full package download either. The formor is self installing, the latter must be unzipped and which ever files you wish to use placed together in a folder on your computer. If installing the Package remember to uninstall the old version first if it is installed. You may need to install Microsoft .net Framework Version 1.1 before installing the CombineZP package if it is not already on your system.
The Program CombineZP.exe can be downloaded and your old version replaced with this one to update to the latest version, this is a quicker route for updating when only the .exe has changed. In a similar way CZPBatch.exe is also available.
The Help System can be downloaded and placed in the same folder as CombineZP.exe to update your system. If you do download this file you may need to 'Unlock' it first berfore it becomes visible from within CombineZP. To do this right click on it and click on Properties in the popup menu. On the general tab of this dialog click on the button that says 'Unlock' then 'OK'.
The following .dll files are used by CombineZP, some of them may
already be on your system as part of your Windows installation. For
the latest versions of the Microsoft files please visit the appropriate web
sites, they are only provided here as a stop gap.
fftw3.dll
gdiplus.dll Microsoft Windows Graphics (for loading
and displaying pictures)
mfc71u.dll part of Microsoft Visyual C++
mfc71.dll part of Microsoft Visyual C++
msvcr71.dll part of Microsoft Visyual C++
WMVCore.DLL Microsoft Windows Media (for movies etc.)
The following Macro Sets are now included as part of the installation
package
3d.czm
Add Text.czm
Background Correction.czm
Colour Correction.czm
Depth Blend.czm
Do Stack.czm
DRE.czm
Fade In Out.czm
Insert Frames.czm
Pyramid Maximum Contrast.czm
Pyramid Weighted Average.czm
Reduce Noise.czm
Remove Duplicates.czm
Reversing Stack.czm
RGB and HSG.czm
Rocker.czm
Saturation.czm
Sharpen.czm
Show Differences.czm
Strict Alignment.czm
Take Manual Pictures.czm
The desktop icon for CZBatch is now callaed CZPBatch, this may stop conflict with CombineZM when both are installed. I have also fixed the bug which caused files saved from within macros to be saved incorrectly. The is also a slight improvement to the Pyramid functions, HDR images are handled slightly better.
First release of CombineZP Package and the same as a .zip folder, use the zipped version if you have trouble installing the package just unzip everything into a new folder.