Today's developer did itself no favors with software which on install re-set any SoftOrbits products already in existence on a user's computer and de-activated their licenses. SoftOrbits never offered a credible reason why.
If things have changed, then good. Less than good, however, is the commercial proposition of Sketch Drawer as a retail product.

Though free today, the $50 re-install price is a no-no: the always free FotoSketcher from hobbyist David Thoiron has been trouncing look-alike competition for the past 10 years, and seems set to continue to do so for the foreseeable future:

https://fotosketcher.com/

Thoiron's pioneering "artwork-for-amateurs" software was developed for his own use and for any happy amateur with a similar interest. Its success probably surprised even him, because many an art department professional has been captivated during its decade-long evolution, especially as Thoiron has never put any restriction on its commercial usage.

One caveat does attach to FotoSketcher though: you learn as you use it, because true to its roots, it's software for someone who wants to experiment as they go along. There's no hefty User Manual, rather a single tutorial comprising a couple of pages which you can download and PDF print. Yet if anyone spends just 15 minutes duplicating that 'project' on their own computer, they're up and running and ready to create their own sketches, oil paintings or water colors:

http://fotosketcher.blogspot.co.uk/2013/08/fotosketcher-250-complete-tutorial.html

As with SoftOrbits' Sketch Drawer though, so, too, with Thoiron's FotoSketcher; you are going to be contending with time spans of minutes, not seconds, with unique creations progressively worked up from the digital palette there on your desktop, not one-click instant transformations. Your computer's capabilities, as well as the source material and what you're seeking to do with it, need always to be borne in mind.

I tried out a previous giveaway of today's software only to uninstall it because it didn't as a commercial offering do what Thoiron's freeware did for nothing. The $50 re-install cost of today's giveaway is a huge disincentive to finding out if things have changed. Where its pricing policy is concerned, SoftOrbits needs -- almost literally -- to go back to the drawing board.

MikeR  –  9 years ago  –  Ritieni questo commento utile? sì | no (+104)

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Hi MikeR,
I'm David, author of FotoSketcher, and I wanted to thank you for your very nice mention of my program :)
I'm also a user of giveawayoftheday and have downloaded many a fine application here (like Icecream PDF Converter or Inpaint, to name but a couple). So to the giveawayoftheday team, keep up the good work! And you are right, FotoSketcher will remain a giveaway every day ;)
All the best,
David

Hi MikeR, I'm David, author of FotoSketcher, and I wanted to thank you for your very nice mention of my program :) I'm also a user of giveawayoftheday and have downloaded many a fine application here (like Icecream PDF Converter or Inpaint, to name but a couple). So to the giveawayoftheday team, keep up the good work! And you are right, FotoSketcher will remain a giveaway every day ;) All the best, David
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DavidT  –  9 years ago  –  Ritieni questo commento utile? sì | no (+113)

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I downloaded this as a giveaway last time around, and it was licensed. A month or two back, when I needed to use it, it went back to unlicensed! said I needed to buy it. GOTD should not let vendors put up a program, that will change/revert back at some later date (just when the individual needs it). either it is free, or don't offer it here, as you will anger some folks :-)

Jim Curry  –  9 years ago  –  Ritieni questo commento utile? sì | no (+92)

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Jim Curry,

This is normal experience of many users of giveaway software by SoftOrbits.
After a while, you learn what to avoid.

Jim Curry, This is normal experience of many users of giveaway software by SoftOrbits. After a while, you learn what to avoid.
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ric  –  9 years ago  –  Ritieni questo commento utile? sì | no (+48)

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Used previous version of this program and it works reasonably well.

Would want much better than reasonably well for a one trick pony costing about $50.

FotoSketcher has been mentioned, it is fast and produces some good results.
It is available at the following link:-
http://fotosketcher.com/download-fotosketcher/

Consider today's offering ridiculously overpriced, as are many programs today.

XP-Man  –  9 years ago  –  Ritieni questo commento utile? sì | no (+30)

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