Important changes with Imatest 3.6

Starting with Imatest 3.6, the new R2009B compiler (Version 4.11) replaces the old R13 compiler (Version 3.0.1). The new compiler requires a much larger library download: the 178MB Matlab Compiler Runtime (MCR) (a sort of virtual machine). Imatest is normally compiled as a 32-bit application, which runs on 32 and 64-bit computers. (64-bit applications have little performance advantage and won't run on 32-bit computers.)

The first time you download Imatest 3.6+ you should click on Full version, which contains the MCR. The download and installation may take several minutes each. When the installation is finished,

Once the MCR has been installed, you should click on Upgrade only to update Imatest.

If you try running Imatest before the MCR has been installed the following message may appear. 

This application has failed to start because mclmcrrt711.dll was not found.

Except as noted, the following instructions apply to all Imatest versions.

Install Imatest

If you haven't dowloaded Imatest, go to the Imatest download page before proceding.

[Pre-3.6-only: If you plan to install Imatest on a computer that will not be conected to the Internet during installation (or if you are behind a strong corporate firewall), download the Matlab runtime library, Imatest-lib.exe (8.5 MB), to the same folder as the Imatest installer file. This only needs to be done on the initial installation, not for updates. If Imatest-lib.exe is not in this folder during installation, the installer attempts to download it from the Internet. ]

You must have administrator priveleges on your computer during installation. This is rarely an issue, except on networked systems with strong security.

If you have a strong personal firewall, you may need to disable it before you install Imatest for the first time. You may re-enable it when the installation is complete. This should not be necessary on subsequent installations.

Open Windows Explorer and double-click on the Imatest installer file, Imatest-version.exe. (Version is the version number, 2.n.m. The Change Log contains the update history.) The version is displayed in the welcome window. Follow the instructions in the installation wizard (mostly clicking Next >). The Imatest installation requires approximately 34 MB (mostly the Matlab libraries).

Imatest installer welcome screen

When you install Imatest you agree to the terms of the Imatest license, which allows you to register and use the software on a single workstation used nonsimultaneously by one or more people. It is not a concurrent use license. The full text of the license can be found here.

Imatest can be run by clicking the Imatest icon  on the Desktop, the Start menu, or in the Imatest installation folder (C:\Program files\Imatest in English language installations). Instructions for running Imatest are located in Imatest instructions. Links to instructions for individual Imatest modules are located in the Imatest Documentation page.

[Pre-3.6: If you encounter difficulties (usually caused by strong firewalls), make sure Imatest-lib.exe is in the same folder as the Imatest installer file. More details can be found on the Troubleshooting page. ]

When you first run Imatest, it will be in evaluation mode, which allows up to 20 runs of individual modules. Evaluation mode has all the capabilities of  the registered version except for two.

  1. It does not save results files.
  2. There is a watermark in the background of the plots.

You can upgrade to full unrestricted version by purchasing and registering Imatest.

Enhanced EXIF data acquisition

EXIF data is image file metadata that contains camera and lens settings. Selected EXIF data (important values such as aperture, exposure time, ISO speed, and focal length) is displayed in several figures and saved in CSV and XML output files.The jhead.exe program included in the standard Imatest installation can only read limited EXIF data from JPEG files. Imatest's EXIF acquisition capabilities can be greatly enhanced using Phil Harvey's ExifTool, which must be downloaded and installed separately from Imatest:

Purchase Imatest

You may purchase Imatest at any time from Imatest's online store. You will be entitled to updates for one year from the date of purchase. After one year you will need to renew your subscription to install new upgrades.

Click here to go to the Imatest purchase page.

You can also click on the Purchase button in the Imatest main window.

Imatest main window: evaluation mode after one run
Imatest main window in evaluation mode

After you purchase Imatest you'll receive an e-mail confirmation of your purchase. This may take a few minutes. You may register Imatest as soon as you receive this e-mail; the password is the same one you used to sign up to Imatest.com. If you don't receive the email within about fifteen minutes, contact us.

Register imatest

After you've installed and purchased Imatest  or Imatest Renewal you'll need to register it by clicking on the Register button in the Imatest main window or by clicking on Help, Register. It's a good idea to check the Imatest download page or Change log for the latest version.

If you have a personal firewall, be sure to disable it before you register. You may re-enable it as soon as registration is complete. If you can't disable it or you can't register following the instructions below, try Offline registration.

You must have administrator priveleges on your computer. This is rarely an issue, except on networked systems with strong security.

Fill in the the Register Imatest window: Enter your name, company (if applicable), e-mail, and the password you entered when you signed up on Imatest.com, then click on Register. If you forgot your password, click on Recover password. This opens a web page that enables you to recover your lost password via e-mail.

Imatest registration window
Registration window

If your computer is connected to the internet, you will receive a confirmation of your registration. The version of Imatest you purchased (Master or Studio) will be activated immediately. In rare instances where the pressing Register hangs up the computer, click on Manual activation and follow the instructions below.

Offline registration

If your computer is offline, or if you are unable to connect because of a firewall that can't be disabled, the following box appears in response to Register.

Click on Offline activation. The box below appears with instructions for offline (manual) registration. Steps 2-4 can be performed on any computer connected to the internet.

On www.imatest.com/activate, fill in all the fields as shown below, then click  Make Activation Code . Don't leave any fields blank— always enter something. Your code will be e-mailed to you. Enter it into the Activation key: field, above.

Reminder: For offline installation, the Matlab runtime library, Imatest-lib.exe (8.5 MB), must be downloaded to the same folder as the Imatest installer file. If you have difficulties, refer to the Troubleshooting page.


Files


When the installation is complete the Imatest folder should contain the following folders and files.

The default installation folder for Imatest is C:\Program files\Imatest.
(It may differ in non-English installations.)

.
samples  (folder) Contains several image files with sample data for testing the three Imatest modules. Includes several cropped JPEG files for testing SFR, indicated by _sfr in their names.
Canon_EOS10d_ColorCheck_lt_small.jpg — for testing Colorcheck.
Canon_EOS10D_Q13_ISO400_small.jpg — for testing Q-13.
Edge_chart.png and Edge_chart_low.png — the printable SFR edge images.The latter (low contrast) is recommended.
images (folder) Contains several image files used by Imatest.
bin (folder) Contains the .fig files used in the graphic user interface (GUI), as well as Matlab library files. Includes FigureMenuBar.fig and FigureToolBar.fig: library files missing from Imatest-lib.exe.
toolbox (folder) Subdirectories contain Matlab library files (mostly DLLs).
Imatest (full name Imatest.lnk) The standard icon for running Imatest. Runs start.bat, which sets the path then runs imatest.exe. Copied to Windows Start Menu and Desktop.
Diagnoistics (full name Diagnostics.lnk) Runs Imatest in diagnostic mode. Doesn't close when Imatest terminates. This allows error messages to be viewed. Runs diagnostics.bat, which sets the path then runs imatest.exe.
jhead.exe DOS application for reading EXIF data (digital camera information).
dcraw.exe Dave Coffin's dcraw RAW conversion program.
imatest.exe Imatest executable program.
start.bat
imadiag.bat
Batch files that set the Windows Path and run Imatest.exe. Diagnostics.bat is used for diagnostic mode: the DOS window remains open if Imatest terminates with an error.
License.txt The Imatest End User License Agreement (EULA)

The Imatest License

The Imatest license for Studio and Master allows an individual user to register and use the software on (A) a maximum of three computers (for example, home, laptop, and office) used exclusively by a single individual, or (B) a single workstation used nonsimultaneously by multiple people, but not both. It is not a concurrent use license.

License holders are encouraged to publish test results in printed publications, websites, and discussion forums, provided they include links to www.imatest.com. You may not use Imatest for advertising or product promotion without explicit permission from Imatest LLC. Contact us if you have questions. The full text of the license can be found here.




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