Photo Mechanic Plus Current Version Loses Colors

[jkm]

Thank you so much!

The same issue is happening on both of two completely unrelated 10-keypads, so it's probably not the make and model that matters.

However, the one I was using for over a year was havit brand model KB662.

The one I tried today was Kisnt brand model KN34.

My main keyboard is Logitech G715.

[jkm]

At first I thought maybe my external drive was in read-only mode somehow. Because the beeps made me think the files couldn't be modified.

I've never seen anything like this before, especially since the keystrokes are coming through. It's just the 10-keypad hardware being blocked, and only for the 1-5 rating keystrokes, not any other keys like Esc on the keypads, and only by Photo Mechanic, and only when trying to rate photos. The keystrokes work fine elsewhere in Photo Mechanic, even when trying to set the shortcut in the preferences panel. They just don't work when trying to actually use them to rate photos.

Perhaps the biggest help for diagnosing what's causing the issue is the "beep" -- what lines of code in Photo Mechanic produce a beep when a key is typed on a keyboard? One of those code statements is being triggered somehow.

[Kirk Baker]

At first I thought maybe my external drive was in read-only mode somehow. Because the beeps made me think the files couldn't be modified.

I've never seen anything like this before, especially since the keystrokes are coming through. It's just the 10-keypad hardware being blocked, and only for the 1-5 rating keystrokes, not any other keys like Esc on the keypads, and only by Photo Mechanic, and only when trying to rate photos. The keystrokes work fine elsewhere in Photo Mechanic, even when trying to set the shortcut in the preferences panel. They just don't work when trying to actually use them to rate photos.

Perhaps the biggest help for diagnosing what's causing the issue is the "beep" -- what lines of code in Photo Mechanic produce a beep when a key is typed on a keyboard? One of those code statements is being triggered somehow.

There are 33 places in PM where it directly plays a beep sound in reaction to user input.  None are there for specific 1-5 keys or for 5-star ratings themselves.  I'll obtain one or both of the 10-key keypads that you listed and see if I can reproduce the problem.

It is also possible that the macOS "Cocoa" framework which Photo Mechanic is built upon is causing the beep.

-Kirk

[Kirk Baker]

Is this the one?  See below.

[Kirk Baker]

Or perhaps this one?  It's hard to find the actual model numbers but this one claims to be KN34:

[Kirk Baker]

I've gone ahead and ordered the second one and it should arrive tomorrow morning.  I'll try to reproduce and fix your issue once it arrives.

-Kirk

[jkm]

Thank you very much! You are truly amazing!!!

[Kirk Baker]

One of our support guys was able to reproduce the problem by using the Keyboard Viewer with a customized extended keyboard.  With it, I was able to diagnose and fix the issue.

Please try this build and let me know if it works (or not):

https://www.camerabits.com/download/PhotoMechanicR8601_b8533a43.dmg

Thanks,

-Kirk

[jkm]

Trying it right now! Thank you so much!

[jkm]

It works flawlessly so far! Wow, thank you a million times!!!

[Kirk Baker]

It works flawlessly so far! Wow, thank you a million times!!!

You're welcome.

-Kirk

[jkm]

If I understand correctly, the release candidate I have been using (very well so far with no issues) expires today: Build 8612, from June 5, 2025.

And I have checked the forum to see if there is an update, but it now says it is "off limits." As well as clicking Check for updates within the program. But no updates are found.

Assuming that I have a lot of work tomorrow (which I do), will I need to go back to the January, 2025 version (ugh) when I am working tomorrow?

Or is there a new release candidate coming out with an extended lifetime beyond 6/15?

Thank you so much!!

[Kirk Baker]

Please get the update here:

https://forums.camerabits.com/index.php?topic=16841.0

[jkm]

Quick question: for some reason, the release candidate still works (I forgot to even think about it again until now, sorry).

And when I check for updates, it doesn't show any are available:

"Photo Mechanic 2025.6, build 8612 (1de1b5e) is currently the newest version available."

The build in the link you posted appears to be a lower build and/or on a different build numbering system.

"Photo Mechanic Plus, build 7285"

Is it actually newer, or is the same as the build I am using now?

Will it be better for me to keep using build 8612 as long as it works and is it essentially the same thing, or is build 7285 improved from it?

Thank you so much!

Build 8612 is working very well right now, and until something breaks I tend to have a "don't fix it if it isn't broken" kind of philosophy, at least for things I rely on each day like Photo Mechanic itself versus the other inferior options.

--

Update: By the way, I do have the annual subscription license active through December. Will this automatically give me the new Photo Mechanic Plus 2025 version whenever that is released? Or will I need to resubscribe and cancel my existing annual subscription?

[jkm]

Update again: I logged in to my email and clicked the Universal download for MacOS button and I got version 8612 again. So I guess that isn't actually the release candidate, but the real latest software.

Strangely, it shows up as Photo Mechanic on the program file name, not Photo Mechanic Plus, until it is launched, and the the menu bar app name changes to have the Plus at the end. No big deal, I guess some kind of licensing detection.