PhotoTangler Collage Maker

PhotoTangler Collage Maker 2 Support FAQ

On this page, we provide answers to common questions related to PhotoTangler for desktop computers. If your question is not answered on this page, please .

This support page is mostly focused on technical issues and troubleshooting. If you're more interested in learning how to use PhotoTangler effectively, we suggest reading the Knowledge Base Articles for some great tutorials.

What are the minimum system requirements to run PhotoTangler? And what would be ideal?

PhotoTangler 2 should run on any major version of Windows (XP/7/8/10), as long as the graphics card supports OpenGL 3.0. That version of the OpenGL standard was introduced over 8 years ago (2008), and nearly any modern computer should support it "out of the box." If for any reason your computer doesn't appear to, you may wish to check with the manufacturer and/or update your graphics drivers to the latest version. We've tried to keep the graphics requirements as low as possible, but some of the advanced processing done in the application requires use of sophisticated features that are only available in more modern versions of OpenGL.

As far as ideal requirements, the better the graphics card in your computer, the better the performance should be. A good gaming rig, for example, should run PhotoTangler extremely well. For most common uses however, PhotoTangler should run well on average consumer hardware. If you're having problems with performance, please let us know (along with the specs of your computer.)


When I start the program it says that OpenGL 3.0 is required, how do I update the graphics drivers?

If you believe your computer should support OpenGL 3.0 (most modern computers should) but you get that startup message, you can try the following steps to update your graphics driver:
  • 1) Go to Start Menu, then open the Control Panel.
  • 2) In the search box at the top right, type "Device Manager" Click on that.
  • 3) Expand / double-click "Display adapters" (or some equivalent in the list)
  • 4) Right-click on your display adapter, and select "Update Driver Software."
  • If you know the manufacturer of your graphics card, such as NVIDIA or ATI/AMD, you may wish to install the drivers they make available on their own web sites through the support links.


    Is it OK to install PhotoTangler 2 alongside PhotoTangler 1, or do I need to uninstall it first?

    You should be able to have both versions installed simultaneously. They should basically appear as two completely separate programs on your system. The new one will show up by default in a folder marked as "PhotoTangler 2", so it won't overwrite the old one unless you specifically choose the same location on purpose.


    After purchasing PhotoTangler online, how do I unlock the full version? Will I receive a physical CD?

    PhotoTangler is available as a digital download only. Due to cost and convenience at this time, we do not ship any physical CDs or other media. The way it works is that you download the free trial. Once you decide to purchase a license, an e-mail will be sent to you with an Authentication Code and a Registration Key tied to your specific order. When you run the program, you should see a button to "Unlock" the software. Enter the registration details you received, and you should have the fully activated version of the software ready to go instantly. If at any time you need to re-install the software or switch to another computer, just repeat this process on your new system and it should work the same.


    What if unlocking fails? Why are there two registration codes?

    The only known situation where unlocking PhotoTangler appears to fail, is when a user is trying to unlock the older release (version 1) of PhotoTangler using a code they purchased for version 2. The two versions use completely different registration code systems, and therefore are not transferable. You can check which version you're running using the "Help" menu, followed by "About..."

    We currently only sell and support the latest release (version 2) of PhotoTangler through this web site, but unfortunately we've been made aware of some cases where other, unrelated web sites still provide version 1 of our older trial download while linking to our current web site for purchasing the code for version 2. Again, that will not work. If you downloaded PhotoTangler from a site other than this one, please where so we can ask them to either remove or upgrade it. If the situation above is what happened for you, there are a couple options to consider:
  • You can download the latest free trial of version 2 from this web site to use instead.
  • Or, if you really prefer the older version (or version 2 doesn't work on your computer), please contact us and we can tell you how to convert your existing order into a code that works for version 1. It's important to note however that version 1 is no longer supported or maintained. This option is only ideal in special circumstances, as version 2 should offer a much more complete set of features.
  • If neither version works to your liking, and you already purchased a key directly through this web site, you can contact us to discuss a refund.


    How can you retrieve a lost registration code from a past purchase?

    If you purchased PhotoTangler through our web site but no longer have access to the registration details that were sent to you, we can re-send the original information as long as you have access to the same e-mail address you used at the time of purchase. Simply with your request and we can re-send the registration information right away.

    If, however, you no longer have access to the original e-mail address that was used, we would need to update the e-mail address on file. To do so, we would need to verify the receipt from your original purchase. For example if you purchased the product through PayPal, you could forward the PayPal receipt to verify the purchase, as well as the new e-mail address you'd like to use, and we'd be able to restore the code that way.

    If you do not have access to the original e-mail address or the original receipt, unfortunately we might not be able to restore your registration details. We encourage all customers to store a copy of their registration details after purchase, in case they're ever needed at a future time.


    Are there any training videos or tutorials for using PhotoTangler?

    While most of the basics are self-explanatory, we encourage you to read the Knowledge Base Articles for tips and tutorials on how to use the program more effectively. Additionally, we have a series of basic training videos that are available via this playlist.


    If you purchase(d) PhotoTangler, what upgrades are you eligible for?

    If you purchased PhotoTangler for Windows before the launch of PhotoTangler 2.0 (27 June 2016), you may be eligible for a free upgrade to the new release. To redeem this offer, visit here.

    Going forward, purchasing PhotoTangler entitles you to free updates released with the same major version number. More specifically, new purchasers of PhotoTangler 1.x (after the aforementioned date) will not be able to acquire version 2.0 for free. New purchasers of version 2.x will be eligible for updates until a hypothetical version 3 is released. For the foreseeable future however, we intend to continue releasing updates primarily in the 2.x series, meaning new purchasers will get all of those updates for free. There are no official plans to move up to version 3 at this time, but if we decide to develop one someday in the future, there may be additional discounts for upgrading later on.

    Please note that upgrade eligibility is valid for the core software only. Future add-ons, such as additional image effect packs, may still cost extra.


    Who makes and/or supports PhotoTangler?

    PhotoTangler was designed and written by an individual developer, Kurt Miller. Through approximately Q4 2018, PhotoTangler was sold under the name "Solid Eight Studios." It has since switched to "Kurtopia Labs", though remains under the ownership of the original developer (who continues to support it.) While we hope to avoid confusion with the name change during the transition period, note that it's essentially just an administrative change on the development side. It should not affect customer orders or ongoing support. While the name "Solid Eight Studios" has been phased out (and should not appear in future versions of the software), we obviously can not control or recall older versions of the software already out there. If you wish to contact support, please .