FilmStar Free Version

The file you will download contains the Free Version of FilmStar DESIGN for 32-bit Windows. While this includes powerful evaluation and optimization facilities, the choice of indices is restricted. Since supplied values are close to actual ones and include dispersive aluminum and silver, the Free Version may be all that is necessary for what-if calculations and educational purposes. There is no restriction on the number of layers or on printing, saving, etc.

1. Installer
FilmStar Free Version 2.60.1310

FtgFree32.exe (10.1M)

  Vista users click here! 

2. Installation Password InfoForm.htm
3. Manuals in Adobe format

Get Acrobat Reader

 DESIGN (1.04M, 29 Jan 08)
BASIC (627K, 13 Jul 02)
Workbook (147K, 20 Apr 99)

If FilmStar crashes at startup or gives a gdiplus.dll error,
 download or locate gdiplus.dll on your computer and copy
it to c:\windows\system32 or c:\winnt\system32.

Please contact FTG Software if you have problems and questions.

The "Corrupt installation detected" error indicates that you
do not have rights to install software (Windows NT/2000/XP)

If you are running Windows XP/Vista and are not the Administrator:

  • Can't save data files? Ask the Administrator to set Winfilm (assuming you used the default directory) as a shared directory. Or move Winfilm subfolders to Shared Documents or My Documents (be sure to adjust File Configuration Directories in FilmStar).

FilmStar has no 'beginning, middle and end'. There is no particular sequence that must be followed, except that film index symbols (fixed in the Free Version) must be defined before being used in a design.

Context sensitive help may be obtained at nearly any point in the program. Don't be afraid to browse. Examine all the dialog boxes and repeatedly press <F1> for explanations. To get up and running quickly try the following:

  1. In the File menu verify that FILM Archive Mode is checked.
  2. Click File...Open...FILM Archive (<Ctrl+F12>) and load FILM file BBAR.
  3. Click button Calculate and evaluate the spectrum.
  4. Click Optimize...Optimize (<Ctrl+O>) and refine the design for 10 iterations.
  5. Now calculate again and click Design...Review (<Ctrl+R>) to see the new design.
  6. Click Evalulate...Interactor (<Ctrl+Q>) to enable the FilmStar Interactor!!!

If any of this doesn't work, please contact us for help. The on-line reference manual is the same as the full version.

Windows Vista Installation

FilmStar runs under Windows Vista, but there are conflicting reports concerning required adjustments.

1. When running the installer, fsfree32.exe, you may need to specify XP compatibility mode.

Right-click the .exe file name in Windows Explorer and select Properties from the menu. Then Select the Compatibility tab and select a Compatibility mode, typically Windows XP.

2. If you get the fatal 'Unexpected Error; Quitting' message box when attempting to run FilmStar (Demo132.exe), you need to disable UAC (User Account Control).

From the Control Panel, select User Accounts and locate the Turn User Account Control... link. Clear the UAC checkbox and reboot.

Since 1982, FTG Software Associates has provided full-time support for its optical thin film software products. We're the world-leader with hundreds of customers around the world. Companies like Oerlikon (formerly Balzers), Carl Zeiss, Avimo, Leica, Kodak and Canon rely on us to support their work in optical thin films.

Copyright © 2008 FTG Software Associates
 Last updated on May 08, 2008