AKVIS News

Update of AKVIS Artistic Bundle: Sketch 13.5, ArtWork 6.5, ArtSuite 8.0 - CS6 Compatibility!

Mon, 14 May 2012 12:00:55 +0600

Three AKVIS programs for artistic effects creation and photo decoration have been updated! We are glad to release AKVIS Sketch v.13.5, AKVIS ArtWork v.6.5, and AKVIS ArtSuite v.8.0.

Bugs have been fixed, and the plug-in versions are now compatible with Adobe Photoshop CS6 and with the upcoming Photoshop Elements 11.

All of these products are available in two variants: as plugins and as standalone applications, on Windows and Macintosh. They can be purchased as separate products, downloadable from AKVIS.com, as well as in the software bundles.

AKVIS Sketch converts digital photos to amazing pencil drawings. It creates realistic color and B&W drawings, imitates the technique of graphite and color pencil, adds the charcoal and watercolor effects. The software offers to choose between these photo-to-sketch conversion styles: Classic and Artistic.
Now you do not need to handle a pencil to feel like an artist. All you need to create your original work of art is good taste and AKVIS Sketch.

Download AKVIS Sketch v.13.5!

AKVIS ArtWork is photo to painting software; it is designed to imitate different painting techniques (Oil, Watercolor, Comics, Pen & Ink, Linocut, Pastel). ArtWork helps you to create a piece of art out of any digital photo.
Create an oil portrait of your friend, a landscape painting or a still life picture. Express yourself in new genres!

Download AKVIS ArtWork v.6.5!

AKVIS ArtSuite is an impressive collection of versatile effects for photos. The effects are grouped as Frames and Effects. ArtSuite contains many templates and texture samples that can be used to create a virtually limitless variety of options for generating frames.
Decorate a photo to give it an original and festive look!

Download AKVIS ArtSuite v.8.0!

Registered users of Sketch v.9-13, ArtWork v.1-6, ArtSuite v.1-7.5 can upgrade to the newest versions for free. Download the new versions using the links above.
Only users who own Sketch in versions 1-8 need to pay for an upgrade to the current version (13.5).

AKVIS offers to download and evaluate all features of the software during the 10-day trial period.
Users who tried the previous versions of the programs and whose versions have expired now have an opportunity to test the software again.

Three AKVIS Photo Correction Programs Have Been Updated!

Wed, 2 May 2012 12:00:55 +0600

Three AKVIS photo correction programs have been updated!
We are glad to release Enhancer 13.5, Noise Buster 8.5, and Refocus 2.0.

Bugs have been fixed, and the plug-in versions are now compatible with the upcoming Adobe Photoshop CS6 and Photoshop Elements 11.

All of these products are available in two variants: as plugins and as standalone applications, on Windows and Macintosh.

AKVIS Enhancer is image enhancing software, which improves details by revealing them in both the light and dark areas of an image. The software works in three modes: "Improve Detail", "Prepress", and "Tone Correction".
The program offers a fast method to fix a dark photo, to add contrast and brightness to a picture. It lets you improve color or adjust tones. Even if you have a high quality photograph you can apply the prepress processing that will give your image a professional look.

Download AKVIS Enhancer v.13.5!

AKVIS Noise Buster is noise suppression software. Digital noise can be seen as artifacts and random red and blue pixels that compromise the smoothness of a photo.
The program reduces both luminance and color noise in digital images without blurring the edges of objects. Your photos remain sharp and crisp, while the unwanted artifacts disappear.

Download AKVIS Noise Buster v.8.5!

AKVIS Refocus improves sharpness of out of focus images. The program can process the entire photo or bring into focus only the selected part to make the subject stand out against the background.
Even if a photo looks sharp enough, there is always room for improvement. For example, create a special effect and draw attention to certain details. With this software you can easily get the selective focus effect by sharpening one part of a photo and blurring the rest.

Download AKVIS Refocus v.2.0!

Registered users of Enhancer v.10-13, Noise Buster v.1-8, Refocus v.1-1.5 can upgrade to the newest versions for free.
Only users who own Enhancer in versions 1-9 need to pay for an upgrade to the current version.

Those who have not purchased the programs can download and try them for the 10-day trial period.

AKVIS Chameleon v.7.9: Photo Collage Creation At Your Fingertips!

Thu, 12 Apr 2012 12:00:55 +0600

AKVIS Chameleon is a photo collage creation software.

This ingenious program makes the process easy and entertaining. Earlier one had to thoroughly select an object before pasting it into a new background; with this software this tedious part of the workflow is no longer a burden. You can concentrate on the creative part and forget about complicated selection techniques.

With AKVIS Chameleon you can have fun in making photo collages!

The software works in four modes: Montage mode, Chameleon mode, Blend mode, and Emersion mode. Using one of these modes of collage creation, you'll be able to create seamless montages that automatically smooth edges, make the object semi-transparent dissolving the pasted image in the background, etc.

Each mode offers its own unique features. For example, in Chameleon mode, from which the program gets its name, an object is pasted into a picture adapting to the new color range and blending with the background, as chameleons do.

The software can be helpful to home users who are not experienced in image editing. You can create customized postcards for your loved ones; make a wedding album using all kinds of photos and backgrounds; "open" closed eyes, change the appearance of a person, etc.

Designers will appreciate this program as it allows them to combine images with entirely different color ranges or to create the effect of drawing on a texture surface (crumpled paper, wood, etc), and all that with only a mouse-click.

Check the Tutorial page to get a dozen original ideas.

The software is available in two editions: as a standalone program and as a plugin to image editors.

The plug-in version of AKVIS Chameleon is compatible with Adobe and Corel products and other popular programs.

Version 7.9 adds compatibility of the plug-in version with upcoming Adobe Photoshop CS6 and Photoshop Elements 11, improves compatibility with Corel PaintShop Photo X4, improves image processing, and fixes bugs. See the list of changes here.

AKVIS Chameleon works on Windows XP, Vista, Win 7 and Mac OS X 10.4-10.7, both 32 and 64 bit.

For a free trial, AKVIS offers 10 days of fully functional use. The users who tried the previous version of Chameleon and have their version expired, now have the opportunity to test the software again.

Users of the latest versions (v.5-7) of AKVIS Chameleon can upgrade to version 7.9 for free.

AKVIS Birthday Raffle 2012 - Win a Prize!

Tue, 10 Apr 2012 12:00:55 +0600

Every year AKVIS organizes a Raffle in celebration of the company's Birthday.

This year AKVIS is 8 years old. We are starting the Birthday Raffle 2012!

The raffle participants have a chance to win AKVIS Gift Certificates!

The names of four winners will be drawn out by chance on June 1, 2012.

AKVIS Magnifier v.5.5 Creates Super-High Resolution Photos!

Fri, 30 Mar 2012 12:00:55 +0600

AKVIS Magnifier makes it easy for anyone to produce professional-looking enlargements out of digital images.
It is available for both for Windows and Macintosh as a standalone program as well as a plugin for Photoshop.

Whether creating poster-size images, adding resolution for printing an enlargement, or reducing image size, AKVIS Magnifier will make your prints look sharper and better defined!

The program can change the image size as well as the image resolution. The image processing parameters are grouped in two sections: Downsize and Upsize. The parameters become active according to the desired image size. When resizing an image, AKVIS Magnifier restores edges and details and removes artifacts.

The software supports Batch processing (automatic image resizing) in both the plugin and standalone versions. Just apply the program with the same settings to a folder full of photos!

In Version 5.5:

Compatibility has been added with the upcoming Photoshop CS6 and Photoshop Elements 11 for the plugin version.
A bug was fixed which caused the program to crash when using GPU on Mac OS X Lion 10.7.3.
Color processing when loading the RAW images has been improved.
and other changes.

AKVIS Magnifier runs on Windows XP/Vista/Win 7 and Mac OS X 10.4-10.7, both 32 bit and 64 bit.

For a free trial, AKVIS offers 10 days of fully functional use.

Download AKVIS Magnifier v.5.5 and try all of its features for free during the evaluation period!

Registered users of Magnifier can update their version for free.

AKVIS Decorator v.3.0: Change Texture and Color on an Image

Fri, 16 Mar 2012 12:00:55 +0600

AKVIS Decorator has been updated to version 3.0. Decorator lets you change the surface of an object in a realistic manner. The program applies a texture and color preserving the volume of the object, following its folds and creases. The new pattern looks absolutely natural and makes you see things differently.

Just select a part of an image - a dress on a girl, a car, a piece of furniture, etc - and apply new textures to it. The girl can have her dress painted in cheerful patterns, dotted or chequered, appear as if made of velvet or satin, or even of wood or candies.

With this software you can quickly choose a suitable design for your apartment by playing with different colors and patterns for furniture, walls, curtains, decorations, etc. It’s useful for designers to show their customers the same room in different versions or for web-designers to represent the same items in an online shop in different colors and patterns.

There is a vast variety of patterns in the built-in Texture Library to apply - from fabrics to stones and metal, from food to nature elements.
You can apply your own textures – just load an image as a texture file into the library.

Version 3.0 of AKVIS Decorator includes many new features:

A Standalone version of Decorator has been added. You can now access the program in two editions: as a standalone program and as a plug-in to photo editors (Adobe Photoshop and others).

The sofware is now available in four types of licenses: Home Plugin, Home Standalone, Home Deluxe (Plugin + Standalone), and Business (Plugin + Standalone). The functionality depends on the license type.

You can now create and edit the selection directly in Decorator using the new selection tools. This feature is accessible in both the plugin and standalone versions.

More patterns have been added to the Texture Library. Now the Library has 1824 textures!

Decorator can load almost any image as a user's texture. Now it's possible to use these formats: PNG, JPEG, BMP, TIFF, and the image size from 50x50 px and more.
The previous versions loaded only 100x100 px JPEG texture images.

AKVIS Decorator's user interface has been redesigned and even the application icon has a new look.

Compatibility with Mac OS X 10.7.3. has been improved. Also, compatiblity with Photoshop CS6 and Photoshop Elements 11 has been added to the plugin version.

Download AKVIS Decorator v.3.0 for Windows and Macintosh.

You can evaluate all features of the software during the 10-day trial period!

Registered users of Decorator can upgrade to the new version for free.

Tutorial -- Radiant Girl: Create a Detailed Color Portrait

Fri, 24 Feb 2012 12:00:55 +0600

The author of this tutorial is Alvaro Salazar Chacon. This tutorial was created using AKVIS Sketch plugin and Adobe Photoshop.

With the AKVIS Sketch plug-in, you can create a wonderful color portrait with a lot of detail.

AKVIS Enhancer v.13.0: Photo Correction Software

Wed, 15 Feb 2012 12:00:55 +0600

We have released the new version of AKVIS Enhancer.

This image enhancement software lets you improve your digital photos. It detects detail in underexposed, overexposed and mid tone areas of a photo with uneven exposure. The software offers an individual approach to every part of the image!

The software works in three modes: Improve Detail, Prepress, and Tone Correction. The main goal for these modes is the same - image correction, but the methods and the results are quite different. Different photos require different approaches at correction, and in many cases the modes complement one another.

The program offers a fast method to fix a dark photo, to add contrast and brighten to a picture, it lets you improve color or adjust tones. Even if you have a high quality photograph you can apply the Prepress processing that will give your image a professional look.

AKVIS Enhancer is available for Windows and Macintosh in two editions: as a standalone program and as a plug-in to image editors, for Windows and Macintosh.

In Version 13.0:

Added support for GPU acceleration that significantly speeds up image processing.
Added new ready-to-use Presets to all image processing modes.
The presets can be applied in their initial version or can be modified. First you can try AKVIS presets and than create your own exclusive variations. It is possible to save your own presets to use them in the future.
Added the Preset Preview window. Now, when moving a cursor over a preset in the drop-down list, the quick result appears in the quick preview window over the image window. It saves you time and makes the choice easier.
The software demonstrates more flexibility. You can now adjust Image View Modes (various options for displaying the original and processed images, "Before" and "After" states).
Improved support for RAW files, added support for DNG files.
The Hints Panel has a new color scheme.

Download AKVIS Enhancer v.13.0 and try all its features during the 10-day trial period!

Upgrade Information:

Users who own versions 10-12 of Enhancer can upgrade to v.13 for free by downloading and installing the new version.

If you have an older version (v.1-9) you will need to pay $ 29 USD for an upgrade to v.13.

Valentine's Day: Capturing a Memory in a Photo

Tue, 14 Feb 2012 12:00:55 +0600

Read the new Tutorial for AKVIS ArtSuite.

AKVIS ArtSuite lets you place pictures in hand painted frames. Using hand painted frames saves time, especially when you don't have much experience with graphics editors. You can create a beautiful and romantic picture using a hand painted frame from the Valentine's Day frame pack.

AKVIS MakeUp goes on sale on BitsDuJour! 40% Off - Deal of the day! - Feb 7

Mon, 6 Feb 2012 12:00:55 +0600

We are offering AKVIS MakeUp on Bits du Jour, on Tuesday 7 February, 2012 at the dramatically reduced price of $23.40.

If you have any friends or family members who might be interested in AKVIS MakeUp please let them know about this sale.
We can't afford to offer this kind of discount often, and it will be available for a single day only.

AKVIS Sketch v.13 With New Artistic Style!

Mon, 30 Jan 2012 12:00:55 +0600

AKVIS Sketch has been updated to version 13.0. The program converts digital photos into amazing pencil sketches and watercolor, charcoal, and pastel drawings. It's a wonderful tool for those who have always wanted to draw but didn't know how! You can even create comics or cartoons from your home videos using the batch processing feature of Sketch.

Now the software creates even more stunning results! The new version competes with hand drawn art in flexibility and will spur your creative thought!

In Version 13.0:

New style of photo-to-sketch conversion.
The software now lets you choose between two styles: Classic (standard processing from the previous versions) and Artistic.
The new Artistic style is designed to create expressive drawings that look like the handmade work of a real artist. In this style, it is easy to create both a quick sketch and a carefully drawn and shaded pencil drawing. The main advantage of this style is the ability to play with hatching and to vary the number of shadings and shadows to get natural tonal transitions.
The new style comes with 27 ready-to-use presets which will help you create various pencil drawings.
Learn how to work with the Artistic style.
You can also watch a video demonstrating the features of the new style.
Also in the new version:
fixed bugs; improved image processing when loading RAW files, improved support for RAW files from Sony cameras, added support for DNG files, and other important and minor changes.

The software is available as a standalone program as well as a plugin for Photoshop and other graphics editors.

You can download AKVIS Sketch v.13.0 for Windows and Macintosh and evaluate it during the 10-day trial period!

Upgrade Information:

Users who own versions 9-12.5 of Sketch can upgrade to v.13 for free.
Just download the new version.

Only customers who have an older version (v.1-8.6), need to pay for an upgrade to version 13.
The download links for the old versions are available. Write us if you need them.

Note: The new version does not support the "old algorithm" used in versions 1-8.6 that was available until now (in versions 9-12 - by activating that option in the program preferences), as well as the presets made with the old algorithm. Nevertheless, if your presets were created in versions 9-12 using the "new algorithm" (which is active by default), they will be transferred to version 13.

AKVIS Refocus v.1.5: Improve Your Blurred Photos!

Wed, 18 Jan 2012 12:00:55 +0600

We have released the new version of AKVIS Refocus.

The software improves sharpness of out of focus images. The program can process the entire photo or bring into focus only the selected part to make the subject stand out against the background.

Even if a photo looks sharp enough, there is always room for improvement. For example, create a special effect and draw attention to certain details. With this software you can get the selective focus effect easily by sharpening one part of a photo and blurring the rest.

AKVIS Refocus makes your photos more impressive!

In Version 1.5:

Added support for RAW and DNG files.
Added new ready-to-use Presets.
Added the list of Recent Files which is visible by right mouse clicking on the Open Image button (to the Standalone version).
Added the possibility to use OS File dialog to load/save files (to the Standalone version).
Added the new color scheme of the Hints Panel.
Improved compatibility with Mac OS X Lion.
Fixed minor bugs, etc.

Download AKVIS Refocus V.1.5 for Mac and Windows and try all features of the software during the 10-day trial period!

Registered users of Refocus can upgrade to the new version for free.

The software is available in two versions – as an independent program (standalone) and as a plugin to a photo editor.

Price: The product sells for $39 USD for Home version (either Plugin or Standalone, Refocusing features), $49 USD for Home Deluxe (Plugin and Standalone, Refocusing and Defocusing features), $72 USD for Business (Plugin and Standalone, Refocusing and Defocusing features, for commercial use). Consult the comparison table for more details about license types and versions of the software.