Workspace AKVIS ArtSuite can work independently as a standalone program as well as a plug-in to a photo editor.
To call the plug-in version of ArtSuite do the following: in Adobe Photoshop select the menu item Filter – AKVIS – ArtSuite; in Corel (Jasc) Paint Shop Pro select Effects – Plugins - AKVIS – ArtSuite; in Corel PHOTO-PAINT use the menu command Effects – AKVIS – ArtSuite.
To launch the standalone version of AKVIS ArtSuite follow the instruction below:
- On a Windows computer:
- In the main menu: press the button Start and select from the pop-up menu the command AKVIS – ArtSuite.
- Using the program's shortcut on the Desktop: put the cursor on the icon of the program AKVIS ArtSuite and double-click it with the left mouse button.
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On a Macintosh computer:
- Using Finder: select the folder Applications on the side bar of the Finder window, select the application AKVIS ArtSuite and double-click it.
The workspace of AKVIS ArtSuite looks like this:
Features of the Workspace:
Most of the AKVIS ArtSuite workspace is taken by the Image Window with two tabs: Before and After. In the Before tab the original image is shown, while in the After tab you can see the framed image. It is possible to switch between the tabs using the Tab-key.
You can also compare the original image with the framed one by just left-clicking on any point of the image in the After tab.
In the upper part of the window you can see the Control panel with the progress bar, which shows the approximate processing time remaining, and the following controls:
Moving and scaling the image is done in the Navigation Window. In the Navigation window you can see the reduced copy of the image. A frame surrounds the part of the image visible in the Image Window; the area outside of the frame will be shaded. The frame can be dragged to display a different part of the image. To move the frame, bring the cursor inside the frame, press the left mouse button and while keeping it pressed, drag the cursor.
Additionally, you can move the image in the Image Window with the scroll bars or by holding down the space bar, then holding down the left mouse button while moving the mouse. The mouse's scroll wheel can move the image up and down, and holding Ctrl ( in Macintosh) – while using the scroll wheel will move the image left and right. Holding Alt (Option in Macintosh) will scale the image. Right-click on the scroll bar to activate the quick navigation menu.
Use the buttons 
and  , as well as the slider
to scale the image in the Image Window. By clicking on
or by moving the slider to the right, you scale up the image; by clicking on
or by moving the slider
to the left, you scale down the image in the Image Window.
It is also possible to enter a new scale coefficient into the
appropriate field and press the button Enter (Return on
Macintosh). Frequently used scale coefficients can be found in a fall-down menu.
You can also scale the image using hot-keys: +
and Ctrl++ (++ on Macintosh)
to scale up the image, - and Ctrl+- (+-
on Macintosh) to scale down the image.
Under the Navigator there is a Settings panel where you can select a frame and adjust its parameters.
The button Reset to Default Settings recovers the default settings of the parameters.
Below the Settings panel there is a Hints field: first time you launch the program it shows a short description of AKVIS ArtSuite; as you work with the program it shows hints to the parameters of the chosen effect or frame.
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(only in the standalone version) opens an image for processing.
(only in the standalone version) saves the processed image to the
disk.
(only in the standalone version) prints the image.
saves presets (user settings for the chosen frame/effect). The settings
are saved to a separate file with the ending .arts.
loads the saved user presets.
(Run) starts applying the chosen frame/effect to the image.
(only in the plug-in version) applies the result and closes the program
window of AKVIS ArtSuite.
calls information about the program.
calls help files to the program.
calls the Preferences dialog box.
— Workspace