Tutorial: AKVIS Enhancer

How It Works

AKVIS Enhancer offers an individual approach to every part of the photo. The software can work independently as a standalone program as well as a plug-in to a photo editor.

Follow the instructions below:

Step 1. Run the standalone edition of AKVIS Enhancer or open your photo editor (if you work with the plugin version of AKVIS Enhancer).
Step 2. Open an image.
- If you work with the plug-in:
Open an image in your photo editor by calling the command File -> Open or using the key combination Ctrl+O (+O on Macintosh).
- If you work with the standalone edition:
The dialog box Select file to open appears if you double-click on the empty workspace of the program or if you click on the button on the Control Panel. You can also drag the required image into the workspace of the program.
The program supports images in the JPEG, TIFF, BMP, PNG formats and opens RAW files which contain raw sensor data of digital cameras (CRW, NEF, ORF, PEF etc - see the full list here).

Original Image
Step 3. In plug-in version only: call the plug-in AKVIS Enhancer. To do this in Adobe Photoshop select the menu item Filter –> AKVIS –> Enhancer, and in Corel Paint Shop Pro select Effects –> Plugins -> AKVIS –> Enhancer.
Step 4. Select the processing mode in the drop-down menu in the Settings Panel.
- In Improve Detail mode the program increases detail on an image, brings out details on one single shot by intensifying color transition. The program strengthens the difference between adjacent pixels having different color gradations and therefore not only reveals details in shadows but even details in the overexposed and mid tone areas.
- Prepress mode lets you adjust photos before printing or publishing in Web. The program increases the sharpness of borders and the contrast of the image.
- Tone Correction mode is used for correction of the brightness of points in the light and dark areas. As a result the overall impression of the image improves considerably. Changes can be made to the entire image or to a part of the image depending on the colors selected for correction.
You can find a comparison of the modes here.
Step 5. Adjust the parameters in the Settings Panel.
Step 6. If needed, you can correct the image further in the Post Processing tab (available only in the standalone version).

Step 7. If you like the new settings of the parameters, you can save them as a preset and use them later. To save the settings, enter a name for the preset in the Presets field and press the button Save.
When moving a cursor over a preset in the drop-down list, the quick result appears in the Preset Preview window.

To process the image with a certain preset, select this preset from the list. The image will be automatically processed with the preset's settings (press only in Prepress and Tone Correction modes).
Next time you launch the program, these settings will be used by default. If you change the parameters you can return to the initial settings of the selected preset by clicking on Reset.
To delete a preset, select it from the list and click on the button Delete.
Step 8. If you work with the plugin, press to apply the result. The Enhancer plugin will close and the picture will appear in the workspace of the photo editor.
Step 9. Save the resulting image.
- When using the plug-in:
Open the save file dialog File -> Save As in the graphics editor, type a file name, specify a file format and choose a folder, in which to save the file.
- When using the standalone:
Press and in the Save As dialog window, enter a name for the file, choose the format (TIFF, JPEG, BMP or PNG) and indicate the target folder.
Step 10. You can print the image in the standalone edition of AKVIS Enhancer. Press , and in the Print dialog set the printing options and press the Print button.