Tutorial: AKVIS NatureArt

How It Works

Follow these instructions to add a natural effect to an image using AKVIS NatureArt:

• Step 1. Run the standalone edition of AKVIS NatureArt or open your photo editor (if you work with the plugin version of AKVIS NatureArt).
• 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 Standalone edition of AKVIS NatureArt supports JPEG, RAW, PNG, BMP, and TIFF file formats.

  
  Original Photo
• Step 3. In plug-in version only: call the plug-in AKVIS NatureArt. To do this in Adobe Photoshop select the menu item Filter –> AKVIS –> NatureArt, and in Corel Paint Shop Pro select Effects –> Plugins -> AKVIS –> NatureArt.
• Step 4. Choose an effect type from the Effects drop down menu in the Settings Panel.
• Step 5. Use these tools to select areas to which an effect will be applied:
  • Selection Brush . This tool is used to highlight areas to which an effect will be applied.

    Depending on how you choose a selection to appear in the Preferences dialog, the tool will draw a red line with a hard edge or will enclose the selected area within a "running" dotted line.

    To get a straight line, draw a line while holding down Shift.

  • Eraser . Use this tool to erase selection areas.

    Attention! This tool works differently for the Lightning effect. When using it in this case, all lines whose start or end points fall under the scope of the eraser will be removed.

  Note:

  The size of the Selection Brush and Eraser can be changed. A pop up window with the corresponding parameter can be accessed by right clicking anywhere in the image window.

  • Selection Bucket . The tool fills an area outlined with the Selection Brush (helpful for selecting large areas).

    If the area was not circled by , the entire image will be selected by clicking with . This can be useful, for example, to add rain to the image.

    Hint:

    You can use Selection Bucket in "eraser mode" to erase all selections at the image. Just click the left mouse button while pressing Ctrl.

  • Direction tool (only for the Lightning effect). Use this tool to draw a line along which lightning will appear.
  • Transform (only for the Sun effect). Use this tool to change the size and location of a sun on the image.
  • Move (only for the Water effect). Use this tool to change the horizon line on the image.
  
  Selection (here the entire image)

  Hint: You can save the selection or support lines to a file *.nature by using and load them by using .

• Step 6. Start processing the image by pressing . If desired, you can select Autorun Mode in the program's Preferences dialog. In this mode, any changes will be displayed automatically.

  The image will be processed using the selected settings, and the result will be shown in the After tab.

  
  Default Settings for Rain Effect (using AKVIS Rain preset)
• Step 7. If you want other results change the effect's parameters in the Settings Panel.
  
  After Adjusting Settings (using another AKVIS preset - AKVIS Snow)
• Step 8. It is possible to save the settings you like as a preset and use them in the future.

  To save a preset, enter a name for the preset into the Presets field and press the button Save. Now, as you start the program, it will use the settings of this preset. If you change the values of the parameters, you can always come back to the default settings of the preset by pressing the button Reset.

  To delete a preset, select it from the list and press Delete.

  To process an image with the settings of a certain preset, you should select it from the drop-down menu and press .

• Step 9. If you work with the plugin, press to apply the result. The NatureArt plugin will close and the picture will appear in the workspace of the photo editor.
  
  Result: click to open in large size
• Step 10. 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, BMP, JPEG or PNG) and indicate the target folder.

• Step 11. You can print the image in the standalone edition of AKVIS NatureArt. Press , and in the Print dialog set the printing options and press the Print button.

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