Tutorial: AKVIS Noise Buster

Workspace

AKVIS Noise Buster can work independently as a standalone program as well as a plug-in to a photo editor.

To call the AKVIS Noise Buster plugin you should open an image in your photo editor and select the plug-in from the list of effects. For this purpose use the command Filter –> AKVIS –> Noise Buster in Adobe Photoshop; the menu item Effects –> Plugins –> AKVIS –> Noise Buster if you work with Paint Shop Pro; or Effects –> AKVIS –> Noise Buster if you use Corel PHOTO-PAINT.

To launch the standalone version of AKVIS Noise Buster follow the instruction:

• On a Windows computer:

  - In the main menu: press the button Start and select from the pop-up menu the command AKVIS - Noise Buster.

  - Using the program's shortcut on the Desktop: put the cursor on the icon of the program AKVIS Noise Buster and double-click it with the left mouse button.
  

• On a Macintosh computer:

  - Using Finder: select the folder Applications on the side bar of the Finder window, select the application AKVIS Noise Buster and double-click it.

Under Windows the AKVIS Noise Buster program window looks like this:

Features of the Workspace:

Most of the AKVIS Noise Buster 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 result.

It is possible to switch between the tabs using the Tab-key. You can also compare the original image with the result by just left-clicking on any point of the image.
Note that if After tab is pressed, it initiates image processing with the current settings.

In the upper part of the window you can see the Control panel with the following controls:

• The button (only in the standalone version) allows opening an image for processing.

• The button (only in the standalone version) allows saving image to the disk.

• The button (only in the standalone version) allows printing the image.

• The button launches filtration of the whole image. Before you press this button the filtration result is shown only in the preview area.

• The button (only in the plugin version) allows applying the filtration result to the image and closes the AKVIS Noise Buster window.

• The button allows calling information about the program.

• The button is designed to call the Help files of the program.

• The button calls the Preferences dialog box for changing the program's options.
  • Program Language. Change the language by selecting another from the drop-down list.
  • The Preview Window Size. Choose the desired value of the parameter. By default the parameter’s value = 300, that is the Quick Preview Window has a proportion 300х300.
  • Initial Scale. This parameter defines the way the image is scaled in the Image Window after opening. The parameter can take one of two values:
    - image scaling Fit to view. The scale adjusts so that the image will be completely visible in the Image Window;
    - if the option 100% is checked, image doesn’t scale. Generally, when the scale = 100%, only part of the image will be visible.

  To save changes made in the Preferences window press OK.

  If you need, click on the button Default to come back the default settings.

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.

In the Settings Panel you can see parameters for manual adjustment.

In the Presets field you can save favorite settings as a preset to use them in the future. The current settings can be saved, edited, deleted. When you launch the program, it uses the "Auto Filtering" preset.

Besides, in the lower part of the Settings Panel you can see hints: the description of the parameter or the button when you hold the cursor over it.