Tutorial: AKVIS SmartMask

Snow Paradise

With AKVIS you can make a New Year's greeting card with your own hands that will please friends and family.

Since it is a winter holiday, there should be some snow on the card, but in this particular harsh winter environment there will be a little tropical paradise. Two completely incompatible things will be combined in one image: a palm tree and snow.

Adobe Photoshop will be used for this tutorial but any graphics editor which is compatible with AKVIS plug-ins could be used.

Step 1. First we need a tree. Open an image containing a palm tree in Adobe Photoshop.
Step 2. Copy the layer by selecting Layer -> Duplicate Layer from the main menu.
Step 3. Choose the AKVIS SmartMask plug-in (Filter -> AKVIS -> SmartMask).
Step 4. The program will start in Sharp Mode by default. However, since we have to cut around the leaves, immediately switch to Soft Mode. Choose the tool and draw a line around the tree.
Step 5. Next use the and tools. Fill the area within the green line with blue. This area will be kept. Fill the area outside the green line with red. This area will be removed.

Press to begin processing the image.

The background was removed, but not completely. Some fragments of the sky remain between the leaves, so continue processing.
Step 6. Switch to Complex Mode. Check the box next to Clean. Use the tool to select colors which need to be removed (fragments of the sky). The selected colors will be added to the Drop Colors list.
Step 7. Choose the Magic Brush tool. Change the brush size and work around the palm tree's leaves. After processing all that will remain is the tree. Everything else will be removed.

Press to close the plug-in and apply the result.
Step 8. Now the tree can be placed on a winter background. Copy the tree and paste it to the chosen background. Change the palms's size (Edit -> Free Transform). Next flip it (Edit -> Transform -> Flip Horizontal) and move it to the right place.

Merge the layers by holding down Ctrl, selecting the desired layers in the Layers palette, and then choosing the command Layer -> Merge Layers from the main menu.
Step 9. For more of a winter mood add some falling snow. Start the AKVIS NatureArt plug-in. Choose Rain from the list of effects. Use the to select the entire image. Change the settings so that the rain will appear as snow or use the AKVIS Snow preset. Press to process the image.

Press to accept the result.
Step 10. The result is a very nice card. Now add an effect to make it appear as if it were painted in oil. Start the AKVIS ArtWork plugin. Choose Oil from the list of styles.

Use the tool to draw guiding lines. Adjust the parameters in the Settings Panel to your liking. Press to start processing the image.
Step 11. Now that our image has finally become a greeting card, it's time to add a festive inscription. Click on the Text tab, and in the window which opens write a congratulation. Adjust the font settings and the location of the text as you wish.

Press to apply the result and close the plug-in.
Step 12. And now the final touch - a frame. Start the AKVIS ArtSuite plug-in. Select Frames from the drop-down list and Frost from the list of frames, then adjust the parameters and press .

Apply the result