AKVIS SmartMask v.1.2 Saves you Time on Complex Selections
February 6, 2008 — AKVIS announces a release of AKVIS SmartMask plug-in v.1.2. for Windows and Macintosh. AKVIS SmartMask is an efficient masking tool that saves you time on complex selections and is fun to use. Never before has selection been so simple! Try the program for 10 days for free.
AKVIS SmartMask is an efficient selection tool that saves you time and is fun to use. Never before has selection been so simple!
There are many occasions when you have to make a selection. When processing an image, you will often need to mark up an area to which an effect or a correction should be applied. Photo collage and photo montage creation requires thorough selection of objects.
However, making selection can be a painstaking job because many objects don't have clearly defined edges and fade into the background. Just try selecting yourself on a group photo.
AKVIS SmartMask makes even a difficult selection as easy as pie. Now, you can spend less of your time on isolating objects and more of it on creativity.
The idea is so simple that you will feel like a child in drawing classes: there are two pencils (red and blue); you draw a line with the blue pencil inside the object you want to select (for example, yourself on a group photo), and with the red pencil - some lines outside the object, to define the areas that should be cut out (other guys in the photo).
The program miraculously reads your thoughts and makes the selection you want - understanding where the borders of the object end.
There are three modes tailored to different selection types: Sharp, Soft and Complex. For example, in the Soft mode a green pencil is added, that helps you to define difficult parts - fluff, hair, fur. In cases where the selected object stands against a background of a similar color range, or the object's edges are uneven, you can use the touch-up brush in the Complex mode.
The program even allows you to get rid of the color tint left on the cutout object by the environment. In most cases objects on a photo are not evenly lighted, the cutout object can have shades and colors reflected from the nearby objects. Such color shades can be absolutely inappropriate on a new background: for example, hair having a blue cast from the sky or a green shade from the trees. This mask tool helps to get rid of the unwanted color shades.
Business Use: Making selections takes up much time of the designer's working day. Use of SmartMask considerably increases his/her productivity. Your designer will be released from the boring work and will have more room for creativity and realization of his ideas.
AKVIS SmartMask plugin integrates into the image processing programs installed on your computer. The plug-in is compatible with Adobe Photoshop, Photoshop Elements, Corel (Jasc) Paint Shop Pro, etc. AKVIS SmartMask runs on Microsoft Windows 2000/XP/NT/2003/Vista and on Macintosh Mac OS X, PowerPC G3 and above.
For a free trial, AKVIS offers 10 days of fully functional use. Just download and use the program.
AKVIS SmartMask Home license sells for $120 USD, downloadable from akvis.com. Business License sells for $240 USD. Home users can enjoy the full line of AKVIS plugins in the AKVIS Alchemy bundle (Enhancer, Chameleon, Stamp, Retoucher, Coloriage, Noise Buster, SmartMask, Decorator, Sketch, LightShop and Frame Suite) for USD $325 USD, a savings of $387 over purchasing each separately. For business licenses consult the official web-site. One license key allows activating the software on two computers, for example, on a desktop and a laptop.
About the Program: akvis.com/en/smartmask/index.php
What's New: akvis.com/en/smartmask/whats-new.php
Screenshot: akvis.com/en/smartmask/screenshots-selection-tool.php
Download: akvis.com/en/smartmask/download-selection-tool.php
Tutorial: akvis.com/en/smartmask-tutorial/index.php
Graphics: akvis.com/en/company/graphics.php
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