In AKVIS Charcoal, different tools become visible depending on the active tab, Before or After.
The tools in the program are divided into the groups: pre-processing (Before tab), post-processing (After tab), and additional tools (Before and After tabs).
Hint: Use the buttons and to undo/redo the operations made with the tools: , , , , .
Pre-Processing Tools (on the Before tab):
You can drag the preview square to any position with the left mouse button or with the double click. This lets you quickly preview the effect in different areas of the image. To compare the result of automatic conversion with the original picture, click and keep mouse pressed within the preview area.
You can adjust the preview window size in the program’s preferences .
You can change the crop area by dragging the sides and the angles of the bounding frame.
To apply the result and remove the areas outside the frame, press OK or use Enter. To cancel the operation and exit the tool, press Cancel or use the Esc-key. To restore the original area keeping the tool active, press Reset button.
Adjust the crop options:
You can choose the size of the crop rectangle using the Ratio or Fixed Size options.
If the External Area check-box is enabled, you can change the color and opacity of the outer parts.
Note: This feature is only available for the advanced licenses (Home Deluxe, Business).
Add the guiding lines with this tool, and the program will re-make the drawing following the new direction. The changes will be shown in the preview window. To re-start the image processing, click on the button .
Hint: You can save and load the guiding lines created with this tool.
Loaded lines automatically adapt to the image size.
Post-Processing Tools (on the After tab, for Deluxe/Business):
Attention! The post-processing tools , , , are only available under the Home Deluxe/Business licenses, on the After tab. Use them at the final step. If you re-run the image processing , the changes made with the post-processing tools will be lost!
The tools’ options are shown in a pop-up box which appears after right-clicking in the image.
Size (5-200). The maximum line width which can be drawn with the tool.
Strength (1-100). The impact of the tool.
Show Original (0-80). When increasing the parameter, the original image becomes visible through the effect. This parameter is auxiliary, it is useful for more precise drawing with the tools and does not affect the result.
Size (1-1000). The maximum width of the transparent line which the eraser leaves behind (in pixels).
Hardness (0-100). The amount of blurriness of the brush's edge. As the value of this parameter increases the edge of the brush becomes harder. Near 100% the border between erased and unerased areas will be more distinct; at lower values the boundary between these areas will be smoother.
Strength (1-100). The amount of influence on an image. As this parameter's value is increased, the degree of transparency left by the brush increases.
Show Original (0-80). When increasing the parameter, the original image becomes visible through the effect. This parameter is auxiliary, it is useful for more precise drawing with the tools and does not affect the result.
The tool's parameters:
Size (1-1000). The maximum width of a line made by the brush.
Hardness (0-100). The blurriness of the tool's edges. The less the value the more blurry the tool's edges become. At value 100% the border between the brush's edges and the background is very distinct; at lower values the transition between these areas is smoother.
Strength (1-100). The degree of restoration to the original state. At lower values there will be less restoration and more blending with the effect; at value 100% the image will be restored more completely.
Restore to Original. If the check-box is enabled, the tool lets weakening the drawing effect, as well as the result of the post-processing tools. If the check-box is disabled, the brush edits only the tools but does not affect the result of the image processing.
Additional Tools (available on both tabs, for all licenses):
Double-clicking on the tool’s icon on the Toolbar makes the image fit the window.
Double-clicking on the tool's icon makes the image scale to 100% (actual size).