AKVIS News 2009

December 23, 2009
AKVIS Magnifier v.3.0: Increase Image Resolution without visible Quality Loss
AKVIS Magnifier has been updated to v.3.0. AKVIS Magnifier allows resizing images without noticeable loss in quality. If you attempt to blow up a picture (increase its resolution) using the standard Resize command of a photo editor, you will notice that the resulting photo is blurred and pixelated. The reason is that the input photo didn't contain enough information for the new size. AKVIS Magnifier copes with this problem and delivers good results. You can also use Magnifier to reduce the size of an image, which is especially useful for those who do not have a photo editor.
New to version 3.0:
- A new interface design.
- Added new measurement units to specify the size of the output image. In addition to pixels and per cent, it is now possible to set the size in centimeters, millimeters or inches.
- Added possibility to select image resolution when resizing.
- A new dialog box - Preferences. The dialog box contains the general program settings, such as switching on/off the Autorun mode, choosing the interface language, etc.
- Support for 64 bit has been added to the plug-in version (now compatible with Adobe Photoshop CS4 64 bit).
- Compatibility with Adobe Photoshop Elements 8 has been added.
- Compatibility with OS Snow Leopard (Mac OS X 10.6) and Windows 7.
- A new installation program on Windows. To avoid the problems Win-users must remove previous versions (using the Windows Control Panel) before installing this one.
- Portuguese language interface. Now the program supports 8 languages.
Test the software for 10 days free of charge.
Download the program here.
The registered users of Magnifier can update their version for free.

December 4, 2009
AKVIS Enhancer v.11: Support for 64-Bit, Plugin as a Smart Filter in CS3-CS4
AKVIS Enhancer v.11.0 for Windows and Mac has been released! AKVIS Enhancer is an image enhancement program that improves image detail, fixes dark, hazy, or out of focus photos, and creates HDR images (standalone version).
New to AKVIS Enhancer v.11:
- A new interface design.
- The plugin version supports the Smart Filter technology in Photoshop CS3-CS4. A Smart Filter is more flexible than a standard one, it can be modified and even removed any time during the processing of the photo, while a standard filter, once applied, can not be edited anymore. (To see a Smart Filter in action, have a look at this small video - an external link).
- Support for 64 bit has been added to the plug-in version (now compatible with Adobe Photoshop CS4 64 bit).
- Compatibility with Adobe Photoshop Elements 8 has been added.
- Compatibility with OS Snow Leopard (Mac OS X 10.6) and Windows 7.
- A new installation program on Windows. To avoid the problems Win-users must remove previous versions (from Windows Control Panel) before installing this one.
- Portuguese language interface.
Attention! Registered users of Version 10 can upgrade to Version 11 for free!
For owners of older versions: upgrades to v.10-11 are available for Please download the program and to try all the new features for free during the evaluation period.
Take advantage of our special Christmas offer:
Christmas Time: If you have photo freaks among your friends, you can now present them an AKVIS program using our Xmas Gift Certificate. Printed on paper, this original present will delight your friends and inspire them in their creative work!

November 19, 2009
AKVIS Sketch V. 10: Make Drawings From Photos! Control Hatching, Support for 64-Bit
A new version of AKVIS Sketch has been released for Windows and Mac! AKVIS Sketch converts photos into pencil sketches (black and white or in color) and watercolor paintings. It can also convert a photo into a drawing in charcoal or pastel styles.
The program enjoys increasing popularity with professionals and amateurs alike as it comes so close to the work of a human artist.
This year the program was awarded the Best of 2009 Soft prize of PC Magazine/RE. AKVIS Sketch has also won recognition of many professional magazines, such as Photoshop User magazine, RetouchPro, DTG Magazine (that called Sketch the Best Software of 2006).
Version 10 includes these new features and improvements:
- The new Stroke Direction tool, which can be used to control hatch direction, and a set of parameters that affect the change in hatching when this tool is used (available under Home Deluxe and Business licenses).
- A new parameter in the Edges tab called Edge Strength, which controls how edges are drawn by affecting the intensity of lines and details.
- The Preview Window has been improved. Due to popular demand, the Preview Window now not only displays how the photo will appear as a drawing, it now also shows the effect of applying a canvas, making the selection of just the right texture faster and more efficient.
- Three new presets from AKVIS. Now there are a total of 11 built-in presets available.
- In Preferences it is now possible to choose whether to start the program with the last settings used or to start with the default settings.
- Now compatible with Windows 7 and Snow Leopard (Mac OS X 10.6).
- The Sketch plug-in is now compatible with Photoshop CS 4 64 bit and PhotoShop Elements v. 8.
- A new installation program on Windows. To avoid the problems Win-users must remove previous versions before installing this one.
Attention! Registered users of Version 9 can upgrade to Version 10 for free! If you have an older version you will need to pay for an upgrade to Version 9 first.
Download AKVIS Sketch V. 10 and try all the features within the trial period.

October 30, 2009
AKVIS Noise Buster 7.0 Better Noise Suppression for Digital and Scanned Images
AKVIS Noise Buster reduces both luminance and color noise in digital images without blurring the edges of objects. Photos remain sharp and crisp, while the unwanted artifacts disappear.
New to AKVIS Noise Buster 7.0:
- The noise reduction algorithm has been improved.
- Automatic filtration has also been improved. It makes adjustments for particular kinds of noise based on four noise suppression parameters.
- Support for 64 bit has been added to the plug-in version (now compatible with Adobe Photoshop CS4 64 bit).
- Compatibility with Adobe Photoshop Elements 8 has been added.
- Now compatible with OS Snow Leopard (Mac OS X 10.6) and Windows 7.
- Bugs have been fixed in both the Windows and Mac versions.
- The Print Dialog Box (in standalone version) has been improved. Now a printer can be selected as well as its resolution.
- The interface has been redesigned (New Skin).
- The installer has been updated.
- Program documentation has been updated.
- Working with the Preview Window and the Before/After tabs is now more intuitive.
Test the software for 10 days free of charge.
Download the program for Mac and Windows here.
Noise Buster is also available as part of the Photo Correction Bundle Bundle and the Alchemy Bundle.
Registered users can upgrade to version 7.0 for free. Just download the program using the link above and install the program.
Attn. Windows users: We recommend uninstalling the previous version before installing the new one!
Also, if you would like a coupon good for a 30% on Noise Buster or on any of our other products, take part in our Halloween Offer, which lasts until November 7, 2009. Send a photo of yourself in a Halloween costume and receive a coupon! Follow this link for more information.

September 8, 2009
AKVIS ArtWork v.3.0: Painting techniques at your fingertips!
AKVIS ArtWork is designed to imitate different painting techniques. Version 3.0 offers three painting styles - Oil Painting, Comics and Pen & Ink.
New to Version 3.0 of AKVIS ArtWork:
- The new Pen & Ink style creates drawings that appear to be made with ink on paper. The ink color can be selected, as well as the color of the background.
- The Comics style has been remade to achieve better results. Use the program to make a comic strip from your party photos or to create a poster.
- New ready-to-use presets have been added to the Oil style.
- New interface design will make your work more comfortable.
- New options in the Preferences field: Restore last style and preset and Initial Scale.
- Added the possibility to import/export a list of presets.
Test the software for 10 days free of charge.
Download the program for Mac and Windows here.
ArtWork is also available in a bundle with AKVIS Sketch and AKVIS ArtSuite - Artistic Bundle.
Registered users can upgrade to version 3.0 for free. Just download the program using the link above and install the program.

August 17, 2009
AKVIS Sketch v.9.0: Improved Algorithm and New Features
AKVIS Sketch converts photos to realistic pencil drawings and watercolor paintings. Now you do not need to handle a pencil to feel like an artist. The new version competes with hand drawn art in flexibility and will spur your creative thought!
New to Version 9.0. of AKVIS Sketch:
- a new interface design;
- an improved algorithm of photo-to-sketch conversion (the option to use the old algorithm remains in the Options dialog box);
- a new parameter field for edge definition - Edges. Now it is possible to manipulate the thickness and sharpness of the created outlines;
- added possibility to change the saturation of color strokes when using the color pencil drawing mode (check-box Color Pencil);
- added 7 new ready-to-use AKVIS presets (charcoal, b&w sketch, pastel, etc);
- added the possibility to import/export a list of presets.
AKVIS Sketch is available as a stand-alone application, as well as a plugin to a photo editor.
Download version 9.0 (both editions included) and use it 10 days free of charge.
Attention! Upgrades for registered users are available for $39 USD for any type of license.
The users who bought the program this month (in July-August 2009) can upgrade the program for free, just re-activate the program with the same key.

July 24, 2009
AKVIS Enhancer v.10.0: New Photo Correction Mode
AKVIS Enhancer v.10.0 has beed released. AKVIS Enhancer is an image enhancement program that improves image detail, fixes dark, hazy, or out of focus photos, and can create HDR images
Version 10.0 introduces Smart Correction mode, which makes tone corrections in dark and light areas for a selected color. The new mode is available in both versions of AKVIS Enhancer; in the plug-in and standalone versions.
Also this version has improved compatibility in Windows and in Mac has been made more stable.
Attention! Upgrades for registered users are available for to download the program and to try all the new features for free during the evaluation period.

June 19, 2009
AKVIS ArtSuite v.5.0: New Photo Frames designed by Artists
AKVIS ArtSuite is a collection of effects for decorating photos. It offers photo frames and special effects.
New to version 5.0
- The Standalone version offers new Hand Painted Frames. These frames have been designed specially for ArtSuite. Please note that these frames are not available in the plugin version for technical reasons.
- New interface design. Now the language choice and the Autorun option can be found in the Preferences dialog box.
- Improved compatibility of the plugin with Photoshop CS3, CS4 on Mac computers.
- Improved the texture generation options in the Texture effect.
- New interface language added - Italian.
The Upgrade for registered users is free!
ArtSuite can be used as an independent application (standalone) and as a plug-in to a photo editor.
Download for Windows and Mac!
It is possible to upgrade from the Plugin Version to Home Deluxe (Plugin+Standalone) or to Business license (Plugin+Standalone).
Read more about license types here.

June 5, 2009
AKVIS SmartMask V.2.5. Easy Selection Tool
AKVIS SmartMask plugin is an efficient masking tool that saves you time on complex selections and is fun to use. 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 in 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).
New to version 2.5
- The eyedropper tools (in Complex mode) have become more flexible. Earlier the eyedroppers sampled an average color from an area of 3x3 px around the eyedropper's tip. Now it is possible to change the number of pixels in the sample area with the following hot keys: the Alt-key with a mouse click reduces the area to one pixel, the Shift-key with a mouse click enlarges the area to 5x5 px.
- New interface languages added - French and Portuguese.
- Improved compatibility with Photoshop CS3, CS4 on Mac computers.
Download fully functional trial versions for Windows and Mac and try the plug-in for 10 days for free!
Registered users can upgrade SmartMask for free!
The users who tried the previous version of the plug-in and have their version expired, now have an opportunity to test the software for 10 days free of charge again.

May 21, 2009
AKVIS Multibrush 4.1. Photo Retouching Software
AKVIS Multibrush (earlier known as Stamp) is a collection of brushes for photo retouching and portrait enhancement.
New to Version 4.1 - new interface languages added - Spanish and Italian. Documentation updated.
- minor bugs fixed (the bug with the cursor in the Clone Stamp and others).
AKVIS Multibrush is available as a stand-alone application and as a plugin to a photo editor.
Download the software and test 10 days for free.
Registered users of AKVIS MultiBrush v.4.0 (AKVIS Stamp v.1-3) can upgrade to version 4.1 for free.
Please note that customers who have a Home License to AKVIS Stamp plugin can update only their plug-in for free (or upgrade to Deluxe license). Customers who have a Business License can use both (plug-in and standalone). Read more about license types and upgrade opportunities.
Please download the software, install it and activate with your key.

April 28, 2009
AKVIS Multibrush 4.0. Photo Retouching Software
AKVIS Multibrush (earlier known as Stamp) is a collection of brushes for photo retouching and portrait enhancement. The new name reflects the tremendous changes in the program. Now it has much more functionality.
Compatibility has been improved. Now the program is compatible with Windows Vista, Intel Mac and the latest Photoshop versions.
AKVIS Multibrush is available as a stand-alone application and as a plugin to a photo editor.
Download the software and test 10 days for free.
Registered users of AKVIS Stamp can upgrade to version 4.0 for free.
Please note that customers who have a Home License to AKVIS Stamp plugin can update only their plug-in for free (or upgrade to Deluxe license). Customers who have a Business License can use both (plug-in and standalone). Read more about license types and upgrade opportunities.
Please download the software, install it and activate with your key to AKVIS Stamp.

April 10, 2009
Retoucher v.3.5: Retouch Damaged Photos
AKVIS Retoucher plug-in restores damages photos by removing dust, scratches, stains and by reconstructing the missing parts of a photo.
Version 3.5 - fixes the compatibility bug that caused the plugin to crash on Mac computers with Photoshop CS3,CS4.
- improves plugin compatibility on Windows.
Registered users can upgrade to version 3.5 for free. Just download the software and install it.
The users who tried the previous version of the plug-in and have their version expired, now have an opportunity to download the software and test it for 10 days free of charge.

March 30, 2009
AKVIS Sketch v.8.6: Watercolor Improved. Compatibility Bug Fixed.
AKVIS Sketch converts photos to realistic pencil drawings and watercolor paintings. Besides, you can add a canvas and an inscription to your drawing and some special effects.
Version 8.6:
- improves the way a photo is converted into a watercolor painting.
- fixes the compatibility bug that caused the Sketch plugin to crash on Mac computers+CS3,CS4.
- improves plugin compatibility on Windows.
- adds support of 32 bit images to the plugin (earlier available only for the standalone).
AKVIS Sketch is available as a stand-alone application, as well as a plugin to a photo editor.
Download version 8.6 (both editions included) and use it 10 days free of charge.
Upgrade for registered users is free. To upgrade your version, it is enough to download the program and install it.

March 6, 2009
AKVIS Decorator v.1.6: Resurface and Recolor
We are glad to present version 1.6 of AKVIS Decorator plug-in. The program applies new textures/colors to a surface preserving the original details of the object. See our on-line Tutorial to learn how Decorator works.
New to version 1.6:
- New interface languages added - Italian and Portuguese. Documentation updated.
- Bugs fixed.
The users who tried the previous version of the plug-in and have their version expired, have an opportunity to download and test the software for 10 days free of charge. Download the program here.
Upgrade for registered users is free.
To upgrade the program just download and install the new version over the previous one. If needed, re-register it with the same serial key.

January 27, 2009
AKVIS ArtWork v.2.0: Painting techniques at your fingertips!
AKVIS ArtWork is designed to imitate different painting techniques. Version 2.0 offers two painting styles - Oil Painting and Comics.
The Oil Painting style converts your photos into realistic oil paintings. Whether an oil portrait or a landscape painting - the program will make your ideas a reality.
The new Comics style allows you to replicate works of famous comics artists with just a few clicks. You can make a comic strip from your party photos, just get ArtWork and unleash your creativity.
Express yourself in new genres!
Test the software for 10 days free of charge.
Download the program for Mac and Windows here.
Registered users can upgrade to version 2.0 for free.
Attention! We are offering a temporary discount on the Business License, which allows using of our software for commercial purposes. Now design studios and professionals engaged in image processing can get a license for 189 USD instead of 299 USD. The price of the Upgrade from Home to Business license has been reduced accordingly.