SmartMask
February 4, 2008
SmartMask is one of the latest releases of Akvis LLC, the producer of Chameleon, LightShop, and Retoucher. The program is after the same goal as all the other selection plug-ins – to make the selection progress smooth, easy, quick, and effective. Depending on the type of source images the user can employ one of three algorithms or their combination to achieve best results. This and the compatibility of SmartMask with quite a number of Photo Editing Programs makes this plug-in different from the others in the first place. But we shall look at what and how it can do on a number of images.
Selecting Images with MaskPro
March 14, 2007
MaskPro is a OnOne Software PhotoShop plugin working within this (or some other) photo editor as a kind of filter. Mask Pro allows not only selection of images but creating of selection paths as well. The program can be downloaded at www.ononesoftware.com as a free 30 day trial or bought for $159 (upgrade $69).
Interface
{mosimage align=right popup=1} MaskPro opens up in a separate set of windows through PhotoShop filters menu. All its panels (5 of them al in all) show on your desktop with it as a background so that you can see all your open programs. That can be distracting. Pity they didn’t set the option of minimizing all the windows when opening the plug-in or set a neutral background for it.
Selection of images with Extract
March 2, 2007
Extract is a built-in Adobe PhotoShop plug-in used for selecting images. You would not need to pay for it or install it, which is a good thing. At the same time Extract is not as rich in tools as most of third party plug-ins.
Image Cutouts in EZ Mask
February 23, 2007
EZ Mask is a Digital Film Tools plug-in positioned as an easy to use interactive image-masking tool capable of extracting almost any object in an image–even if you are dealing with fine hair detail, smoke, or reflections. This extraction process creates what is known as a mask–essentially a black and white cutout.
Comparison Table (Selecting Tools)
February 14, 2007
In the table below you can see the tools every plug-in offers for selecting images. Differently organized, they, nevertheless, often do the same thing. In the first left column of the table we see the tools function.
The plug-in names are in the table’s header and will link you to the review pages.
Selecting images with Fluid Mask 2
February 2, 2007
Fluid mask is a Photoshop (or any other Photo editing program) plugin enabling you to make selections of images. Vertus is boasting quickness of the selections process and good quality. We tried to test that and the tools offered by the program.
To do it yourself you can load a free demo version of Fluid Mask 2 at www.vertustech.com . It will allow you to see the use of all the tools but won’t let to apply the selection back in Photoshop.
Selecting images in KnockOut 2
February 2, 2007
KnockOut 2 is a production of Corel subdivision Procreate. It can be used both as a separate program and a plug-in for Adobe Photoshop or Corel Draw.