AKVIS releases SmartMask plug-in

AKVIS has released SmartMask 1.2, a plug-in for programs including Photoshop, Photoshop Elements and Paint Shop Pro. The software is designed to ease the process of masking, which often requires complex object selection made difficult by surrounding objects. To remedy this SmartMask supplies red and blue pencils, with the blue being used to draw a line inside a desired object, and the red used to assign a general outline. The computer will then attempt to select the desired object.

Depending on the object, people can choose between Sharp, Soft and Complex modes. The Soft mode adds a green pencil for defining segments like hair; the Complex mode handles selections from color-matched backgrounds or uneven edges, and has its own touch-up brush. In all cases, SmartMask has its own tint removal tool, for when cut-outs have a color cast from nearby lighting. The plug-in is a Universal Binary for Mac OS X 10.4 or higher, and costs $120.

Filed under: software, Graphics/Web Design
Other story tags: Photoshop, AKVIS, Paint Shop Pro

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danviento

really

02/07, 9:41am, EST

Not the best example of a hard masking job in that graphic there. I'd like to see it in action against a complicated background, else PS's magnetic lasso tool will still do the trick for me. While you still have to occasionally go back and deslect/select areas with the polygonal lasso that the magnetic messed up on, it's still not an additional $120 for the ability.

I'll let you know after I demo it, but for the mean, this sounds like FUD.

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testudo

blech!

02/07, 3:45pm, EST

That box makes it look like a Symantec product.

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Estrella

Mask

02/08, 12:44am, EST

Yes, not very representative picture. I've found in the program tutorial more complicated cases. For example hair selection or selection of leaves. At akvis.com/en/smartmask-tutorial/ About Box shot - it looks like other Akvis products. Symantec has another style. ;)

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