Vertus Fluid Mask 3.2 | 18.58 Mb
Fluid Mask 3 is the professionals’ choice. Fluid Mask 2 established itself as the market leader in still image cutting-out – Fluid Mask 3 takes masking to the next level. Quick to pick up and intuitive to use, Fluid Mask 3 gets professional results fast. Now professional results are more possible than ever before. Make super fine mask selections using new sampling and selecting tools. Check out the new edge blending algorithms. And the new complex hair blending that automatically gets great results from multi-colored whispy hair. No longer should hair be the cutting-out nightmare it is today.
Not only is image processing time dramatically reduced but we have concentrated on speeding up workflow. Check out features like saving your workspace settings from one image to the next for runs of studio shots; and our new Patch technology with its intuitive tool-set for working on those difficult problem areas with compression artefact, poor edges and complicated backgrounds. Fluid Mask 3 benefits from a simplified interface and masses of on-application help to make picking it up easy and fun. Don't leech from kopona.net. For the professional user there are new features such as selecting areas for local detailed edge finding and blending that make masking challenges simple to overcome.
New features:
- Localized edge detection and blending – for faster workflow
- Faster initial image processing – up to 40%
- Better edge blending
- New look application – full screen / no desktop visible
- Localize problem areas for greater workflow enhancement
- Great new tools for fine mask selections
- Best of breed Help – now there’s an innovative in-application Tool Tips box with links to application based xml help files and tutorials
Set out below are the new features in more detail:
Platforms
Works on Windows XP and Vista; Mac 10.2.8 and above
Photoshop version
Now works on CS2 and CS3
Stand alone mode
Fluid Mask will also work in standalone mode (i.e. not as a plug-in) for image formats that accept transitions to transparency but only in 8 bit RGB color – e.g. TIFF and PNG.
Plug-in to other platforms
It is the intention in v3.1 (later) for Fluid Mask to plug-in to other platforms including for Quark and Paintshop Pro.
Speed
A core issue for users of Fluid Mask 3 has always been the initial image processing time at start up. V3 is now 10% faster than in V2 for a single core machine. For dual core the processing time is cut by 33% and for a 4 core machine it is an even faster 40%. Blending speed on hair blending will be slightly slower but that has never been an issue.
Screen views
In V3 now the entire application workspace fills the whole screen (it used to be floating windows only which showed the desktop through the application – users found this to be “unprofessional”). There are three views to choose from: Palettes docked (default) - although the main Tool Palette can be docked / undocked; Tool Palettes floating and Tool Palettes floating and screen maximised. All of these are actioned from the main Tool Palette.
Tool Options layout
Now each Tool has its own separate tool settings on the bar below the menu. The icon for the Tool is conveniently displayed on the left hands side next to the Tool Option settings.
Brushes
The number of brushes has been increased; the Eraser is not only an Exact Brush but can be a Local as well as a Global one. The user can also brush a Patch (see below)
Looking at brush behaviour, users can now commence masking at start up before the initial image analysis has finished – great for the professional user that understands mask behaviour for his/her images.
Mask brush size may be adjusted mid-brush stroke – this works very well when hooked up to a pen based tablet like Wacom’s where pen pressure sensitivity determines brush size.
