Have you ever wanted to extract something from a photo to either add to another photo or to change the background? Have you spent hours trying to use one of the lasso tools in Adobe Photoshop only to quit in frustration because of all the complex curves? Let me tell you, you do not have to feel frustrated any longer.

Fluid Mask is a plug-in for Adobe Photoshop version CS2 and CS3. There are versions for Microsoft Windows Vista and XP as well as Apple Mac Intel and Power PC 10.2.8 and up. Fluid Mask also works with Photoshop Elements as well as working in standalone mode for image formats that accept transitions to transparency, but only in 8-bit RGB Color; such as TIFF and PNG.

Fluid Mask is a set of advanced paint tools that cut out highly complex images with absolute precision. For most of your cut-outs it is just paint the area that you don’t want and push a button and it’s gone. If you need to be more selective, it works similar to painting by numbers. For more background read my review of Fluid Mask 2.0.

So what’s new with Fluid Mask 3.0? Well, to start with, it is much faster. With the size of images increasing, Vertus felt the need to increase the speed of Fluid Mask. With the right configuration; multi processing system, it can be as much as 40 percent faster. On my non-multi processing machine, I noticed the speed difference immediately.

Next is the Localized edge detection and blending. When cutting out object from their background, it is still hard to get a difficult edge to blend just right. Fluid Mask now has a set of tools to isolate a difficult area and apply alternative edge finding and blending techniques. This makes the tricky parts of image cutting much easier.

Then there is also Intelligent Edge Blending where Fluid Mask not only finds the edge’s character (morphology) but understands the width of the edge. There are two methods for tackling the blending across the edges of a cut-out border; Feather blending which creates a simple even transition across the edge and Smart Binding which varies the blend according to characteristic of color and texture. Intelligent Edge Blending will select the best type for the image. From the image below, you can see the detail that can be accomplished.

New to this version is the ability to save settings which will allow you to recall edge detection, blending and resolution options that you used in prior sessions. This is helpful when working with batches of images.

Finally there are great new tools for color based selections. By using the Color Workspace and Color Sampler you are now able to make extremely fine color based mask selections. The Color Workspace allows you to mask an image or patch area by color. This is helpful when you have an edge that is too complex to accurately paint with a brush or when only the pixels of a particular color should be masked. You can select colors using the Color Sampler tool or on the workspace display.

 After five series, Paris Hilton and Nicole Richie’s reality TV show ‘The Simple Life’ is to end.
The Hollywood Reporter says that US TV network E! confirmed that the show’s current fifth season would be its last.

‘The Simple Life’ debuted on Fox in the US in 2003 and ran for three seasons before moving to E! in 2006; the show’s audience is down 20% on last year.

In a statement E! said: “‘…Simple Life’ has been a wonderful addition to the E! schedule for two years, and we will always be grateful to Paris and Nicole for their hard work and graciousness.”

funny

We created a great wedding album using your software. We chose where the pictures are placed, added text and told a great story. We recieved an aluminium album that looks great with huge pictures and different design layouts. We saved so much money from the quote we got from the photographer that we have produced some leather bound versions for the family. We even produced one from the honeymoon. All this for 20% of what one album costs from the photographer. Great product, great service - thanks

the personalised calendar was brilliant. It look great and the people getting married loved it. It was delivered within a few days and the service was great. I wanted to mix and match the pictures and a simple email was all I needed to do. Thanks will use it again.

Panasonic, the leading global manufacturer of consumer electronics, has announced the Middle East launch of its latest addition to the Lumix family of high-performance digital cameras, the DMC-FX100. The camera combines a superb, 28mm wide-angle Leica DC lens that features a 3.6x optical zoom (equivalent to 28-100mm on a 35mm film camera) with f/2.8 brightness and 1/1.72-inch large CCD to be the world’s first digital camera that achieves 12.2-megapixel high resolution recording.       

The Leica DC lens in the FX-100 has been newly developed specifically for this camera, whose 12.2-megapixel recording gives users the creative power to capture stunningly true-to-life high-resolution images with extraordinary resolution, detail and clarity. Panasonic managed to pack the advanced 28mm wide-angle lens and large CCD into a sleek, slim body. Also adding a host of sophisticated features, the new FX100 is a premium camera that moves right to the top of the Lumix FX series of compact, stylish cameras.

“We are pleased to launch the DMC-FX100 in the Middle East. The quality of this camera goes beyond its high specifications and Panasonic has gone to great lengths to make the FX100 a camera so effortless to use that everyone will find it easy to take clear, beautiful pictures every time they shoot,” said Yasuo Kimoto, Product Manager, Panasonic Marketing Middle East.

At the heart of the FX100’s super-easy operation is Intelligent Image Stabilization, a Panasonic system offered in all new Lumix cameras. Intelligent Image Stabilization combines two distinct features aimed at making it easy to capture perfect images. First is Mega OIS (Optical Image Stabilizer), a system that helps eliminate blurring due to hand-shake. Mega O.I.S. is particularly critical when shooting high-resolution pictures, where the effects of even slight hand-shake are readily visible. The new advanced Mega OIS system in the DMC-FX100 can even detect and separate the hand-shake from other movement of camera to raise both precision of detection and corrective effect.

Second is Intelligent ISO Control, a system that fights motion blur by detecting if the subject moves and adjusting the ISO setting and shutter speed according to the degree of motion and light conditions. Both Mega OIS and Intelligent ISO Control act automatically, so users don’t have to even think about them each time conditions change.

The FX100 also incorporates the Venus Engine III, Panasonic’s advanced image processing LSI that helps render images with minimal noise. Also providing exceptional response speed, the Venus Engine III makes possible the newly developed High-Speed Burst shooting mode that lets users snap off a lightning-fast eight shots per second, as well as a new High Sensitivity mode that provides a maximum ISO setting of 6400. In addition, when using the High Sensitivity mode, the built-in flash reaches as far as 16 metres, letting users capture clear images even in dim lighting.

The FX100 lets users shoot high-definition 1920 x 1080 pixel still images and high-quality 1280 x 720 pixel moving images. Both perfectly fit the wide-screen (16:9) TVs that are popular today, facilitating impressive viewing of photos and motion images taken.

“Beautifully designed and packed with high-end features, the new DMC-FX100 is an eminently worthy addition to the Lumix line of advanced digital cameras. The FX100 carries on the Lumix legacy of capturing breathtakingly clear, beautiful images that turn special moments into cherished memories that can be enjoyed in many different ways,” concluded Kimoto.

Samsung has bolstered its NV digital compact range with the addition of three new models led by the 12-million-pixel NV20.

The NV20 boasts ‘improved processing technology’, top equivalent ISO of 3200, 3x optical zoom, and ‘faster’ Advanced Shake Reduction technology, claims Samsung.

The NV20 will cost £249 and is due for UK release in September.

Also due out in September are the 10MP NV15 (£229) and 8MP NV8 (£199).

All three models feature a revamped version of Samsung’s Smart Touch User Interface.

Meanwhile, due out in August is the i85, an 8.1MP (£229) model with a 3in screen, plus a built-in MP3 music player and multimedia player.

 Samsung unveils 12MP NV20 digital camera