Vertus Fluid Mask

The following read is an interview excerpt between the wonderful team at www.photoshopsupport.com and our very own James Carr-Jones.

What is the story behind Fluid Mask 3?

“We had great reviews and response for Fluid Mask 2. While other masking programs could do certain jobs very well they didn’t have the coverage in depth we had across a range of masking issues – because they were mostly driven by single algorithmic solutions. For instance Corel’s Knockout has a great reputation for smoke and glass – but how often do you mask these? We found we could cover more masking situations than others so in terms of crude percentages we could do more.” [interview in full…]

What’s new in Fluid Mask 3?

“Well we have 3 different kinds of edge transition algorithms or blending besides the simple feather. In fact an updated one will be coming out in the next month or so… and of course current Fluid Mask 3 users will get the upgrade for free. This is so that whatever the image, there is more often than not a blending solution for your problem.

Using Fluid Mask 3 can now more usefully be seen as a process or workflow with a tool kit focussed on that hard to do 10% mentioned above.” [interview in full…]

How does Fluid Mask compare to the new selection features in Photoshop CS3?

“It would be great if the new Quick Select Tool, the new edge feathering features and other features answered all our needs. But they don’t. They’re better but don’t effect really knotty problems like hair masking, complex backgrounds, compression anomalies at edges, lattices, wires etc., etc. and that is what Fluid Mask 3 is designed to tackle.” [interview in full…]

There are some big claims here. Does it do all that, really?

“The answer is yes and no. Yes Fluid Mask does accomplish all the above… but not in all cases. No image editing tool will do everything automatically because some images are just impossible. Like extracting hair detail from a complex background.

The litmus test is: when you are zoomed in at pixel level; if you can see the edge so should the program. What you will find is that mostly you can’t pick out the edge at this level and that is because our eyes and brain construct edges: we fill in the gaps and at this zoom level you see these gaps.” [visit photoshopsupport.com to read full interview]

Latest Fluid Mask Update - Out Now!

Phew! We have been busy since the initial launch of Fluid Mask 3, the response has been fantastic - thank you! We are now very pleased to announce the immediate availability of Fluid Mask 3.0.2

The following is a list of improvements:

• Performance of preview feature in Patches is improved
• Loading a .vfmp file (Vertus Fluid Mask Project file) did cause trouble on Windows - this has been fixed.
• Some users had trouble installing Fluid Mask 3 as a plug-in and couldn’t see it in the menu > Filter > Vertus in CS2 or CS3. Fixed!
• The speed when loading a CMYK images or 16-bit images is now much faster in Photoshop plug-in mode on Windows.
• Adobe Elements required a manual installation. It will now be listed as an option in the installation process if you have Adobe Elements installed.
• “+”, “=” and “-” have been added as zoom shortcuts.
• Hair matting and blending has been improved further.
• The auto-blend mask will no longer be added between adjoining areas of the same mask.

—-

If you’re new to Fluid Mask 3 Go Here
For existing Fluid Mask 3 user updates Go Here

Looking forward to seeing you online…

The Support Team

Posted by:
Jason Busch
16 August 2007
on DigitalDingus.com

Fluid Mask 3 is one of the best graphics editing programs I’ve used this year. It simply takes the labor out of editing images where a replacement background is needed. While Photoshop does an ok job at removing backgrounds with its Magic Wand tool, it is no match for Fluid Mask 3. In areas where Edge Blending has occurred, FL3 does a spectacular job of dealing with this very difficult issue.

I recommend a dual-core processor system for this application, however, I used FM3 on DD PC #1 just to see how it would run, and didn’t experience any problems except for the predictable slower processing times. FM3 is very stable.

HIGHLY RECOMMENDED PLUS

Vertus has also created one of the best electronic manuals I’ve set my eyes on. Full color images, not the cheap black and white which I’ve experienced in several electronic manuals over the years. Color images are essential to a complete learning experience for a graphics program, and Vertus has impressed me.

Fluid Mask 3 also has a collection of recently uploaded tutorials which can not only be viewed online, but downloaded for later viewing at your own leisure.

One of the more difficult tasks in image editing has now been minimized, thanks to Vertus. Fluid Mask 3 welcomes the toughest images you have and will surprise you with its simple interface and will amaze you with its results.

[read full article...]

Mark Lesbirel and the CreativeMatch crew are friends of our and we’re very proud to be supporting the UK creative industry. Flair is a monthly industry-recognised competition with great prizes on offer for the winners. It is split into three categories, Illustration, Photography and Viral Marketing (view latest entries). To win the Flair competition you need to be voted the ‘best’ by your industry peers - not only do you get great prizes for winning you get the praise and accolade you deserve from your peers!!

The rules are simple enough - you’ll need a title, description (including an information on client, brief, response, techniques and software used) - plus of course an image (450 pixels wide, saved for web).

Check out the July 07 winners:

Mike Hemsley - Typically English Summer
Alex Paterson - Pirates

Congratulations to both Mike & Alex!
For more information on this competition why not head on over to creativematch.co.uk and join in…

All the best,
Steveo
Vertus

One of the crucial components of producing realistic cut-outs is how well the extracted object (cut-out) blends into the new background. Tools in Photoshop, for example, allow you extraction images with the extract tool or quick select tool but it’s when you drop in new backgrounds you see the cut-out sticking out like a sore thumb! Then is hours spent of your time trying to feather / soften / blend that hard edge – who needs that? Exactly!

So let us introduce to you yet another time saving function in Fluid Mask 3. Users of Fluid Mask 3 are already benefiting from Smart Blending - this tutorial will show you how to set parameters within Fluid Mask 3 that will automatically recognise and react to soft and hard edges within the same image!

Make a few adjustments, analyse the image and let Fluid Mask 3 do the work for you! Too good to be true? Nope! just watch video, all will be revealed.

Click on image to watch the video!

“In over twenty years, using over a hundred pieces of software, I have never met a company who goes to this extent to make sure their users become experts with their products.  You guys are outstanding!!“

Home of the largest Photoshop® training event in the world…

We’re very excited to be attending this years Photoshop World, Las Vegas. Every year we attend both the Boston and Vegas shows, and if Boston ‘07 was anything to go by roll on Vegas!! Read on for more information…

In today’s market, efficiency, productivity, and creativity are in very high demand, and that’s why each year thousands of Photoshop users from around the world come to Photoshop World. It’s where you’ll learn the latest cutting-edge techniques, the fastest and most effective ways to work in Adobe Photoshop, and the hottest and most amazing new Photoshop tips from a hand-picked team of the industry’s most talented and creative instructors.

* 2007 Tech Expo
* Special Events
* Guru Awards Ceremony
* Photoshop World Brochure

This conference brings together photographers, designers, artists, educators, motion graphics designers, and Photoshop users of every kind for a three-day Photoshop love fest of training, learning, and fun.

Trees & Lattices #1

Ever taken the perfect scenery shot only to be dissapointed with the dull grey skyline? You ever though - hey, this would look great if only I could drop in a new skyline? Then listen up! We’ve rolled two great video tutorials into one - so sit back relax and let us show you how Fluid Mask 3 can save you time AND your images.

The first tutorial is with the background is grey and lighter than the foreground - the task on this image is to preserve the all important highlights on the leaves; the second is more difficult with well defined branches and flowers where the foreground is both lighter and darker than the background.

Click image to watch video now!

(original post: April 2007)

“If you are a digital artist who relies heavily on compositing, the decision to buy Fluid Mask is a no brainer. The time-savings it provides will quickly pay for the plug-in after only a few images. For the pro-sumer hobbyist or Photoshop prankster who likes putting people’s heads on other people’s bodies for a laugh, the decision is less clear-cut. However the controls on Fluid Mask are so straight forward that no one should be scared away thinking this tool is only for the pros.” [read full article...]

example image:

image source: http://macenstein.com
Copyright (C) 2007 Macenstien

“Just wanted to commend all you guys at Vertustech, Fluid Mask is one awesome program. It is so user-friendly and the amount of time you save even when doing fairly complicated masks is well worth the price. I tried working with one of the competing programs “Mask Pro” and that seemed a bit problematic in accomplishing what I had set out to do. It just wasn’t my cup of tea. When I tried Fluid Mask for the first time I was blown away by how it lets you pick and choose the pieces you want to keep or discard. What could be easier?

Simple to use, great results. Again thanks Vertustech and the team behind Fluid Mask “