Fluid Mask
Fluid Mask is a specialist cut-out tool that uses a new segmentation technology to get optimal results. It divides the image into dozens of segments with clearly defined edges, enabling the user to select, group and mask objects in the image. With this technique the user can obtain the cleanest possible separations between masked and unmasked areas.
On the Edge Detection Option panel there are slider controls for edge sensitivity and in-focus edge width. Radio buttons offer a choice of high, medium, and low settings for edge contrast; and fine, medium, and coarse settings for a texture filter. The latter groups areas of similar texture, such as grass, into larger groups for more efficient masking.
Fluid Mask goes even further by providing many more, easily accessible tools including a Region Editor which displays all the colors that are present in a selected region of the image. With this tool you can fine-tune the mask by assigning colors to "keep," "delete," and "complex" categories. It even has a "test rendering" tool that quickly renders a selected rectangle so that you can check the quality of the mask.
Comment
Fluid Mask gives you the best of both worlds: the power to carry out a complex task to perfection, plus and a well-designed interface to make mask creation easier than you would have thought possible. It is a professional's tool -- and the price is quite steep -- but it is worth every cent if you need to make composite images without seeing the join.
Fluid Mask 2.0 and 3.0 have support for 16-bit images.
Tech info
- Plugs into: Photoshop 7 onward; Elements
- OS: Windows 2000 onward; Mac OS X
- Price level: Approx. $200
Vertus Tech
Vertus Tech is one of the market leaders in image manipulation software that involves segmentation and matting. On its website it notes, rightly: "...the growth in the power and use of the image is one of the key trends of the early 21st century."
From the same vendor:
- Bling! It
- Play with Pictures
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