MagicMask/Extensis Mask Pro
Article Abstract:
Chroma Graphics' $99.95 MagicMask and Extensis' $299.95 Mask Pro are two plug-in tools for Adobe Photoshop that enhance the program's selection tools and let users create very sophisticated and complex masks. Mask Pro has an eyedropper tool for selecting Keep and Drop sets of colors from an image and a Magic Brush that makes the latter transparent. Its Threshold command determines Magic Brush's sensitivity to each color set, letting users generate elaborate selections. MagicMask takes a different approach involving multiple tools. The Color Brush samples the hue, saturation and value (HSV) of colors it passes over and uses them to define a mask which the user can adjust by changing HSV parameters. It is much more flexible than Photoshop's built-in Magic Wand. A Magic Lasso works to identify the edges of a distinct object. One problem is the lack of edge-feathering tools, which are included in a sister product called EdgeWizard.
Publication Name: Publish
Subject: Publishing industry
ISSN: 0897-6007
Year: 1997
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Waiting for XPress
Article Abstract:
QuarkXPress 4.0 adds many new functions and tools that make the program part drawing tool, part page-layout tool, and part document-publishing tool. There are 16 new tools on the tools palette and at least 75 new features, but the overall appearance is relatively unchanged from version 3.3. The new Append command is used for global importing of Styles, Colors and hyphenation and justification (H&J) settings. The new Character Style Sheet list provides character styles as well as paragraph styles, and the new Text to Box command converts text to paths just as Macromedia Freehand, CorelDraw and Adobe Illustrator do. Other new features include the Clipping command that traces clipping paths automatically around imported graphics, and the new Index palette for generating indexes. The program lacks any Web tools, and it still does not support table generation, but most XPress users will warmly welcome the new release.
Publication Name: Publish
Subject: Publishing industry
ISSN: 0897-6007
Year: 1997
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Fractal Design Expression
Article Abstract:
Fractal Design's $449 Expression draw-paint software has a few interesting features, including the ability to place editable transparency on an object. With the Skeletal Strokes feature, each vector path users create can receive strokes. The predefined strokes resemble such natural media as watercolors, ink and oil paint. Tinting is supported. Expression has several disadvantages, including primitive typographic controls and lack of kerning. There are problems working with any text block extending over two lines. Importing text blocks is impossible. Line-editing is impossible if type has already been devised. Expression's excessively cluttered interface means the user must have a large monitor. Output problems can result from the lack of a PostScript flatness setting.
Publication Name: Publish
Subject: Publishing industry
ISSN: 0897-6007
Year: 1997
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