AKVIS ArtWork 2.0 announced - adds Comics style

[DannyRaphael]

From their e-mail announcement:

AKVIS ArtWork v.2.0: a Comic from a Photo!

New Tutorials at akvis.com

******AKVIS ArtWork****

AKVIS ArtWork is designed to imitate different painting techniques.

Version 2.0 offers two painting styles - Oil Painting and Comics.

The Oil Painting style converts your photos into realistic oil paintings. Whether an oil portrait or a landscape painting - the program will make your ideas a reality.

The new Comics style allows you to replicate works of famous comics artists with just a few clicks. You can make a comic strip from your party photos, just get ArtWork and unleash your creativity.

http://akvis.com/en/artwork-tutorial/howwork/comics.php

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Version 2.0 is a free upgrade to existing Akvis ArtWork customers. (Be sure to first UNINSTALL 1.0 before installing 2.0.)

The default mode includes optional black edges similar to Smart Blur > Edges only, but with more control over edge characteristics. The simplify controls include a clever combination of simplification, posterization and blurring. I like the convenience of Comics and Oils being in the same plugin.

The simplify effect (without the edges) is similar to what one can get with Xero > Caravaggio, but Comics has a lot more control over output. Similar results (with or without edges) can also be achieved with Topaz > Simplify.

I would not be surprised if more artistic effects are added to ArtWork in the future.

Here is a fast example of what's possible. The far right example is a 2-pass effect: Comics followed by the original oil painting effect.