SYNAPSE CIRCUIT MAGIX XARA PHOTO & GRAPHIC DESIGNER 9

SYNAPSE CIRCUIT
MAGIX XARA PHOTO & GRAPHIC DESIGNER 9
#MAGIX, #XARA #Photo&GraphicDesigner9

Good late evening, Synapse Circuit Readers! I hope that all is well with you! I wish I could say the same... I do apologize for the recent lapse in articles / reviews due to personal issues. But I am happy to say that things are looking up!

Here’s some great news for photo editors and graphic designers!

BE A DESIGNER WITH MAGIX
Xara Photo & Graphic Designer 9 - Ideal Software for all Photo Editing, Illustration and Graphic Design Needs!

Xara Photo & Graphic Designer v9 is the perfect software choice for all your photo and graphic design work, with powerful photo editing and enhancement features, and truly flexible illustration and design tools.

Main New Features Include:

Advanced Healing Brush – remove blemishes with a single click, or brush over an area to erase it.

New Mask and Selection tools. Easily paint, or draw a region or area to enhance, such as adjust the brightness, sharpness, colour temperature etc.

Advanced background erase. Extract complex shapes such a people or objects in the foreground, and place them on alternate backgrounds.

Drag and drop re-colouring of clipart and vector groups.

Google Font support. Browse, preview and install any of the 600+ Google Fonts. Although Google Fonts were primarily designed to be web fonts, they are open source Truetype or OpenType fonts and Xara has built in a way to automatically download and install the font as a Windows font.

11 new Photo Effects including Fake HDR, Polarized Grayscale and Colour Splash to highlight a colour.

New clipart including a wide range of ‘company logo’ designs.

Most of Xara's photo editing tools are non-destructive. Also known as 'parametric image editing', this non-destructive technique allows you to adjust or even remove edits at any point in the future, without affecting the original image. Photo edits are stored as the parameters to be changed (such as brightness or blend levels) rather than the altered pixels. This is much faster, more powerful, more memory efficient, and allows near infinite Undo.

Xara Photo and Graphic Designer introduces some really advanced photo editing features. An automatic background erase that normally takes hours of careful manual masking (or would be impossible), can be done in seconds. The Healing Brush is built on what Xara believe to be the most advanced intelligent 'fill in' algorithms anywhere. The new Mask and Selection tools make it easier than ever to apply edits to specific areas, and to have those edits seamlessly blended into your photo.

Charles Moir, Managing Director of Xara said: "As the name suggests 'Photo & Graphic Designer' is more than just another photo editor. It's one of the most advanced and powerful vector graphics programs available, and seamlessly combines all the photo editing features you're likely to need. Why should you have to use one program for general vector 'artwork' style graphics and another for photo editing, when you can get one, really fast, really easy-to-use graphics program that does it all? It's simply the most advanced photo and graphics editing tool available, for the money."

Price & Availability:

Xara Photo & Graphic Designer 9 is available £69.99 (inc VAT)

It operates on Windows XP/Vista/7/8 /8.1

For more information please see - xara.com

About Xara Group Ltd:

Xara, founded in 1981, was one of the oldest independent software developers in the UK, until it was acquired by Magix AG in 2007. Xara continues to develop innovative graphics, website building, and document publishing tools, which are marketed around the world under both the MAGIX and Xara brand names.

About MAGIX AG:

MAGIX is a leading international provider of high-quality software, online services and digital contents for multimedia communications. Since 1993, MAGIX has been developing leading technologies for creation, editing, management and presentation of photos and graphics, videos and music. Internationally, MAGIX operates from branches in the USA, Canada, the UK, Germany, France, Italy, Spain and the Netherlands. The product range is targeted towards laymen and professionals alike and goes beyond the PC range to include seamlessly integrated online and mobile applications.

According to its retail sales figures, MAGIX leads in the multimedia software sector in the most important European markets, and is one of the most successful competitors in the USA. Fifteen years of market presence as well as one thousand awards worldwide testify to the company's power of innovation.

Review and competition coming soon...

Take good care!

Thank you for watching and reading!

Please check out the Synapse Circuit website for video, i-PDF and more! 

Synapse Circuit Dot Com

SYNAPSE CIRCUIT REALLUSION FACE FILTER 3 PRO REVIEW

SYNAPSE CIRCUIT
REALLUSION
FACE FILTER 3 PRO REVIEW
$79.95, PC & MAC
#RealLusion #Facefilter3PRO #VirtualMake-up #PhotoRetouching #DigitalPhotography

Good evening, Synapse Circuit Readers! How are you this fine evening? Earlier on during the day it was so, so very wonderful! It looks as though spring has sprung in London, UK! I hope that the weather is treating you all well – wherever you may be!

Y’know, today’s smartphones are improving in one particular area all the time and that is in the area of photography! We’ve seen how smartphones have killed of the pocketcorder such as the Flip! It flipped off! Lol! Ahem... Sorry... Yes, these days the camera on a smartphone is pretty much negating the use of a compact digital camera! Gosh! I own a couple of digital cameras, Panasonic TZ7 and Canon SX220HS. Both cameras are great but I find the cameras on the Galaxy Note 2 and S4 are very capable!

I am planning on taking some portraits at some point this year as I love to study faces! And guess what I will be using to edit / retouch the photos? That’s right, Reallusion’s Face Filter 3 Pro!

PHOTO MANIPULATION SOFTWARE OF THIS CALIBRE MAKES YOU ASK:
Are the days of Adobe numbered? Let me see if I can provide an answer to this question...

If you are familiar with Adobe products and what Adobe has done lately with regards to how they sell their products to consumers you will know that they are renting out their suite of software on a monthly basis. Maybe it’s something that will work for professionals but I do not see it as being a great option for semi-pro / consumers. As you should know by now there are great alternatives to Photoshop that are either very cost effective or freeware! And because of tablets you will find that a good PC is costing less by the month!

What I love about software houses like Reallusion is that they are producing cost effective software that is not only cost effective but offers professional features that really and truly empowers the average Joe or Jo!

FAMILIAR?
Face Filter comes from the software house that has brought you Crazy Talk 7 Pro and therefore the interface is very similar.

Face Filter is a great idea for those that want to perform fast and effective edits on portraits and create lens filter effects on otherwise flat photography.






IN USE
Face Filter performs the task or set of tasks admirably. Sometimes you just don’t want to bring out the big gun that is Photoshop or other photo manipulation software to perform what should be rudimentary edits in this day and age.

Face Filter 3 is a godsend! It makes light work of retouching portraits and that all too tricky problem area of skin tone and blemishes!

Contained within Face Filter 3 Pro are many templates for adjusting facial features, skin and make-up. The photo effects are brilliant! Because Face Filter 3 Pro is template driven most changes can be made with just one click!

THE INTERFACE IN MORE DETAIL
I don’t want to risk boring you with endless repetitions – I try to keep my reviews as short and as sweet as possible! However, I have to say once more that the interfaces that Reallusion creates for their exception software is nothing short of amazing!

Upon launching Face Filter for the first time I was able to perform edits to facial portraits like a pro! There was no time wasted in trying to figure out something. The interface just speaks your mental lingo! I was able to clean-up blemished skin, even-up the tones, reduce lines and wrinkles without making the result look plastic!

I have done such tasks using Photoshop but the results weren’t as convincing as Face Filter 3 Pro!

What’s more is that you can move the interface around to suit the way that you like to work!

SCOPE
The scope for Face Filter 3 Pro is vast! I know for a fact that if you bought yourself a decent professional digital SLR camera and set-up a photography business your costs to set-up will be further reduced as you can bypass Photoshop altogether or get an alternative. Face Filter 3 Pro will definitely enable photo edits that allow the subjects to be recognizable as a human and not a showroom dummy!

Plastic / cosmetic surgeons are using Face Filter 3 Pro to show facial reconstruction!

Beauticians can show how one can look with certain shades of make-up before spending a penny on possible ill-looking products! If you wanted to set-up as a travelling make-up artist then you’d need a cost effect laptop to add to your kit!

Me? I love Face Filter 3 Pro as I love to take portraits and to be able to edit them without spending countless hours trying to make the edits look natural!

There is a “Standard” version of this remarkable software but I say do not bother with it as this Pro version is so inexpensive that you’d think that you’re paying for the standard version!

IN CLOSING
Face Filter 3 Pro is a truly innovative and outstanding program. Do not let the price fool you! You will be able to edit images up to 6000 x 6000 in resolution which should be enough for most professional applications i.e. desktop publishing.

Recommended!

5 out of 5

Yes, Adobe Photoshop’s days are numbered if it is not dead already! The beauty of Face Filter 3 Pro is that it works standalone! It’s not a filter for Photoshop or alternative programs!

Just in case you weren’t paying attention: Face Filter 3 Pro is inspirational and outstanding software from Reallusion! Just watch out for my review on CrazyTalk Animator 2!

Imagine what would happen if Reallusion decided to make a photo editing / manipulation software! WOW!!!

Reallusion Face Filter 3 Pro scores a magnificent Synapse Circuit Platinum! Awesome!

What do you reckon?

Take good care!  

Thank you for watching and reading!

Please check out the Synapse Circuit website for video, i-PDF and more! 

Synapse Circuit Dot Com

Synapse Circuit News: Reallusion Debuts FaceFilter3 for Mac

Reallusion Debuts FaceFilter3 for Mac, an Intuitive Photo Retouching Kit that Incorporates Real-Life Makeup Theory

The new generation of FaceFilter provides a versatile toolkit which allows you to bring exceptional refinement and beauty to your photos without the need for a high-end camera

FaceFilter3 is available for both PC and Mac  

London, UK, January 20^th 2014 — Reallusion, an industry leader in real-time 2D and 3D animation tools, has launched FaceFilter3 Mac, the latest version of its acclaimed photo retouching and beautification series. Now FaceFilter3 is available for both Windows PC and Mac. FaceFilter3 is a leading photo retouching software that incorporates real-life makeup theory and techniques into its extensive selection of multi-purpose beauty tools. 

FaceFilter3 is an essential tool for everyone from the image editing professional to the social media diva.  The simple and easy-to-learn interface allows even those completely unfamiliar with photo re-touching to feel like a pro within minutes!  New users can choose from a selection of hundreds of facial makeup and morph templates and see their facial photos transform to suit any scenario.  Furthermore, DSLR effects and various photo filters give anyone from the amateur photographer to the photo retouching professional all the tools they need to make any photo into a stunning masterpiece. 

Professional Makeup Theory Integrated into the Ultimate Photo Beautifying Solution

“Reallusion is the first company to provide a photo beauty solution that provides all levels of users with the ability to easily transform their images in any number of ways to achieve absolutely any look imaginable.  We’ve collaborated with professional cosmetic artists to incorporate real-world cosmetic logic into our tool design,” said Charles Chen, CEO of Reallusion. “FaceFilter3 utilizes our advanced muscle-level and facial analysis technology, which has been used with other Reallusion products as well as licensed to brand name camera manufacturers. “

The template-based system allows users to quickly and easily apply extremely detailed and natural looking makeup styles for each specific facial feature, then customize and save them for future use.  The ability to selectively morph and adjust individual facial features allows for precise facial enhancement and subtle changes in expression.

Those more experienced with photo re-touching such as image editing professionals can take advantage of fully customizable makeup layers for skin enhancement, highlights and contours and a whole world of eye makeup options.  They can then save these custom templates for quick one-click application on future projects as well. 

FaceFilter3 is a versatile photo retouching and beautifying toolkit that allows you to cover blemishes, customize makeup, refine facial features, and apply DSLR effects..

Give a Professional Look and Upgrade Your Photo with DSLR and Post Effects

One thing that makes FaceFilter3 unique is the inclusion of creative lens filters and DSLR effects that can be applied to any image.  Define the background and foreground of your image with masking, and then choose different levels of focus in different patterns such as circular or gradient to give your image a depth-of-field effect like it was taken with a professional DSLR camera.  Foreground and background can be edited separately and given different colors and other image properties as well. 

There is also a bokeh feature which allows you to be creative with your blur effects.  Choose from a number of distinctive bokeh shapes ranging from hearts to musical notes, and add that subtle finishing touch to your photo.  The lens filter effects within FaceFilter3 include various Lomo, vignette and image tone templates that are fully customizable so you can have full creative control over the final look of your photo. 

FaceFilter3 Features:

·         All-in-one Beauty Centre.  A versatile toolkit stocked with every makeup tool needed to create exceptional and unique looks for every photo.  Each unique tool is based upon real-life professional makeup theory.  The included templates allow for one-click application of a variety of beautiful and complete looks, which are categorized into Skin Refinement, Facial Makeup and Eye Makeup.

• Skin Care Function. New and innovative skin-smoothing system that easily and quickly evens out skin by clearing away blemishes, wrinkles, and discoloration.  Specific templates are easily applied to address the initial problem, and further editing and tweaking can be performed with more specific tools. 
  
  
• Detailed Skin and Hair Textures. Ultra-realistic looking eyebrows and eyelashes contain visual detail down to each follicle, allowing them to blend in naturally with the rest of the face, while a diverse selection of skin textures can be modified in a variety of ways to suit the particular skin texture of your model and prevent the “washed out” look that is prevalent in other photo retouching software.
  
  
• Highlights & Contours. Flexible highlight/contour layers along with masking tools allow users to add definition to facial features in addition to bringing in further custom layers for a more pronounced effect.
  
  
• Adjust Facial Shape. Facial image fitting allows for a whole new level of freedom for facial adjustment, with the ability to adjust every facial detail from overall facial proportion to the shape, position, and size of individual facial features.
  
  
• Facial Expression Enhancement. Muscle-based facial adjustment facilitates the ability to totally remodel any facial expression, or simply perform subtle adjustments and tweaks to the current expression.
  
  
• Photo DSLR and Lens Filter Effects.  Adjust image values or add a polished touch to your image by applying a variety of DSLR and other photo filters and effects for a more professional and unique result.

Pricing and Availability:

FaceFilter3 is available for Windows PC and Mac, in Standard version at $29.99 and PRO version at $149.95. 

FaceFilter3 Mac version is also available on Apple’s Mac App Store:

·         Pro version: https://itunes.apple.com/app/facefilter3-pro/id747254884?mt=12

·         Standard version: https://itunes.apple.com/app/facefilter3-standard/id747269885?mt=12

For more about FaceFilter3 please visit: http://www.reallusion.com/facefilter/default.aspx

For FaceFilter3 training resource please visit:  http://www.reallusion.com/facefilter/training.aspx

The add-on bundle package with FaceFilter3 PRO, Makeup PRO, and bonus content is available for USD$129.90. To learn more about Makeup PRO, the add-on for FaceFilter3 http://www.reallusion.com/ContentStore/promo/2012_MakeupPro/

About Reallusion, Inc.

Headquartered in Silicon Valley, Reallusion is a leading-edge software developer providing cinematic animation tools for PC, Mac and mobile platforms.  Reallusion’s pioneering storytelling technology excelling at character animation, facial morphing and voice lip-sync allows fast creation of interactive avatars for 3-D real-time filmmaking and previsualization for professional post-production. Their powerful yet easy-to-use tools make character animation accessible to both Mac and PC users of all skill levels. Reallusion’s development of core technologies and growing base of intellectual property firmly establish the company as power among emerging technology innovators, furthering their graphic and imaging embedded kernels to top-brand device manufacturers worldwide. http://www.reallusion.com/

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