AKVIS is happy to announce the release of Version 12.5 of AKVIS Sketch for Windows and Macintosh. Sketch converts digital photos into amazing pencil sketches and watercolor, charcoal, and pastel drawings. It’s a wonderful tool for those who have always wanted to draw but didn’t know how. Version 12.5 introduces batch processing to standalone mode. Previously batch processing was only available using the plug-in as a Photoshop action. RAW format support has also been added.AKVIS Sketch is an award-winning program for conversion of photos into pencil sketches and watercolor paintings. The program has already won the recognition of professionals and delighted home users with its neat results. However, there is no end to perfection and the company released a new version of AKVIS Sketch with some new features.

With AKVIS Sketch you do not need to handle a pencil to feel like an artist. All you need to create your original work of art is good taste and AKVIS Sketch.Make any photo look like a B&W or color drawing, imitate the technique of graphite or color pencil, charcoal, pastel, or watercolor painting.

Version 12.5 introduces batch processing for standalone mode. Batch processing previously was only available using the plug-in as a Photoshop action. Now you can quickly and easily add the same drawing effect to a series of photos. It’s great for making a cartoon from a movie, or creating comics from a home video.

Also new to Sketch in Version 12.5 is RAW format support.

The program works in an entertaining way. You can observe the conversion of a photo into a drawing or watercolor painting in real time and even interrupt the process when the required result is achieved.

Once you have converted your photo into a drawing, you can add some special effects. Create a blend of a drawing and a photo; imitate motion or add a “time machine effect” by swirling the background. Bring attention to something in an image by blurring the rest of it in an artistic way. It is especially useful when the final drawing contains too many details in the background that divert attention.

Also, the parameters on the Canvas tab let you add a rough surface to your image, as if it has been drawn on canvas, corrugated paper, brick wall, etc.It is also possible to add a signature or a greeting to your pencil drawings to personalize the work of art.Many photo editing enthusiasts have already appreciated the Sketch’ s features. Take a look at the examples gallery (many created by users) athttp://akvis.com/en/sketch-tutorial/examples/

Sketch can be useful on many occasions. Surprise your friends and relatives by presenting them with their pencil portraits. Make a watercolor drawing out of a photo from your last nature shooting to decorate your room. Convert your own photo into a color sketch to print on a T-shirt. You can even make your own comic strip: http://akvis.com/en/sketch-tutorial/examples/comics-drawing.php

The program can be helpful to designers who need to quickly bring images to one style for a web-site or an advertisement brochure. It can also be used to make an embroidery pattern from a photo, which can then be used with photostitching software.For a free trial, AKVIS offers 10 days of fully functional use. Details are available at http://akvis.com/en/sketch/examples-pencil-drawing.php

AKVIS Sketch runs on Microsoft Windows XP/Vista/Window7 and on Macintosh Mac OS X 10.4-10.6.

AKVIS Sketch is available as a standalone application, as well as a plugin to a photo editor.
The plugin version of AKVIS Sketch is compatible with Adobe Photoshop and Photoshop Elements, Corel Painter, Corel Photo-Paint, and Paint Shop Pro, ACD FotoCanvas, and PhotoImpact.Users of versions 9 through 12 of Sketch can upgrade to version 12.5 for free!
Those who have an older version (v.1-8) will need to pay for an upgrade to the current version.

AKVIS Sketch Home License (Plugin or Standalone) sells for $72 USD or € 55 EUR, downloadable from http://akvis.com.
In Home Deluxe and Business variants both Plugin and Standalone versions are available as well as the additional highly intelligent tool that gives you full control over the strokes – the Stroke Direction Tool.

Both Home and Business users can enjoy the full line of AKVIS programs in the AKVIS Alchemy Bundle (Retoucher, Chameleon, Multibrush, Enhancer, Refocus, HDRFactory, Coloriage, Noise Buster, Sketch, Decorator, LightShop, ArtSuite, SmartMask, Magnifier, ArtWork, and NatureArt) with the discount of 60%, a huge savings over purchasing each separately.

AKVIS Sketch is also part of the AKVIS Artistic Bundle (Sketch, ArtWork, and ArtSuite), which goes with a savings of $44 when compared to the price of these three programs purchased separately. Visit the official website to see prices for alternate versions of the bundles: http://akvis.com/en/bundles/index.php

AKVIS specializes in development of image processing software and scientific research. The company was founded in 2004 by IT professionals having considerable experience in programming and software development. Since then the company has released a number of successful programs.

* Spring Event: AKVIS Birthday Raffle *

AKVIS announces a raffle in celebration of the company’s Birthday! Participation in this event entitles you to a 20% discount on all AKVIS software as well as a chance to win AKVIS Artistic Bundle.
Enter the AKVIS Birthday Raffle: http://akvis.com/en/raffle-2011.php