In a streamlined interface and workflow, Fluid Mask 3 instantly shows key edges in the image and provides comprehensive easy to use tools that work with difficult-to-see edges and tricky areas. Fluid Mask 3 is the professionals’ choice. Fluid Mask 2 established itself as the market leader in still image cutting-out – Fluid Mask 3 takes masking to the next level. Quick to pick up and intuitive to use, Fluid Mask 3 gets professional results fast.

Fantastic results
Now professional results are more possible than ever before. Make super fine mask selections using new sampling and selecting tools. Check out the new edge blending algorithms. And the new complex hair blending that automatically gets great results from multi-colored whispy hair. No longer should hair be the cutting-out nightmare it is today.

Faster than ever
Not only is image processing time dramatically reduced but we have concentrated on speeding up workflow. Check out features like saving your workspace settings from one image to the next for runs of studio shots; and our new Patch technology with its intuitive tool-set for working on those difficult problem areas with compression artefact, poor edges and complicated backgrounds.

Easy to pick up and use
Fluid Mask 3 benefits from a simplified interface and masses of on-application help to make picking it up easy and fun. For the professional user there are new features such as selecting areas for local detailed edge finding and blending that make masking challenges simple to overcome.

Fluid Mask promises

• Fastest masking available today - from loading to final cut-out. Turn hours of tedious work into something that’s short to complete and fun to do…
• The best edge cutting technology available.
• Quick and easy to pick up, Fluid Mask 3 offers an intuitive workflow. Check out the edge guides that makes selecting the cut-out as easy as coloring by numbers and the always visible interactive help.
• Amazing edge quality. Always thought the pen tool makes cut-outs look a bit too artificial and clean? Now Fluid Mask 3 takes blending to a new level by preserving the edge data. In the final result, natural edge blur and contour is preserved for the best, most authentic cut-outs ever.

Business case
Fluid Mask can pay for itself in just 40 cut-outs

We tested the Fluid Mask cut-out plug-in against most cut-out methodologies using a selection of images. We didn’t include images which others can’t handle (such as complex lattices). The tester is a graphic artist with 15 years’ experience and is proficient in all cut-out methodologies.

We found that:

• On simple images consisting of sharp edges and contrasting backgrounds,
  Fluid Mask was on average 50% faster than using other methodologies
• On hard images involving defocused edges / hair but contrasting backgrounds,
  Fluid Mask was approximately 3x faster
• On hard images with easy edges but similar foregrounds and backgrounds,
  Fluid Mask was 4x faster
• On very hard images involving hair / defocused edges and similar foregrounds and backgrounds,
  Fluid Mask was 6x faster

We concluded that across a wide range of use cases Fluid Mask was at least 3x faster than using alternative methodologies. We also concluded that Fluid Mask pays for itself in one job if the task is to cut out complex lattices such as bicycles, vegetation, hair, fur, arials…

How quickly will Fluid Mask pay for itself for "normal" images?
Firstly, there is no such thing as a normal image! But making the following assumptions:

• Fluid Mask is 3x faster
• The average cut out (not using Fluid Mask) takes 1/2 an hour
• A graphic designer costs $40 per hour all in

 

 

New Features in Fluid Mask V3

Highlight new key features are:

• Localized edge detection and blending – for faster workflow
• Faster initial image processing – up to 40%
• Better edge blending
• New look application – full screen / no desktop visible
• Localize problem areas for greater workflow enhancement
• Great new tools for fine mask selections
• Best of breed Help – now there’s an innovative in-application Tool Tips box with links to application based xml help files and tutorials

Set out below are the new features in more detail:

Platforms
Works on Windows XP and Vista; Mac 10.2.8 and above

Photoshop version
Now works on CS2 and CS3

Stand alone mode
Fluid Mask will also work in standalone mode (i.e. not as a plug-in) for image formats that accept transitions to transparency but only in  8 bit RGB color – e.g. TIFF and PNG.

Plug-in to other platforms
It is the intention in v3.1 (later) for Fluid Mask to plug-in to other platforms including for Quark and Paintshop Pro.

Speed
A core issue for users of Fluid Mask 3 has always been the initial image processing time at start up. V3 is now 10% faster than in V2 for a single core machine. For dual core the processing time is cut by 33% and for a 4 core machine it is an even faster 40%. Blending speed on hair blending will be slightly slower but that has never been an issue.

Screen views
In V3 now the entire application workspace fills the whole screen (it used to be floating windows only which showed the desktop through the application – users found this to be “unprofessional”). There are three views to choose from: Palettes docked (default) - although the main Tool Palette can be docked / undocked; Tool Palettes floating and Tool Palettes floating and screen maximised. All of these are actioned from the main Tool Palette.

Tool Options layout
Now each Tool has its own separate tool settings on the bar below the menu. The icon for the Tool is conveniently displayed on the left hands side next to the Tool Option settings.

Brushes

• The number of brushes has been increased; the Eraser is not only an Exact Brush but can be a Local as well as a Global one.  The user can also brush a Patch (see below)
• Looking at brush behaviour, users can now commence masking at start up before the initial image analysis has finished – great for the professional user that understands mask behaviour for his/her images.
• Mask brush size may be adjusted mid-brush stroke – this works very well when hooked up to a pen based tablet like Wacom’s where pen pressure sensitivity determines brush size.

Edge Finding Options
Edge Finding options have been rationalised. We spent a lot of time trying to make edge finding easy to use and understand. Note that the Edge Contrast and Filter Out Texture settings are now hidden in an advance tab and the names of the sliders have been changed to Edge Width Threshold and Number of Edges.

Edge Blending Options
Edge Blending Options have been rationalised. Now the range settings for automatic edge blending and blending type are in the same place – before they were linked to brushes or performing a Test Render.

We enhanced our morphologically based edge decontamination blending and renamed it “Smart Blending” as it preserves edge artefact and is a unique feature of Fluid Mask. For purposes of information, the alternative and more commonly used blending is “feathering”, well known to Photoshop users,  which is a simple straight-line transition from foreground to background without regard to local edge information.

Now it is possible to select only Feather Blending (where the feather width is set by the width of the blend mask) in those circumstances where edge information is so poor that “Smart” blending can’t be used effectively.

Or the user may opt to use the slider and move it to a position in between Smart and Feather blending where Fluid Mask decides on the level of edge contrast required for the blending algorthms to switch from Feather to Smart blending. This may be performed either for the whole image (as for V2) of locally (within a Patch).

Blending
Fluid Mask has completely new blending…

Patches
Patches (called Regions in V2) have become more important to user workflow. Principally they should be used to solve problem areas. New key features are below:

• Now it is possible to Paint Patches, like an Exact Brush
• Right click on a Patch to erase masks, auto-fill masks and perform a mini cut-out in the Patch
• Use Patch Properties (see below) to localise edge finding and edge blending
• Use 2D color maps and histograms in the Color Workspace to make color based selections in Patches
• Use Patches to protect masks

Patch Properties
Patch Properties allows the user to perform local edge finding and local blending within a Patch.

Color Workspace
In V2 was called the Region Editor. This has been completely redesigned from V2 – now the Color Workspace includes a 2D color map for better selections and a “Photoshop – themed” histogram.

Color Sampler
New to V3, the Color Sampler allows the user to sample a color in the image and see where the color lies in the Color Workspace – this selection can then be converted to a mask. This behaviour is the opposite to normal Color Workspace behaviour where colors are sampled in the Color Workspace and their analogue highlighted in the image.

Saving settings
To improve user workflow, the user may save Edge Finding, Edge Blending and Workspace Resolution options from one image to the next checking “Restore from Last Session” in Workspace Settings (viewed from the Edit menu). This is useful for professional users working on a run of similar images (e.g. from a professional studio shoot).

Improving Loading Large Images
On loading large images the user may quit loading and choose to alter the Workspace Resolution manually and use “Restore from Last Session” in the Workspace Settings (see directly above).

Also note that Workspace Resolution now has a 1:16 (Workspace : Image) ratio to improve speeds for very large images.

Test Render
The Test Render tool can now be fired from all Patches. Right click on the Patch and choose Test Render Patch.

On application Help – Tool Tips
Roll over any part of the user interface and see the Tool Tip window inform the user of that part of the imterface. Also included are the Short-Cut keys to aid faster results. The Tool Tips also guide the user to the relevant Tutorial or xml Help file.

Help
There is now an XML based Help file which may be searched by sections or by keywords. Also included are video tutorials.

Wacom compatibility
As before Fluid Mask may be used with a Wacom tablet, now pen pressure is hooked up to Brush Size.

 

Source:  Vertus - Fluid Mask
Pictures provided and copyrighted by Vertus
For further information about Vertus, click here