TCS - Review of Chroma Graphic's MagicMask

Review of Chroma Graphic's MagicMask

by Paula Sanders
Tulsa Computer Society
From the January 1998 issue of the I/O Port Newsletter

People who attend my graphic SIG know how I struggle with a mouse when demonstrating. At home I use a graphic's or digitizing tablet since it gives me so much greater control as well as pressure sensitivity. One of the hardest procedure to do with a mouse is to mask an object. Without blowing it up to almost pixel by pixel size, it is long, tedious, and not usually very accurate. Chromagraphics has just released its MagicMask product for windows 95 and NT. This product gives the computer user excellent control when creating a mask and using a mouse. It will also work if one has a digitizing tablet. Now one can use a mouse to create a mask with ease and accuracy.

MagicMask can be used in most programs that are able to use Adobe Photoshop plug-in filters. It works with Micrographic's Picture Publisher 7, Photoshop 4, and CorelPaint 7. The Windows system requirements are: win 95 or NT and applications compatible with Photoshop 3.0 or later. The Mac requirements are: all applications using Photoshop 2.5 plug-ins or later. This program sells for only $99 and is a great buy.

The program is comprised of four basic tools - Color Brush, Magic Lasso, Nudge Tool, Density Mask. Each have a unique function, but can be combined with each other.

The color brush allows the user to just brush over a color in the selection to have that color chosen as a mask. The size of the brush width in pixels can be controlled to vary the breadth of color chosen. There are color add and subtract brushes as well as add and subtract ones that are only a pixel wide. Thus, it is very easy to control the colors selected.

The magic lasso can be used to automatically find an edge in an object. It, also, can be adjusted. Once a mask is created, it can be further refined using MagicMask tools.

The density mask is superb for isolating flesh tones, for example. Once selected, the tones can be subtly and uniformly changed. This, tool, also has multiple controls to refine and customize the masks.

The nudge tool allows for small changes to be made on a selection.

Once again, this program offers multiple options for controlling functions. These options are easy to understand and to perform. This is partly due to an excellent manual and tutorial as well as a shortcut sheet for streamlining the processing of an image.

MagicMask is one of the most useful filters for everyday graphic manipulation that I have seen. I will demonstrate this filter at either our December or January meeting. Remember due to the holidays, we will be meeting on December 9th at 7 PM at the Martin East Regional Library. If anyone has questions, call me at 664-7707.

The program can be purchased through mail order houses or through Chromagraphics. Their phone number is (888) 8CHROMA. Their web site address is: http://www.chromagraphics.com

Magic Mask is the first program of a suite of integrated plug-ins. The plug-ins of the suite will be able to be used separately as well as together. They will be EdgeWizard which will automatically blend edges and ChromaZone which will give the user the ability to recolor objects quickly and with precision. These are planned for the first quarter of 1998.



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Tulsa Computer Society 12/08/97
Don Singleton, President
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