Convert Photos to Pencil Drawings with AKVIS Sketch.
Now with Real-Time Drawing.

March, 2008 - AKVIS LLC announces the release of AKVIS Sketch v.6.5 for
Windows and Macintosh. Now the software converts photos to realistic pencil
and watercolor drawing in an entertaining way. The new Real-Time Drawing
feature allows controlling photo-to-sketch conversion and even interrupting
the process when the required result is achieved. The new version is
available as a stand-alone application, as well as a plugin to a photo
editor. Upgrade for registered users is free.

AKVIS Sketch is an award-winning program for conversion of photos into
pencil sketches and watercolor drawings. Make any photo look like a B&W or
color drawing, imitate the technique of graphite or color pencil, charcoal
or watercolor painting.

Version 6.5 presents a new feature - Real-Time Drawing. The new feature
allows observing the conversion of a photo into a drawing/watercolor in
real time and even interrupting the process when the required result is
achieved. Now the program does not only deliver a high-quality result but
is also fun to use. Besides, the Color Strokes mode has been streamlined to
get a better result.

Many photo editing enthusiasts have already appreciated the Sketch' s
features. Take a look at a gallery of examples (many created by users) at
http://akvis.com/en/sketch/examples-pencil-drawing.php

Sketch can be used on many occasions. Surprise your friends and relatives
by presenting them 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. Create a comic out of
your party videos.

The program can be helpful to designers who need to quickly bring images to
one style for a web-site or an advertisement booklet.

AKVIS Sketch has a simple interface with a few sliders. At first you can
process the image with the default settings and then touch up the photo
adding color, or trying different techniques - from pencil to charcoal or
watercolor. You can make the hatching denser or finer and change the pitch
angle of strokes. After that, you can apply a texture to imitate a painting
on a canvas.

Using batch processing in Photoshop or Paint Shop pro (only for the plug-in
version) you can even convert a film into a cartoon. Like here:
http://akvis.com/en/sketch-tutorial/cartoon-film.php

For a free trial, AKVIS offers 10 days of fully functional use. Details are
available at http://akvis.com/en/sketch/index.php

Upgrade for registered users is free

AKVIS Sketch is available as a stand-alone 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 Ulead PhotoImpact. AKVIS Sketch runs on Microsoft
Windows 2000/2003/XP/Vista and on Macintosh Mac OS X 10.3.9-10.5, Intel /
PowerPC G3 and above.

AKVIS Sketch Home License (plug-in or standalone) sells for $72 USD or 55
Euro, downloadable from www.akvis.com . Home users can enjoy the full line
of AKVIS plugins in the AKVIS Alchemy bundle (Sketch, Chameleon, Stamp,
Retoucher, Coloriage, Noise Buster, Decorator, Enhancer, LightShop,
SmartMask and ArtSuite) for USD $325 USD, a savings of $513 over purchasing
each separately. For business licenses consult the official web-site. One
license key allows activating the software on two computers, for example,
on a desktop and a laptop.