Pixiq

Akvis Sketch converts photos into pencil sketches and watercolor paintings.  Well, a lot of programs do, and everybody will say that Photoshop does a good job at that. Yes, I know, but nothing beats, at least that I know, this little program. I’ve had it in my computer for the last two years and I am always amazed at the results it gives me. So, this is not a review of something new, but more a secret I want to share with Pixiq readers.

Before I go on, let me say that I’ve done my share of comic drawing in my early years, and that at the time I’ve used photography as the base for some of the scenes I wanted to draw. Now I am doing something similar, but not by hand, I can do it in my computer, and I do not need to handle a pencil to feel like an artist. All I need to create something new from my photos is Akvis Sketch.

The software gives you an efficient method to create realistic color and B&W drawings that imitate the technique of graphite and color pencil, charcoal and watercolor painting.  In fact, when compared to standard filters you find in most programs (and here I’ve to point Photoshop as it is my main reference) Akvis Sketch comes very close to the hand-drawn works of a human artist. Getting a similar result with the standard tools would require expertise in image editing and extensive manipulation with layers, masks, brushes and applying filters… something most of us don’t have. And I am not even thinking about the time it takes to get it done!

Akvis Sketch has a neat 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, or add/remove the original colors.

Having trying it intensively over this period of time, I am still amazed at the options it gives you to do work than can change the ways people look at your photographs. And the artistic options it opens, either to frame and place on your wall or to make T-shirts is something that will make you want to have it in your computer.

I’ve done a video using Photodex ProShow software and examples of photos changed in Akvis Sketch, just to show the options of the program and also what I think is a good marriage of tools for photographers. I guess you’ll agree with me after watching it. Maybe you’ll want to buy both programs…

The program (Akvis Sketch) is available as a standalone or as a plugin to a photo editor like Adobe Photoshop, Elements and others. And yes, it is available for PC and Mac.

If you feel you’re interested, try it free for 10 days. There’s a version to download and test. If you want to buy it just get the activation code from Akvis.