AKVIS LightShop is intended to enhance your photographs by adding light elements, such as stars and glows. Luckily, the tool is quite easy to use, even more so if you are already familiar with other programs by the same developer.
It's interface is very intuitive with a convenient layout. In this respect, most of the window is devoted to rendering the image being edited. Likewise, it is good that there are two working modes. For instance, you can turn to Express mode if you prefer working with fewer options and features. Regrettably, editing two projects simultaneously is not allowed.
Good news is there are multiple effects to choose from. Besides, they can be easily found and tried as they are carefully organized into categories. Once you find the desired effect, you can continue customizing it, which you can do by dragging size handlers and changing a few parameters. In this regard, the availability of several blending modes is crucial to making the newly added effect look natural. It is a shame that there are limitations as to the number of effects you can add in a single work session.
In short, AKVIS LightShop can certainly make your picture more interesting to the eyes of others. The product is available both as a stand-alone program and a plugin for third-party picture-enhancing tools. Similarly, it can be purchased by different licenses. Thus, the features you get depend on the license you buy and the amount of money spent.
v4.0 [Jul 12, 2013]
1. Changed the interface design. Reorganized the workspace and optimized image processing.
2. Added two interface modes (Express and Advanced). Added new floating panels (in Advanced mode) and the possibility to customize, save and load the program's workspace.
3. Added elements for creating light effects; improved those which were available in the previous versions. Now 12 elements are available in the program: Sphere (was Blob), Ring, Polygon (*New*), Light Stripe, Light Beams (*New*), Particles, Star Burst (was PolySpikeBall), Light Explosion (was PhotonSpikeBall), Rays, Halo (*New*), Light Spots (*New*), Oval Light Spots (*New*). Removed the SpikeBall element and light effects' modifiers.
4. Added the possibility to change the form and size of the light effect by dragging with the mouse.
5. Added tools: Transform, Star Brush, Exclusion Tool, Hand, Zoom.
6. Added the Effects panel with 138 ready-to-use effects (presets) divided in 11 groups.
7. Updated the Blend Modes: added the Pass Through mode, removed Difference and Exclusion.
8. Added support for CMYK and Lab color modes.
9. Added support of 32 bit images.
10. Added compatibility of the plugin with Adobe Photoshop CC.
11. Added options to the program preferences:
- the parameter which defines the number of recent files,
- the check-box which activates the OS Load/Save File Dialog,
- and the check-box which locks the top panel view.
12. Added the Go To LightShop Home Page button.
13. Improved the Print dialog.
14. Added Spanish languages to the program interface. Now the program is available in 8 languages. Updated the program documentation.
15. Changed the setup file for Windows. Now there are two files - for Windows 32 bit and for Windows 64 bit.
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