AKVIS SKETCH V 6.0
Review by Nancy Smith
 

Akvis Sketch is a program that may take your photos and convert them to pencil sketches or watercolor drawings.

Installation was very easy. I clicked on my computer and followed the prompts after the setup started. They will ask you to subscribe to the e-mail newsletters, so you may receive updates and additional information.

I used the stand-alone version. There is a plug-in version that you may use with Adobe Photoshop CS2, Adobe Photoshop CS, Adobe Photoshop Elements v 5, or Jasc Paintshop 8.

Open the program and click on the question mark to get to the help section. I found it helpful to cut and paste instructions for sketch and canvas to Microsoft Word and keep them in the tray so I could refer to the instructions when I was working with the program.

To start, use the load-image button in the left-hand corner of the program to bring your photo into the program. Click on the green arrow (navigator button) to convert the photo to a sketch. You may toggle between the before and after with the tab button. To save your sketch, click on the save-as-image button, save as jpeg and choose where you wish to place your sketch.

You may make a watercolor drawing or a charcoal image by using the watercolor or charcoal button and then clicking on the green arrow to make changes to the sketch.

There is a canvas option of having your photo look like it is on canvas. Make sure the use-canvas box is checked. Choose a texture from the texture library for your canvas by double clicking on the texture picture. When you have chosen your texture picture, double click to save it in the texture properties. You may also use your own textures from your photos by saving them in a folder using a jpeg, bmp, or png file. They must be square or rectangular.

I recommend this program to my family and friends and anyone with children or grandchildren. This is an exciting program and I am looking forward to surprising my children with sketches of their children, homes and cars

This program sells for $ 72.00, available at www.akvis.com

There is a free 10 day trial version at akvis.com.