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XChange Int'l Announce Photoshop/Element Plug-ins - part 1 of 1

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XChange International, the source for extended technology worldwide, are pleased to announce the availability of three plug-ins for Adobe Photoshop and Adobe Elements for Macintosh and Windows: SkinTune 2.0, 20/20 Color MD, Test Strip Proofer and Test Strip Proofer Pro.

SkinTune - Correcting skin colour with Adobe Photoshop is one of the most difficult tasks professional photographers face every day. The problem is that the range of acceptable skin colour is very, very limited, and it varies slightly for different races. Additionally, subtle skin colour is difficult to render on a computer monitor, so making accurate adjustments is tricky. The developer of SkinTune spent years studying skin colour, and collecting thousands of image samples from around the world. Then, they took precise spectrophotometer measurements and compiled complete reference databases of acceptable colours for each race. What they discovered is that skin colour represents less than 1% of all available colours, and that each race has slightly different colour characteristics. Traditional tools were never designed to handle such a small range of colours. SkinTune includes complete libraries for different races, including African, Asian, Caucasian, Latin, and Middle Eastern. Each library contains between 125,000 and 150,000 colours made up of different combinations of hue, brightness, and saturation, based on the unique characteristics of each race.

SkinTune also provides specialised tools designed specifically for skin colour adjustment. All of the adjustments are totally independent, so adjusting brightness, as an example, has no effect on hue or saturation. This is important because a small adjustment can easily result in an out-of-gamut skin colour. The plug-in's tools are twice as precise as Photoshop so users can make very subtle adjustments and achieve life-like results. To use SkinTune, a user just opens an image in Photoshop, and selects PhotoTune SkinTune from the Filter menu. After two clicks of the mouse, SkinTune instantly finds the nearest acceptable skin colour from the selected library, and automatically corrects the image. After SkinTune does its magic, users are free to use SkinTune's tools to adjust hue, brightness, contrast, and saturation. All adjustments will stay within the boundaries of the library to insure perfect, lifelike results.

SkinTune has a unique and elegant interface. Corrections are fast, easy, and mistake-free. With SkinTune added to a Photoshop arsenal, users will spend less time in front of a computer fixing images, and more time behind a camera taking photos.

System Requirements:

Windows 95 to XP, Photoshop 7 to CS3, Elements 2, 3, 4, and 5
Macintosh OSX 10.2+, Photoshop 7 to CS2, Elements 2, 3, and 4
8 Bit or 16 Bit RGB images

20/20 Color MD - 20/20 Color MD is a Photoshop plug-in that is designed for photographers, artists and graphic designers who want great looking images, but would rather not sit in front of a computer all day. New features in version 2 include 16 bit compatibility; an all new 6-step Wizard with user-defined control at every step; a new vastly improved Snapshot function; and new colour correction algorithms. Plus, there are a host of new tools, new interface shortcuts and much more.

The plug-in works like an eye exam to figure out precisely what is wrong with a photo and how to fix it. During each step of the Wizard process, users are presented with two side-by-side preview images that have been altered in different ways. They can then pick the better image from each pair. The entire six-step process only takes about 15 seconds and users can fine-tune the result any way they like.

20/20's patented Color Wizard contains thousands of different colour correction possibilities. It doesn't matter whether a user is a colour expert or a Photoshop novice, 20/20 will immediately begin to save dramatic amounts of time and effort. 20/20 takes care of all correction needs, including colour balance, dynamic range, exposure, and saturation. There's even a great highlight and shadow tool that is easier and more complete than Photoshop own functionality.


System Requirements:
Windows 95 to XP, Photoshop 7 to CS2, Elements 2, 3, 4, and 5
Macintosh OSX 10.2+, Photoshop 7 to CS2, Elements 2, 3, and 4
8 Bit or 16 Bit RGB images

Test Strip Proofer (Home and Pro Editions) - Users know the routine. An image looks great on-screen, but when it's printed everything looks different, and usually not for the better. It's then necessary to calibrate, tweak, and print over and over again, until the desired look is achieved. That tedious and time-consuming process also wastes a great deal of expensive ink and paper.

Test Strip Proofer is a Photoshop Automation plug-in that automatically makes calibration proofs for any size printer, and with a choice of colour variation and amount. It even fixes an original.

Test Strip Proofer is available in two versions. The Home version makes horizontal and vertical proofs in sizes ranging from 4"x5" up to 12"x15" and is the perfect solution for those individuals who desire high-quality reproduction, while saving on ink and paper. Test Strip Proofer Pro offers horizontal and vertical sizes from 4"x5" up to 36"x45", plus it has a selection of wide proofs, ranging from 16" wide to 43" wide to help save on the consumption of rolled paper, canvas, and other expensive media.

Wide-format printers, sign makers, and service bureaus receive artwork from many different customers, who use a variety of software. Test Strip Proofer is designed to streamline the process and eliminate costly re-runs due to individual colour perception. Users can provide their customers with custom approval prints to insure quality reproduction and hassle-free turn-around. The plug-in lets users make a calibration proof, let their customer select the best colour variation, and have them sign-off with their approval. Then they just use Test Strip Proofer to correct the image, and are ready to output confident in how the finished image will appear.


System Requirements:
Windows 95 to XP, Photoshop CS & CS2, Macintosh OSX 10.2+, Photoshop CS & CS2
8 Bit or 16 Bit RGB images

All of the plug-ins are available now individually through XChange International, and are also available in bundles of the products at additional savings. To order, or for more information, users can visit www.xchangeuk.com, or call on +44(0)20 7490 4455 during UK business hours. Email address is info@xchangeuk.com.

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last update 09/12/2022 15:00:32

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