AKVIS LightShop 2.5
Reviewed: Geetesh Bajaj
Date Created: October 30th 2008
Last Updated: February 27th 2009
Introduction
AKVIS LightShop 2.5 is a Photoshop compatible plug-in -- it's an updated version of a product we have reviewed in the past. This updated version introduces new ready-to-use light effects, improves compatibility with Microsoft Windows Vista SP 1, and adds a new interface language (Portuguese).
AKVIS LightShop 2.5 can be downloaded as a standalone application, a plug-in version for Adobe Photoshop CS3 or Adobe Photoshop Elements 6.
LightShop 2.5 is from AKVIS, a company based in Russia that specializes in graphics programs. Apart from Frame Suite, AKVIS also creates other Photoshop compatible plug-ins like Retoucher, Chameleon, Stamp, Sketch, Enhancer, Decorator and Coloriage.
You can download a free 10 day trial version of LightShop 2.5 from the AKVIS site...
My contact at AKVIS for this review was Kat Kharina, thank you Kat.
How To Use
Here’s how you can use AKVIS LightShop 2.5:
- Open any image in an image editor such as Adobe Photoshop (or create a new image). LightShop also works with a transparent layer.
- Choose Filter | AKVIS | LightShop, as shown in Figure 1.
Figure 1: AKVIS LightShop
- This will open the LightShop 2.5 interface that you can see in the Figure 2 below.
Figure 2: AKVIS LightShop Interface
- The interface is divided into two parts the left side is the preview window where you can see the picture and the changes made, the right side of the interface has the presets and effect settings.
- Select any of the ready to use light effects from the preset list provided, as shown in Figure 3.
Figure 3: Light Presets
- Once the light is selected, double click to open Effect Settings -- here you can change the properties of the light as required (see Figure 4).
Figure 4: Light properties
- After all the changes are made, click the Run icon (see icon below).
- This applies and creates a preview of the image.
You can make more changes, or apply more lights as required (see Figure 5).
Figure 5: The Before and After tabs
You can apply as many light effects as you want to a single image.
- Once you’re done with the applying the light effects, apply the result to the image by pressing the Apply icon (see icon below) to return to the image editor.
Note: Although the instructions above showed how you can use AKVIS LightShop as a Photoshop plug-in, the product also works in the same way in standalone mode -- just launch the application through its icon in the AKVIS LightShop group in your Windows Start Menu.
Specifications
 Photoshop Versions: |
5+ |
Platforms: |
Windows, Mac |
Site: |
AKVIS |
Price: |
US$117 and above |
Trial Version: |
10 days |
