AKVIS Coloriage AI 15.5: Photoshop Plug-in Review

Introduction

AKVIS is a software company known for creating various graphic and image processing tools, often using AI and advanced algorithms. They have developed several applications for tasks like photo retouching, artistic effects, and image editing.

Their new version 15.5 of Coloriage AI is a standalone program as well as a Photoshop-compatible plug-in, designed to add color to black and white photos. It uses advanced artificial intelligence to automatically colorize images, producing realistic and vibrant results.

AKVIS Coloriage AI is from AKVIS, a company based in Russia that specializes in graphic programs. Apart from Coloriage, AKVIS also creates other Photoshop plug-ins like Pastel, OilPoint, AirBrush, Sketch, Neon, Refocus, Retoucher, Chameleon, MultiBrush, Enhancer, Decorator, Inspire AI, etc.

You can download a free 10-days trial version of Inspire Coloriage AI 15.5 from the AKVIS site.

Our contact at AKVIS for this review was Kat Kharina. Thank you, Kat.

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How To Use

Once AKVIS Coloriage AI 15.5 is installed, follow these steps, or just read along to do a quick walkthrough.

1. Launch an image editor such as Adobe Photoshop, where you installed the AKVIS Coloriage AI 15.5 plug-in. Alternatively, you can use the Coloriage AI 15.5 standalone program as we did.
2. Next, open an image within AKVIS Coloriage AI 15.5, as shown in Figure 1, below.
3. 
   Figure 1: Image opened in AKVIS Coloriage AI 15.5
4. The AKVIS Coloriage AI 15.5 interface is explained below. Each description corresponds to an area marked in Figure 1, above:

A. Buttons

5. This section provides several command buttons to open and save images, print, use batch processing, and view styles. The rightmost area provides options to start processing the image and to launch the information dialog, help files, and the Preferences dialog box.

B. Tools

6. Here you can access the Pan and Zoom tools.

C. Preview

7. The Preview window shows a live representation of changes made.

D. Navigator

8. On the top right, you'll find the Navigator. This also lets you choose the area of the image to be shown in the Preview pane.

E. Settings Panel

9. Within the Settings Panel, you can play with the Sensitivity and Saturation sliders. As you can see, only two settings are available and that’s because we are using Coloriage in AI mode, as shown in the Buttons area in Figure 1, shown previously on this page.
10. You can enable more settings when you switch to Classic mode from AI, as shown highlighted in red within Figure 2, below. Notice all the extra Settings options, as shown highlighted in green within Figure 2.
11. 
    Figure 2: Coloriage in Classic mode
3. For the rest of this review, we will look at the AI mode. As you can see in Figures 1 and 2, we already have a grayscale image opened in Coloriage AI 15.5. Now, press the Run button, as shown highlighted in red within Figure 3, below.
4. 
   Figure 3: Run in AI mode
4. Coloriage AI will now use its intelligence to add color to your grayscale image. To compare with the original grayscale image, click the Before tab, shown highlighted in green within Figure 3, above. If you are happy with these results, you can save the image as a new file by clicking on the Save Image As button, highlighted in blue within Figure 3.

Here are some Before and After samples created using AKVIS Coloriage AI 15.5:

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Specifications

Photoshop Versions: Photoshop CS-CS6, CC, CC 2014 and above, Elements v.1-14, etc. More information can be found on the AKVIS Compatibility page.
Platforms: Windows, Mac
Site: AKVIS
Price: USD $75 and above
Trial Version: Available

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