Design Presentation

Provided as both a Photoshop plugin and standalone application, this is the third edition in the Natural-Media line.

Natural media software either lets users create new works using tools that replicate traditional media such as oil paints and watercolors, or provides a way to transform existing images into ones replicating such media. Twisting Pixels' ArtStudio products fall into the latter category, with earlier editions providing color pencil, crayon, marker, oil paint, chalk and similar traditional effects.

CLASSICO differs by allowing the user to transform an existing image or photo by applying hundreds of hand-painted Artistic Edges, coupled with a Painted Background. Edges can also be combined, to create a wide variety of new effects. Cracked and aged paint effects can be employed, and there are several predefined "looks" for quick image transformation. The most ambitious of these is dubbed DaVinci and applies a mix of adjustable, organic tones and textures, as well as providing control over the curvature of lines in the image. Also of note is Vintage Scene (shown at right), which applies a mix of soft tones and textures to create a misty, nostalgic effect.

The ArtStudioPro CLASSICO application, and Mac and Windows plugin for Photoshop CS3 and earlier, can be purchased on the Twisting Pixels site for $99.95. A trial version is also available for download. The news originally published here