• New User Interface & Photoshop CS3 Compatibility - In addition to being compatible with Photoshop CS3, Genuine Fractals 5 has been rewritten as a Universal Binary to be fully compatible with both PowerPC and Intel-based Macintosh computers. Genuine Fractals 5 also has a brand-new user interface that streamlines the image scaling process.
• Improved Scaling Algorithm - The patented scaling algorithm in Genuine Fractals has been overhauled to now allow for over 1000% (10,000% area equivalent) enlargements with no loss in detail.
• Multi-processor Support - Genuine Fractals 5 fully supports multi-processor computers such as dual processor and dual core computers as well as AltiVec and SSE acceleration to deliver superior scaling results faster than ever before (up to 5x faster than the previous version).
• Document Size Presets -Genuine Fractals 5 allows users to crop and resize images in a single step with over 70 built-in document size presets.
• Robust Layer Support - Genuine Fractals 5 supports resizing Photoshop files with multiple layers, including adjustment layers, non-rasterized text layers, smart objects, paths and alpha channels. Genuine Fractals 5 no longer require files to be flattened before scaling.
• Texture Controls - For the first time ever, users now have access to the key variables in the patented Genuine Fractals scaling algorithm. Users can adjust the amount of detail that is "pulled out" of continuous tone areas as well as control how strongly the algorithm works on edges and areas of high contrast.
• Built-In Sharpening Controls - Genuine Fractals 5 gives users the option to add sharpening to a file during the scaling process. Users have control over the amount of sharpening that is applied and they can preview the sharpening results before the one step scaling and sharpening process.
• Built-In Film Grain Controls - Genuine Fractals 5 also gives users the option to add simulated film grain after a file has been scaled. Users have control over the amount of film grain that is applied and get a preview of the results; and it can be combined with the new sharpening controls if desired.
• Photoshop Action Support - Genuine Fractals 5 lets users record actions for multiple sizes and easily batch process an entire folder of images making it an ideal solution for the video industry to resize individual frames to be resized from standard to high-definition quality.
• Additional file format Support - Genuine Fractals 5 supports 8-bit and 16-bit RGB and Grayscale images. Genuine Fractals Print Pro 5 also offers additional support for CMYK and LAB color modes.
• New "Show Me How" video tutorials - Built-in tutorials help users understand the controls in Genuine Fractals 5 to get up and running quickly.

"Adobe is thrilled to see major plug-in developers like onOne Software upgrade their products for Adobe Photoshop CS3," said John Nack, senior product manager for Adobe Photoshop. "Genuine Fractals has a well-deserved reputation among both professional and advanced Photoshop users and it is a pleasure to see this new version support Photoshop CS3." (see all Photoshop upgrade options at the Adobe Store)

"I've been a digital photographer so long, my first camera was wood-burning," said Vincent Versace, recipient of the Computerworld Smithsonian Award in Media Arts & Entertainment. "In all that time, I've saved and scaled every one of my images with Genuine Fractals. The new level of control I now have over how my images are resized with Genuine Fractals 5 will have a profound impact on my fine art work."

Pricing for Genuine Fractals 5 is $159.95 for new users and $69.95 for users upgrading from a previous version bought before December 18, 2006. Genuine Fractals Print Pro 5 is $299.95 for new users and $69.95 for users upgrading from a previous version bought before December 18, 2006.

Anyone who purchased Genuine Fractals 4.1 or Genuine Fractals Print Pro 4.1 on or after December 18, 2006 will receive a free upgrade to Genuine Fractals 5 or Genuine Fractals Print Pro 5 via download or customers can have the full box shipped to them for $6.95 in the U.S. Genuine Fractals 5 is also available in the new Plug-In Suite 3 available to new users for $399.95 or to existing users of a previous version of Genuine Fractals for $299.95. The Plug-In Suite 3 includes full versions of Genuine Fractals 5, Mask Pro 4.1, PhotoFrame Pro 3.1 and Intellihance Pro 4.2.

10% Discount Coupon
Enter discount coupon code PSSPPT06 during the checkout process at onOne Software for an instant 10% discount on any onOne Software product. This is a special offer exclusively for PhotoshopSupport.com visitors.

"Genuine Fractals is my choice of tools when I want to scale or change the linear resolution of my pixel-based images in Photoshop while maintaining the highest possible image quality," Photoshop author, trainer and Prepress 'Guru' Taz Tally says. "In addition, images that I resample with Genuine Fractals respond better to sharpening than those resampled with bicubic interpolation in Photoshop."

Patented Technique To Increase Size And Resolution Of Images
Well Taz Tally has seriously endorsed Genuine Fractals with that statement. Now, although Genuine Fractals can scale up your image all the way to 700% without degrading image quality, I'm going to try something a little bit more real world.

So here's the scenario: I have a low-quality web image that is 160 pixels across, but I need it to be 250 pixels across. That's a good amount of enlarging (156%).

I'll use a file with solid colors, some text and an image. It's from the Electronic Frontier Foundation (EFF), which is a donor-funded nonprofit that protects our civil liberties on the net. They recently launched a Bloggers' Rights campaign which features a poster that I'll use as an example for this test.

So Here We Go - Let's Start Scaling Up
You start by opening your image in Photoshop. If you're working with multiple images, make sure the desired image window is active. From the File menu choose Automate, then choose Genuine Fractals. The active image will now open in the Genuine Fractals Work Area.

The left portion of the work area is a Preview window. A Navigation pane in the upper right corner shows a smaller view of the entire image, with red lines marking out exactly what portion of the image the Preview window is displaying. At the right side, below the Navigation pane, are panels for image scale and crop options. A toolbar is found below the option panels.

You can view and change scaling information in the Image Scale panel of the Genuine Fractals Work area.

So I took the smaller poster (160 pixels across) and I scaled it up to 250 pixels across. There was some blur, so I applied Unsharp Mask (Amount: 60%, Radius: 4.0 pixels, Threshold: 30 levels) and then saved it as a JPEG, set at Medium Quality (50). That's the poster you see just to the right.

As you can see this image is still a tiny bit blurry, and some of the solid colors and text have started to pixelate. This is because I used a web image that started out optimized and therefore at low quality. Given these circumstances the final result is pretty amazing. Higher quality photos will turn out much more superbly of course.

Ease Of Use
The interface is very simple and straight forward, and I had the whole thing done in no time at all. That's the way I like to work. It was totally painless.

Summary — So Do I Need This?
If you are in a workflow that finds you enlarging photos on a regular basis, then this is an indispensable tool that is worth every penny. It's easy to install, the manual makes sense (I know, that sounds totally unbelievable) and the interface is a pleasure to work with. Does it deliver the goods? Yes it does. But remember that you need to start with a good quality image for Genuine Fractals to really work it's voodoo right.

So there you have it, a real workhorse of a tool that gives Photoshop some supernatural powers.

EXCLUSIVE 10% DISCOUNT
Enter discount coupon code PSSPPT06 during the checkout process for an instant 10% discount exclusively for PhotoshopSupport.com visitors. Genuine Fractals 5 and Genuine Fractals Print Pro 5 are available from onOne Software.

View these Genuine Fractals & Genuine Fractals Print Pro video tutorials to get a feel for the application, become aquainted with the user interface, and hear some tips on how to get the most out of working with Genuine Fractals.
Genuine Fractals 5 - Introduction
Genuine Fractals 5 - Advanced Techniques

Photoshop CS3 Upgrade Options And Bundles From The Adobe Store

Photoshop CS3 Extended is ideal for film, video, and multimedia pros and for graphic and web designers using 3D and motion. Get the full version for US $999, or upgrade for US $349. The standard version of Photoshop CS3 is available for US $649, or as an upgrade for US $199.

Photoshop Extended is also available as part of Adobe Creative Suite 3 Design Premium ($1,799/$440), which combines all-new CS3 versions of Photoshop, Flash Pro, Dreamweaver, Illustrator, InDesign and Acrobat 8 Pro. International options are available at Adobe's UK Store, Europe Store, and Australia Store.



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Fluid Mask 3 is designed for photographers, image editors, graphic designers and all those who take digital image editing seriously. In a streamlined interface and workflow, Fluid Mask 3 instantly shows key edges in the image and provides comprehensive easy to use tools that work with difficult-to-see edges and tricky areas like trees & lattices. Features include: