If you've ever used image-editing software, then you'll know that a 'plug-in' is a third-party addition that can create effects not possible in the original program. Segmentis buZZ is such a plug-in and will work with Adobe Photoshop, Paint Shop Pro, Corel Photopaint or any other software that supports Adobe-compatible plug-ins.

buZZ has two unique features. One is the Stack, whereby you can concatenate a series of effects and apply them all at once. buZZ ships with some ready-made stacks, such as oil and watercolour effects, and you can save and reload your own.

Though many of the effects in the Stack, such as blur and edge detect, are commonplace to image processing, the killer feature is the Simplifier. This does exactly what it says - apply it to a scanned photo and it will decrease the detail, while preserving colours.

The effect is finely variable and gives the impression that the image is a painting rather than a photo.

Although many image processors have 'artistic' filter effects, buZZ does it far more elegantly and subtly. To get the best out of buZZ, you really need to use it in conjunction with the Layers feature of an image processor and combine buZZing with the effects already available in the host software.

The sample files looked just too good to be true, but after working through the tutorial we were getting similar results. As long as a photo is decently composed, it can be buZZed into a handsome work of art.

Not only can you make a photo look like a painting, but also you can change the style of an existing work. We took an image of a 16th century French painting and re-invented it in post-impressionist style.

Simply brilliant and totally addictive, both for graphic professionals and Sunday painters.

Contact
Segmentis: 01223 701701, www.segmentis.com