AAUG Reviews

by Randy Brandon, AAUG Member

The new Mask Pro 4 from onOne software is basically a masking, and selection plug-in program destined for usage in Adobe Photoshop or similar programs.

What it does is to basically assist the user in creating and making selections on objects in images.

What it does not do is to serve as an editor for images. That is the function of Photoshop.
But it greatly enhances the capabilities in Photoshop to make much more accurate selections, and masks than Photoshop’s built in commands.

Upon first opening this latest version of Mask Pro 4, the user is presented with a nice splash screen with menu options of various functions that the user can go to directly. This menu gives the user options to : Getting started, What’s new, Masking Hair & transparent objects, View all tutorials, and finally ; Start using Mask Pro, which takes you directly to the program.

The original install disk also installs some great little training videos which the user can access from this opening menu.

There is also a Tutorial & Tool Tips palette that is available from the Window pulldown, that will provide the user with a running menu on tool tips, and usage. I found this menu handy to have on the desktop to constantly remind me of special time saving tips, and hints.

I initially found most of the controls very similar to previous versions of Mask Pro, and for that I must offer up thanks to the folks at onOne Software for not dumping an entire new learning curve into my schedule.

I was able to start up Mask Pro 4 with no problem, and went directly to my image to start the selection process. I did notice a few changes, like the Keep, and Remove colors palettes were now updating, and adding color samples without me having to hold down the shift key like I had been use to doing in previous versions.

One of my favorite new features that I am now using on a regular basis is the ability to enlarge, and reduce the brush sizes via my mouse scroll tool. What a great timesaver..nice!

As with any program, Mask Pro 4 has a lot of tools in its palette that I have seldom explored, and so I went through the entire toolbox, and used every one, just to make sure that I knew that all of the potentials of Mask Pro 4 were being fully utilized.

The Mask Pro 4 menu, and functions are accessible from the onOne drop down menu in the menu bar at the top in Photoshop. The two modes available are “Mask Pro”, and “Mask Pro Select”, and then on Mask Pro Select, there are two options; “Select”, and “Make Work Path” depending upon what the user preferences are.

The first option “Mask Pro” is the easier, and simplest way to make selections on objects that have color, and contrast differences sufficient enough for easy selections.
The second options are for making, and saving actual selections, and paths to your files.

The operations in using Mask Pro 4 are fairly straightforward; A green eyedropper is used to select, or hold the colors that the user wants to “keep”. And a red eyedropper is used to select the colors that you want to “drop” out.

Once those selections have been made, then users can use several additional tools for dropping out, and making selections around objects. Among these are the magic brush, the magic bucket, and the magic wand. In addition to these tools there are tools to paint on protection areas for holding or removing larger areas around objects. There is also a chisel tool available to use to fine tune those areas already removed from selections, that need to be added back in.

But the most sought after, and perhaps favorite feature of Mask Pro 4 is it’s ability to make transparent selections of such objects as bubbles, glass, etc.

I did work with some of these transparent selection tools with the previous version, and found them truly amazing. onOne software includes just a few images to experiment with, and I tried out the one with the girl, and the bubbles with great success.

And although there is no printed manual included, there is a PDF Users Guide that is well written, and illustrated, and is very much worth taking the time to read it all the way through.

There is no program in existence that will magically make perfect selections of every subject, every time. That may be a lofty goal, but is not really an attainable dream.
Having said that, I personally found that Mask Pro 4 comes amazingly close to it.

The tools in Mask Pro 4 have once again elevated the fine art of masking to a whole new level. It works very, very well, and provides users with another vital tool that is indispensable for serious professional quality results.
Making selections with Mask Pro 4 is like having a toolbox without a screwdriver…

System stats: I ran this program on a 1 GigHz, twin processor G4 machine with an 80 Gb internal drive, and 2 Gigs of RAM. Plus four LaCie Firewire HD’s, all running on System 9.2.2, and Sys 10.3.9

SYSTEM REQUIREMENTS:

Mask Pro 4 for Mac OS® requires the following:
• 1 Ghz or faster, G4, or G5 , or Intel core due processor
• Mac OS X version 10.3.9 or 10.4.8
• 512 MB of installed RAM
• 40 MB of available hard disk space
• Adobe CS or CS2 Photoshop, and/or Elements 4 or 5.
• CD-ROM drive, if installing from a CD
• Internet Connection & Flash 8 Player