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This article is from February 24, 2005, and is no longer current.

Shinycore Software Releases Path Styler  Pro

Path Styler Pro is a new plug-in for Photoshop and Illustrator that uses paths to create images with super sharp bevels that can be enhanced with metallic materials, textures, procedural maps, reflections, and more. Path Styler Pro uses paths to create bevels that are much sharper than the bevels created with the pixel-based technique used by Photoshop. Path-based bevels do not have the typical soft look and, in addition to the rounded joins at corners, bevels can have angled and sharp-edged joins as well. Together with four colored lights, bump mapping, custom shaders, and a host of other high-end features, users can create a wide range of designs fast and easy.
Feature Highlights

  • Sharp and clean bevels
  • Rounded, beveled and mitered joins at corners
  • Metallic, plastic, glass and custom shaded materials
  • Procedural maps, including Noise, Wood, Turbulence, and more
  • Layered mapping with Photoshop blending modes
  • Reflections
  • Multiple texture items for high-quality bump mapping
  • Editable contours that control the shape of bevels, the output of maps, and the bumps of texture items
  • Easy-to-use inline gradients that color the output of maps.
  • Directional, omni, and tube lights
  • User interface with fast previews, dynamic sliders, visual presets, and unlimited undo/redo capability
  • Over a 100 resolution-independent style presets
  • Photoshop layers and alpha channels as color maps, bump maps, and masks (1)
  • Refractive bevels that distort the background (1)
    (1) only in the Photoshop version of Path Styler Pro

How it works
Bevels created with the pixel-based technique are often soft because they have to be smoothed to reduce unwanted artifacts. But smoothing the bevel also smoothes out any detailed features. With Path Styler Pro, bevels do not require smoothing because paths are used to create sharp and clean bevels that have no artifacts.  
    
The way in which Path Styler Pro creates bevels is similar to the way that bevels are created in 3D applications. Multiple bevels with different styles can be added to the outlines of a path, creating a mesh that is shaded using the advanced Path Styler Pro renderer. Path Styler Pro handles bevel self-intersection correctly, so users can create inner and outer bevels of any size without unwanted side effects.
Path Styler Pro for Photoshop  
The Photoshop version of Path Styler Pro is a filter plug-in that is unique in that it can use the paths created in Photoshop as a base for Path Styler Pro. Users simply select a path from Photoshop’s Paths palette and then run the filter. This can be any path, whether imported, created with the pen and shape tools, or converted from type.
Path Styler Pro for Photoshop also enables users to attach a style in Path Styler Pro to a layer, making the effect of the Path Styler Pro filter editable. Because the style for the layer is stored in the Photoshop file, the Path Styler Pro effect remains editable for later Photoshop editing sessions.
Path Styler Pro for Illustrator
The Illustrator version of Path Styler Pro is a live effect that can be directly applied to path and text objects. All parameters remain fully editable at all times and the effect automatically updates when the path or text is edited.
Pricing and Availability
Path Styler Pro is available separately for Photoshop and Illustrator for US $99. At a special price of US $129, a Path Styler Pro bundle is available that contains both the Photoshop and the Illustrator version of Path Styler Pro. Products are delivered online and can be purchased directly from the Shinycore Web site. More information and free tryouts for both Windows and Macintosh can be found at www.shinycore.com.
About Shinycore Software
Shinycore Software is a company located in the Netherlands. Founded in 2000, the company’s goal is to develop software that uses new ways to assist the creative mind. The original Path Styler for Windows was the first to use the paths in Photoshop to create sharp bevels. Completely rewritten for Windows and Macintosh with a new user interface and exciting new features, Path Styler Pro for Photoshop and Illustrator is a complete solution for creating high-quality graphics for logos, cover illustrations, multimedia, and the Web.

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