Fluid Mask 3 Review and Giveaway ListThumbs

Fluid Mask 3 Review and Giveaway

September 30, 2008

One of the most difficult, and in my opinion most annoying tasks is when you have already sketched some ideas, then you start the digital process and you have to cut a person, or tree from the background. Doing that can sometimes take hours until you achieve a good result.

There are many ways extract people and objects from the background. Photoshop has some nice built in features such as the Extract or the Background Eraser Tool. However, if you really need a professional result and don’t have much time to spend on it, you have to check out a plugin called Fluid Mask 3.

Fluid Mask 3 is the professionals’ choice. Fluid Mask 2 established itself as the market leader in still image cutting-out – Fluid Mask 3 takes masking to the next level. Quick to pick up and intuitive to use, Fluid Mask 3 gets professional results fast.

I have been using it for a few days and I’m really surprised with the quality of this plugin. You can get a fantastic result in a no more than a few minutes. Even for the most complex images.

Here are some features of version 3:

  • Faster initial image processing - For multi-core machines, Fluid Mask 3 runs its initial image processing up to 40% faster. With ever growing image file sizes our everyday image editing tools need to catch up – Fluid Mask 3 runs faster than ever.
  • Localised edge detection and blending - It’s a true-ism when cutting out objects from their backgrounds that often 90% of the time is spent on 10% of the image – getting a difficult edge “just right”. Fluid Mask 3 now has a set of easy to use tools to isolate a difficult area (in a Patch) and apply alternative edge finding and blending techniques - making easy the tricky parts of image cutting.
  • Intelligent Edge Blending - Fluid Mask 3 not only finds edges but also understands the width and character of an edge.
    On edges which are largely free of noise and where there is some contrast between foreground and background, Fluid Mask 3's intelligent blending is the only blending around to automatically extract the morphology (character) of an edge - remember there is no such thing as a 6 pixel feather on all edges in real life! Use feather blending where there is no contrast or lots of noise in an edge. Fluid Mask 3 will still find the correct edge width.

I highly recommend that you check this tool out. If you deal with this kind of task on a daily basis it’s a must have plugin for your tool box.

Below some example

Also we have a copy to give away; so as usual we will pick a reader that drops a comment, but this reader must have an abduzeedo account ;)

About the author

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My name is Fabio Sasso, I'm a graphic/web designer from Porto Alegre, Brazil and I'm the founder of Abduzeedo. I hope we can share lots of information, tips, and ideas through Abduzeedo. Also you can follow me on Twitter or my personal site at http://fabiosasso.com.

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108 Comments

siosphere09/30/2008

Looks good, I'll definitely have to check it out, it's always an annoying process cutting out people from backgrounds
siosphere.com

Arnovw09/30/2008

Looks awesome, definitely gonna check it out
am interested in the giveaway to ;)

bbautista09/30/2008

I've been looking for something like this for a while. I definitely need a copy!

The Wallbanger09/30/2008

Fluid Mask.. the answer to my prayers?

I've been subscribing to Abduzeedo's RSS for a long time now. This incentive totally convinced me to start my account today. Looking forward to contributing to the community. Thanks Fabio!

DiMucciDesigns09/30/2008

Here's to hoping I win this huge time saver and a little freedom from the pen tool.

ninoisatwar09/30/2008

Wow, i was just wondering how to extract images :) How handy lol.
It just takes too long, (and i'm rubbish at it)

Nate09/30/2008

I've tested this before and it did wonders. Talk about eliminating headaches. Thanks for the review on the updated version.

te-c09/30/2008

This is an awesome plug-in that every designer for beauty-retouching must have. That will make the work so easy and you can go faster to your results.

chrisign09/30/2008

Impressive, didn't know this cutting tool ;)

lhodsdon09/30/2008

This tool would make cover design so much faster. My employer is always having me clip and extract persons and objects from their backgrounds. I'll have to really try to convince them to buy this handy plug in. Thanks for yet ANOTHER great post and tool.

Danny Batista09/30/2008

Hey fellow Abduzeedonitefieldvillians!

I've been following this site for some time! But just signed up as a member! Awesome stuff every day fellas!

I've used the trial of Fluid Cut in the past and was blown away! The intuitive edge blending and feathering is a big time saver when you're working with depth-of-field!

...but like I said it was a trial so now I'm Fluid Cutless..

heroclothing.com

ninoisatwar09/30/2008

Wow, i was just wondering how to extract images :) How handy lol.
It just takes too long, (and i'm rubbish at it)

relando ronato09/30/2008

wow! nice tool! i've already heard about it but actually had no chance to explore its full spectrum...
it seems to be this application is a revolution in excision of objects and people in photoshop

vincentlepes09/30/2008

Wow, this plugin seems to do a great job...the extract filter is a joke when it comes to hair or branches, I always find myself wasting a couple hours with my Wacom tablet trying to get it right ;)

Warhead09/30/2008

Thanks for this tool, seems cutting characters will become easier

ahmet zehir09/30/2008

looks like a very nice application. extracting objects is always a tough job to do. thank god we have computers for this. lol

Vin Thomas09/30/2008

I absolutely LOVE this software. I downloaded the trial, but couldn't afford the full version. Please choose me!

Ryan09/30/2008

Looks Great...how much is it?

J.Clardy_designs09/30/2008

Nice find.. could use this definitely
Cheers Sucka Fish..

jigglinbiggin09/30/2008

I could so use this. Please pick me.

bluebomberc09/30/2008

Would love a copy!

aMANinDESIGN09/30/2008

I am just finishing up 2 catalogs and this software would have been great.

klar09/30/2008

Awesome :) Would like to win the giveaway also. Thank you :)

tpj37609/30/2008

I love this site and would love to win something as great as FluidMask; broke student can't afford it. Keep up the great work!

JJK09/30/2008

looks usefull... hoping to win this plugin.

devistatin0709/30/2008

Wow that is definitely something that would come in handy. I do a lot of extractions, and I'm pretty sure I'm gonna get carpel tunnel at some point lol.

Muzikaddict09/30/2008

I'm in for sure.

iheartrendering09/30/2008

HELLO! Looks awesome. Would love to mess with it

Steve09/30/2008

Count me in, I've heard great things.

phil.brangers09/30/2008

This looks like it could take the pain out removing backgrounds from people.
Definitely would make my life easier

1deomatik09/30/2008

where can i find this???
i hate spending so much time on models hair,
most body parts are pretty easy to trace with the pen tool or masking tools
but this looks like it could make like life so easy when it comes to complex hair styles!!!

camilo09/30/2008

Yeah, I want one.

wec1209/30/2008

Thanks for the giveaway :) .

gideon09/30/2008

I'd love a copy!

GonzaloGM09/30/2008

It seems like a really time-saver, I'd love to win a copy and check it out.

Andrick09/30/2008

I would love to try this out. =)

DKumar M.09/30/2008

Count me in !!

I also give it a try !!

OrbitGTO09/30/2008

I've tried a couple of different versions of FluidMask, in trial form. I've never had the time to really get a firm grasp of the plugin, and since I couldn't afford it, I didn't invest a whole lot of time in it. But a FREE copy? NOW you have my attention ;-)

neil09/30/2008

Love this and love the idea of winning it even more!

godonholiday09/30/2008

I tried it... but I didn't like it at all. I like to use the alpha channel and other techniques. But I guess its each to their own.

____________________
Learn it, pass it on.

tobeach09/30/2008

Fluid Mask is a very productive tool, i tested it 15 days, but it's very expensive 2 me cause i'm a student...:(

whatever, may the best whoever win :D

JonL09/30/2008

This looks cool, though I doubt It will work as well as it's demonstrated for me.

persechini09/30/2008

something I want, definetely ;)

Baden09/30/2008

Yes, it is true when you try to take a person out when there's a tree in the background. I had a to do a project in one of my multimedia classes, and I used all stop motion with my photographs. About one hundred of them involved trees in the background... it took me about 4 days to edit until they came out right. In the end, it was all worth it. This program seems so much easier!
Baden! =D

Foo_fighter09/30/2008

I wants it! I needs it! My preciousss...

Drifter5109/30/2008

Awesome.

To bad I never win these types of contest :p

Rainshine09/30/2008

This would be really useful. It's always a problem when trying to get good edges on photos.

DCalDesign09/30/2008

Pick me ! Please! I would love to try this out.

In Christ,
DCal Design

phractured09/30/2008

Sounds sick, I might just have to buy it if I don't get a copy in the contest.

faberdesign09/30/2008

MMM, fluid-y.

I'd love a copy! It would be super helpful for creating montage compositions.

Xashen09/30/2008

I've used the trial version of this and was impressed. They even gave me a call a few weeks after and asked me what I thought of it. Sadly, going to school doesn't pay very much and I can't afford to buy it.

mrwonderr09/30/2008

My school had a copy of fluidmask, and I love it.

I'd love to have it :]

acryl809/30/2008

------SUPPORT A CHILD IN IRELAND (like, a 25 year old one)------

Little Vincent is an Design Student in Ireland who painstakingly has to
waste time removing backgrounds because he is too broke to afford
the magnific tool known as Fluid Mask 3. By giving away the price to this
unfortunate soul, not only are you GUARANTEED a free drink in his local
pub but you will also be able to sleep better at night.

Vincent has tried voodoo on you but black magic doesn't seem to phase
you-the design force is awesomly strong with you. Bummer.

PauloGabriel09/30/2008

Wow. I want it too!! :D

alexlinebrink09/30/2008

That looks AMAZING. Yeah --- I'd LOVE to win the plugin :)

---------------------------------------------------------
Interested in design? Marketing? The "indie" lifestyle? Check out my new website --- http://www.thatindiedude.com

Carbon09/30/2008

Wow, Looks like something i'd use. I hate having to render things, I never can seem to get it to look nice. This would really help out. :D
And the edge detection looks brilliant.

GeniusHeartsHipHop10/01/2008

That's pretty dope. I need to start looking more into plug-ins

douguzeedo10/01/2008

Add me to the list of Fluid Mask fans! Thanks for the review.

e10/01/2008

I need something precisely like this.

rafaelsales10/01/2008

i'll try it soon! i need to cut some hair of a woman...
thanks, dude

akjeter10/01/2008

looks pretty cool, gonna see if there is a demo somewhere so I can use this awesome program, it's true I spend most of my time cutting things then designing or working on the photo itself.

MAJ3STIC10/01/2008

This software is crazy awesome! Fantastic Product for a giveaway!

jeff10/01/2008

This plugin looks legit. I need it!

jkchauhan10/01/2008

Since I'm not too good with the pen tool this would be perfect.

JC

pilotsleep10/01/2008

this would really help me since i suck at masking lol

Michael Knepprath10/01/2008

Wow, awesome!

darkodin10/01/2008

Cheerz for the review.
I've seen this around, looks awesome, yes please :)

anthonyricco10/01/2008

Yeah I've checked it out on the net - looks like an awesome tool to have - If you have it that is, I don't have it, but hopefully I will, have it that is, if you guys are kind to me, otherwise I wont, but then I'll be sad, I don't like being sad I like being happy and winning it will make me happy.

colorburned10/01/2008

I'm in!

www.colorburned.com
-----------------------

Pelardo10/01/2008

this would come in handy very good !!!!

thank u for letting me win ;)

:)

plastic_stress10/01/2008

sounds fantastic!
just the right thing now!

jthiller10/01/2008

Sounds excellent!

thomeu10/01/2008

One more on the list. Thank you!

Trino10/01/2008

Well this just looks convenient, and pretty cool if it's as easy as it seems to be. Wonder how many other new accounts were just made, for this..

uzbekjon10/01/2008

Good stuff...

Why not give it a try, ha ?!

esf10/01/2008

yeah, this sure is a really handy plug-in, great to save some time on trying to make the selection perfect.

Nice one.

Legento10/01/2008

THis tool might come quite handy - in my opinion, hair and fur are the most annoying and time consuming things to cut out. Guess this Plugin can save a lot of time

temmermb10/01/2008

Really handy plugin! I spent a lot of time doing that stuff manually :-z

MacGraphics10/01/2008

VERY impressive before/after shots. I'd love to see how accurate this thing is. I get tired of cutting people out of images and giving them block hairdos!

Count me in for the drawing. Thanks!

Fedebut10/01/2008

too many comments, I dont think... but

Crea algo nuevo cada día...

NooK10/01/2008

:) heh that would be very useful , sometimes channel masking in ps is just impossible

michaelbyström10/01/2008

Cool I'd like would love a giveaway please...

:-)

pfunk1110/01/2008

Sounds great!!

erhilse10/01/2008

used this once as a trial and loved it wouldn't mind owning it!

erhilse10/01/2008

used this once as a trial and loved it wouldn't mind owning it!

wretched10/01/2008

Wow! Shaving off a few hours of work is always nice. Count me in! And a free copy is always nice too!

kvnthng10/01/2008

this would save a lot of time! - thanks abduzeedo for another great giveaway chance.

tjbgraphics10/01/2008

I'm downloading this now, and I really hope that it is as good as I think it is. I do so much clipping and photo retouching at my job, probably around 90% of my day is taken up by it. This could be a huge advantage for me. Thanks for the heads up..

fpagani10/01/2008

wow...
those video sure look interesting....

I wonder how well it works in the real world though,
I have always heard everones prefernce to the good ol' path!

ardhian.satrya10/01/2008

this Fluid Mask is the answer of my prayer! Now I need to pray harder to win it... :)

slym10/01/2008

Wow, I didn't even know this was out there. I do some photography work with models, and this would help tremendously. Thanks for the info.

iheartrendering10/01/2008

I'm all about this giveaway!

MikeRiz10/01/2008

This is an awesome program, i have seen it before and thought it was cool and that i wanted to grab a copy. great post

Onedinkenedi10/01/2008

I've first read about this plugin about a month ago. Seems quite a useful thing compared to lots of other plugins.

Looking forward to gettin' a copy too :)

d e a d p i x e l10/01/2008

wow that is so very awesome.
will be great if i can get my hand in one of those copy!!
I hope I can win one of it *cross finger*

Dante10/01/2008

This seems to be a great tool for all of us, thank you fabio for the news and maybe for the software hahaha ... now really, I hope I can test it

Rob Barrett10/02/2008

Almost brilliant timing... I just spent an hour of this evening cutting out some woman's windswept hair, and then came across this post.

I just tried the trial - including the time it took to learn how to use the program, I masked out the woman in a third of the time it took to do manually... and it did a much better job than me!

Wish I could afford it right now - guess I'll have to keep my fingers crossed for the draw!

Thanks for the pointer, guys!

www.rob-barrett.com

brian.feister10/02/2008

Awesome Plugin! Put my name in your hat!!

chaitanyavrk10/02/2008

WOW.... I can't wait more. Pick me please.

altievane10/02/2008

This is the one I needed! I took many hours cutting on action shots, scenes and portraits for the school's yearbook.

sawa_mac10/02/2008

This is absolutely amazing. I had to sign up to try and get it.
----
Quality is not an act, it's a habit!

tzekin10/02/2008

Very good plug in, there are other companies doing that type of software, but from what I read this seems the number one choice. I want a copy. Please

crazyhunk10/02/2008

I did try it out.... and works really good..... a little on the expensive side though.... would love to get a copy though... ;)

John Estey10/04/2008

This product looks great.

cjs10/06/2008

Amazing Plugin.

BogDinamita10/06/2008

pleaseeeeee pick mee i do alot of cutting out Flickr Photostream

buzsawlouie10/08/2008

That's sick. I checked out the site and some of the stuff you can do is outstanding.

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