Liquid Resize: Stretch without Stretching
You know how sometimes a photo just doesn’t fit the space you have? Maybe it’s too short and needs to be wider… but you can’t crop it because there are important items at the edges?
onOne Software has an upcoming solution in a product called Liquid Resize. It uses a new technology that can stretch an image while not distorting important items. You paint a mask over the items you want to protect, and then Liquid Resize changes the proportions of the image while maintaining the aspect ratio of those elements.
For example, you can keep the people and landmarks intact, while stretching or compressing the areas in-between — and the result looks natural
The company is making a prerelease standalone version available for free; the final product will be a plug-in for Photoshop. Get it now at www.ononesoftware.com.
Jeff Gamet is a contributing editor for Design Tools Monthly, the executive summary of graphic design news. He is also the morning editor and reviews editor for The Mac Observer and iPodObserver.com, and contributing writer for Layers Magazine and Photoshop User. He writes the InBrief column for InDesign Magazine, and is the author of “The Designer’s Guide to Mac OS X,” from Peachpit Press
When Jeff isn’t writing about the graphic design world, he’s talking about it on the Design Tools Weekly podcast with co-host Jay Nelson. He also talks about Apple and the Mac world every week on The Mac Observer’s Apple Weekly Report.
Jeff studies, tests and reviews new software and technologies for the Macintosh community as well as the design and print industries. He is a former Pre-press specialist, and has nearly 25 years experience with computer technology. Jeff trains, lectures and consults on techniques for more efficiently using Mac OS X in creative environments throughout the country.
In the rare moments when he can get away from his MacBook Pro, Jeff spends his time climbing and biking in the Colorado mountains.