Wacom partners with nik multimedia

Wacom Europe have announced a strategic partnership with nik multimedia, enabling users of Wacom Intuos2 and Cintiq working in Adobe Photoshop (5.5 and later or Photoshop Elements), to have access to penPalette photographic tools. Aimed at both professional and amateur digital photographers, the partnership brings together award-winning technologies to offer eight pen-controlled photographic filters and an easy-to-use retouching solution for selective enhancements.

By taking advantage of penPalette, photo enthusiasts can selectively apply digital photographic filters with pressure sensitivity using an Intuos2 Pen, Intuos2 Airbrush or Cintiq Pen. This offers more freedom to apply digital filters and a more flexible, cost-effective alternative to conventional photographic filtering.

Application of the filters to images will be optimised using the pressure-sensitive tip and eraser and tilt features of WACOM's battery-free and cordless pens.

In particular, with up to 1,024 levels of pressure, users can precisely control the location and amount of filter effect applied. Digital image designers can also use the pen's pressure-sensitive eraser fully or lightly to remove a portion of a filter effect. Working with pen technology in this way offers a more intuitive way to enhance digital photos.

penPalette includes the following eight filters:
Contrast Only filter - offers 'contrast control' to an image without affecting the colours
Contrast filter - used in conjunction with the cool tone filter (range of blues) and warm tone filter - (range of reds) provides additional control when retouching cross-over light (colour temperature)
Colorize filter - allows colours to be matched to any specifically required colour or hue, offering total customisation
Add Noise filter - is a stylised effect which gives a traditional film 'look' (grain) to a digital image
Despeckle filter - is a retouching tool used to remove unwanted items, reduce detail and imperfections
Soften filter - can reduce the sharpness of an image as well as mixing and blending previously amended image corrections

Additional nik filters are included as part of a demo within penPalette and all nik filters, including Color Efex Pro! and Sharpener Pro ,can be applied selectively with the WACOM Intuos2 Pen, Intuos2 Airbrush or Cintiq Pen.

penPalette works within Adobe Photoshop version 5.5 and later versions including the latest Photoshop 7.0 and Photoshop Elements. The filters launch from inside Photoshop and add a new palette that can remain open when photo retouching tools are required.

Pricing and availability
nik penPalette software (including eight filters) will be available to download free of charge from WACOM Europe's website after May 1st 2002. The filters are exclusive to WACOM Intuos2 and Cintiq Interactive Display customers who have purchased tablets after February 1st 2002. WACOM customers who qualify can register via at www.wacom.com after May 1st 2002.

Intuos2 and Cintiq customers who purchased their tablets before February 1st 2002, can obtain nik penPalette software at a special price of around 35. For further information visit: www.penpalettetools.com The filters will be available in English, German and French.