Mac|Life - Mac|Live Podcast

Studio Artist 4 Review

roberto@maclife.com (Mac|Life staff) — Fri, 31 Dec 2010 18:26:41 +0000

A new canvas for your masterpieces

In a world studded with Photoshop-style image editors and Painter-like natural-media tools, it’s really tough to find a new kind of artistic software that brings something truly unique and innovative to the table. But the little-known Studio Artist 4 totally pulls it off, delivering a one-of-a-kind creative application that can craft visuals like nothing else—if you’re prepared to spend some time mastering its intricacies.

Getting an organic oil-paint look is practically effortless.

The moment you launch Studio Artist, you quickly realize it’s not your daddy’s paint program—the normal array of brushes and editing tools is replaced by a series of preset combinations, organized by groupings such as abstract, AutoCloning (which redraws a source image in any number of artistic styles), chalks, lighted tubes, dry brushes, and many, many more. The program ships with thousands of presets, and for plenty of users, that’ll be as deep as they delve into the available tools. You can base your work on an existing image or start from scratch—open an image, and Studio Artist converts it into a series of vector shapes that are then used to re-create the image by “redrawing” it with custom brushes. This process can either be done automatically—filling in the image while you watch—or manually by painting the image with brushes using colors derived from the source. The vast array of brushes is especially luscious when using a graphics tablet as you can radically alter the characteristics (color, thickness, shape) by tilting the stylus or changing the amount of applied pressure. The results are wonderfully organic—drippy paint, rough edges, all the entropies of reality. Turning a photo into a gorgeous oil painting is almost effortless, but when we took a picture and rendered it as a pile of colorful, dimensional glowing jellybeans, that went well beyond what we expect from a painting program.

We love Particle brushes—imagine painting with a brush that spawns pixie dust. We’ve never seen anything like it, and that’s literally just the tip of the iceberg. Built-in vectorization capabilities give you some amazing options for converting bitmapped images to vector-based EPS files, perfect for advanced print and animation tricks. Ever want to expand a web-res image into a poster-sized, stylized masterpiece? No problem! You can pipe live video into the paint engine, letting you paint with a brush that sprays video frames all over the screen, which is even more fun than it sounds. Then there’s an entire programmable set of Photoshop-style image-processing filters that far supersede those found in Photoshop, as well as a texture generator capable of gorgeous organic patterns that you can even apply to video, creating rotoscoped effects that belong in a bleeding-edge music video. Morphing, warping, custom distortions—it’s like a visual candy store with both familiar indulgences and wildly colored offerings you’ve never even imagined.

Once you decide to move beyond the presets and try customizing things, prepare to be intimidated. Studio Artist is wickedly complex under the hood, and we saw signs that this program was created by someone who has some serious math on the mind. Some of the options dialogs in Studio Artist look like they were lifted from alien spacecraft flight manuals. Quality time spent with the comprehensive documentation is a worthwhile investment.

The bottom line. At $399, Studio Artist isn’t cheap, but it delivers an intensely deep set of creative tools for visual artists and video animators. It’s as much graphic fun as you’ll ever have on a Mac.

Review Synopsis

Product:

STUDIO ARTIST 4

Company:

Synthetik

Contact:

synthetik.com

Price:

$399

Requirements:

Mac OS 10.3.9 or later

Positives:

Unique painting tools. Extensive graphics tablet support. Deep toolset.

Negatives:

Can be daunting to master. Interface sometimes cryptic, especially for new users.

Score:

4 Great

Reader Submission: The 5 Best Mac|Life Podcast Moments

roberto@maclife.com (Mac|Life staff) — Wed, 15 Dec 2010 18:32:29 +0000

Next week will mark the last installment of the Mac|Life podcast. To mark the occasion, Mac|Life reader Logan Sandberg put together the 5 best Mac|Life Podcast moments.

Sit back and have a listen.

Thanks Logan!

Got something cool you'd like to share with your fellow Mac|Life fans? Shoot Robbie an email and if we like it, you'll be Internet famous!

The Mac|Life Show - Live: Episode .75

roberto@maclife.com (Mac|Life staff) — Thu, 30 Sep 2010 20:26:53 +0000

Welcome to The Mac|Life Show--LIVE AND IN PERSON!!!

Instead of creating a show based on what we think you want, we've decided to create a show with you. Your input is important for the show and we'll be adjusting the format of it based on what we learn from these first episodes and your feedback. If you can't watch the live stream, don't worry, we'll post the video in this article when we're done.

To share your ideas with us before, during, and after the live show, you can contact us via Twitter, Facebook or email us.

The live stream is also available on Ustream.

The Mac|Life Show - Live: Episode .5

roberto@maclife.com (Mac|Life staff) — Thu, 23 Sep 2010 22:12:00 +0000

Welcome to our beta of The Mac|Life Show - LIVE.

We've posted the show to this article and below that, the video from the Xacti when we dropped it in the bucket of water.

Enjoy.

Instead of creating a show based on what we think you want, we decided to create a show with you. Your input is important for the show and we'll be adjusting the format of the show based on what we learn from these first episodes and your feedback. If you can't watch the live stream, don't worry, we'll post the video in this article when we're done.

To share you ideas with us, you can contact us via Twitter, Facebook or email us.

The live stream is also available on Ustream.

Follow this article's author, Roberto Baldwin, on Twitter.

Podcast #46: The SDK Emerges and Hulu Takes on iTunes

roberto@maclife.com (Mac|Life staff) — Wed, 12 Mar 2008 05:51:44 +0000

The SDK is finally here. Apple did more than impress us, they surprised us with their level of dedication to the iPhone becoming a gaming platform. We also discuss the battery issues that may plague iPhone firmware 2.0.

NBC Universal plans on releasing Hulu to the general public on Wednesday. Will it appease fans of "The Office" who no longer have the option of watching the show on their iPods?

And finally, the podcast goes on hiatus and Robbie wants everyone to know, it's just a short break and we will return. Honest!

Don't forget, the Mac|Life staff would love to hear your thoughts, comments and ideas for the new podcast. Just leave a message on the Mac|Live question/comment line: (877) 404-1337, extension 622. Please limit the length of your messages to 1 minute max. We'll review these calls each week and feature our favorites, along with responses, on that week's podcast.

Listen to it all now in this week's Mac|Live podcast.

To subscribe to the Mac|Live podcast series through an RSS feed, click here; if you want to subscribe through the iTunes Store, click here.

> Apple Posts SDK Event Video

> EA Developing Spore, Other Games For iPhone

> Hulu Ready for Prime Time

> M-Audio Studiophile Q40 closed-back dynamic headphones

> ExtremeMac InCharge Auto

> Futurama – Season 1

> Dr. Strangelove

Podcast #45: The iPhone SDK and the Apps We Covet

roberto@maclife.com (Mac|Life staff) — Tue, 04 Mar 2008 07:07:40 +0000

The iPhone and iPod touch SDK event has the staff guessing what apps are in store for us and what sort of control Apple will have over said apps.

We wonder how much money Steve Woz makes to second-guess Apple's latest products in the land down under where women glow and men plunder.

And finally, we just can't enough of the TV show Lost. From the latest episode to the return of the Lost podcast, Robbie and Susie may spend far too much time thinking about the show. All that and more, in this week's Mac|Live podcast.

Don't forget, the Mac|Life staff would love to hear your thoughts, comments and your SDK wishlist. Just leave a message on the Mac|Live question/comment line: (877) 404-1337, extension 622. Please limit the length of your messages to 1 minute max. We'll review these calls each week and feature our favorites, along with responses, on that week's podcast.

Listen to it all now in this week's Mac|Live podcast.

To subscribe to the Mac|Live podcast series through an RSS feed, click here; if you want to subscribe through the iTunes Store, click here.

> iPhone SDK Speculation

> Woz's Apple Smacks

> Tango X2 iPod speaker

> Alpine EX-10

> Lost - The Constant

> The Official Lost Podcast

> Family Guy - Bue Harvest

Podcast #44: New MacBooks and Updated iPhones

roberto@maclife.com (Mac|Life staff) — Wed, 27 Feb 2008 05:42:35 +0000

Apple released new MacBooks, and more importantly, new MacBook Pros with Multi-Touch trackpads, today. With each new Apple notebook, a nickname must be conceived. The former MacBook Pro was called "Santa Rosa." For the new MacBooks with the Intel Penryn chip and Multi-Touch, Robbie coins the name "Penny-Touch" Macbook.

iPhone 1.1.4 firmware hits the Software Update. The staff speculate on what impact the new firmware will have on the upcoming SDK and when the the SDK will be released to developers.

Robbie shares his love of 80's anime while Susie shares her iPod touch adventures in London. All that and more, in this week's Mac|Live podcast.

Don't forget, the Mac|Life staff would love to hear your thoughts, comments and new MacBook nickname ideas. Just leave a message on the Mac|Live question/comment line: (877) 404-1337, extension 622. Please limit the length of your messages to 1 minute max. We'll review these calls each week and feature our favorites, along with responses, on that week's podcast.

Listen to it all now in this week's Mac|Live podcast.

To subscribe to the Mac|Live podcast series through an RSS feed, click here; if you want to subscribe through the iTunes Store, click here.

> MacBook and MacBook Pro Updated

> iPhone 1.1.4 Firmware Goes Live

> iMainGo 2

> Newertech iPhone mic extender cable

> ROBOTECH: The Shadow Chronicles

> Voltron Defender of the Universe: Vol 1

> Team America: World Police

> Education: Language Courses

> The Music Man

Podcast #43: Larger iPhones and Hip-Hop Sales

roberto@maclife.com (Mac|Life staff) — Tue, 12 Feb 2008 06:09:37 +0000

Apple releases larger capacity iPhones and iPod touches. A Rumor about an Apple event at the end of the month has Susie excited about a road trip to Cupertino.

After Susie shares her love of old school Outkast with her pick of the week, then Robbie blows her mind with information about Digital Underground.

Susie talks about her experience with the MacBook Air and how popular it's made her. While Robbie finds an iPhone case for the klutzes out there.

All that and more, in this week's Mac|Live podcast.

Don't forget, the Mac|Life staff would love to hear your thoughts, comments and bits of hip-hop trivia. Just leave a message on the Mac|Live question/comment line: (877) 404-1337, extension 622. Please limit the length of your messages to 1 minute max. We'll review these calls each week and feature our favorites, along with responses, on that week's podcast.

Listen to it all now in this week's Mac|Live podcast.

To subscribe to the Mac|Live podcast series through an RSS feed, click here; if you want to subscribe through the iTunes Store, click here.

> iPhone, Now With Double Capacity

> Rumor: Apple Event February 26th

> Dutch Telecom CEO Calls iPhone, "Useless"

> MacBook Air

> Axiotron ModBook

> Otterbox Defender

> Gnarls Barkley - Run

> Outkast - Aquemini

> Updated Reviews Categories

> Updated Software Vault Categories

Podcast #42: iTunes Passes Up RealPlayer and Microsoft Goes Shopping

roberto@maclife.com (Mac|Life staff) — Tue, 05 Feb 2008 03:12:48 +0000

iTunes passes up RealPlayer. The most surprising aspect, Robbie and Roman didn't realize anyone still used RealPlayer.

Microsoft offers Yahoo, billions so they can have that yodeling guy say Hotmail. Roman gets excited about the latest Intel chip and the Apple TV delay brings tears to Robbie's HD renting eyes.

Meanwhile, Roman bids the Mac|Life staff and readers a fond farewell.

All that and more, in this week's Mac|Live podcast.

Don't forget, the Mac|Life staff would love to hear your thoughts, comments and messages for Roman. Just leave a message on the Mac|Live question/comment line: (877) 404-1337, extension 622. Please limit the length of your messages to 1 minute max. We'll review these calls each week and feature our favorites, along with responses, on that week's podcast.

Listen to it all now in this week's Mac|Live podcast.

To subscribe to the Mac|Live podcast series through an RSS feed, click here; if you want to subscribe through the iTunes Store, click here.

> Microsoft Wants Yahoo

> Apple TV Update Still Simmering in Developer Juices

> iTunes Passes RealPlayer

> Intel Silverthorne Chip
> Mountain Tanks

> Iron Man Trailer

> Thurston Moore - Live at Soho

Podcast #41: iPhone Hacked Again, Naturally

roberto@maclife.com (Mac|Life staff) — Mon, 28 Jan 2008 23:30:06 +0000

Once again the iPhone firmware has been jailbroken. But, with the iPhone SDK right around the corner, does it really matter?

Netflix announces a plan to release a Mac client of their "watch instantly" feature in 2008.

Roman reveals his secret love of guys with acoustic guitars. Robbie can't get enough of his beloved Lolcats and Susie can't wait until Lost returns to the airwaves.

All that and more, in this week's Mac|Live podcast.

Don't forget, the Mac|Life staff would love to hear your thoughts, comments and whether or not you plan on jailbreaking your iPhone. Just leave a message on the Mac|Live question/comment line: (877) 404-1337, extension 622. Please limit the length of your messages to 1 minute max. We'll review these calls each week and feature our favorites, along with responses, on that week's podcast.

Listen to it all now in this week's Mac|Live podcast.

To subscribe to the Mac|Live podcast series through an RSS feed, click here; if you want to subscribe through the iTunes Store, click here.

> 1.1.3 Jailbreak Released

> Netflix Fires Back at iTunes

> Canon EOS Rebel XSiCanon EOS Rebel XSi

> I Can Has Cheezburger iPhone Webapp

> Josh Verdes - Josh Verdes

> Paul Anka – Rock Swings

> Lost - Recap & Trailer