AKVIS LightShop 7.1

AKVIS Lightshop is intended to make your photographs more appealing by adding various types of light effects.

The application supports multiple picture file types, such as TIFF, JPEG, BMP, PNG, DNG, PSD and RAW. The tool has a straightforward interface, which looks quite similar to those of other AKVIS products. In addition, there are two working modes: Express and Advanced.

Most of the space is used for viewing the loaded picture. File operations, like loading and exporting, are done from the top toolbar. Moreover, an important part is played by the two side panels. On the left, you can find the Navigator, from where you can pick the desired effect by browsing the different categories. The panel on the right, called Elements, lets you customize the parameters according to your preferences.

The product comes with an extensive list of 149 ready-to-use light effects, which include sparkles, flares, lights, stars, rainbows, fireworks and reflections. So, it is a good thing that you do not need to browse them one by one, as they have been conveniently organized into 12 categories. Moreover, the effects can be tweaked by using your mouse or entering the exact parameters. Finally, it is excellent news that there are various blending modes to make the effects look more natural.

One feature that cannot be taken from granted is the Sparkle Brush, which can be used to add glow to different parts of the image, the same way you paint with a brush. In this regard, several types of shapes can be used, including stars, hearts, flowers and glares. Then, when you have finished your work, it is possible to share the resulting pictures by saving them as common picture files.

All things considered, AKVIS Lightshop can help you add nice light effects to your pictures, although, needless to say, the results will always depend on your good taste. In my opinion, it is quite inconvenient that the application does not allow using various effects on the same picture without the need for saving and reloading the same photo several times.

The product is available in three different licenses: Home, Home Deluxe and Business, which give access to different sets of features. Besides, it can be installed both as a standalone application and a plugin for AliveColors, Photoshop, Corel PaintShop Pro and other graphics editors.