Alien Skin Software has announced Snap Art 4, the new version of its artistic natural media application for photographers.

Snap Art 4 transforms a photo into a work of art that looks handcrafted. It features a redesigned user interface and improved speed. Snap Art 4 can be used as a plug-in with popular host software (Apple Aperture, Adobe Photoshop, and Lightroom) or as a standalone program.

Snap Art 4 can render hundreds of styles and media, such as oil paint, pencil sketch, watercolor, and crayon. It mimics the techniques of human artists, such as layered brush strokes and enhancement of edges. Snap Art takes care of all the tedious work of drawing brush strokes. For more control, the masking tool can bring out extra detail in areas that need it, says Terence Tay, designer of the new Snap Art 4 software.

Snap Art 4 will be available in November 2013 through www.alienskin.com for US$99. Owners of earlier versions of Snap Art may upgrade for $69. Free upgrades will be automatically sent to everyone who purchased Snap Art 3 directly from Alien Skin Software in August or later.