In this thread please feel free to discuss all aspects of your use of PS plug ins. Which ones do you use and when? are there any good freebies? some photographic examples would be great.

Adrian

I'm interested to see you still use LucisArt Adrian, thanks for sharing!

 

Oh, and thanks for the info on Topaz too. Does it work in Lightroom?

 

It doesn't come up when I click on 'edit in' , so I assume it's not Lightroom compatible; but that is not a big deal for me as I'm usually 'many layers' into PS by the time I'm using this type of tonal/detail adjustment.

heehee, fair enough :)

 

I might see if I still have the source files.

TOPAZ and compatibility.Never tried it..but according to this here at their site it would seem it is compatible with Lightroom ver 2 to 5 but you need Topaz Fusion Express...and I have no idea what that is. :) I am so pleased I have not bought - YET. :)

 

http://www.topazlabs.com/support/kb/index.php?View=entry&EntryID=17

I want to share some free software for those who cannot or do not want to spend money...

 

This is a b/w converter that I used for a long time on a PC..and it does so many things it is hard to describe..converts to all kinds of b/w and toning...and some special effects...and it is FREE. :) It does not work on Macs unless they have upgraded..but I doubt it.

 

I recommend it..if you want to save some money....if you have Nik then I would not bother...but if you are looking for a decent conversion tool here is your baby. You can download from this page.

 

http://www.photo-plugins.com/index.php?option=com_docman&task=doc_details&gid=6&Itemid=43

 

Sorry with the miserable looking link.

Phyllis

Besides all the Nik and onOne plug-ins, I use Alien Skin Eye candy Impact 5- "Perspective shadow" for creating shadows in montages: very good one IMO

 

P.S.: Would be interesting to know, how you Adrian create the shadows.

 

Best, Ben

I had no idea that there was a plug in to produce shadows! Wow!

 

I've always done it the way I learned from the book "Cheating in Photoshop" I think it's called....lol

Sorry, "How to Cheat in Photoshop"

 

(Third edition....so it's pretty old)

 

Oh yes..there is ..I am sure many...but Alien skin is quick....cant remember the particular setting though..it is like a little shadow lab...

:)

Cheating in Photoshop...The program is a cheat.!!!! I think I might have that book too. ROFL.

Phyl

I'm keen to see how Adrian does his shadows, meanwhile I've looked up the Alien Skin plug in.....and found this...

 

http://forums.adobe.com/message/5050192

 

which makes sense to me, why would you not just do it yourself if you've gone to the trouble of selecting your subject.

 

How to Cheat in Photoshop makes it quite easy, select your subject, make a dup layer with the selection on it, lock the layer, fill with black, unlock, gaussian blur, drop opacity, and transform in some way...(I haven't tried perspective!)

 

add a gradient mask to fade the shadow out if necessary...

 

I think that's it in a nutshell...

I use CS6, together with the plugins from Tony Kuyper ( TK actions and luminosity masks). This works great.

There are instruction videos from Sean bagshaw. They help to quickly understand how to work with these plugins.

 

 

Hi Ben and Mel,

that's exactly how I used to do it Mel! but not any more. These days I use the drop shadow tool, it's so easy.

Assuming you have your subject as a separate layer :

highlight layer

click on the fx button at the bottom of the layers palette

select drop shadow, OK

back in the layers palette right click on the layer that says drop shadow

select create layer

a window comes up, click OK

you have your shadow on a separate layer that you can manipulate like Mel describes

 

 

Thanks Ben I will check these out

Too easy, thanks Adrian! I'll give it a go!

I'm old fashioned and I never used the way Mel and Adrian does it... gave it a try and it worked fine:-)

But, in this case the shadow is rather sharp at the beginning and end and of the same value every where?

 

Before, I copied the extracted element on a new layer and darkened it till 100% back, added a light "gausian blur", transformed it with DISTORT and adjusted the density. On the shadow, I used the selection tool added a quick mask and Gradient tool, blurred more the end of the shadow.

(Or used a big blur tool)

 

What is good in "perspective shadow" is, you can indicate:

the direction, the opacity, the overall blur, perspective blur and fade out... which is sometime needed in a shadow, who must be darker and more shaper close to the subject then at the end IMO

 

The only problem is, that my version 5 " Perspective shadow" from Eye Candy does not work in CS 6 and 64 bit, so I have to go back to SC 4.

Maybe, the latest version does?

 

Tip: What I do when f.e: on leg is higher from the ground as the other, I make a selecting (feather 0) of this leg shadow, used the DISTORT tool to make it fit in a realistic way as possible.

 

Ben, thanks... I will try it out.

 

I haven't done it for awhile, Ben, but I vaguely recall it needed a few goes with the blur, and the gradient masking at the end helps to make it lighter the further away from the subjet....

 

I guess the filter would make it a little less hit and miss, lol! (most of my work is hit and miss!)

 

It's a shame when filters don't come along for the ride with newer versions of graphics programs. :(

Nik Plugins, mostly Silver Efex Pro 2, Color Efex Pro 4, but also the others

since i own the Suite.

 

Thanks Marc, by following the discussion here, and elsewhere, it seems the Nik products reign supreme.

 

yes, they are that good. using them for many years, i've found since the beginning

from nik they're superior to the competition.

 

Hi Ben,

It looks there is a "shadow" plugin in the Alien Skin Eye Candy 7 collection (http://www.alienskin.com/eyecandy/examples/perspective-shadow.aspx). This plugin works in 64-bit photoshop versions. Maybe this is the one you're looking for.

In the thread, 'how to extract objects from background', Ben G discusses the use of MaskPro to select complex areas like hair and foliage. I have not had experience with this particular programme, however I have been using Topaz Labs ReMask 3 for some time now. Like many plug-ins, there's a bit of a learning curve, but with some practice you can see how it works. It's not perfect and some repair work is usually required, and the use of blending modes to remove some artifacts. I'd be interested in others' feedback on the use of these masking plug-ins and some actual examples if possible.

Adrian

Adrian..hi. I have not tried the Topaz one, but did use others. In the end I have not found any to be exceptional.

 

By exceptional I mean very easy..and actually working. In he end Photoshop's newer versions have very good extraction tools that have been refined. So, I use them...it just seems easier...but not perfect.

 

The most important thing one can do is think in advance and find a solid background when you can....it becomes easier to blend...later...also. It is worth the time.

 

I will follow along because if there is a better program....I am interested. :)

Phyllis

I will follow along because if there is a better program....I am interested. :)

 

So will I ! ....because I'm really messing around when it comes to extraction LOL

 

MC

 

BTW I like this place a lot, very useful for someone starting with PS

Hi Ben,

It looks there is a "shadow" plugin in the Alien Skin Eye Candy 7 collection (http://www.alienskin.com/eyecandy/examples/perspective-shadow.aspx). This plugin works in 64-bit photoshop versions. Maybe this is the one you're looking for.

 

Hi Réné, thanks:))

 

Looks this one is working at 64 bit and Mac OS Snow Leopard but it seems, after seeing the video, he is less sophisticated as the one from (stand alone) EyeCandy 5 impact IMO... the 5 version works well in SC4 and that's what I do.

 

Topaz is great and nd cheap. Every so often there comes an upgrade where you do not have to pay for. They should do with photoshop Hehehehehe ......:-)

 

cheap is relative, especially when you can have the google nik collection

with all 6 plugs for such a low price. :) but topaz is not that expensive, indeed. :-)

 

apart from this, i think many photographers will stick with CS6, because the

new CC ("Cash-Cow Editon) is disgusting.

 

No one talks much about Flaming Pear plug ins, yet they are some of my most used plug in effects. My favourite is 'Melancholytron' which is a sophisticated vignette filter, there are many blending modes to give moody tonal changes. Most of my recent uploads have used this filter to some degree. Definitely worth buying and experimenting with.

Hi Adrian,

before I used the Flaming pear filters; but they doesn't work anymore with Mac OS x 10.6 and CS 6 at 64 bit.

 

I have to return to SC 4 to use them.

One I found interesting was Eatherize used in this image on a new layer to soften it: http://1x.com/photo/34247/all:user:11099

 

If used in an intelligent way they can be still very useful IMO

 

I alway use " ghost" of flamingo peer. Great filter!

Sorry, it is flaming! ( iPad talk) :-)

 

 

Yes you are right Ben, my old versions don't work on the 64 bit PS ,so I use my second version of PS to use them, usually as a last step. That Eatherize effect looks nice.

 

I must check that out Jeannette, it's been a while since I visited their website

 

Hi Ben,

That's strange: on the Flaming Pear website it's mentioned the plugins work with CS6 and on a 64 bit Mac (except the for SuperBladePro plugin).

More info here in the FAQ:

http://www.flamingpear.com/faq.html

 

I only use the Nik Plugins in addition to lightroom and photoshop. I've look at Topaz briefly, but never saw much benefit they would provide over what I already have.

 

I know these plugins for a very long time, but they're 32bit only, or are they

in the meantime avialable in 64bit? have used them at WinNT 4.0 Times and

later on 2000, XP...with Paint Shop Pro....

 

Hi Marc,

yes, as Rene has mentioned, they do now work with 64bit. I have the old versions which I have to use on my 32bit PS version, a little inconvenient at times but I work around it.

I have tried almost all of the big names out there and I find that there are three that I use again and again. Topaz Adjust - especially the simple pop or color pop presets - both give a boost to colors and edges without creating halos or artifacts.

 

Viveza 2 by Nik (now Google) - especially the structure slider which gives depth to certain shots.

 

Topaz Clarity - a new plug in just released last month that does a fine job of strengthening the color and clarity of a photo without adding an halos.

 

All three of these are definitely worth the money and an integral part of my work flow when processing almost all of my photos.

 

Jeff Clow

Hi Jeff, yes I often use those Topaz adjust presets also, they certainly add some punch without looking too artificial. The clarity slider in Viveza is also a very useful tool; I haven't used Topaz Clarity but after your review I think I'll give it a try.

Flaming Pear's flood filter is a lot of fun to use, however runs the risk of looking too obvious and cliched.

Here's an example of a shot I'm reasonably happy with

http://1x.com/photo/51206/all:user:9587

If you have some others, I would love to see them.

 

Just catching up with this thread. I am sorry but is the Flaming Pear plugin available for Mac? Has anyone actually tried it?

Adrian I quite like the use of the flood filter in that image of yours, very nice :)

 

So if we could rate ease of use and effectiveness which masking software/plugin is best?

:)

 

Yes, Fleming Pear is available for Mac, but I use it in CS4, because doesn't work on my Mac at 62 bit, as they pretend on there side.

(Maybe the latests update does?)

 

For Masking:

I use Mask Pro 4, not easy to master it with complex backgrounds.

Tried some others trial plug-ins (Vertus, Topaz Remask 3, DFT Power Mask etc) but I come always back to MaskPro 4 and manual masking for the easy parts.

(Latest version from onOne: Perfect Mask 5,2 didn't use it till now.)

 

The masking tools from SC6 are excellent I eared, you can find an interesting Quicktime film on http://www.russellbrown.com/tips_tech.html

 

Hope been of any help.

 

Best, ben

 

I have been using Topaz Remask for some time now and I am quite pleased with it, it's not perfect, and there is a bit of a learning curve to master it. I only use it for very difficult selections such as hair and trees, otherwise I just use the PS selection tools. I have not used MaskPro but have seen it in action in tutorials, it looks good and appears more sophisticated than the Topaz product and less labour intensive.

Adrian

Cheers Ben and Adrian, I'm off to check some tutorials out :)

Put me in the Nik camp, as well!

 

Color Efex 4, Silver Efex, Viveza and Dfine are all in my arsenal of tools and are all used reasonably regularly to some degree although, since Photo Ninja came to life and included Noise Ninja 3, Dfine has been gathering dust for a while.

 

By far Nik's best feature is the U-Point Technology. Combined with the add/subtract control points, selective application of an effect is a breeze.

 

I do use Topaz, but find it a frustration in the heavy handed way it sometimes applies effects.

 

My final weapon is Tiffen DFX3. It's a long way from being perfect, but its big strength is that you can apply multiple effect layers right in the plugin itself. In Nik, for example, each effect layer requires a separate trip into the plugin interface.

 

If I could get one plugin to do a mixture of all these, I'd be a happy man!

I use Photoshop since 1994, LightRoom since 2007. NIK is part of my optimising photos and trying to be a bit "creative" since it came out and had a European office in Hamburg (2005?). I also use OnOne Perfect Suite7 for more specific effects that most of the time have a somewhat different endresult. For a very nice plugin I have FilterForge3. Being creative with a photo is fun. Most people on this site dislike the creativity. Not me!

i use also the FREE Perfect Effects (current Version 4.02) from OnOne Software,

from time to time a bit, when Color Efex Pro 4 doesn't match my Vision exactly,

in seldom cases.