Photoshop plugins / actions / filters

[W00DY]

Hi All,

I was wondering what everyones favourite plugins, actions, filters for photoshop were?

There are millions on the web so I thought it would be good to get a list of our favourites.

post away.....

[marcos]

To me the "55mm plugins" is a must, don't forget Noise Ninja.

[mR_CaESaR]

I love kubota and boutwell actions

One button actions for people like me (who arn't the best at photoshop) make things much easier

http://www.juliuslagula.com/action_test.html

[Nnnnsic]

I'm quite fond of BW Styler, Alien Skin Exposure, and OptikVervelabs' Virtual Photographer.

[stubbsy]

Nik color efex pro

[Yi-P]

Alien Skin Exposure... that is one that I use apart from the default photoshop filters...

[marcotrov]

Nik Color Efex Pro for me too!
cheers
marco

[macka]

Not necessarily a favourite, but I've been playing with this action a little bit lately.

First saw it linked to in one of Ronza's posts on OCAU and thought I'd give it a go. can yield some interesting results, some of which I hope to post soon.

[W00DY]

Alien Skin Exposure... that is one that I use apart from the default photoshop filters...

I'm quite fond of BW Styler, Alien Skin Exposure, and OptikVervelabs' Virtual Photographer.

Just downloaded the demo version so will give it a go, thanks...

Nik Color Efex Pro for me too!

Nik Color Efex Pro

Also downloaded the demo to give it a go...

They are not cheap though

[W00DY]

OptikVervelabs' Virtual Photographer.

PC only.... bugger!!!

[W00DY]

Not necessarily a favourite, but I've been playing with this action a little bit lately.

First saw it linked to in one of Ronza's posts on OCAU and thought I'd give it a go. can yield some interesting results, some of which I hope to post soon.

Thanks for the link, I like this effect. Here is one with all the default settings:

[macka]

No worries. Works well for that shot. I've adapted the Look of Lomo action to make the vignette a little more subtle.

[W00DY]

No worries. Works well for that shot. I've adapted the Look of Lomo action to make the vignette a little more subtle.

yeah I agree, it is pretty strong... this was just a quick one to test the action out, I like it.

[Underload]

On what I think is a related topic, are you able to edit photoshop actions?

[W00DY]

On what I think is a related topic, are you able to edit photoshop actions?

I can half answer your question, yes you can.

How you do it I will leave up to a more advanced photoshop user

[Willy wombat]

OptikVervelabs' Virtual Photographer.

PC only.... bugger!!!

I also use Virtual photographer a bit myself.

[DaveB]

PhotoKit Sharpener from PixelGenius and Noise Ninja from PictureCode are essential tools in my Photoshop environment. And my own library of sundry actions I've built up over the years of course.

On what I think is a related topic, are you able to edit photoshop actions?

You can expand and explore actions via the Actions palette, and you can insert and delete steps within the actions. You can't directly edit each step though.

[W00DY]

Man, Once converted to AUD none of these are cheap are they!!!!

I guess you get what you pay for though, after playing with them for a while they all do a good job.

Hmmmm, photoshop plugins or new lenses... that is almost what it comes down to!!!!

[Nnnnsic]

Err... VirtualPhotographer is free.

http://www.optikvervelabs.com/

[W00DY]

Err... VirtualPhotographer is free.

http://www.optikvervelabs.com/

Yeah but as I said... PC only. I use a mac and don't want to run XP on it.... so that leaves me with the expensive plugins

[Nnnnsic]

Well, try these then. They're free too.

http://www.cybia.co.uk/fotomatic.htm

I haven't tried them but I have downloaded them and they have a Mac version. Yes, the web page is crap. Go to the top menu under Digital Photography, hover over Fotomatic, and then pick the options.

There's even a black & white filter...

[christiand]

Hi all,

I canot get VirtualPhotographer to work on my PC.
optikVerve Labs shows as an entry under the Filter menu in PS CS2 but is greyed out and doesn't display any options.
I followed the installation instructions but no luck.
Anyone has any ideas how to fix it ?

many thanks.
CD

[DaveB]

I canot get VirtualPhotographer to work on my PC.
optikVerve Labs shows as an entry under the Filter menu in PS CS2 but is greyed out and doesn't display any options.

No experience with VirtualPhotographer (I'm using Macs) but is it limited to working on 8-bit files but your file is currently in 16-bit mode?

Maybe not: just regard this post as a stream-of-consciousness thing...

[Nnnnsic]

Nope, that's it in a nutshell. I can be VP's tech support if need be since I've done some pretty extensive preset making of it and that's the only reasons (other than maybe a faulty driver which is doubtful) that I can think for that to be happening.

If you're opening the RAW files up directly or your converted images are set to convert without downsampling from 16-bit to 8-bit, this is exactly what will be occurring.

[christiand]

You are champions

I thank you all very much - it was the 16bit mode.
Importing in 8bit mode turns VirtualPhotographer on.

very

Cheers,
CD

[Reschsmooth]

Not necessarily a favourite, but I've been playing with this action a little bit lately.

First saw it linked to in one of Ronza's posts on OCAU and thought I'd give it a go. can yield some interesting results, some of which I hope to post soon.

Ok, stupid question - once downloaded, how do I activate the action? (I have downloaded and extracted the file).

Cheers

P

[macka]

Ok, stupid question - once downloaded, how do I activate the action? (I have downloaded and extracted the file).

Cheers

P

Put the .atn file in your actions folder. Something like (on windows) C:/Program Files/Adobe Photoshop/Presets/Actions

Load up photoshop, look in the actions menu and you should see it. Play the action.

Tada.

[Reschsmooth]

Ok, stupid question - once downloaded, how do I activate the action? (I have downloaded and extracted the file).

Cheers

P

Put the .atn file in your actions folder. Something like (on windows) C:/Program Files/Adobe Photoshop/Presets/Actions

Load up photoshop, look in the actions menu and you should see it. Play the action.

Tada.

You would think

I have saved the .atn file (by the way, it is a BHP Action .atn) in the Photoshop Actions directory and I can't see the action in the actions paletter.

Thanks for your help, thus far.

P

[DaveB]

Don't try to stuff the .atn file into Photoshop's directories!

In the actions palette you can access the menu via the little triangle in the upper right of the palette. On that menu, select Load Actions... and point it to the .atn file (which you can delete/move afterwards).
Then when Photoshop next quits it will save the actions including that one so that it will remain in the list (note that Photoshop only saves the actions when quitting cleanly).

[macka]

Don't try to stuff the .atn file into Photoshop's directories!

Oops, didn't realise photoshop did that itself, how clever. Patrick, listen to DaveB!

[Reschsmooth]

Thanks guys - tremendous help, again!

P