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Beginner’s Guide to Photoshop Plugins

September 22nd, 2008

 

 You probably already know that Adobe Photoshop is the magic wand of photo editing. But for more demanding image editing projects, Photoshop alone is not enough. There are tools out there that add more advanced capabilities like design blurring and color embossing to your Photoshop software. They are called plugins.

What are Photoshop plugins?
 
Photoshop plugins are supplemental programs that provide you with additional options to edit and enhance your photos, including actions or effects that are impossible to achieve with basic Photoshop commands. Also, they can make your work easier and faster by automating processes.
 
Photoshop is proud to have one of the largest collections of third-party plugins. Developed by Adobe and other independent corporations, plugins may require a fee, but there are also great ones that you can use free-of-charge.
 
What are the types of plugins?
 
Photoshop plugins fall into several types:
 
·         Filter plugin
It’s the most common type of plugin. It has an 8bf file format and normally provides special effects to images.
 
·         Import/export plugins
These plugins acquire or write image data from or to certain devices. An import plugin is also called acquisition and uses an 8ba file format. An export plugin uses 8be.
 
·         File format plugin
It opens and saves rare image formats that are not supported by Photoshop. It uses the 8bi file format.
 
·         Automation plugin
Like macros, this plugin that uses 8ly file type automates certain tasks in Photoshop such as a series of contrast adjustments you need to apply on your portraits shots.
 
·         Selection/parser plugins
Only Adobe creates these types of plugins. They use 8bs and 8by file formats, respectively.
 
How do you use these Photoshop plugins?
 
You need to install your plugins in graphics host applications or plugin hosts before you can use them. There are many graphics applications that support Photoshop plugins. Aside from Adobe Photoshop, some of the popular ones are:
 
  • Paint Shop Pro
  • Photoshop Elements
  • PhotoImpact
  • Corel PhotoPaint
  • Adobe Fireworks

 

To run the plugins in programs other than Photoshop, instructions are widely available online.

 
On the other hand, installing your plugins in Photoshop is fairly easy. First, make sure that your Photoshop is closed when installing new plugins. If your plugin package comes with an installer, you will be guided in the installation process and in a few clicks, you’re done.
 
But if you only have your plugin in, say, 8bf file extension, how will you install it? All you need to do is copy (or drag and drop) the file to the Plugins   subfolder of the Photoshop folder.
 
For Windows, your Photoshop software is usually located in C:\Program Files\Adobe\Adobe Photoshop CS2\Plugins; Mac OS stores it in Library\Applications\Adobe Photoshop CS2\Plugins. If however you installed your Photoshop in another location, you should look for the plugins folder there.
 
The next time you start Photoshop, the new plugins will be available in the Filter menu, waiting for you to experiment on them to create your masterpieces.

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Posted in Photo Editing | 1 Comment »

Flickr 101: A Beginner’s Guide

September 15th, 2008

From its minimalist layout to its user-friendly functions, Flickr offers heaps of features that attracted hobbyist and professional photographers alike. Easily, it grew into a place where people can comfortably share their work, interact and learn.

So if until today you’re not yet Flickring then it’s about time you start. Registration is free. And to guide you on your Flickr baby steps, here are some beginner tips to help you move around.
 
Sign up using your Yahoo! mail account
 
And that’s it—no long bio forms to fill out, no secret password questions and no codes to confirm your being a human.
 
Upload photos with ease
 
The first thing you need to do—fill your photostream with as many photos as you want. There are a handful of ways to upload your photos in Flickr.
 Add titles
 
After uploading, the filename of your JPEG file (e.g. IMG_076) automatically becomes the title of your photo. Change it to a more descriptive or artistic title like “Angelli sipping her coffee” or “Tonight I’m leaving my sky.”
 
You can also write a brief story behind the photo in the description box. Some users write (or paste) famous quotations that somehow describe their photo.
 
Use tags
 
Tags will help you search photos within your photostream, especially those belonging to the same theme. For example, you may choose to put the tags “travel” and “Sydney” on photos from your recent trip to Australia. Also, tagging allows other Flickr users who search for “Sydney” photos to discover yours.
 
Adding contacts
 
One of the great things about Flickr is its community. You’ll connect with photographers of varying expertise from all corners of the world. Some of whom would become your favorites, whose work you would want to follow and stalk. Here’s how you can add another photographer as a contact:
  1. Go to his or her photostream page, say AusPhotographer’s.
  2. Click Profile in the menu under AusPhotographer’s Photostream.
  3. On the upper right hand part of the Profile screen, click Add AusPhotographer as a contact.
  4. On the confirmation screen, you’ll be asked to add AusPhotographer as either friend or family. If the photographer is neither, leave the tick boxes unchecked.
  5. Finally, click Add.
Join groups
 
Flickr is home to thousands of interest groups you can join. They usually have a field of expertise in photography.
 
You can find groups on portrait photography, Canon cameras , Nikon gadgets, beaches, insects, lomography, macro, kites, and just about anything you can take a picture of. Some also form groups based on their country or city. There are also groups specifically created for themed photo competitions.
 
Advanced Flickr Tips
 
There are more fascinating things you can do on Flickr and one post is not enough to lay them all down. But the above tips should be enough to give you a jumpstart. Come back soon for more tips on Flickring! In the mean-time make sure you check out our advanced guide to the Flickr photostream.

 

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Posted in Uncategorized | 3 Comments »