Graphics Programs Reference
In-Depth Information
By definition, a filter must reside in Photoshop's Plug-ins folder.
Besides the bundled filters that are installed with Photoshop, you'll
find a few specialty filters on the Photoshop installer DVD or in
the Support area of Adobe's website.
Preparing to Use Filters
Filters can save time and can be fun to use. But before you rush in
and try out every filter in Photoshop, you need to make sure the
image is ready to be processed. Many filters are render-intensive,
so there's no reason to spend extra time on pixels you may be
throwing away.
Fix Major Errors
Filtering mistakes only draws further attention to them. Most
importantly, make sure the image is properly exposed with
natural-looking contrast. This can be accomplished easily using
a Levels adjustment (Image > Adjustments > Levels). For more
on Levels, see Chapter 10, “Color Correction and Enhancement.”
THIRD-PARTY FILTERS
The wealth of third-party
Photoshop plug-ins is an
important aspect of Photo-
shop's customization. These
filters range in price from free
to several hundred dollars.
When you're looking for
filters, a great starting place
comes to mind: Photoshop
User magazine frequently
reviews plug-ins. Members
of the National Association
of Photoshop Professionals
(NAPP) often get discounts
as well. Go to its site at
www.photoshopuser.com
and click the Magazine link
to find out more.
The original image (left) lacks contrast. Proper contrast (center) creates an image
that's ready for filtering (right).
Set Your View
Filtering an image is easiest when you can see all your pixels
(otherwise, resampling occurs). For best results, zoom in 100%
or choose View > Actual Pixels. You can also double-click on the
magnifying glass in the Tools panel or press Command+Option+0
(Ctrl+Alt+0). The Navigator panel is useful to get a global over-
view and to move quickly around an image that is zoomed in.
Some filters also offer the ability to view a 100% preview in the
filter interface.
 
 
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