I've been an active reader of this site since the beginning of the year. There have been many interesting posts, and I find, some very talented and knowledgeable individuals. For those who have a passion for retouching, photo art and photography, I have two questions:

1. What are your favorite plug-ins and why? (I need to know which one's are worth buying).

2. What other websites do you frequent other than retouch pro.

Again...thanks for those who share your experience...sky.

Some of my favorite plugins are Impressionist (http://www.trimoon.com/html/downloads.html) (free for now; Microsoft use to package it with Office 2000 /w Frontpage, but they no longer support it; man this gem is a must have. Steve {a.k.a., Trimoon} still hosts it on his site; get it while you can). Paint Engine (http://home.centurytel.net/luvs2cr8/paintengine.html) (not the direct website link, but this site has cool presets) I like, but haven't really used that much of late; still a very cool filter to have (also free). Flaming Pear's Mr. Contrast (http://www.flamingpear.com/download.html) (not free, but well worth the money; have a try before you buy version) is one of my favorites; even works well in GIMP. Flaming Pear also has a lot of free filters (http://www.flamingpear.com/goodies.html) too, so visiting their website should be on your to do list. I can go on and on, but the next set should be in your arsenal too. Xero's (http://www.xero-graphics.co.uk/freeware.htm) free filters are definitely a must have. EyeCandy (http://www.pircnet.com/downloads.html) too (version 3 is free). :nod:

Yes, RetouchPro has some competition. The site I frequent the most is DPReview's Retouch forum (http://forums.dpreview.com/forums/forum.asp?forum=1006). I also visit Innographx (http://www.innographx.com/forum) and Fred Miranda's Photo Illustration and Digital Art (http://www.fredmiranda.com/forum/board/50) forum (not so much now, but still have friends there). :)

Thanks for the information. sky

Thanks for the information. sky

Regarding Mr. Contrast, I'll butt in and say that I much prefer my own plugin from
http://photoshop.msk.ru/aspd/ (but yes, it isn't free either)

What as to Impressionist and Paint Engine - these are rare plugins that survived several machine changes and Photoshop reinstalls here :-) I was in contact with Paint Engine developer since very first betas and although he seem to be out of business for at least 10 years now, his wonderful product is still quite useful to me.

Not free, but worth the money:
1. Noise Ninja (or other noise reduction plugin)
2. Intellihance Pro (Onone Software) photo correction (focus, dust, scratches, etc) with a GUI similar to Photosops "variations".
3. Genuine Fractals (onone Software) enlarge low res pics smoothly (mid res pics can often be enlarged up to 800% quite well)

I have your free version Xylegraph (LE version); been a little while since I last played with it. I did not know you were a member of RetouchPro. That's pretty cool. :)


Regarding Mr. Contrast, I'll butt in and say that I much prefer my own plugin from
http://photoshop.msk.ru/aspd/ (but yes, it isn't free either)

What as to Impressionist and Paint Engine - these are rare plugins that survived several machine changes and Photoshop reinstalls here :-) I was in contact with Paint Engine developer since very first betas and although he seem to be out of business for at least 10 years now, his wonderful product is still quite useful to me.

NeatImage (http://www.neatimage.com)
1-Click Actions (http://www.1clickactions.com)

That's about it for me - tried out loads and eventually settled on these.

http://www.namesuppressed.com/design/plugins-plaidlite.shtml
http://www.spacetelescope.org/projects/fits_liberator/download.html
http://s44.yousendit.com/d.aspx?id=3V5SCAVILTXB916Z74RFVT04CF
http://www.trimoon.com/html/downloads.html
http://www.picturecode.com/
http://www.asf.com/
http://www.littleinkpot.co.uk/FreePlugins.htm
http://www.fredmiranda.com/software/
http://www.theimagingfactory.com/
http://www.pixelgenius.com/
http://www.alienskin.com/idoc/idoc_main.html
http://www.filtermeister.com/
http://photoshop.msk.ru/
http://www.filtermeister.com/filtergallery/index.htm
http://www.pages.drexel.edu/%7Eavc25/archive.htm#FFT
http://www.freephotoshop.com/
http://www.pluginsworld.com/
http://www.flamingpear.com/download.html
http://thepluginsite.com/knowhow/index.htm
http://thepluginsite.com/download354634845/index.htm
http://www.picasa.com/index.php
http://www.state-of-entropy.com/newtutorials/morepaint.htm
http://www.vertustech.com/
http://www.redpawmedia.com/
http://photoshop.msk.ru/as/index.html
http://www.redfieldplugins.com/
http://www.neatimage.com/download.html
http://www.cybia.co.uk/fastfix.htm
http://thepluginsite.com/knowhow/index.htm
http://www.grafnet.com.pl/filtry.htm
http://www.ravingconcepts.com/plugin_filters.htm
http://www.filtermeister.com/
http://www.grafnet.com.pl/filtry.htm
http://openstream.ch/photoshop/
http://thepluginsite.com/download354634845/index.htm
http://www.pixelgenius.com/
http://www.photofiltre.com/
http://thepluginsite.com/
http://www.deviantart.com/deviation/18636533/
http://thepluginsite.com/products/photowiz/focalblade/
http://tech-slop.serveit.org/wiki/index.php?title=Plug_2dhistogram
http://tech-slop.serveit.org/wiki/index.php?title=Plug_2chops
http://www.dcpsystems.co.uk/index.htm
http://www.thelightsright.com/
http://www.neatimage.com/download.html
http://www.stoik.com/rubberpi/index.html
http://www.stoik.com/
http://www.fo2pix.com/index.php
http://www.vpainter.com/default.asp
http://www.reindeergraphics.com/free.shtml
http://www.aim-dtp.net/aim/plug-ins/fifo/
http://www.aim-dtp.net/aim/calibration/xlprofiler/index.htm
http://www.aim-dtp.net/index.htm
http://www.ats-vienna.com/graphics/index.htm
http://www.redpawmedia.com/
http://www.dvp.co.il/
http://www.binuscan.com/index.html
http://www.linkwaregraphics.com/presets/index.html
http://www.flamingpear.com/index.html
http://hem2.passagen.se/pshop/freefilt.htm
http://www.freephotoshop.com/
http://www.chainstyle.com/freebies.html
http://www.fantasticmachines.com/demo_downloads.htm
http://thepluginsite.com/products/photowiz/photofreebies/index.htm
http://www.reliefshading.com/software/CartaPGM/CartaPGM.html
http://www.pluginz.com/
http://www.phototeknik.com/imageduster/
http://www.phasespace.com.au/
http://www.fftw.org/
http://graphicssoft.about.com/gi/dynamic/offsite.htm?zi=1/XJ&sdn=graphicssoft&zu=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.alienskin.com
http://graphicssoft.about.com/?once=true&
http://www.icnet.de/filters_unlimited/
http://www.andromeda.com/info/cutline.html
http://www.extensis.com/en/home.jsp;jsessionid=5PQLVDNW3JEH3LAQAAUQ0FQ?_requestid=3754
http://www.ononesoftware.com/detail.php?prodLine_id=2
http://www.justkiss.com/psp/framing_kit.htm
http://www.justkiss.com/psp/resources.htm
http://www.psplinks.com/
http://www.thekoala.com/pspframes.htm
http://www.scenic-route.com/img/psp/frames/
http://ivysgraphics.topcities.com/gradients/gradients.html
http://ivysgraphics.topcities.com/sitemap.html
http://psp-x.com/Scripts/scripts.htm
http://www.the-taskbar.com/tb_quickguides.htm
http://www.xero-graphics.co.uk/freeware.htm
http://www.crimsoneditor.com/
http://www.xero-graphics.co.uk/freeware.htm
http://www.autofx.com/
http://www.panopticum.com/
http://www.mediachance.com/digicam/index.html
http://www.xnview.com/
http://www.mayang.com/textures/
http://www.sheilsoft.com/psp/sketch.htm
http://www.angelfire.com/on2/LuxurysTubes/
http://www.dragonflyte.com/design/tubes/tubes.html
http://www.grafnet.com.pl/galeria.php?kolekcja=filtry/Picture_Man_Collection-Rubber
http://www.richardrosenman.com/photoshop.htm
http://vision.graphicon.ru/soft/en/GrowCut/
http://akvis.com/en/retoucher/index.php
http://www.vizros.com/vp.html
http://www.innographx.com/forum/viewforum.php?f=61&sid=bf6240cd04c8600a3f28d97aac133db8
http://www.atncentral.com/download.htm
http://blackdog.massberg.com/
http://www.texturewarehouse.com/gallery/index.php
http://www.mehdiplugins.com/english/zoomengine.htm
http://www.konvertor.net/indexe.html
http://www.photoshop-filters.com/html/ormente.htm
http://www.haypocalc.com/wiki/GREYCstoration_en
http://www.haypocalc.com/wiki/Gimp_Plugin_GREYCstoration
http://grail.cs.washington.edu/projects/photomontage/release/
http://grail.cs.washington.edu/projects/photomontage/
http://www.logarithmic.net/pfh/resynthesizer
http://refocus-it.sourceforge.net/
http://enblend.sourceforge.net/
http://www.haypocalc.com/wiki/GREYCstoration_en
http://share.studio.adobe.com/axBrowseSubmit.asp?t=9
http://www.graphicutils.com/merge/
http://www.autofx.com/freeplugins/mosaic.asp?id=21
http://www.autofx.com/freeplugins/dreamyphoto.asp?id=7
http://potrace.sourceforge.net/
http://www.inkscape.org/
http://ascgendotnet.jmsoftware.co.uk/
http://go.to/ascgen/
http://www.fo2pix.com/main.php
https://store2.esellerate.net/st0re/(o2kgycmd5d11cpzmorgtl155)/checkout/CustomLayout.aspx?s=STR5228953526&pc=&page=MultiCatalog.htm
http://meesoft.logicnet.dk/Analyzer/help.htm
http://meesoft.logicnet.dk/Analyzer/
http://meesoft.logicnet.dk/DiagramDesigner/index1.php
http://www.popims.com/en/animator.htm
http://meesoft.logicnet.dk/PopimsAnimator/
http://www.vizros.com/
http://www.visinf.com/gs/ps/
http://www.michaelalmond.com/Articles/noise.htm
http://www.imagenomic.com/
http://www.mediachance.com/
http://www.andromeda.com/main/index.php
http://registry.gimp.org/person?id=6693
http://www.haypocalc.com/wiki/Gimp_Plugin_GREYCstoration#Download_source_source
http://www.xero-graphics.co.uk/
http://www.avbros.com/
http://moonsdesigns.com/tutorials/sinedot2/sinedots2.html
http://www.mehdiplugins.com/english/kaleidoscope.htm
http://www.monstermarketplace.com/googlesearchgk.asp?q=photoshop%20plug%20ins
http://www.namesuppressed.com/design/plugins-soften.shtml?referrer=c10a1softener04
http://www.apophysis.org/
http://www.alienskin.com/
http://www.topazlabs.com/index.html
http://www.phototune.com/skintune_intro.html
http://www.peda.com/tess/
http://www.atomkey.com/freeware/freeware_list.asp?catid=45
http://www.lucisart.com/
http://www.greyc.ensicaen.fr/~dtschump/greycstoration/demonstration.html
http://akvis.com/en/enhancer/index.php
http://morepunkinstuff.tripod.com/filters/Ormente/ormente.html
http://www.clatfelter.net/8bf/plugin.html
http://www.powerretouche.com/
http://www.cybia.co.uk/
http://www.xaostools.com/
http://www.graphics-tools.com/links/links.html#8bf
http://www.alienskin.com/
http://www.mways.co.uk/prog/plugin.php
http://punkinstuff.tripod.com/alma/almathera.html
http://www.toolfarm.com/pluginfinder.html
http://a_ramakrishnan.tripod.com/easygrad.htm
http://ewf-fed2k.tripod.com/pspdownloads.htm
http://www.geocities.com/image_classrooms/IRFilters.htm
http://www.dagree.net/
http://www.motken.com/dawnload/filtar/
http://www.phototune.com/2020_intro.html
http://www.asf.com/products/plugins/gem/pluginGEM.asp
http://www.redfieldplugins.com/filterLatticeComposer.htm
http://pircnet.com/downloads.html
http://textures.forrest.cz/
http://www.redprince.net/pixie/
http://www.topazlabs.com/topazvivacity.html
http://www.hdrsoft.com/
http://www.panopticum.com/download.shtml
http://www.graficalicus.com/downloadbasket/index.php
http://www.thelightsrightstudio.com/TLRProfessionalMaskToolkit.htm
http://www.vizros.com/vp.html
http://amicoperry.altervista.org/luce/main.html
http://www.vector.co.jp/vpack/filearea/mac/art/graphics/edit/phshop/index.html
http://www.vector.co.jp/vpack/browse/person/an014196.html
http://thepluginsite.com/resources/freeps.htm
http://www.curvemeister.com/
http://www.redgiantsoftware.com/knollphotoshop.html
http://www.accurateimage.com/essroc-distributor-version/help/index.htm
http://punkinstuff.tripod.com/fx/fx2.html
http://www.ulead.com/download/freegoodies.htm
http://a-i-studio.com/snowflake/
http://www.softwhile.com/product_ta.html?ad=overture
http://www.phototune.com/2020_intro.html
http://www.bmath.net/dc/ind.htm
http://www.mediaspark.com/products/
http://mitglied.lycos.de/filterfactory/
http://www.pluginfilters.com/bordermania/index.html
http://www.imagenomic.com/detailsplugin4.asp
http://www.craigsactions.com/naturalizers.html
http://www.plugincreativity.com/?gclid=CIDNrLXZmIQCFSMlUAodQyQZyQ
http://www.ononesoftware.com/?utm_id=2002&utm_source=google&utm_medium=ppc&utm_content=genericppc&utm_campaign=onone&gclid=CLihjZTamIQCFS9uFQodol8lxg
http://www.photo-plugins.com/
http://palbou.free.fr/index.html
http://www.imageskill.com/
http://www.twistingpixels.com/
http://www.simpelfilter.de/en/bildbearbeitung/converter.html
http://www.sd3.info/pf828/
http://8bf.net/
http://www.fsoft.it/imaging/en/Download.htm
http://www.vertustech.com/
http://www.vertustech.com/fm_freetrialUS.htm
http://www.imageskill.com/index.html
http://powerretouche.com/
http://www.humansoftware.com/
http://www.imagiam.com/content/english/home.htm
http://www.cybia.co.uk/pluginlinks.htm
http://www.filterforge.com/
http://www.openexr.com/downloads.html
http://www.imageskill.com/index.html
http://akvis.com/en/noise-buster/index.php
http://pixelribs.com/products_indepth.html
http://www.greyc.ensicaen.fr/~dtschump/greycstoration/demonstration.html
http://www.ononesoftware.com/detail.php?prodLine_id=4
http://66.70.170.53/Ryan/heightmap/heightmap.html

this is a straight copy of my bookmarks for 'plugins'. i know there are some dupicates in here and if i see them i'll edit them out. and some of those probably arent strictly plugins. nonetheless, enjoy :)

craig

craig...awesome

My goodness and I thought my bookmark file was full. Great job Craig, and thanks for adding more to my already extensive list.

Janet

... plugins then I. :lol:

Ah yes Craig, we all know thou art the plugin king! :bow:

hehe, merry christmas :)

i've just edited the list a bit this morning. there were quite a few duplicates... exact duplicates. and there are still quite a few where it's the same software but just different pages on the same site. i shld probably edit some of those out as well and just put the main page or the page where the plugin can be found. not sure about that yet.

i've also got another, smaller list in the other browser :)

and if you're a software junkie like me you can do a google on '.8bf' and find a ton that way as well.

i'll continue to edit the list once in a while and try to keep just the plugin link pages or main page if the plugin is listed there. i really do think we need a 'resources' list somewhere that is stickied. i know doug took the resources menu down because it just wasnt being used much but i think we do need one somewhere. i could also post my list of 'graphic editors' in such a list. i've often thought of volunteering to organize this stuff on RetouchPRO. i see a link in a post somewhere and it gets buried after a while and few end up seeing it over time. there are LOTS of these on RetouchPRO.

at any rate, i do hope you enjoy these and if so inspired, write something up about the ones you use.

craig

hehe, merry christmas :)

i've just edited the list a bit this morning. there were quite a few duplicates... exact duplicates. and there are still quite a few where it's the same software but just different pages on the same site. i shld probably edit some of those out as well and just put the main page or the page where the plugin can be found. not sure about that yet.

craig

BTW, I'd suggest removing separate download link to my "Toadies" plugins on some server in Poland (you can find it in the list by word "Toadies"). Not only it gives "error 404", but I'd like to notice that I'm somewhat bored by endless emails asking "I found the tutorial mentioning this and that Toadies plugins but I don't see the plugins in the package I downloaded". The most recent and full Toadies package is still awailable at my site (http://photoshop.msk.ru/), and most of those unsolicited mirrors only make me tell people over and over again that they downloaded some partial packages I'm not responcible for.

I. V. Razmanov, ok, i think i erased the right one there. if you find any more let me know.

craig

Craig, please add www.plugsnpixels.com to your list! ;-) I've tried to make it a one-stop-resource for digital imaging applications and plug-ins.

And I'll plow through your links and catch up with those I've missed...

Aha, it seems like I remembered another good one that seem to be missing: Deep Paint, currently available for free via download.com:

http://www.download.com/Deep-Paint/3000-2191_4-10398243.html?tag=lst-0-1

Although it's core is a standalone app, it has plugin frontend for Photoshop as well.

Craig, thanks for the awesome list. I didn't need to make my house payment this month anyway!

I've only glanced through the list, but I have NameSupressed PlaidLite and it's an awesome little program for when you absolutely, positively must make something plaid (great for scrapbook designers).

Also, everything Fred Miranda makes is very good. I use the FM Warm/Cool plugin all the time, I love what it does for outdoor shots.

Also, the Impressionist plugin from Trimoon is very cool.

Now, could you tell us the name of a good plugin organizer??? lol

hi moogirl (what an odd name, but then mine isnt all that common either :) ),

you're welcome.

i still need to edit that list quite a bit. lots of links that are really about the same thing there.

and yes, there are some real gems there. my current passion if Filter Forge, which i'm currently helping to beta test. i think a lot of filter makers are going to go out of business when that one goes public. and, by the way, i've made a plaid filter in filter forge; just havent submitted it yet. :)

actually, there are some plugin organizers out there. i forget the exact names as i dont use any of them currently, but at least one was named something like plugin commander or some such. i'm sure someone on the forums can help with that or you could try a google search. they do exist.

as for your house payment, cant help there. addictions are addictions and they must be fed ;)

craig

i have some blurry pictures how can i fix them. A newbie here

Thank you
Chris

Hi Chris,

Go to this link (http://www.plugsnpixels.com/imageenhancement.html) and look under Sharpening at the bottom of the page. If your image is merely soft, many of these plug-ins will help. If there is motion blur, Focus Magic (http://www.plugsnpixels.com/imageenhancement.html) is one of the very few options at present.

my current passion if Filter Forge, which i'm currently helping to beta test. i think a lot of filter makers are going to go out of business when that one goes public.

Craig -- thanks for mentioning Filter Forge! We're preparing the last beta update before the final version, so the end is nigh! :D

As for plugin makers going out of business, I don't think the situation is that grim -- there are a lot of tools that can do things which are currently impossible in Filter Forge. For example, Shinycore's Pathstyler (www.shinycore.com) which uses Photoshop's vector paths to create high-quality bevels, tools like AlienSkin's BlowUp or Genuine Fractals that enlarge images, profile-based sharpeners like Nik Sharpener Pro, or scientific tools like those from www.reindeergraphics.com. Oh, and I almost forgot about Buzz plugins from www.fo2pix.com which, in my opinion, are the best tools for converting photos into fine art.

Actually, as Jeff Butterworth once said in his interview, the plugin industry is not competitive -- there's no lock-in factor similar to what you see on the operating system market, and tons of plugins can coexist peacefully on the same machine.

By the way, since the Filter Forge beta is coming to a close, I invite everyone who hasn't tried Filter Forge yet to try the beta while it's free: http://www.filterforge.com

Vladimir, whenever I demonstrate Windows running on an Intel Mac, I use Filter Forge as the show-off app of choice! I showed FF to some plug-in vendors at Photoshop World last week, and they were impressed.

So Mac users, if you have an Intel Mac, be sure to get in on the FF beta testing, even though it is Windows-only at this point.

vladimir, if i were a plugin maker, i'd be scared of FF :) but yes, i can attest to no one plugin being the do-all, end-all of plugins. i have hundreds and i see thousands listed on e-bay.

on the other hand, i've seen some of the testers blow your socks off doing things YOU never thought FF could do...chain link fence, simulated fonts, ken's recent crack remover, some of the organics, and many others. and i also know FF hasnt tapped its full potential yet either, even with over 700 filters for it now.

and you're quite welcome for any mention of FF i might make. it's been well worth being a beta tester and a joy working with you and the other folks at FF. i look forward to all the coming updates and a continued working relationship.

craig

I've seen Paint Engine and I downloaded it (big h/d and I like plugins) but I've no clue what this is for. please ?


Regarding Mr. Contrast, I'll butt in and say that I much prefer my own plugin from
http://photoshop.msk.ru/aspd/ (but yes, it isn't free either)

What as to Impressionist and Paint Engine - these are rare plugins that survived several machine changes and Photoshop reinstalls here :-) I was in contact with Paint Engine developer since very first betas and although he seem to be out of business for at least 10 years now, his wonderful product is still quite useful to me.

I've seen Paint Engine and I downloaded it (big h/d and I like plugins) but I've no clue what this is for. please ?

Paint Engine makes some weird smudge tricks that often turn photo into something looking like painting. Apparently it may turn pure noise and junk into suitable web page background. Check out the presets that go with filter and you'll see some good examples.