What is your favorite photo editing program? The one you work with on a daily basis. And

What are the top three optional stand alones or plugins that you use in the challanges posted here or in your work? I saw the list of favorite plugins posted here but I don't have a clue when you use them.

well chauncey, from an amateur mode, I purely use Photoshop CS no added filters other than the freebie Neat Image but even then that is not that often at all

Photoshop CS2 (the CS3 beta is in learning mode)

Most used third party plugins:
Noise Ninja
Genuine Fractals
Mask Pro
Photo Frames

Chauncey,

Like Swampy it is CS2 for me as well.

For plugins I use the pro+ version of neat image, Nik Filters, and a few Xero filters you can get free here (http://www.xero-graphics.co.uk/).

A real good paint program I sometimes like to play with is Deep Paint which is also available free. It works as a stand alone program or a plugin . Download it free here (http://www.download.com/Deep-Paint/3000-2191_4-10398243.html) .



hope that helps.

Alan

Hi Chauncey

again amatuer i use ps7 ( would like to upgrade but pennies are needed to be spent elsewhere )
Plug ins well ( wait till Ikroll gets going )

I use Neatimage (free) for noise reduction and to simply pics for painting
Impressionist (free) for paint effects on pics
Virtual photographer (free) for different photograph effects (like b&W, sepia, tints etc etc )

I use others but probably not as much

One i would like ( more money needed) is Lucis Art


I also use a quite a few actions as well that are only in Photoshop ( i believe)

Palms

"Semi-pro" in photo-restoration:

Using Photoshop CS2

Must have, use every day, plug-ins:

1) FFT (RGB) filter, Fourier transform for eliminating embossed paper texture (Free);
2) Reindeer Graphics Adaptive Equalization, for bringing out hidden details (Free, last time I saw);
3) Home-made deGrunge and Emphasis filters (Free 'coz I made 'em :rolleyes: )

Rô

Though I have and use CS2 daily, my crutch is still the GIMP since I've used it for over 5 years now.

To byro: if you have your degrunge in plugin or action form, please pass it along (thanks in advance) since I really do find this one very useful. :)

Edit:

Whoops; didn't read your whole request. NeatImage needs to be in your arsenal (hope I don't get flamed by the Noise Ninja folks). Also, for artistic renderings, you definitely need Impressionist (Trimoon, aka, Steve host's this gem; unfortunately, it only works in Photoshop {hence one of the reasons I keep CS2 open}). I use so many other filters (as Palm's eluded too; lol) that I find it hard to mention the next "third filter", but I really like and use Flaming Pear's Mr. Contrast for a lot of things, not just artistic. This gem, though not free, is still a must have in your arsenal filter. Can help in mimicking a lot of the Lucis effects (and it's a much cost effective {cheaper} solution). :)

i work primarily in Paint Shop Pro. i've used the gimp and gimpshop and some others, but i just prefer psp. i've had it since version 4.12 (which was free back then).

i use a number of the same filters and plugins that others have mentioned, but my current passion is Filter Forge. This is filter a maker and not just a filter itself. there are currently over 1500 filters in the library and it's still in beta! this is one amazing program. you dont need to know any code. it's plug 'n play type filter making, all graphical. you just plug one thing into another and poof!, you've got a filter. plug some controls into those things and you've got a filter you can adjust. quite simple, but surprisingly powerful.

my most recent filter that i made was an attempt to make a paint program. now, how's that for a twist, a filter that makes a paint program :) i can sharpen, blur, black and white adjust, noise addition, noise removal, HDRI lighting, kaleidoscope effects, offsets, simple masking, tone changes, simple channel mixing (in the latest, un-released version), perlin noise effects, threshold effects, and more.

the program was originally developed to make textures. but since its inception it's grown way above that. there are several folks in there (myself included) making artifying type filters and some are really quite good.

oh, and filter forge can work as both a plugin and a stand-alone.

i do mostly restorations and photo art. for the restorations i use a number of the other programs mentioned already. and for photo art, i've been using mostly Paint Shop Pro and filter forge. the two in combination make a great duo.

I primarily use Photoshop 7, with plans to upgrade to CS3 when it ships now that I have Win/XP. Occasionally I use Painter IX to get brush-stroke effects not possible with Photoshop.

Plugins - My top 3:
* Impressionist - www.Trimoon.com (downloads)
* Akvis Sketch - www.Akvis.com
* Paint Engine - www.FantasticMachines.com

Plugins - Honorable Mention
* Xero Caravaggio
* Alien Skin Snap Art
* BuzzPro

"Because it renders effects like no other plugin" is the reason for each choice above.

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Great topic... thanks for starting this thread.

Hello chauncey...I do photo art and use Photoshop Elements 2 as my main
program. My favorite most used plugins are Impressionist, Virtual
Photographer,and the collection of free filters from Xero. Besides filters
and plugins you can find loads of free custom shapes, patterns, layer styles
and brushes at Adobe Exchange that will add greatly to your creative work.
Anything made for Photoshop 7 or below in the Exchange seems to load into Elements ok anything made for any version of CS does not.

I'm loving it, keep it up!