How do I add 3rd party filters to PSE6?

I have tried adding them to c:\Program Files\Adobe\Photoshop Elements 6.0\Plug-Ins\Filters

I also tried making my own Plug-Ins directory and pointing PSE6 to it via: Edit--->Preferences--->Plug_Ins...

Neither of these worked, as the filters do not show up in the drop down list in the Effects window.

I tried resetting the settings via Ctrl/Alt/Shift during the Editor startup but that didn't fix it.

I even tried deleting MediaDatabase.db3 - no dice.

How the heck do I add third party Filters?

Thanks!

Which filters? I suppose you mean hiddenelements tools. They are actions and the path to install them differs in XP and Vista; otherwise, to install real plug-ins, they generally go directly in the /plug-ins subdirectory, not the /plug-ins/Effects and appear in the Filters menu, not the effect palette.
In XP, actions go into:
C:\Documents and Settings\All users\Application Data\Adobe\Photoshop Elements\6.0\Photo Creations\Photo Effects

They should appear in the 'show all' menu of the effect icon in the effects palette. You have to restart, and wait for the database to update, which may take some time... be patient.

No - It wasn't Richard's stuff. It was some 3rd party filters.

I am not sure what happened, but I got it working.

Here is what I did:

1 - I de-installed PSE6 and reinstalled it
2 - The base directories for my filters were in a directory I created: d:DataDocumentsAdobePhotoshop Elements PluginsFilters
3 - I started Photoshop Elements 6 and went to Edit--->Preferences--->Plug-Ins... and entered the plug-in directory name: "d:DataDocumentsAdobePhotoshop Elements Plugins".
4 - Closed and re-started Photoshop Elements 6
5 - No new filters!
6 - Closed Photoshop Elements 6
7 - Moved the filters down one level to my "d:DataDocumentsAdobePhotoshop Elements Plugins" directory
8 - Restarted Photoshop Elements and the filters are now there!

I KNOW I tried this earlier and it didn't work (well - I THINK I tried it, at least :-) )

Sorry for the confusion.

In XP, actions go into:
C:Documents and SettingsAll usersApplication DataAdobePhotoshop Elements6.0Photo CreationsPhoto Effects

They should appear in the 'show all' menu of the effect icon in the effects palette. You have to restart, and wait for the database to update, which may take some time... be patient.

Michel,

I used your advice to re-install Richard's Dynamic Images package.

It worked just as you said. Thanks!

Is there any way you know of to have it come up as a category in the Photo Effects drop down list, like it did in earlier versions of Photoshop Elements, as opposed to having to use "Show All"?

That's the biggest problem with the changes in PSE6. Developers have to devise xml files, which is not for everybody. I gather from recent posts from Richard Lynch that the work is in progress and could be available soon for his tools. Otherwise, Graffi has devised an installer for actions, plugins and other add-ons:

http://www.graficalicus.com/graffishop/index.php?main_page=index&cPath=1

Great help for a very small price!

for lots of great help and a friendly place to boot..try this forum. It is only 2 weeks old and doing great

http://www.photoshopcreativeelements.com/index.php

Whenever I add 3rd party filters or plugins to Photoshop Elements, I install them in a separate subdirectory i.e. C:\Program Files\Adobe\Photoshop Plugins\
Then I open Elements and in Edit->Plugins I tick the Additional Plug-Ins Folder and select the appropiate folder. Next time you start Elements they are available. The benefit of this method is, that you don't have to reinstall your 3rd party plugins every time you upgrade Elements. If you're using the "full blown" Photoshop, you can use the same plugins without having to reinstall them.
This doesn't work with The Hidden Power Tools though. They are Actions and have to be installed in a different manner as Michel B. has described in his posts above.
________________
Roland Hansen

Whenever I add 3rd party filters or plugins to Photoshop Elements, I install them in a separate subdirectory i.e. C:\Program Files\Adobe\Photoshop Plugins\
Then I open Elements and in Edit->Plugins I tick the Additional Plug-Ins Folder and select the appropiate folder. Next time you start Elements they are available. The benefit of this method is, that you don't have to reinstall your 3rd party plugins every time you upgrade Elements. If you're using the "full blown" Photoshop, you can use the same plugins without having to reinstall them.
________________
Roland Hansen

Many thanks Roland, I thought this worked only with the full Photoshop!

While I appreciate the help of pointing to other forums, but what is wrong with just answering the questions here -- and for free? I prefer to have these forums active, and as long as we are on Hidden Power questions and related issues, let's assume I have the answer...otherwise this forum becomes useless.

There are three components to the Elements 6 action add-ons:

* the .atn file (the action)
* the .png file (the preview or icon)
* the .xml file (the data sidecar -- in this case a locator)

The ATN and PNG are the action files related to the older ATN (the same) and PSD file. The ATN and PSD need to be 1 to 1 (one action per one icon), named the same (except the extension), and located in the photo effects folder (Vista):

C:\ProgramData\Adobe\Photoshop Elements\6.0\Photo Creations\photo effects

This alone will get the files to show up in the Artwork and Effects palette. You will need to restart Elements, and if it does not work the first time you will need to delete the db3 files that store the cached information and restart.

While XML files may not contain a language most are familiar with, they are really pretty simple. You need to create one with the same name as the other two files and it should have the following content:

<?xml version="1.0" encoding="UTF-8"?>
<PSEContent xmlns="http://adobe.com/PSEContent/1.0/">
<global>
<name id="Name" value="[your action name]" localize="true"/>
<type value="effect" />
<typecategory id="TypeCat" value="[the group you want it in]" localize="true" />
</global>
</PSEContent>

Just copy and paste this, change the [your action name] and [the group you want it in] items, and save as a text document with the .XML extension. When it is saved, place it in the Photo Creations Metadata\photo effects folder. I think the location of this is diffferent on Vista and Windows, and regretfully I am not finding my Vista information...but you can search for Photo Creations Metadata (if you find it, do post the path here!).

On Windows:
C:\Documents and Settings\All Users\Application Data\Adobe\Photoshop Elements\6.0\Locale\en_US\Photo Creations Metadata\photo effects

I assume the path for Vista is:
C:\ProgramData\Adobe\Photoshop Elements\6.0\Locale\en_US\Photo Creations Metadata\photo effects

I would be glad to confirm this and get the instructions on my site...you see, I am Mac user for the most part and while I am familiar with PCs, it isn't always easy to get the path info exact. I did last week, but am currently at a loss to where those notes are.

oh, Roland is here! My guess is he has some good additional information.

Thanks Richard for your confidence. I feel I'll have to do something to live up to it.
I really can't add anything new. Your description says it all. I couldn't have done it better myself.
As I'm still using Windows XP (Home Edition) I'm not sure about the similar folder/pathnames in Vista, but I think your path is correct.

Note that in XP the "Application Data" folder is normally hidden and unless you have enabled Explorer to show hidden files and folders you might not be able to see it.
When you generate the icon .png files, load the original .psd file, make the layer with the icon you wish to generate visible (all the other layers must be hidden) then use File->Save As and choose .png in the extension list, type the name and click OK. The hidden layers will be discarded and only the visible layer will be used. This method will save you some time.
With the meta files .xml I used an existing file as a template, then edited it and saved it with the correct name. You can use Notepad for this purpose, but don't use the *.txt extension. If you do, you will save the file as "the name you type".txt - use the all files extension.
That's it from me - enjoy

Roland

Roland, thanks for emphasizing the potential extension issue. If you save the file from notepad using quotes around the name (e.g., "[my file name].xml") the file will save with the extension. Otherwise you may have to go back and change the extension manually.

14-02-2008

Implementing Hiddenpower4 in elements 6.0

For a couple of months ago, I wrote to Richard Lynch, and asked him when he will converting the Hidden Powers for Adobe elements 6.0.
I have not get a clear answer.
So, yesterday I did it myself.
I was made observant by Mike Russel ( developer of Curvemeister) on the discussion-forum on RETOUCHEPRO
This is on:

http://www.retouchpro.com/forums/hidden-power-support/20288-installing-richard-s-actions-pe6-under-xp.html

So I read partial some readings and tried to implement it.
for instance i executed the prgr on CD the HPPE4_PC.exe.
The prgr will extract parts to elements 6.0 , but does this on the wrong place.
So before continuing the extracting you are in the opportunity to browse to the right place where Hiddenpowers could place his
parts.
This place is :

c:\Documents and Settings\All Users\Application Data\Adobe\Photoshop Elements\6.0\Photo Creations\photo effects\

So , when you browse there in the execution popup from HPPE4_PC.exe to that place you can continue with the execution.

When you go after the execution to this map you will see there 6 maps or directory's.

Power_Adjustments
Power_Extras
Power_Masking
Power_Paths
Power_Playback
Power_Separations

in each map there are .atn files without picture files with the same name and the extension .PNG
Well there are .PSD files, one in each map.
Wen you open such a .psd file in Elements 6.0 you see a lot of layered pictures.
Each layer is named specific to a name corresponding to a .atn file in that map.

Elemenents 4.0 did automatically convert these .psd files to .png pictures, so you can see them in the effects panel.
Elements 6.0 does this not.
So you must load the .psd file and make visible the first layer. Click on the eye of the layer which was visible before.
You see now a icon on the screen, representing the first layer. All other layers are not visible, the eyes clicked off.
Search in the map where you loaded the .psd file from to the right name.
I did this with Total Commander , but you could do it also with the explorer.
Copy the right name example : xxxxx.atn wich corresponded with he visible icon.
Go no to Elements 6.0 and save the visible icon with the name you copied and with the extension .PNG in the same map.
When you did it right, there are 2 same names in the map.
Example:

in the map: Power_Adjustments, there is now:
Channel Mixer.atn
Channel Mixer.png

You must do each layers icon on the same way. The order which icon to do first, is yours.
But pay attention that you see the icons name on the screen and make all other layer icons not visible, by clicking the eyes in the layers.

By saving the open icons-layers to a .PNG file, it is flattend.

After you have done all, you go to Elements 6.0 and start it again with SHFT+CTRL+ALT.

when it is right all is there in the effects part under Fx.

It is not necessarily to load each time the same .psd file. When saved the icon, you do CTRL Z and the old layers are there, and you can choose the next Icon and make him active
by clicking the eye and unclicking the other just saved icon.

Frits Egelie

Good work Egelie, and welcome to the forum!
I also installed the PSE4 powertools in PSE6, and I even created the .xml files to get the actions in their own categories (maybe I omitted 5 or 6 I don't use). I did the same with the dynamic duo. A lot of work, but it was a breeze to reinstall when I changed my computer!

Good work Egelie, and welcome to the forum!
I even created the .xml files to get the actions in their own categories (maybe I omitted 5 or 6 I don't use). I did the same with the dynamic duo. A lot of work, but it was a breeze to reinstall when I changed my computer!

I have read this to day about the xml files.
Perhaps i do it also on a later time.
But what is the dynamic duo ?
---------
I looked in the book , but can't find sucg a thing.
-------
Because i had before elements 4.0 a dutch version, some commands did not work.
now i have a english elements version 4.0. So i will try some others.
But , the be honest. I use Curvemeister plugin, and that plugin can do the most things also.

Frits

I have read this to day about the xml files.
Perhaps i do it also on a later time.
But what is the dynamic duo ?

Frits

It is a tool for PSE5, 'Hidden Power Dynamic Images'.
http://www.hiddenelements.com/elements5_tools.html

Michel,

i think this sort of things are also discussed on the forum of Curvemeister.
HD fotography.

Frits
p.s. trie this one.
http://www.curvemeister.com/forum/index.php?topic=1580.new;topicseen#new

As a matter of fact, the purpose of the hidden tools is different. The first tool builds a layers setup based on masks to correct color selectively in highlights, midtones and shadows. The other one builds another layers setup to enhance selectively contrast and color to get more 'pop' (hence 'dynamic'). As mentioned in their description, they are not one-click actions. You are guided through the process of building the setup, then you have to play with layers opacity to obtain what you want.

I have no understanding of HD photography. I have read it a little.
but speaking of Hidden tools 4.0.
I have read the book carefully. Not entirely, but the most things and special those thing i use.
I use Curvemeister more then a year now. My experience is that the most things i do, can be done with curvemeister.
Each thing in the book i have compared with Curvemeister and the conclusion is the most things works nice perhaps better in Curvemeister.
their are some things Hidden Power do better.
for instance i use the most, Snapshot, Colormasking, ( but curvemeister new version has also masking, so I can now compare which works better)
Blend mask Tool, RGB separation, Hidden power lab en Hidden power effects.
So i have now a english version of elements , and there are parts of Hidden power which did not work in the dutch elements 4.0.
now they work well, i hope.

I go again comparing the possibilities. I choose from each part the best.
One time it is hidden powers and the most time it is Curvemesiter.

frits

Frits,

I have not tested curvemeister, I'll probably try the demo. It seems very close to the free smartcurves at easyfilter. I use this plug-in as well as the hidden tools, depending on my needs. I can tell you that the hidden tools which did not work properly in my French PSE4 version now work normally in my US PSE6 version.

Best wishes with PSE6 and the tools!

Curvmeister is an expensive plugin that does only a few things. It can make masks and apply curves. Hidden Power does many -- there are 100 tools in the tool set for Elements 4 and 10 tools or more in the free sets. Curvemeister can't do MOST of these things.

Frankly, I work in Photoshop/Elements all the time, and have no use at all for that plugin. Curves are over-rated, over-hyped, and generally unnecessary if you use good processing skills (which I explain in the book -- worth the read if you actually already have it...if you have it and don't read it, why not?).

As far as masking, the combination of tools you have for masking in the free tool set alone is more powerful than what you have in curvmeister.

Granted i have fallen behind on tool production as Adobe chose to not support Elements for versions 5 and 6 (or 6 not till recently), and that is my primary working place. Early 2008 has been very busy for me, but I believe I'll have some tool release for Elements 5 and 6 shortly. I would certainly be spurred by some interest...instead of what amounts to ads for other products.