PLUGIN: Buzz (aka: BuzzPro Buzz Pro)

[DannyRaphael]

PLUGIN: Buzz
VENDOR: Fo2Pix http://www.fo2pix.com/, a division of Segmentis
PLATFORMS: Win or Mac
OS: Windows 95 or higher; see site for current info on Mac OS status
WORKS WITH:
* Photoshop
* Paint Shop Pro
* PhotoDraw
* Corel Photo-Paint
* Fireworks 3
and most other leading graphics programs

Though I’ve barely scratched the surface of this plugin's capabilities, I’ve been amazed at the fairly decent looking “photo art” this plugin can generate.

In many cases the renderings can stand alone, but in others they look better when used as a basis on which other filters or effects are applied, or are combined through blend modes with other layers.

Notes:
* The company makes a stand alone PC-only application called PhotoArtMaster that I’ve read has similar capabilities as the plugin.
* Buzz is packaged a couple different ways. For example the Buzz “Pro” package contains more filters and presets (and costs more) than the Buzz “Lite” offering.

Pictures / examples worth many, many words. Here’s couple reviews containing sample before / after images:

* Review1: http://www.wdvl.com/Reviews/Graphics/buzzpro2/
* Review2: http://www.ephemeralvisions.com/pv_t...view-buzz.html
* Review3: http://www.pspug.org/reviews/buzzpro...buzzpro2.shtml
* Review4 from About.com: http://graphicssoft.about.com/librar...a0105buzz1.htm

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BUZZ TUTORIALS

Check them out here. (Scroll down 5-6 pages near the bottom.)

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GALLERIES OF ARTISTS WHO USE BUZZ

Click HERE

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SHOW US WHAT YOU'VE GOT!

Use this thread to post some of your favorite Buzz creations. If you would, provide as much detail as possible on “how you got what you got.”

KEEP HAVING FUN!

~DannyR~

[DannyRaphael]

Here’s one I did tonight while attempting to get watercolor-like results.

Not sure if this is more watercolor or more pen and ink. Does it matter?

Layer stack
1. Levels adjustment layer (grouped with layer 2) to bring out some edge detail; Normal, 100%

2. Buzz, Overlay, 100%

Used the watercolor.stk preset, modified as follows:
* Simplifier 1, Remove, 312, both
* Edges Color
* Simplifier 1, Remove, 12530, both

3. Original background image, Normal, 100%

Are you having fun yet? I am!

~DannyR~

[thomasgeorge]

Buzz Pro is a far more versitile program. Photoartmaster, while a stand alone program, only works with JPEG, and really is somewhat slow and akward interface wise. I own both and find that Buzz pro when used in conjunction with the history brush, layer blend modes and Brus Stroke routines in PS is a fantastically powerful plug-in. Tom

[thomasgeorge]

Oops....heres one done with Buzz Pro and PS....Tom

[OhThatGirl2001]

Hi All,

I must say - I'm amazed at how versatile this program is! I love it. I tried it out on this image using Simplifier Three. It's my favorite of the filters. I adjusted so that the outer area was blended enough. The inner only slightly (1 or 2) and the middle 1.

Then I applied Splat Oddity Texture and voila!

Lisa

[OhThatGirl2001]

Here is another wonderful example of using the watercolor technique and finishing with Buzz Pro - Simplifier three and finally a splat texture.

[OhThatGirl2001]

Thanks - I'm really enjoying taking a photo and transforming it into a painting!

Here's how I made this one....

1)Duplicate layer

2) Stylize - Find Edges... change blending mode to Multiply

3) Flatten layers

4) Play around with brightness/contrast, Hue/Sat

5) Buzz Pro - Simplifier 3

6) Finally, Alien Skin Splat Texture

Lisa

[OhThatGirl2001]

Look what I did with the Rusty Truck picture... KTP Effects (Vortex) and good ole Buzz Pro.

Lisa

[Andrew B.]

More good links. Thanks for posting those, Danny.

I want to add something here. I've tested buZZPro and PhotoArtMaster and I think they are different. IOW, people with buZZ might also want to give PhotoArtMaster a test drive.

[DannyRaphael]

CherylH posted this link in another thread. It goes to a site owned by Linda Vich, who does some really nice work using the Buzz plugin.

There are several examples and mini-tutorials on her site.

http://www.dynamicdesign.biz/gallery/gallery1.htm

Thank you, Cheryl
... this is a great find.

~Danny~

[Cheryl H]

Buzz simplifier with a sketch overlay

[Cheryl H]

Straight buzz simplifier.

I have to say--I love this filter. I have the pro version and since finding the tutorial link Danny shared I'm glad I have the whole thing. If I hadn't found the tutorials, I'd probably never have used anything besides the simplfier.

[Andrew B.]

DannyRaphael said:
>Thank you, Cheryl [/b]
>... this is a great find.

I'll second that! I love the way the site has the tips so condensed, but still so clear.

[Toad]

Cheryl: love the spider.

Buzz Simplifier is my favorite 3rd party PhotoShop plugin without exception. I use it a lot. I don't use the rest of BuzzPro - prefer PS for that work - but the Simplifier is pure GOLD.

Hint: For those who are short on cash - Simplifier is available separately and is much cheaper.

Only problem with Buzz that I encounter is the RAM requirement. If you are working with a large base file - say 10 MB or better (I get these all the time with scanned images) - Buzz can have real problems (and I have half a GB of RAM in my PC).

Sorry - no posted pic right now - just Buzz feedback.

[Andrew B.]

There is another problem with buZZPro. Sometimes the preview is completely blank. It gives the impression that the setting washed things out, but if you zoom way out you see the effect.

If you want to see this in action, load a picture of a flower or something with large areas of color. Then load the preset called "Soft Color Wash."

I wrote to fo2pix about this, and they said the preview is only supposed to be an approximation. Which, of course, doesn't respond to the problem because a blank preview doesn't approximate anything.

[Diane]

I have Photo Art Master and did not know it contained spyware. I had bought it last year. Just wanted to warn you all of spyware.

[Fluffbutt]

Hi guys and gals.

I love your Buzz-y works. There's one small thing - not a critisism, but a critique - most buzz-y pictures look very similar (buzz-ed LOL).
I feel that buzz should be a *step* in a process, not THE process.

As an example - that first yellow rose piccy, try dupe layer, chalk & charcoal, then set to overlay or softlight - voila, sketchy effects.

The spider (GOOD pic BTW) how about an overlay or screen layer using an embossing effect - that spider will jump out at you..

Also, try using buzz in a middle of three layers, back is untouched, buzz is screen 80%, next is eg watercolour/paintengine/ etc overlay 40%.

I doo like those pix tho. And thanks for the stack settings - we need more of these.

ADMINS - how about a depository wehere we can drop these buzz settings and paint engine presets, etc, and then refer to them inline in the forum?

That way we don't have to wade through forums posts to find any bunch of things? Maybe a silly idea - part of the fun is wading thru the forums.. haha

[zulabarr]

The Simplifier filters are unique--you can't replicate them in PS. You can buy the Simplifier filters on their own at a much lower price than BuZZPro or PhotoArtMaster. Most of the other filters in BuZZPro can be duplicated in PS. The filters have the advantage over PhotoArtMaster in that you can utilize layers and layer blending modes that provide an endless number of unique effects.

[lvich]

If you can lay your hands on a copy of Computer Arts Projects magazine, issue #52, there is a FREE Buzz Simplifier Plugin on the accompanying CD. This is NOT a demo! After installation, you email the company for the serial. This will allow you to upgrade to other Buzz products and also receive a 25% discount!

Happy Buzzing!

Linda V.
http://www.dynamicdesign.biz/gallery
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/digitalnuts/
http://www.pbase.com/lvich

[Manjumena]

Originally Posted by lvich

Linda V.
http://www.dynamicdesign.biz/gallery
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/digitalnuts/
http://www.pbase.com/lvich

http://www.dynamicdesign.biz/gallery
Beautful work!

[Manjumena]

Dear all,
Even with the few tutes availble for Buzz in the net, all I see everyone is using the Simplifier 1, 2 and colour edge and colour mono.
Anyone using this oil, watercolour,......... or presets? any links???
Thx
Manju

[Lynn]

Originally Posted by Toad

Hint: For those who are short on cash - Simplifier is available separately and is much cheaper.

I'm trying to resist reading threads that I just know will clue me in to yet one more plug in I'll *have* to have...thanks for the hint on the cheaper version!

Lynn

[DannyRaphael]

The link to this gallery of examples and mini-tutorials has been posted previously in this thread (courtesy of a CheryH find).

In case you missed it, it's worth repeating because it is simply outstanding:

http://www.dynamicdesign.biz/gallery/gallery1.htm

[Neve]

I've had Buzz Simplifier a few weeks now and haven't stopped using it since. It would have to be my favourite filter right now and I enjoy thoroughly experimenting and applying other filters after buzzing. I've not been disappointed at any stage, each result is always a surprise! This one no different.

Buzz (using setting 3)
Auto Hue/Sat - Strong
Xero/Illustrator
Duped layer - Photo Wizz/Luma Negative (free filters)
Layer Mode - Soft Light
Merged all.

The results posted here are beauties and I've enjoyed viewing them. Thank you. Thanks for the great links too.

[Neve]

PSP8.01

This is another example I did last week. I was aiming for a colourful poster effect so made sure to select a very colourful photo. I've tried it also on busy street scenes and liked the results.

Buzzed - http://www.fo2pix.com/applications/a...p?id=8_0_6_0_C

Filter/Adapt Equalization - http://www.reindeergraphics.com/free.shtml

Buzzed again

Optional - Cutout/8/1/4

Aim Filter/USM - http://www.aim-dtp.net/aim/plug-ins/fifo/

Dupe layer - Mode Soft light

Merge and increase contrasts and levels if required.

You can further experiment with layer blend modes after duping your result.

[Henk Bos]

Just starting with BuzzPro and haven't found the best technique yet. This one came out pretty well.

[Neve]

Can you recall Henk how you got such a great result!?

Cheers

[DannyRaphael]

Originally Posted by Henk Bos

Just starting with BuzzPro and haven't found the best technique yet. This one came out pretty well.

I'd say this one came out EXCELLENT. I'm looking forward to seeing more of your creations.

~Danny~

[Steve Conway]

I hate to be the one to dash cold water on the nice things being said about the Buzz plugins.

I was impressed with what I saw people doing with these plugins too. So I downloaded and installed the Buzz Simplifier demo and tried it about 2-3 times out of the possible 30. I decided that Buzz Lite might be more what I was looking for, so I uninstalled Buzz Simplifier and attempted to install the Lite demo. Whereupon the install program locked up and would not install the Lite demo. So I tried uninstalling the Lite and reinstalling the Simplifier and no go. The programs all will stop in the middle of installing and none will now install on my pc.

I contacted the tech support dept. and they only suggested that my downlods were corrupted and to try other copies. I did as they suggested but something the programs put on my pc, possibly in the registry, will not let me install anything of theirs. I know they do not want anyone using up their free demo tries and then reinstalling to get more free tries, but that was not my intention.

Now I am out of luck as to purchasing a Buzz program because it would not install.

If anyone comes across a similar program that will approximate Buzz Simplifier, I would really be interested.

The last I heard from the company was an email asking me if I had decided to purchase a full program yet?

Steve

[Cameraken]

Steve

Just a thought. If you have system restore activated you could go back to a time before the installation. This should correct your registry and then you could reinstall.

Ken