[FPS] Paint Engine (Win only)

[I. V. Razmanov]

http://fantasticmachines.com/store/index.php?cPath=24

A bit weird yet incredibly powerful plugin. It work like this: takes a source pixel and smudges it, "pushing" some color from it to pixels below, and "pulling" some colors from them as well. Direction of smudging, and the way it changes over smudge line, may be controlled by image hue or other values.

As a result, enormous number of smudge, painting, and other similar effects may be achieved.

Additionally, filter provides "wrap around" processing, which is great for creating seamless patterns.

Also, it offers "Randomize" button for you to play. Frankly, I've got several effects by just pressing it until I got something interesting, then editing setting more precisely.

Couple of drawbacks:

Small preview window. Remember that filter was created many years ago, when computers were too slow for a big fast preview.

Number of presets allowed by the filter is limited. That's bad because I was forced to remove some of the existing ones to add my own.

[DannyRaphael]

Ilya:

Great suggestion. PE is among my favorite plugins.

Originally Posted by I. V. Razmanov

Number of presets allowed by the filter is limited. That's bad because I was forced to remove some of the existing ones to add my own.

By all means feel free to copy/paste or upload as .txt any custom presets you have created here:

http://www.retouchpro.com/forums/pho...oads-file.html

We'd love to have any you would share.

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Everyone:

Use the forum SEARCH tool above (use Advanced search option) to search Thread Titles on:

Paint Engine

There's a boatload of PE information and presets here at RetouchPRO.

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~Danny~

[Diane]

Paint Engine is suppose to come out with version 2 soon but who knows what soon means

[Greg S.]

Originally Posted by Diane

Paint Engine is suppose to come out with version 2 soon but who knows what soon means

Hi, I'm Greg S., the guy who wrote PE, (Hi Ilyich!). My agreement with the site owner of Fantastic Machines is at an end (long story you don't want to know), and I'm working on a new version called ImpressionFX, the new site is http://www.impressionfx.com. There is a demo available for the beta, so just come on over and give it a try!

[saby]

Hi all,

Is there any support for Mac kind of these above?

saby

[Andrew B.]

Originally Posted by Greg S.

There is a demo available for the beta, so just come on over and give it a try!

Hi Greg. I downloaded the demo, but it's asking me for a name and password.

[Greg S.]

Originally Posted by saby

Hi all,

Is there any support for Mac kind of these above?

saby

just windows currently, I'd like to build a Mac version at some point.

[Greg S.]

Originally Posted by Andrew B.

Hi Greg. I downloaded the demo, but it's asking me for a name and password.

Oops, let me check that...

[Greg S.]

Originally Posted by Greg S.

Oops, let me check that...

Thanks Andrew, that's fixed now, just re-download.

[Andrew B.]

Originally Posted by Greg S.

Thanks Andrew, that's fixed now, just re-download.

Greg. The program looks great. It looks like more than enough to motivate people to go with the pay version over the free version.

I guess the big question is about existing presets. Will there be a way to import them? Or, if not, is there enough backward compatibility for us to translate a few favorites by hand?

[Greg S.]

Originally Posted by Andrew B.

Greg. The program looks great. It looks like more than enough to motivate people to go with the pay version over the free version.

I guess the big question is about existing presets. Will there be a way to import them? Or, if not, is there enough backward compatibility for us to translate a few favorites by hand?

Thanks Andrew!

There may be a way to translate older presets, I hadn't thought about that. The original algorithm is still there in the current version...

[lkroll]

Big fan of Paint Engine. Just downloaded this new gem and look forward to playing with it soon. After beta, what do you think it will cost? Just curious. Based on the samples on your website, as cheap as I am, I really think you have a customer here if the price is reasonble.

Edit:

Can a say WOW. Very much look forward to additional betas, and again, if reasonable (I did say I was a pauper right?), I will get this one. Also look forward not only to the additonal presets, but also the ability to save them. I guess I will have to create a cheezy text file and manually do this for now.

[Andrew B.]

Originally Posted by Greg S.

There may be a way to translate older presets, I hadn't thought about that. The original algorithm is still there in the current version...

I only created a few presets. All are based on Uphill. If Uphill and the original brush are still there, I can set the sliders to match the values in Paint Engine, and then resave them.

[saby]

Originally Posted by Greg S.

just windows currently, I'd like to build a Mac version at some point.

Hi Greg,

I'm glad to read it, I've tried on PC, great!

saby

[Greg S.]

Originally Posted by lkroll

Big fan of Paint Engine. Just downloaded this new gem and look forward to playing with it soon. After beta, what do you think it will cost? Just curious. Based on the samples on your website, as cheap as I am, I really think you have a customer here if the price is reasonble.

Edit:

Can a say WOW. Very much look forward to additional betas, and again, if reasonable (I did say I was a pauper right?), I will get this one. Also look forward not only to the additonal presets, but also the ability to save them. I guess I will have to create a cheezy text file and manually do this for now.

Thanks! I'm still working on a price, thinking about 90 US(?). I know that might be high, and some people might pay more, but I'd rather see more people be able to use it. The more I can make the more time I'll be able to put into improvement (big list of things to do yet for version 1.0). I would really like to make it something where the price is definitely worth it given the functionality.

Also I would like to have "forever" updates within the version number, so I can get something reasonable out soon but continue to make improvements. Basically I'm between jobs right now, so I have to try to get something going pretty quickly.

[Steve Conway]

Originally Posted by Greg S.

Thanks! I'm still working on a price, thinking about 90 US(?). I know that might be high, and some people might pay more, but I'd rather see more people be able to use it. The more I can make the more time I'll be able to put into improvement (big list of things to do yet for version 1.0). I would really like to make it something where the price is definitely worth it given the functionality.

Also I would like to have "forever" updates within the version number, so I can get something reasonable out soon but continue to make improvements. Basically I'm between jobs right now, so I have to try to get something going pretty quickly.

Since Photoshop Elements 5 is available for $80.00, and Paint Shop Pro XI is available for $50.00, methinks $90.00 might be a bit steep. Don't price yourself out of the market.

Might be better to start lower and give discounts for upgrades. I think I would probably consider a first release purchase starting in the neighborhood of $50.00. This price would have more people making the initial purchase so the word gets around. Then upgrade(s) at a discount.

Also had to dig the files out and delete each one to uninstall the demo. Does not appear on XP's list of installed files.

Just my F.W.I.W.

Steve C.

[Andrew B.]

Originally Posted by Greg S.

Thanks! I'm still working on a price, thinking about 90 US(?).

The most recent photoart plugin I bought was Virtual Painter 5, which sells for $55. But to be honest, I am actually considering AKVIS Sketch, which sells for $72. The thing is, though, several weeks have gone by and I have not bought it. The price is a part of the hemming and hawing

And now I'm looking at the possibility of ImpressionFX for $90. That is out of the range I like to spend on plugins, and I would probably settle for Paint Engine. But this is just me.

Originally Posted by Greg S.

Also I would like to have "forever" updates within the version number, so I can get something reasonable out soon but continue to make improvements.

That's a good idea. I've seen other's do this, and it works well. They get it out the door, and later add the features that didn't make the deadline. Plus bug fixes that came up after release.

Andrew

[Greg S.]

Originally Posted by Steve Conway

Since Photoshop Elements 5 is available for $80.00, and Paint Shop Pro XI is available for $50.00, methinks $90.00 might be a bit steep. Don't price yourself out of the market.

Might be better to start lower and give discounts for upgrades. I think I would probably consider a first release purchase starting in the neighborhood of $50.00. This price would have more people making the initial purchase so the word gets around. Then upgrade(s) at a discount.

Also had to dig the files out and delete each one to uninstall the demo. Does not appear on XP's list of installed files.

Just my F.W.I.W.

Steve C.

Thanks Steve, an initial release discount is a good idea.

There should only be one file installed for the demo, in any case I'll look at the installer issue.

[Greg S.]

Originally Posted by Andrew B.

The most recent photoart plugin I bought was Virtual Painter 5, which sells for $55. But to be honest, I am actually considering AKVIS Sketch, which sells for $72. The thing is, though, several weeks have gone by and I have not bought it. The price is a part of the hemming and hawing

Andrew

I know what you mean, I don't like to spend a lot on something like this myself.

[Steve Conway]

Originally Posted by Greg S.

Thanks Steve, an initial release discount is a good idea.

There should only be one file installed for the demo, in any case I'll look at the installer issue.

The two files I deleted were the IFX.8BF file and the file in prefetch. No big problem to do this, but thought you would want to know of anything unusual as you continue working with the beta.

Looking forward to seeing more. The two files I deleted were the IFX.8BF file and the file in prefetch. No big problem to do this, but thought you would want to know of anything unusual as you continue working with the beta.

Looking forward to seeing more. As for right now, after getting an idea of where you are going with the plugin, I may wait for the final first commercial release before I download again.

Steve C.

[Andrew B.]

Originally Posted by Greg S.

I know what you mean, I don't like to spend a lot on something like this myself.

Well, whatever you charge, I hope the introductory price is in my range.

Also, just a couple of things. When I first tried to install the plugin it was taking so long I canceled the install. Then I turned off all my external hard drives so it would not search them for places to install. I don't know to what extent other plugin install programs search, but I've never noticed this problem before.

The other thing is an undo would be very nice, in case one goes too far with the random button and wants to back up. And zoom would be nice, even though the 100% view you have is the most accurate.

[I. V. Razmanov]

Originally Posted by Greg S.

Hi, I'm Greg S., the guy who wrote PE, (Hi Ilyich!).

Wow, Greg, I'm extremely happy to see you back! Frankly, I doubted it will ever happen. What a great news!

[Greg S.]

Originally Posted by Andrew B.

Well, whatever you charge, I hope the introductory price is in my range.

Also, just a couple of things. When I first tried to install the plugin it was taking so long I canceled the install. Then I turned off all my external hard drives so it would not search them for places to install. I don't know to what extent other plugin install programs search, but I've never noticed this problem before.

The other thing is an undo would be very nice, in case one goes too far with the random button and wants to back up. And zoom would be nice, even though the 100% view you have is the most accurate.

yeah, I need to do more work on the installer. It searches the hard drives for host apps, and sometimes it seems to stick on some directories... also needs more user options on where to search.

looking at an undo function as well, lots of other stuff. currently working on a range slider for params that vary over the course of the stroke application.

[Greg S.]

Originally Posted by I. V. Razmanov

Wow, Greg, I'm extremely happy to see you back! Frankly, I doubted it will ever happen. What a great news!

good to hear from you Ilyich! I wasn't sure if I'd ever make it back either

[Andrew B.]

Originally Posted by Greg S.

currently working on a range slider for params that vary over the course of the stroke application.

Sounds like a good feature.

I thought of a couple more things. Hope you don't mind.

The first is a way to test all the brushes from within the demo. For example, I notice on your website a screenshot that uses the Pixel Media Brush. It looks like a brush someone who does photoart would like, but if they don't test it, the test drive becomes less impressive.

The second is the ability to turn the preview on a off. Maybe a check box. And/or have the clicking on the preview window work like most other programs. Click and hold turns off the preview. Releasing the button lets it turn on again.

[Greg S.]

Originally Posted by Andrew B.

Sounds like a good feature.

I thought of a couple more things. Hope you don't mind.

The first is a way to test all the brushes from within the demo. For example, I notice on your website a screenshot that uses the Pixel Media Brush. It looks like a brush someone who does photoart would like, but if they don't test it, the test drive becomes less impressive.

The second is the ability to turn the preview on a off. Maybe a check box. And/or have the clicking on the preview window work like most other programs. Click and hold turns off the preview. Releasing the button lets it turn on again.

Thanks Andrew, I'll look into that.

[lkroll]

A few weeks ago, I downloaded the new beta. Really like what I'm seeing and still waiting of the full release Greg.

[Andrew B.]

Originally Posted by lkroll

A few weeks ago, I downloaded the new beta. Really like what I'm seeing and still waiting of the full release Greg.

Not sure what you are looking at. What I see is ImpressionFX 5 Pack Demo Installer Download, which seems to just demo some of the brush effects.

Frankly, demo that was up there when I first saw it seemed like it had enough feature for release. It already seemed to do more than Paint Engine, had a larger preview, and could use PE presets. Seemed great for a version 1.