Postworkshop: is this for real?

[lkroll]

Sam B at DPR introduced me to what appears to be an extremely powerful photo to art standalone program. There is a free version, but quite limited. I am so tempted to buy it ($39 after rebate), but poor bloke I am. Before taking the plunge, I want to know if anyone else here has some experience with it. I just finished viewing some videos, but still would like to hear more thoughts on this program. The more advance packages (the afore mentioned and the Pro version) allows for node editing; how cool is that.

http://www.postworkshop.net/

[Dak Paule]

Lyle, this looks to be a great photo-art program. I have decided to buy the Artist Edition and give it a try but I dont see the $10 rebate you mentioned. It does appear on the Pro Edition however.

Dak

[lkroll]

If you put the discount coupon supposedly it will take $10 off your purchase so it will be $39. The Pro will allow you to create bigger canvases (4000px), but I rarely need anything bigger then 2000px most of the time; figure I can always resize if necessary. Anyway, let me know what you think about it Dak. I actually downloaded and installed the Demo (put the code in and it becomes full fledge). I do believe I will be getting this one too, but, I have to watch my expenses right now and this one definitely qualifies as a luxury right now. Sam did post this cool result and jaw just about dropped (http://forums.dpreview.com/forums/re...ssage=36969710). First time I've ever heard about this program and I thought I pretty much have seen them all. I would like Filter Factory too, but it's just too expensive for me to consider right now; this one I almost can have my arm twisted to buy. lol

[Dak Paule]

good... I downloaded it and I am now about to give it a try. I will let you know

[lkroll]

Well; broke down and got Pro (no discount code unfortunately; lol). Rendering my first render right now. Will play more with it over time. The node editing sold me on this one. Looks like the next version (2.x) will be a free upgrade too. All that combined made me jump. Anyway, guess I won't be buying a car any time soon. lol

Will add that it takes longer then you would think to render (this one took around 40 seconds; I did the full rez (high pix) and it took over 5 minutes). Still the results getting very close to hand draw look. I have a lot to learn to figure out all that I need to know about this one.

[plugsnpixels]

Thanks for the heads-up, Lyle! Me likee.

[lkroll]

Don't buy that often as many here you may know. The last thing that I purchased w.r.t. retouching was DAP over a year and half ago. This one definitely is worth the download. You can actually get the registered basic version for free with their coupon. Unfortunaly, the Coupon only works for the Basic and the Artist version. I went Pro. lol

[lkroll]

Can I say that my jaw's still dropping. This is one of the best programs I've seen. Feel a little guilty now that many family members won't have such a big Christmas from me this year. lol



ref: http://www.fontplay.com/freephotos/s...p021107-03.jpg

better quality version: http://img813.imageshack.us/img813/1892/dollhatch.jpg

[Nasturtium]

are there any 'pre-sets'? Because at first glance it appears that you have to build your own node-based filters?

[mistermonday]

Nasturtium, I have not had an oppty to try it yet but according to one of the tour pages it say there are over 300 1-click styles with every edition of the program.
http://www.postworkshop.net/tour/apply-styles-one-click
Regards, Murray

[lkroll]

I used the Etching preset (saved a shortcut in my favorites; lol). I did blend some textures in GIMP; could have done all this in situ and eventually I will when I get the hang of things. Most settings have additional sliders to further control certain aspects. I played a lot with the Wobble setting for the doll render.

Please don't call me crazy since I'm going to answer my own question, but it is for real. lol

[Steve Conway]

This is from the free edition of Basic.

Are there supposed to be 350 styles in Basic? I have downloaded some more, but I can't find that many included in the program. Maybe they are talking about if you add together all the possible combinations you could get that many.

Anyway here is a portrait.

Steve C.

[lkroll]

No; Basic only gives you 50 styles and you can't save custom styles (very limiting for sure). Also, you only can render 800px (longest lenth) images which is very limiting imo. I broke down; no regrets. Like your result Steve.

[Steve Conway]

Originally Posted by lkroll

No; Basic only gives you 50 styles and you can't save custom styles (very limiting for sure). Also, you only can render 800px (longest lenth) images which is very limiting imo. I broke down; no regrets. Like your result Steve.

Thanks Lyle.

Tell me the way to update to Artist from Basic. It says that I can do this for $20 dollars more. Did you update from Basic?

Steve C.

[Nasturtium]

Thanks Murray,

I missed the coupon for the basic edition at first. All is working now.

This is really cool.

stock image from here.

[lkroll]

Excellent Nancy; what preset was that?

Steve; after you order the package, you then need to relinquish your basic license (under Help>Deactivate Serial Number). Then, close the application, open it and place your new license number where it tells you too. I got power hungry and went strait Pro (so no code for me; ). I never started with Basic; only Demo.

[Steve Conway]

Originally Posted by lkroll

Excellent Nancy; what preset was that?

Steve; after you order the package, you then need to relinquish your basic license (under Help>Deactivate Serial Number). Then, close the application, open it and place your new license number where it tells you too. I got power hungry and went strait Pro (so no code for me; ). I never started with Basic; only Demo.

Thanks much. With your help and my fumbling around I upgraded to Artist. All seems to be going well after switching serial numbers to up it from Basic to Artist.

Looking things over I think Artist will do me fine. Couldn't believe how many styles Artist added. I lucked out in that they had reduced it from $49 to $39, so had to grab it before they went back to the regular price.

If you are working with layers I might bother you for some info there. I want to place the original image on the bottom layer and the one I am working on, on the top layer so I can reduce the amount of the effect by reducing the opacity between the two layers. (If this can be done.)

BTW, one reason for the slow rendering may be not enough ram. It recommends 2 megs minimum and 4 preferred. I am running 1 meg and I find it a bit slow sometimes also.

Thanks for all the help.

Steve C.

[Gwynhale]

@Steve, in the bottom toolbar of the style layers panel there is a "+" icon. You can use it to insert a new layer with the original image under or above the current layer (use ctrl+click to insert under). Then you can change the blending mode and the opacity with the controls above the layers.

[lkroll]

I usually start out with layers, but end up going to nodes for more control. Anyway, I was going to go the cheap route with the code, but said to myself that I might regret doing so if I didn't go pro. Just wish they, out of courtesy, would have offered the $10 coupon code for Pro too, but alas, not my luck. lol

[plugsnpixels]

Thanks again for the heads-up about PostworkShop Pro! I love doing this sort of post-processing. PostworkShop reminds me of Filter Forge plus Studio Artist plus Snap Art all rolled into one.

Here are a couple of my results from today (Pro version), stacking unedited presets and messing with layer opacity and blending modes.

[lkroll]

Like the Liberty interpretation Plugs. Still, I got an email promotion from Filterforge and they are about to twist my arm $119 for the professional package). Should I even spend less on my family for Christmas so that I can get it? lol Time will tell.

[plugsnpixels]

Thanks Lyle. Remember, if you're happy, your family's happy-!

[Nasturtium]

Originally Posted by lkroll

Excellent Nancy; what preset was that?

I didn't keep the work file. But as I recall it was Expressionism 1 (luminosity) and Clouds on my past (screen).

I rendered the two and combined them in Photoshop; masked back in her jewelry and facial details; and then played with curves.

- Nancy

[plugsnpixels]

The fact that Postworkshop operates with its own layers and blending modes structure (among other things) makes it especially powerful and flexible on its own. As Nancy described, then you bring the results into PS and keep going and there's no end to what you can do. This is a great discovery!

[lkroll]

Appreciate the oulline Nancy.

Just created my first style; nothing fancy. Noticed that everytime I did the etch preset, I would adjust the contrast of the input to get the desired output result. Made a preset that helps me do just that before outputing the sketch. Man this is cool. To be able to make custom filters (well styles; lol) so easy is a blessing for sure. According to the online document, it can be a plugin for PS, but maybe I'm reading that wrong. I'm actually quite content with it being a stand-a-lone. Still got a lot to learn for sure.

[Steve Conway]

Originally Posted by Gwynhale

@Steve, in the bottom toolbar of the style layers panel there is a "+" icon. You can use it to insert a new layer with the original image under or above the current layer (use ctrl+click to insert under). Then you can change the blending mode and the opacity with the controls above the layers.

Yeah, I see the little bugger now. Sometimes they don't make them easy to spot.

EGAD!...just realized that I reduced the amount of ram in my pc. It's not new, but not so old as to only have 1 meg of ram. (Actually 1 gig.) And the recommended amount for the program is 2-4 gigs. Seems to be working OK with my 1 gig, a little slower perhaps.

Thanks for the tip on the layer thingy.

Steve C.

[Steve Conway]

Maybe the forum on the PW site would be best for questions/suggestions, but does anyone here wish that there was a way to lock open the blends list while trying out different ones on an image?

Also does anyone know if there is a "revert" button on the program? So far, and I know it's early yet, I have had to click "edit" and wait for it to undo stuff and this is taking forever.

Here's another one done while playing with the program.

Steve C.

[dkcoats]

I downloaded the basic version some time back, played with a bit, and forgot about it. Now, seeing what you guys are doing, I'm convinced I have to have the Artist version but where is the coupon code everybody keeps referring to?

[Steve Conway]

Originally Posted by dkcoats

I downloaded the basic version some time back, played with a bit, and forgot about it. Now, seeing what you guys are doing, I'm convinced I have to have the Artist version but where is the coupon code everybody keeps referring to?

I got Artist after getting Basic. Here is the page and the serial number.

http://postworkshop.net/buy-postworkshop-now

Steve C.

[plugsnpixels]

I've posted a 35% coupon code good through the end of the year.