alternative to buzz simplifiers?

[ahutton]

Anyone have an alternative fliteror setting for PSP8 that comes even close to doing what Buzz simplifiers do? Don't have the $$ right now to purchase it.

If you use VP gouache as a simplifier you get a decent result, but nothing nearly as cool as with the buzz simplifiers.

AmyHutton

[DannyRaphael]

Amy:

These combinations will get you in the ballpark depending on image characteristics. Not as good as the genuine article, but much less expensive if you already own Photoshop:
* Dry Brush -or- Cutout -or- Image > Adjustments > Posterize
* Smart Blur, Normal, radius and threshold to taste
* Diffuse > Anisotropic to soften the edges a bit
* Edit > Fade Diffuse (to tone down the softing some)

~Danny~

[Andrew B.]

I recently bought a copy of a magazine called Compuer Arts Projects for $13.99, and it comes with a CD that has a free copies of Buzz Simplifier and PhotoArtMaster Classic. I got it at Barnes & Noble.

[Patricia]

The issue with Buzz is the project issue 52, I got mine at Borders and have seen it at Tower Books also (in CA). Bought mine just before Christmas, so hopefully that issue is still in the stores.

Patricia

[ahutton]

FOUND ALTERNATIVE-FREE

Spent the weekend trying to fin an alternative to the buzz simplifiers, and finally found one.

Fantastic Machines' Free Paint Engine has always been one of my favorites. Do a standard Poster7 and voila! Really nice effect.

It also has poster 1-4 filters, but the 7 does just what I want.

See att

AmyHutton

[BigAl]

Thanks for the software (the URL for anyone interested). Another one worth trying is Amphisoft's simplifier - also freeware.

[mjfdl]

Fantastic Machines' Free Paint Engine

>>Fantastic Machines' Free Paint Engine has always been one of my favorites. Do a standard Poster7 and voila! Really nice effect.<<

I downloaded the Free Paint engine...but I do not see anything related to Poster 7. What am I doing wrong? The program does work for me...there just aren't any effects called poster,or poster 7.

Thanks if anyone can help with my ignorance here. MJ

[DannyRaphael]

>>Fantastic Machines' Free Paint Engine has always been one of my favorites. Do a standard Poster7 and voila! Really nice effect.<<

I downloaded the Free Paint engine...but I do not see anything related to Poster 7. What am I doing wrong? The program does work for me...there just aren't any effects called poster,or poster 7.

Thanks if anyone can help with my ignorance here. MJ

MJ:

The PC I'm using at the moment does not have PE installed, so I cannot check my PE settings file.

Can you list the built-in PE standard settings from the dropdown menu?

~Danny~

[mjfdl]

re :Free Paint engine

The drop down menu is under "stroke".
Uphill
downhill
random
selected
intensity 1
intensity 2
slope
uphill intensity 1
uphill intensity 2
Saturation 1
Saturation 2
hue 1
hue 2

[Xaran]

Below the randomize button there is a drop down list - you should find poster 7 here along with a whole load of others.

Christine

[DannyRaphael]

If you open the menu Christine noted (the one under the Randomize button) and there are no entries, you need to install file fmachines.ini into your C:\WINNT folder (that's the folder name under Windows 2000... it's the main Windows folder on C:\ if you don't have a WINNT).

[mjfdl]

Fantastic Machines' Free Paint Engine

O.k. thanks for the help. I found the other drop down menu but it says (none). I must have screwed up the download. I'll figure it out from here.

Why can't they make computers for right brainers? I love what I can do on a computer...but all the stuff that goes with it drives me nutz.

Routers and virus and folders...oh my!

[DannyRaphael]

O.k. thanks for the help. I found the other drop down menu but it says (none). I must have screwed up the download. I'll figure it out from here.

Why can't they make computers for right brainers? I love what I can do on a computer...but all the stuff that goes with it drives me nutz.

Routers and virus and folders...oh my!

The reason I'm "so smart" is cuz I had the exact same problem you did once upon a time many moons ago. This pecular setup trips up a lot of folks, so no biggie. PE is the only plugin I know of with this installation requirement.

The download was probably OK since you were able to locate/install the .8bf file. Somewhere there should have been a fmachines.ini file (along with the plugin file).

Anyway, you should be rolling again soon. Have fun.
~Danny~