Plug-ins are a great way to extend the functionality of Photoshop,
adding fun filters and fresh features to the application. Although most
plug-ins are modestly priced, there are a number of cool plug-ins
available completely free. Here's a round-up of some of the most
compelling freeware plug-ins currently available for Photoshop CS3, CS4,
and CS5, and Photoshop Elements 8.
You
can install plug-ins by dragging the plug-in file into the
application's plug-in folder, found at Macintosh HD -> Applications
-> Adobe Photoshop -> Plug-ins. Many plug-ins now include their
own installer, however, and some newer plug-ins must be installed via
the Adobe Extension Manager. Once installed, you can usually find the
plug-in under the Filter menu in Photoshop, though some must be accessed
through Window -> Extensions.
Note that this roundup consists
of just six plug-ins. As I researched this article, it quickly became
apparent that while there are a wealth of free plug-ins available for
Photoshop on Windows, there aren't many for Photoshop on OS X.
Developers say that Adobe's tools make it cumbersome to port
Windows-based plug-ins to OS X, and many of these freeware developers
see little value in the effort. Moreover, Photoshop's plug-in
architecture is constantly evolving, with each new version of the
application introducing incompatibilities with older plug-ins. Of the
six plug-ins highlighted below, four are effectively marketing tools for
paid products from those developers.
Photoshop Edge FX 2.2
Sebastien Piconnier's Photoshop Edge FX 2.2
is a fun plug-in for Photoshop CS4 and CS5 that lets you enhance your
photos with an arty graphic border. You start by choosing from more than
60 preset borders and then resize and reposition the border; after
that, you can go ahead and apply layer styles such as Glow and Drop
Shadow. The borders are applied as masks, which preserves your original
photo.
PhotoTools 2.5.4 Free
onOne Software's PhotoTools 2.5.4 Free
is a fine collection of photographic filters, including cross-process,
cyanotype, sepia toner, and vintage. The plug-in app commands the full
screen, placing before and after previews side-by-side so that you can
preview the filters as they are applied. Most filters have no options
(aside from fade), but they can be combined together to create
interesting effects.
Dreamy Photo
Auto FX Software's Dreamy Photo
lets you infuse your images with a soft, dreamlike quality. Presets are
included for a soft glow, a blurry zoom and a trippy rotational blur.
The plug-in is hampered by an awkward interface, but the resulting
images are quite compelling. (Note: This plug-in is not yet compatible
with CS5.)
Mosaic
Mosaic
is another interesting plug-in from Auto FX Software that lets you
transform your photos into mosaics with either square, hexagonal, or
octagonal tiles. Controls let you set the size of the cell, randomize
its shape, and apply depth. It shares Dreamy Photo's clunky interface,
however. (Note: This plug-in is not yet compatible with CS5.)
PhotoFrame 4.5.2 Free
onOne Software's PhotoFrame 4.5.2 Free
is a plug-in that lets you apply graphic frames to your photos, such as
film reel, Polaroid, and water color. Borders and textures can be
combined to create unique effects, and the resulting border is applied
as a layer, preserving your original photo.
Pixel Bender
Adobe's Pixel Bender
is an interesting (and for now, experimental) add-on to Photoshop CS4
and CS5 that uses your computer's graphics processor to literally bend
pixels. The included filters are a bit hit-and-miss, though you'll
certainly be impressed by OilPaint. You can download additional Pixel
Bender filters from Adobe Exchange.
RR26VJXR3WT4
adding fun filters and fresh features to the application. Although most
plug-ins are modestly priced, there are a number of cool plug-ins
available completely free. Here's a round-up of some of the most
compelling freeware plug-ins currently available for Photoshop CS3, CS4,
and CS5, and Photoshop Elements 8.
Youcan install plug-ins by dragging the plug-in file into the
application's plug-in folder, found at Macintosh HD -> Applications
-> Adobe Photoshop -> Plug-ins. Many plug-ins now include their
own installer, however, and some newer plug-ins must be installed via
the Adobe Extension Manager. Once installed, you can usually find the
plug-in under the Filter menu in Photoshop, though some must be accessed
through Window -> Extensions.
Note that this roundup consists
of just six plug-ins. As I researched this article, it quickly became
apparent that while there are a wealth of free plug-ins available for
Photoshop on Windows, there aren't many for Photoshop on OS X.
Developers say that Adobe's tools make it cumbersome to port
Windows-based plug-ins to OS X, and many of these freeware developers
see little value in the effort. Moreover, Photoshop's plug-in
architecture is constantly evolving, with each new version of the
application introducing incompatibilities with older plug-ins. Of the
six plug-ins highlighted below, four are effectively marketing tools for
paid products from those developers.
Photoshop Edge FX 2.2
Sebastien Piconnier's Photoshop Edge FX 2.2
is a fun plug-in for Photoshop CS4 and CS5 that lets you enhance your
photos with an arty graphic border. You start by choosing from more than
60 preset borders and then resize and reposition the border; after
that, you can go ahead and apply layer styles such as Glow and Drop
Shadow. The borders are applied as masks, which preserves your original
photo.
PhotoTools 2.5.4 Free
onOne Software's PhotoTools 2.5.4 Free
is a fine collection of photographic filters, including cross-process,
cyanotype, sepia toner, and vintage. The plug-in app commands the full
screen, placing before and after previews side-by-side so that you can
preview the filters as they are applied. Most filters have no options
(aside from fade), but they can be combined together to create
interesting effects.
Dreamy Photo
Auto FX Software's Dreamy Photo
lets you infuse your images with a soft, dreamlike quality. Presets are
included for a soft glow, a blurry zoom and a trippy rotational blur.
The plug-in is hampered by an awkward interface, but the resulting
images are quite compelling. (Note: This plug-in is not yet compatible
with CS5.)
Mosaic
Mosaic
is another interesting plug-in from Auto FX Software that lets you
transform your photos into mosaics with either square, hexagonal, or
octagonal tiles. Controls let you set the size of the cell, randomize
its shape, and apply depth. It shares Dreamy Photo's clunky interface,
however. (Note: This plug-in is not yet compatible with CS5.)
PhotoFrame 4.5.2 Free
onOne Software's PhotoFrame 4.5.2 Free
is a plug-in that lets you apply graphic frames to your photos, such as
film reel, Polaroid, and water color. Borders and textures can be
combined to create unique effects, and the resulting border is applied
as a layer, preserving your original photo.
Pixel Bender
Adobe's Pixel Bender
is an interesting (and for now, experimental) add-on to Photoshop CS4
and CS5 that uses your computer's graphics processor to literally bend
pixels. The included filters are a bit hit-and-miss, though you'll
certainly be impressed by OilPaint. You can download additional Pixel
Bender filters from Adobe Exchange.
RR26VJXR3WT4
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