How to Add Filters & Plug-ins Into Photoshop
Adobe Photoshop is one of the most useful and versatile image editing programs on the market. The key to Adobe's success with its flagship product is that it is constantly adding new features and functionality to Photoshop with every new version released. For example, the CS3 version introduced an animation panel, allowing users to create animations directly into the program, rather than having to export the images to a separate program to make video files. But even Photoshop can occasionally be improved upon. This is why other companies and private individuals have created filters and plug-ins that can be added to Photoshop.
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Instructions
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Decide what effect you would like to have for Photoshop that it doesn't already have. For example, you might want a quick and easy way to make hair for people or 3D characters that you have in a document. For that purpose, you might want the "Eyecandy 4000" plug-ins, which come with a "Fur" filter that makes very realistic hair. Or you might want to have a quick way to turn your image into a watercolor or an oil painting, in which case you might want to install the Virtual Painter plug-in.
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Download the plug-in or filter you want to use. If it is a plug-in it will have an installer that should automatically locate your Photoshop installation and install the plug-in directly to the plug-ins folder. If you have more than one copy of Photoshop running (an older version and a newer one) you will have to let the installer know which version you want to install to. Some filters also come with installers, but many, like the freeware Xero filters, have to be placed by you.
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Open the compressed file your filter came in (if it doesn't have an installer). Use the browse button in the extractor to locate the Photoshop "Plug-ins" folder and extract the filter to the folder yourself.
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Confirm that the plug-in or filter is working properly by opening Photoshop. Then select "File" and click "New." Click, "OK" in the dialog that opens. Now select "Filter" and browse though the listings to see if your plug-in or filter is there. It it isn't, repeat the process, making sure that you are installing to the right folder.
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Click on the plug-in or filter itself to bring it up. Check out its functions to make sure it is working properly with you version of Photoshop.
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