Photoshop Plug in question...?

Question

I am looking for a recommendation for a nice photoshop plug in for portrait photography, I mostly work with children. I use CS4. Though I've not yet used any plug ins, I hear a lot of good things about OnOne software. I am still uncertain on how they work, if it is a lot of steps in one, or if it just does everything one after another. I like the idea that it could speed up my workflow dramatically, but I am afraid of the cost to the image and I would rather do everything manually than lose image quality..

I am also weary of spending more money, when I hear and at times feel Lightroom is easier and faster to work with. But I am willing to try anything to improve my skills.

Can anyone explain how they work? Does anyone have any they can recommend?

Answer 1

Hoh boy--you got a spare year? It's gonna take that long just to explain the different types of plugin on the market, far less explain how and where you would use them.



In a lot of cases, plugins exist only to make the user's workflow, whether they be restoring old photographs, archiving shots they've taken themselves or collating commercial photographs for use in new artwork, easier. Most (if not all) effects obtainable with plugins can be obtained with straight Phoptoshop, *IF* you're prepared to put the work in (and obviously, given that you know the app intimately). So, working from that given standpoint, you then have to decide just *WHAT* you want to do with the plugins.



There's no magic bullet here--you're gonna have to do a LOT of research, experimentation and messing around till you get exactly what you're after. That said, by browsing the manufacturer's websites (Alienskin, OnOne, Flaming Pear, AutoFX to name a few) you can easily find out just what specific plugins are designed to do. The trick then is to figure out whether that function works into your own workflow.



I personally do a lot of photo restoration and straight graphic work, so I can normally find uses for darn near any plugin out there. Others have more restricted needs/wants, and they then need to take what's available out there as a given and figure out how/where/when those plugins could be of use to them.



If you're anything like me, you'll start browsing the plugin manuf's websites, and ideas will start popping into your skull as you check out what the individual packages can do for you. Trust me, you'll find uses for most of the commercially available suites out there--after all, that's what they have been designed for--to appeal to the widest possible audience.



In other words, you're gonna need a couple of things that most folks nowadays find in short supply--time and money. Time to find out exactly what your needs are and how you're gonna address them, and the cash to invest in the software once you've made that informed choice regarding what you're going for.



Feel free to contact me offlist and I'll offer what adviuce I can. However, let me add a rider to that. Obviously, there's no way I can know up front what you're trying to do, or how your workflow is going to affect your choice. Only YOU can make that determination.



Hang on to your hat,--you're in for quite a ride!!!



Hope This of Help



Scots

Answer 2

Have you looked at the HELP folder in CS3? This is what it says about 'plug-in's': To install an Adobe Systems plug‑in module, use the plug‑in installer, if provided. In Windows, you can also install or copy the module into the appropriate Plug‑ins folder in the Photoshop program folder. In Mac OS, drag a copy of the module to the appropriate Plug‑Ins folder in the Photoshop program folder. Make sure that the files are uncompressed. To install a third-party plug‑in module, follow the installation instructions that came with the plug‑in module. If you cannot run a third-party plug‑in, it may require a legacy Photoshop serial number. On my (MAC) computer there is a plug in folder. It is under Applications->Adobe Photoshop->CS3->Plug in's. Hope this helps.

Answer 3

I would suggest you look into custom actions as well before plunking any money down especially if you are doing portraits as there has been an explosion of tools and techniques lately. check out Criag's actions for starters

Answer 4

Since children are your main subject I suggest you look at the actions by FloraBella : http://florabellacollection.blogspot.com/

Answer 5

i'm not really sure if this is the effect you're trying to achieve but one filter i love to use is LucisArt. you can check out this tutorial of it to see if its what you're looking for

http://psd.tutsplus.com/tutorials/photo-effects-tutorials/achieve-hdr-style-effects-using-photoshop-and-the-lucis-art-filter/