Issue No. 23
by Eden Maxwell
Computer Connections Aug/Sept 2005
Ten Hot Plug-ins to Ignite your Graphics
The Shuffle: Simplicity Has Its Rewards
Making Little Programmers into Big Ones
The Ideabook: A Gold Mine for Under $60
From My Keyboard September '05
Past Issues
Eye Candy 5 Impact from Alienskin is the latest set of 10 plug-in filters for Adobe Photoshop and other compatible host programs. In contrast to Eye Candy's previous release—Nature, a collection of organic-related filters—Impact has a distinct industrial feel that features three new filters—Backlight, Brushed Metal, and Extrude.
The Backlight filter projects dramatic light beams and spotlight effects from behind any selection. Brushed Metal simulates textured metal surfaces, such as brushed aluminum and polished brass. Extrude gives 2D objects a classic 3-D look, adding thickness and perspective. Impact also includes seven updated Eye Candy classics that include: Bevel, Chrome, Glass, Gradient Glow, Motion Trail, Perspective Shadow, and Super Star. These classic filters have brand-new looks, greater realism, and improved ease of use. For example, certain of these filters—like Chrome— can create a new layer and render effects to it, allowing users to view, edit, or turn off these effects without modifying the original layer
| Fig. 1 Brushed Metal (l) and Chrome (r). Brushed Metal simulates textured metal surfaces such as brushed aluminum and polished brass. Chrome creates a reflective, embossed effect, simulating chrome, liquid metal and other shiny surfaces. You can now create your own reflections in filters like Chrome or Glass that employ image maps. |
Impact uses familiar keyboard shortcuts and is scriptable with Photoshop actions—which automate repetitive tasks. Novice and expert alike will find an ideal image filter from over 200 frequently used effects. An improved settings management system and comprehensive user interface make it easier to browse, share and add presets, or create custom effects. Now, filters that employ reflection maps, such as Chrome, are open to customization; users can add their own JPEGs for tailor-made shiny effects. An interactive preview pane lets you view your filtered image prior to applying the effect.
| Fig. 2 Eye Candy's User Interface Window offers a wide array of settings,customizing features, plus an interactive preview window.In this case, I applied the Glass filter from Impact with a palm tree reflection map to an airplane shape created with Photoshop's custom shape tool.Glass renders a colorful, gel layer over selectionsfor great-looking translucent buttons and other uses. |
Fortunately, Impact works well with 16-bit and CMYK images; less banding means color transitions are smoother, and print documents reproduce colors more accurately. Unlimited undo and redo make experimentation painless. In the coming weeks, Alienskin will be posting tutorials in the forum section of their website for many example images. You can also get filter effect tips from Help in the dropdown menu of your host app when the Impact user interface is active
| Fig. 3 Applying one of the Backlight preset filters on a static image (left) produces a dynamic effect (right) of air flowing over an airplane in flight. |
Impact is a plug-in; it must be used with one of the following host programs: Adobe Photoshop 7 or later (including CS 2), Adobe Photoshop Elements 2 or later, and Macromedia Fireworks MX 2004 or later. The estimated street price for Impact is $99. Registered users of other Alien Skin Software products receive discount pricing when ordering online directly from Alienskin.
Graphic designers, digital photographers, Web content artists, as well as the hobbyist, will appreciate Impact's versatile and beautifully rendered effects. Like previous sets of filters from Alienskin, Impact will save you time, improve your productivity, and make you look good!
http://www.alienskin.com
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Eden Maxwell is an artist and published book author. He has contributed to many publications, including Popular Science, Art Calendar Magazine, Drachen Foundation Journal, Popular Mechanics, MacStreet Journal Online, Omni, MacUser, MacDigest, and Computer Gaming World. His art has been exhibited on both coasts and his work has appeared in the Encyclopedia Britannica. Visit Eden's Atelier and Gallery website. You may also reach him via email at [email protected]