Filter Forge (Windows)

[Andrew B.]

Filter Forge is a beta application that works as a stand-alone and a Photoshop plugin. It contains a number of modules for making textures and effects. But it does not stop there. Filter Forge comes with a visual node-based editor allowing you to create your own filters – textures, effects, distortions, backgrounds, you name it. All filters automatically support 16- and 32-bit modes in Photoshop, real-world HDRI lighting, bump and normal maps, huge resolutions and seamless tiling.IOW, you can create your own filters by chaining together familiar (and unfamiliar) graphic processes. This means your Photoshop actions can be replaced with sliders that give you visual feedback as you tweak settings, with the limitation being that you can only use photo operations that are included in Filter Forge.

http://www.filterforge.com/

Looks good to me. A bit on the slow side. But it is still in beta. Let's see how they bring it along.

[iamback]

Filter Forge a beta application that works as a stand-alone and a Photoshop plugin. It contains a number of modules for making textures and effects. But it does not stop there. IOW, you can create your own plugins by chaining together familiar (and unfamiliar) graphic processes.How is this different from Filter Factory?

[Andrew B.]

I've never used Filter Factor, but my understanding is it's an SDK for making 8bf plugins. Filter Forge doesn't do that. Filter Forge creates filters that get plugged into Filter Forge, which in turn, plugs in to Photoshop. Or it can run alone.

Also, I don't think Filter Factory has a visual creation tool that lets one drag, drop, and connect graphic processes. http://www.filterforge.com/features/editor.html

[iamback]

I've never used Filter Factor, but my understanding is it's an SDK for making 8bf plugins. Filter Forge doesn't do that. Filter Forge creates plugins that get plugged into Filter Forge, which in turn, plugs in to Photoshop. Or it can run alone.It sounds quite interesting... I wonder whether it would run in PSP, but that may not be all that important if it can actually run alone?

Also, I don't think Filter Factory has a visual creation tool that lets one drag, drop, and connect graphic processes.Not as far as I know.

[Andrew B.]

I ran single tests in Painter, Photo-Paint, and Canvas. Works in those. I don't see any reason why it would not work in PSP. And I think I saw some PSP users posting in the beta forum.

[iamback]

I ran single tests in Painter, Photo-Paint, and Canvas. Works in those. I don't see any reason why it would not work in PSP. And I think I saw some PSP users posting in the beta forum.Thanks - seeing that list I'm sure it will run in PSP as well.

In fact, most PS-compatible plugins do - only ones that use specific PS features like "actions" won't be compatible with other programs. Pity their site doesn't make that compatibility clear though (or at least I couldn't find it!).

[Andrew B.]

Here's the list:http://www.filterforge.com/download/betanotes.html

[iamback]

Here's the list:http://www.filterforge.com/download/betanotes.htmlThanks! The Download page is not where I expected that information...

[Andrew B.]

Well, if you or anyone else tries it, take a look at the included filter called Sketch and Color. It is my first attempt at a filter, I submitted it for approval, and it was accepted for inclusion. I just found out today.

[iamback]

It is my first attempt at a filter, I submitted it for approval, and it was accepted for inclusion. I just found out today.That's cool!

I'm dying to play with it but my head is too much in programming at the moment.