COLOUR STUDIO. User Guide VERSION 2.0. Plug-In Filter Collection for Adobe Photoshop

Transcription

1 COLOUR STUDIO Plug-In Filter Collection for Adobe Photoshop VERSION 2.0 User Guide

2 End User License Agreement Please read this Agreement carefully before using the Software 1. License : Subject to the terms and conditions of this Agreement, Cybia hereby grants You a limited, non-exclusive, personal license to install and use the Software for Your own personal or business use on a single computer in accordance with the instructions, specifications and documentation provided. You may make one (1) copy of the Software only for backup and archival purposes, provided that You reproduce all the original Copyright and other proprietary notices. 2. Restrictions : You may not copy the Software, in whole or in part, except as expressly provided in this Agreement. You may not modify, reproduce, create derivative works of, distribute, sell, resell, rent, lend, loan, lease or license the Software or any portion thereof. You may not reverse engineer, disassemble or decompile the Software, or otherwise attempt to derive the source code. 3. Ownership : The Software is licensed, not sold, to You for Your use only under the terms of this Agreement, and Cybia reserves all rights not expressly granted to You. You own the media, if any, on which the Software is recorded, but Cybia retains Copyright and ownership of all copies of the Software itself. 4. Evaluation Version : If you have been supplied with a demo version you are entitled to try out the Software free of charge in order to test for compatibility and suitability for your needs. Please be aware that a demo will have certain limitations over the full edition and you may take no action to disable any such restrictions. 5. Updates : From time to time Cybia may make new releases, revisions or enhancement to the Software available. Your purchase must be recorded through an official Cybia distributor in order for You to be entitled to any full version Updates. 6. Term/Termination : The Agreement becomes effective when You agree to the terms and conditions by opening, installing or using the Software, and will terminate immediately if You breach any term or condition of this Agreement. You agree upon termination to promptly remove the Software from your system and destroy all copies in your possession. 7. Warranty Disclaimer : The Software is provided to You "As Is" and Cybia and its suppliers expressly disclaim any and all warranties and representations of any kind with regard to any subject matter of this Agreement, including, without limitation, any warranty of non-infringement, title, fitness for a particular purpose, functionality or merchantability. 8. Limitation of Liability : In no event will Cybia or its suppliers be liable to You or to any third party for any lost profits, lost data, interruption of business, or other special, indirect, incidental or consequential damages of any kind arising out of the use or inability to use the Software or any data supplied therewith, even if Cybia has been advised of the possibility of such loss or damages and whether or not such loss or damages are foreseeable. In no event shall the liability of Cybia exceed the total amount received by Cybia from You under this Agreement.

3 Demo Version Try before you buy! Before purchasing any full product it is advisable to try out the demo version first, in order to check for compatibility and suitability for your needs. The Colour Studio demo is exactly the same as the FULL edition, allowing you to try out all the features without any restrictions, apart from a red line "spoiler" effect which limits four of the demo filters from being used as full versions. The fifth filter, Vivida, is a free FULL version in the demo download. There is no time-limit on the demo so you can test it for as long as you like. Warning! : Never apply any "demo" effects to your original images. Always work on backup copies and don't overwrite the original files. Demos often overlay "spoiler effects" (in this case the red lines) which are IRREVERSIBLE. Demos are provided in order to give users the opportunity to try out products in the most unrestricted way possible, but obviously there has to be some limitation added to restrict full commercial use and to encourage users to purchase the full product! Ordering the Full Version : If you have tried the demo and wish to purchase the full unrestricted edition then you can find details of online distributors at the official Colour Studio product page here

4 System Requirements In order to use these plug-in filters you will need to be running Windows 95, 98, ME, 2000, XP or Vista, plus any host graphics application that supports the Photoshop *.8bf format plug-in standard. Theses filters are for Windows only. Sorry, there is no Mac version available at the moment. You should use a minimum screen resolution of 800x600 pixels in order to view all the plug-in dialog box controls. The recommended setting is 1024x768 or above for ease of use. The filters should work on any system that is capable of running a compatible host application, but please be aware that editing large images can be very memory-intensive so make sure you have enough RAM to cope with your processing requirements. Please note that not all graphics programs are 100% compatible with plug-in filters. Some will display the controls a bit differently or certain features may not work properly. These filters were programmed specifically for Adobe Photoshop but should also work fine with many other host packages. Here is a list of popular graphics applications that allow the use of plug-in filters... * Adobe Photoshop * Photoshop Elements * Corel Painter * Corel PhotoPaint * IrfanView * JASC / Corel Paint Shop Pro * J-T-L Ultimate Paint * MediaChance Photo-Brush * Ulead Photo Impact There are many other host packages that work with filters so please consult your program's documentation for more information regarding compatibility issues and the use of 3rd-party plug-ins. It is advisable to test out the demo version before purchasing the full edition. 2

5 Installation Colour Studio is currently distributed in two different formats. Some sites will offer a plain ZIP version while others host a full setup EXE edition. Please refer to the instructions below as a guide to each process. ZIP Version : If you have downloaded the Zip version of Colour Studio then you will need to manually install the files using any suitable compression utility. Unzip all the files to your chosen "Plug-Ins" folder on your hard drive. for example... C:\Photoshop\Plug-Ins\ColourStudio Some hosts may automatically detect the new filters after installation, but if not then start your graphics application and look in the settings for an option to configure the program to search this folder for extra plug-ins (not all software will require this step, please refer to the instructions provided with your host). Exit your program and restart in order for the new configuration settings to take effect. Open an image ready to edit, making sure it is in RGB mode. The new plug-ins should now be available from the "Filter" menu in the "Colour Studio" section, as shown here. 3

6 The menu screenshot was taken using Adobe Photoshop on Windows Vista. The appearance of the menu controls may differ slightly on your system, depending on the host program and Windows theme/settings you are using. Please read the documentation that came with your graphics software for more information regarding the installation and use of plug-in filters. Thank you. To uninstall Colour Studio you will need to manually delete all the files you unzipped above. Remember to exit your host program before uninstalling any filters or deleting any files. You will need to restart your host program for the new settings to take effect after uninstalling. EXE Version : If you have the Setup.exe version then double-click on the file to start the installation process (please note that the name of the.exe file may differ depending on the version and website where you downloaded it from) then follow the instructions provided. Install the files to your chosen "Plug-Ins" folder on your hard drive. for example... C:\Photoshop\Plug-Ins\ColourStudio After installation start your graphics program and open an image file to check if the Colour Studio filters have been successfully installed. If so then you will see five new filters in the "Colour Studio" section. If the plug-ins haven t been installed to the correct location or your host doesn't recognise it automatically, please check in your program's settings to look in the folder where you installed the files. Then exit your host and restart the program in order for the new settings to take effect. To uninstall the filters, click the "Uninstall Colour Studio" item in your start menu and follow the instructions provided. Remember to exit your host program before uninstalling. Different host packages have variations on how to install filters, so please consult your program's manual or help files for more information if you are having difficulty getting it to recognise the new plug-ins. 4

7 HotShot Filter HotShot will help you quickly access a selection of image enhancement controls through one easy-to-use dialog. The effects are suitable for digital photographs, scanned artwork and 3D rendered images, providing a whole range of features from subtle colour correction to more dynamic effects for added impact or artistic results. The filter is capable of creating thousands of different colour variations, so please take some time to experiment with all the slider combinations in order to become more familiar with how they react with each other. It is a good idea to save any presets that you like so you can quickly re-use the same effects later with other images. Feature Overview * 18 sliders which allow many different combinations * Reset buttons to quickly return default values * Random buttons to experiment with settings * Save and load your favourite effect presets * Zoom buttons with common percentages * 70 example preset files included to get you started Slider Controls * Exposure & Saturation : Brightness, contrast and saturation * B&W Film Grain : Add realistic monochromatic noise * RGB Saturation : Saturation levels of individual channels * Colour Balance : Modify overall tint and tone * Colour Flood : Strong colour cast/replacement * Colour Dynamix : Invert channels plus intense shift Compatible Image Modes * RGB 8 bit mode (24 bit images) * RGB 16 bit mode (48 bit images) 5

8 HotShot Dialog : The screenshot below shows the plug-in dialog layout. The left-hand side shows a large preview of your image, with a progress bar and zoom buttons underneath. The preview will update as you change the settings. Screenshot of HotShot running on Adobe Photoshop and Windows Vista On the right-hand side you will find the sliders that control the various filter effects, plus "Reset" and Random buttons. There are also "Load" and "Save" buttons for filter presets, plus the usual "Cancel" and "OK". Exposure Sliders : The first three controls will help you quickly correct the brightness, contrast and saturation in your images. Grain Sliders : If you want to simulate traditional film grain in your digital photos then use these sliders in various combinations. 6

9 Saturation Sliders : You can also adjust the saturation of the red, green and blue channels individually if you need more control in this area. Balance Sliders : Change the overall colour balance by mixing the red, green, blue, cyan, magenta and yellow combinations. Flood Sliders : For a stronger colour cast then use the flood settings to produce an intense overlay of your chosen colour. Dynamix Sliders : These sliders can be used to invert the colour channels plus create dynamic colour shifts when used with other settings. Reset Buttons : Return the slider settings to their default values. Random Buttons : Click on the dice images to change slider settings. Load/Save : Click to load or save your favourite settings. Zoom : In/out. Cancel/OK : Exit or apply the effects. All screenshots were taken using the filter with Adobe Photoshop running on Windows Vista. The appearance of the controls may differ slightly on your system, depending on the host program and Windows theme/settings you are using. 7

10 Sample Effects : It is impossible to show you everything that the plug-in is capable of in this quick reference guide, but here are a few basic examples to give you some idea of common effects... Classic B&W : Convert colour photos into traditional black and white. Boost Colours : For added impact and artistic effects. Limit Colours : Reduce the saturation of specific areas. 8

11 Tone & Tint : Give your images an overall colour or mono cast. Fix Bad Exposures : Adjust the brightness and contrast. Dynamic Colour : Create interesting and fun pop-art effects. HotShot is suitable for use with all kinds of different images and subject matter, including landscape and architecture photographs, portraits, computer graphics and much more. This filter should cover most of your colour-editing needs! 9

12 RetroGrade Filter RetroGrade will help you recreate classic effects as if you were shooting with traditional black & white film. This filter offers a quick and easy way to convert your colour photos to a more traditional look with artistic quality! The most useful feature is the RGB Optical Filter sliders which affect the colour response during greyscale conversion, similar to using coloured lens filters with B&W film : for example, a red filter will lighten the red, magenta and yellow areas plus darken the green, blue and cyan in the photo. You can simulate strong infra-red style B&W photos for greater impact, but also mix the green and blue channels at the same time for maximum control over the tonal range. Add to this the monochromatic film grain and you are able to create photos that have the look and feel of traditional media. This product is particularly effective on landscape photographs. Feature Overview * 11 sliders which allow many different combinations * Reset buttons to quickly return default values * Random buttons to experiment with settings * Save and load your favourite effect presets * Zoom buttons with common percentages * 70 example preset files included to get you started Slider Controls * Brightness and Contrast : Quick exposure fix settings * Monochromatic Film Grain : Simulate real film grain * RGB Optical Filters for B&W : Modify colour response * RGB Tone & Tint Settings : Add overall colour cast Compatible Image Modes * RGB 8 bit mode (24 bit images) * RGB 16 bit mode (48 bit images) 10

13 RetroGrade Dialog : The screenshot below shows the plug-in dialog layout. The left-hand side shows a large preview of your image, with a progress bar and zoom buttons underneath. The preview will update as you change the settings. On the right-hand side you will find the sliders that control the various filter effects, plus "Reset" and Random buttons. There are also "Load" and "Save" buttons for filter presets, plus the usual "Cancel" and "OK". Brightness and Contrast : The first two controls will help you quickly correct the overall brightness and contrast in your images. Grain Sliders : If you want to simulate mono film grain in your digital photos then use these sliders in various combinations. 11

14 Optical Sliders : You can replicate the use of coloured lens filters with traditional black & white film using these sliders. For example, adding a red filter will lighten the red, magenta and yellow areas plus darken the green, blue and cyan in the photo. A slider value of 64 will produce a standard optical effect but if you raise the intensity it will create more dynamic "infra-red" style effects which are ideal for added impact. Tone Sliders : Change the overall colour balance by mixing the red, green, blue, cyan, magenta and yellow combinations. Reset Buttons : Return the slider settings to their default values. Random Buttons : Click on the dice images to change slider settings. Load/Save : Click to load or save your favourite settings. Zoom : In/out. Cancel/OK : Exit or apply the effects. All screenshots were taken using the filter with Adobe Photoshop running on Windows Vista. The appearance of the controls may differ slightly on your system, depending on the host program and Windows theme/settings you are using. 12

15 Sample Effects : It is impossible to show you everything that the plug-in is capable of in this quick reference guide, but here are a few basic examples to give you some idea of common effects... Optical Filters : This shows the original colour photo and example of a standard desaturate effect produced by most image editors. Note that the mono version is quite dull and lacks any real impact. Traditional photographers who are familiar with using coloured lens filters with black & white film will appreciate this easy way to replicate the effect digitally. Take any colour photo and mix the RGB optical sliders to change the colour response and achieve the desired tonal range. Using these controls you can create much more dynamic shots! Remember to adjust the brightness and contrast sliders in order to achieve the best exposure settings. Compare the images below (red filter, green filter, blue filter) with the standard desaturate result and you will notice how each filter reacts with the image colours. For example, using the optical red setting will darken the sky area while optical blue will produce the reverse effect. A green setting is good for lightening trees and foliage areas. 13

16 Film Grain : There are three sliders which allow you to add traditional film style grain for a more artistic retro effect. You can use each setting by itself or mix the sliders for more variations. This is more realistic than just adding a standard "noise" effect in your image editor. Tone Variations : You can also give your image an overall coloured overlay if you require, just like traditional darkroom effects. Produce old style sepia prints or any other colour variation by mixing the RGB settings. 14

17 Intense Colour : It is also possible to produce more extreme colour variations by experimenting with all the different slider settings. This may be useful if you want to create more dramatic or artistic results. Many Different Uses : RetroGrade is suitable for use with many kinds of images, including landscape and architecture photographs, portrait work, computer graphics and 3D renders. This filter should cover most of your monochromatic needs! 15

18 Fluoron Filter Fluoron is based on a kind of ultra-violet/fluorescent style colour shift but also offers many other variations for interesting and unusual results. The filter is not meant to reproduce any real-world colour wavelengths, it is only intended for artistic effect and fun experimental conversions. It offers a quick method for creating vibrant and dynamic images when you need something with a bit more impact! Feature Overview * 11 sliders which allow many different combinations * 12 radio buttons and 3 check box controls * Reset buttons to quickly return default values * Random buttons to experiment with settings * Save and load your favourite effect presets * Zoom buttons with common percentages * 80 example preset files included to get you started Slider Controls * Exposure : Quick fix to the brightness and contrast * Film Grain : Simulate real (monochromatic) film grain * Fluoron Conversion : Main effect for shifting colour values * Colour Balance : Modify RGB colour balance/saturation Other Controls * Mode : 12 radio buttons for additional colour-swapping * X2 : 3 check boxes to boost/double the Fluoron slider values Compatible Image Modes * RGB 8 bit mode (24 bit images) * RGB 16 bit mode (48 bit images) 16

19 Fluoron Dialog : The screenshot below shows the plug-in dialog layout. The left-hand side shows a large preview of your image, with a progress bar and zoom buttons underneath. The preview will update as you change the settings. On the right-hand side you will find the sliders that control the various filter effects, plus "Reset" and Random buttons. There are also "Load" and "Save" buttons for filter presets, plus the usual "Cancel" and "OK". Exposure : The first two controls will help you quickly correct the overall brightness and contrast in your images. Grain Sliders : If you want to simulate film grain in your digital photos then use these sliders in various combinations. The first two settings produce a white grain, and the third adds a black grain. 17

20 Fluoron Sliders : Colour translation effect using the red, green and blue channels for extra variation. Colour Sliders : Modify the overall colour balance by mixing the red, green, blue, cyan, magenta and yellow combinations. X2 : These are linked to the Fluoron Conversion sliders and "boost" (double) the strength of the effects. Use when you need extra impact on certain images. You can use each RGB channel boost individually or mix them for any desired combination. Mode : Choose from 12 initial colour variations. The default "Standard" won't change the image at all until you modify the slider settings, but the other options will "swap" colour channels for even more effects. Reset Buttons : Return the slider settings to their default values. Random Buttons : Click on the dice images to change slider settings. Load/Save : Click to load or save your favourite settings. Zoom : In/out. Cancel/OK : Exit or apply the effects. All screenshots were taken using the filter with Adobe Photoshop running on Windows Vista. The appearance of the controls may differ slightly on your system, depending on the host program and Windows theme/settings you are using. 18

21 Sample Effects : It is impossible to show you everything that the plug-in is capable of in this quick reference guide, but here are a few basic examples to give you some idea of common effects... Portraits : Surreal skintones. Snapshots : Unusual colour toning. 19

22 Landscapes : High-impact scenery. Objects : Cool lighting effects. Animals : Wild transformations. Fluoron is suitable for use with all kinds of different images and subject matter, including landscape and architecture photographs, portraits, computer graphics and much more. Explore a new world of unusual colours! 20

23 Alienator Filter Alienator takes an alternative approach to colour-modification effects by generating random combinations of many hidden variables to produce unusual and unpredictable results. Feature Overview * Animated random feature with variable speed * Manual random controls allow further changes * Hidden variables allow many different combinations * Single undo for return to previous setting * Reset button to quickly return default values * Save and load your favourite effect presets * Zoom buttons with common percentages * 100 example preset files included to get you started Random Buttons * Start/Stop : Animated generation feature * Randomize All : Manually randomize ALL values * Dice : Semi-randomizers for partial effects * + (plus) : Randomize selected values only * - (minus) : Reset selected values to default * Reset All : Restore ALL default settings Other Controls * Tweak Settings : 10 main slider controls * Speed : Adjust the speed of the animated preview * LURP : Last-Used-Random-Preset (undo feature) Compatible Image Modes * RGB 8 bit mode (24 bit images) * RGB 16 bit mode (48 bit images) 21

24 Alienator Dialog : The screenshot below shows the plug-in dialog layout. The left-hand side shows a large preview of your image, with a progress bar and zoom buttons underneath. The preview will update as you change the settings. On the right-hand side you will find the sliders that control the various filter effects, plus "Reset" and Random buttons. There are also "Load" and "Save" buttons for filter presets, plus the usual "Cancel" and "OK". Animate : If you would like the filter to automatically generate random presets for you then click on the "Start" button to begin. The button image changes to "Stop" and the preview window will update with new effects at the selected speed. When you see a setting that you like, click the button again to stop the animated feature. Speed Slider : You can adjust how fast the animated feature generates each new setting by choosing a speed value from 1 (slow) to 5 (fast). 22

25 LURP Feature : Last-Used-Random-Preset. A single undo which returns the previous setting. This is useful if you didn't click the stop button fast enough and missed an effect that you liked. Randomize/Reset All : Click the left button to manually randomize ALL settings once only. Click the right button to reset ALL values. Semi-Randomizers : If you click any of the "Dice" buttons it will randomize ONLY the partial settings for each particular section and reset all the other values to default. Click the "+" buttons to randomize ONLY the partial settings for each particular section but NOT change all the other current values. Click the "-" buttons to reset ONLY the partial settings back to default for each particular section but NOT change the other values Tweak Settings : This gives you access to 10 sliders for greater control over the final effect. You can modify the brightness, contrast, saturation and RGB balance, plus swap channels and produce more intense colour casts. Load/Save : Click to load or save your favourite settings. Zoom : In/out. Cancel/OK : Exit or apply the effects. All screenshots were taken using the filter with Adobe Photoshop running on Windows Vista. The appearance of the controls may differ slightly on your system, depending on the host program and Windows theme/settings you are using. 23

26 Sample Effects : It is impossible to show you everything that the plug-in is capable of in this quick reference guide, but here are a few basic examples to give you some idea of common effects... Pets : Alienize your cats and dogs! Wildlife : Get even weirder results with other creatures. 24

27 Portraits : Artistic styles for illustration work Architecture : Shocking colour variations Photos : Turn your holiday snaps into pop-art style effects. Alienator is suitable for use with all kinds of different images and subject matter, including landscape and architecture photographs, portraits, computer graphics and much more. Have fun experimenting! 25

28 Vivida Filter Vivida provides a quick and easy way to boost the brightness, contrast and saturation values in each individual channel. Ideal for when you need to add impact to any photos that are underexposed or have dull lifeless colours. Feature Overview * 9 sliders split into 3 channel groups * Reset buttons to quickly return default values * Random buttons to experiment with settings * Save and load your favourite effect presets * Zoom buttons with common percentages * 20 example preset files included to get you started Slider Controls * Brightness : Modify brightness in the red channel only * Contrast : Modify contrast in the red channel only * Saturation : Modify saturation in the red channel only * Brightness : Modify brightness in the Green channel only * Contrast : Modify contrast in the Green channel only * Saturation : Modify saturation in the Green channel only * Brightness : Modify brightness in the Blue channel only * Contrast : Modify contrast in the Blue channel only * Saturation : Modify saturation in the Blue channel only Compatible Image Modes * RGB 8 bit mode (24 bit images) * RGB 16 bit mode (48 bit images) 26

29 Vivida Dialog : The screenshot below shows the plug-in dialog layout. The left-hand side shows a large preview of your image, with a progress bar and zoom buttons underneath. The preview will update as you change the settings. On the right-hand side you will find the sliders that control the various filter effects, plus "Reset" and Random buttons. There are also "Load" and "Save" buttons for filter presets, plus the usual "Cancel" and "OK". Red Channel : The first slider changes brightness, the second slider is for contrast and the third slider modifies the saturation level. Green Channel : The first slider changes brightness, the second slider is for contrast and the third slider modifies the saturation level. 27

30 Blue Channel : The first slider changes brightness, the second slider is for contrast and the third slider modifies the saturation level. Reset Buttons : Return the slider settings to their default values. Random Buttons : Click on the dice images to change slider settings. Load/Save : Click to load or save your favourite settings. Zoom : In/out. Cancel/OK : Exit or apply the effects. All screenshots were taken using the filter with Adobe Photoshop running on Windows Vista. The appearance of the controls may differ slightly on your system, depending on the host program and Windows theme/settings you are using. Sample Effects : It is impossible to show you everything that the plug-in is capable of in this quick reference guide, but here is a quick example to give you some idea of how vivid you can make your colours... Maximum Impact : Push saturation levels to the extreme. 28

31 More Information Each individual filter in the Colour Studio collection is highly effective in its own right, but for maximum control they work best when used in combination with each other. Experiment with your images by duplicating layers and applying effects from each of the plug-ins, then use different overlay modes to blend the layers and create even more variations. The possibilities are endless if you take the time to explore all the options. The example image on the left was created by duplicating the original photo and applying the Fluoron filter to the base layer, followed by the RetroGrade plug-in on top, set to Soft Light blend mode, in order to give the final image better contrast. Customer Support : If you have any problems using this software then please use the contact form on the help page at : Copyright : This software is protected by copyright law and unauthorized reproduction or distribution is strictly prohibited. All files and resources are Copyright Cybia All rights reserved. Additional Credits : Colour Studio was programmed using FilterMeister and Adobe Photoshop, with additional editing in Resource Hacker. User guide compiled using Serif PagePlus. Setup generated with Inno Setup Compiler. 29