Using Plug-ins

This tut is for Digital Image Pro, and how to go about using plug-ins.

This option is NOT enabled in any Picture It! version.

New July 2006:
Digital Image 2006
Digital Image Suite 2006
Picture It! will no longer be made. And if you buy the non-suite version you are getting WAY less than before. They have dropped the "PRO". This version is very very close to the DIP10 from the year before.

NEW DIGITAL IMAGE PRO 10 & DIGITAL IMAGE SUITE ARE HERE!! AND LIKE VERSION 9 YOU CAN NOW CHOOSE SELECTIONS!

NEW DIGITAL IMAGE PRO 9 & DIGITAL IMAGE SUITE ARE HERE!

And while this tut can be followed with both versions, the new thing in DIP9 is that you can now choose selections, which means alot of the filters that wont work with DIP7 WILL work with DIP9! Now on with the lessons....

There are many plug-ins out there, some are free and some are not. Some will work, some will not. Some partly work. You can search the net, with a search engine for "plugins", "filters", "PSP plugins", "photoshop plugins", and "free plugins" and find many filters/plugins. Some of the ones you have to buy are Super Blade Pro, EyeCandy, and Splat Edges. I have tried these, Blade Pro will not work except to bevel the outside of a square or put texture one something, so dont spend your money. EyeCandy will work, but you will have to make sure you make a selection, then make a duplicate of it on top, for it to work, since Eye Candy uses layers. And Splat Edges, comes with DigiPro, but to get the full program, you will have to buy it.

Now for free filters that do work, I will put links at the bottom of this page for them.

To use your plugins, you need to download, and usually unzip the plugin, into a plugin folder. If you have Paint Shop Pro or Photoshop, you can use their plugin folder so that both programs can use them, without having double the plugins on your computer. To do this, you need to extract your unzipped plugin into either the DigiPro/DIS plugin in folder or change the direction of your DigiPro/DIS, to find the other programs folder.

To find your plugin folder for DigiPro/DIS, you will follow these steps...

Go to your desktop and click

Click this

And then find this

Digital Image Pro will be under this name, click it

Or if you are looking for Paint Shop Pro's plugins, you would click this

And finally you need to click here, where all your plugins are kept

To get DigiPro to use another programs plugin file you will follow these steps...

You need to Open DigiPro, and open a graphic. Now you need to click at the top

And then click

You will see this at the left or your screen, these are the plugins you have.

You need to click near the bottom where is says

When you click this, you will see

You will click BROWSE, and then look for the plugin folder, under another program.

When you click the on the folder, and click done, the plugins will show up in DigiPro, for your use!

Now once you have your plugins and graphic open, you can go down the list and to apply a filter, just double click it. Each program has their own work panel, they are different sizes and colors and some are just one filter, while others have a combo of filters. I have take some screen shots of some of the filters I have and use. Here is a peek at what they will look like in DigiPro...

This is EyeCandy

This is Xenotex

This is Splat Edges

This is “A Plug-In” collection from Almathera

This is a filter by Cybia

This is Super Blade Pro

This is from Harry's Filters

This is Seamless Work Shop

This is Art Texture

I have found all of these on the net, most do work. So get out there, download, have have fun!

You can click through the filters to see them before and after effects they cause, but it will not apply the filter if you click cancel. Also to use 2 plugins on one project, you will need to apply, click done and done and then go back in!

UPDATE Jan 2006:
I bought the brand new version of Eye Candy 5. I decided on the 3 Bundle of Impact/Texture/Nature. They work wonderfully, so if you are wondering to try/but, go for it! You can read about them here...

I made these with them...
Original:

Eye Candy 5:

Original:

Eye Candy 5:

Links to great filter sites
(This list will hopefully grow!)

Andrew´s Filter Collections
Filters
The Plug In Site
Simple Frames
Filters
1,542 free filters at GrafoManiac
Free Downloads at Ulead

Here are some Links at Microsoft that might help also...

Compatible Plug-ins for Picture It! Digital Image Pro 2003
Plug-ins That Are Incompatible with Picture It! Digital Image Pro 2003
Filter Plug-in May Not Work with Picture It! Digital Image Pro 2003