The Photoshop Filters Menu
The following pages concentrate on the most popular and useful filters, which are found in several different sub menus.
- Which Filters? Use filters to change the appearance of images, from applying a slight manipulation to completely replicating a style of painting. It's a good idea to experiment with all of the filters at your disposal on a copy of an image (go to File > Save As to save a copy of your image under a different name).
- Plug Ins. Plug Ins are separate stand-alone programs that can be incorporated into a program such as Photoshop. Simply place them in the Plug In folder. Extra filters, often found for free on the internet or in photo magazines, can be used as Plug Ins.
- Filter Gallery. Often, when a filter is selected, the Filter Gallery appears on the screen. This is useful for comparing the results of different filters, which are contained in six different folders: Artistic, Brush Strokes, Distort, Sketch, Stylize, and Texture. The Gallery has a panel of thumbnail representations of each of the filters. Clicking on each will change the effect in the main window.
- Image window. Control the size of the image by the percentage, or + and - controls, at the bottom left of the window. When the image is enlarged, drag it around with the Hand tool.
- Controlling the Filter. Each filter-and remember there are other filters that are not accessed through the Filter Gallery-has different controls to change its effect and strength.
- Multiple Filters. In the bottom right of the Gallery is a description of the current filter. Click the Eye icon on the left on or off to reveal or hide the effect of the filter. To add another filter, click one on the copy icon below. To delete a filter, highlight the name then click on the trashcan.