Filter Forge 5.0

So many choices, . . .  so many opportunities

I like to use plugins/filters for my digital art; I use them all the time.

They make my post production quicker, and often create effects I wouldn’t take the time to do manually.

 

I started using Filter Forge about 3 yrs ago and just recently they brought out version 5.0.

What is Filter Forge?

 Simply put, Filter Forge is a very high end plugin/filter software for Photoshop that will also function as a standalone program.

There are lots of plugins out there, but I don’t know of any that have as many choices as Filter Forge.

Here’s what I mean by “many choices”

If you spent one minute trying each filter or effect within Filter Forge, you would need to stay at your computer 24 hours a day, . . .  for . . . . . . oh . . . . 8 days.

I’m not kidding; there are currently 11,422 textures and effects available for Filter Forge,

and it works for Windows or MAC

No, I am not going to show you all of them.

Their software is very easy to use, and I’m going to show a couple of examples that work well with Infrared.

The first thing you will notice is the program looks the same whether you use it inside of Photoshop, or as a standalone program

No, I wasn’t working with an image of a life preserver, that is their standard sample image.  To the left side are filter choices.  You have a filter library that you can add to by going online and downloading filters.

To download a filter, click at the top right where it says “Filter Library: Download more filters .

This will take to you to the Filter Forge webpage.

From here you can search filters by Category, popularity, or even look at a gallery of what others have created.

Once you select a filter you like, just click “Open this filter in Filter Forge”

Let’s try one.  Here’s an image I took  recently of a model named Megan when I was testing one of the Lensbaby lenses.

I selected the filter White Photo, and it became this.

Now how about we make it look like a painting?

Easy.

How about a little Van Gogh-ish?

I did do some layer blending keep more detail to the face.

Once you start using Filter Forge, it can be quite fun.

You can take an image that you might otherwise discard, and make something of it.

Take a look at this.

I took this in the Great Smoky Mountains.  It’s. . . .  nice (yawn)

How about now?

Here’s another.

I ….um… deliberately took this image improperly.  Yeah, I underexposed the horse, . . .  ON purpose.

That’s my story and I’m sticking with it.

Here it is with a Filter Forge filter, White Photo

Now this looks more like I might know what I’m doing.

The filter salvaged the image.

You can also use different filters together to create all sorts of looks.  Here is a rose with two filters White Photo and Lomo on it.

One more, one simple filter makes all the difference.

So, what do you think?

If you want to check out Filter Forge, click here

 

There are three reasons I decided to write this piece today.

One, I really like Filter Forge and I wanted to share it with you.

Two, Filter Forge currently has some great discounts going on their software.

Three, they have given me 1 free copy of Filter Forge 5.0 Basic to give away!

So, would you like it?

We are going to pick one person at random.

Here’s what you need to do.

First, you need to have Liked both Facebooks pages for Life Pixel and Filter Forge.

Just click the names above and Like the page.

Next?

Leave me a comment below, and tell me what you think of the software.

That’s it!

One month from today we will pick a winner.