The Winter Olympic games have been quite exciting and picturesque – inspiring this series of Olympic Plugins reviews that highlight some of the best free and for fee plugins available. The improvement in plugins capabilities over the past 3-4 years have been quite dramatic. Here are two from the AutoFX that are both free and quite compelling. Users can not only get a free plugin but also a feel for the AutoFX standalone style of plugin – where autoFX allows users to openstandalone plugin program and apply various effects – [but not concurrently, one image at a time].
Dreamy Photo Plugin
The Dreamy plugin goes beyond Photoshop’s Blur | Surface Blur
Some users may note that the Dreamy Plugin produces results similar to Photoshop’s Blur | Surface Blur filter – and as the example below shows that is true. But look at the Dreamy Photo interface shown above users have for zoom offset that is unavailable in Surface Blur. Also there are controls for ghosting and Tint Color in the Dreamy Plugin which are quite helpful. But the eseence of the plugin is to apply a softness that is shape and edge savvy as seen below.
Soft Focus styling
Notice three things in the use of the Dreamy plugin. First, I have warmed up the image a bit by using the the Tint Color option with an orange red hue. Second I have ised the Ghosting option which places as a light ghost image at the outside edge of the figure skaters. This is more useful than the directional ghosting using say the drop shadow option avilable in the layer Fx styling functions. Finally using the Blur and Blend options I am able to achieve a better dream finish which adds to the mode projected by the figure skaters. I found this was achieved a lot faster than the many tries used in Photoshop’s <strong>Blur | Surface Blur</strong> filter.
In sum for free, the Dreamy Photo plugin accomplishes a lot of tasks quickly that would require several steps in Photoshop. Its this type of productivity that a photo finisher really appreciates.
Mosaic Plugin
In the past, this reviewer has scoffed at painting and design plugins – because they often get abused. Arbitrarily applied with little value add to the image other than novelty. Mosaic is a classic example. And the screenshot above is just such a marginal case. There is not a compelling case for using Mosaic in this photo of a Freestyle Aerialist at the Olympics.
But now consider the before and after shot below of the pair skaters shot from above.
In contrast here the Mosaic plugin works well. First the shot is taken from above directly down on the skaters for a mosaic floor viewpoint. Second, the Mosaic look gives the feeling of a Moment in Time captured forever. Last but not least, one can visualize an Etruscan or Finish manor house with this floor piece to greet guests who enter the sun room or sauna bath. Very fine indeed.
Summary
These are the two biggest freebies up at the autoFX site – but they are certainly worth the download. This is particularly true if you plan to buy other autoFX filters and want to get a feel for how well the filters work and how easy[or hard] they are to get used to. Be forewarned – some of the other for-fee plugins have even more controls than shown here