Photoshop Plug-in Filter Help please

1100 Views 9 Replies 3 Participants Last post by FeXL, Nov 8, 2009

KC4

Discussion Starter · Nov 7, 2009

I am a relative newbie to PS and have just begun to use filters and am interested in trying some Plug-in Filters from Filter Forge.

I am currently using a MacPro, Snow Leopard and CS3.

I've purchased and downloaded the basic package from Filter Forge, a couple of their Filter Freepacks and now I am stuck.

I don't know how to get PS to recognize (let alone use) the new filters. I've tried the PS Preferences>Plug-Ins>Additional Plug-In Folder (copied the location of one of the Freepacks in there)

I seem to have 3 file types from FF:
Volumes/Filter Forge 1.018
FilterForge.mpkg/ - I ran this set up up package
Filter Forge Freepack 2 Setup.dmg downloaded two of these

Alternatively I tried to download a standalone filter from the FF site....no go ...

I asked the FF forum for help - but the one guy helping is not a Mac person, but thinks I may need to change my permissions in settings somewhere Tools>Options>Online>Download more Filters>Use built-in LIbrary>OK

I can't seem to find this on my system or in the PS software anywhere.

Is anyone familiar enough with these types of things to help me here?

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FeXL

· #2 · Nov 8, 2009

First of all, quit PS.

Then, expand whatever files you downloaded until you find a "filename.plugin" file. The ".plugin" is the important part here. Place these in Applications>Adobe Photoshop CS3>Plug-ins and restart PS. Open an image, then click on Filter. Your newly installed filter(s) should show up at the bottom of the list.

If you want to keep them separate from your other filters by placing them elsewhere, you need to instruct PS to look in the correct spot for them. In this case, fire up PS, click on Photoshop>Preferences>Plugins, complete the information there and restart PS. It's been a while since I used PS3, you may have to toggle the "Additional Plugins Folder" box before you tell PS where to look. I like to keep all my plugins together, it just means that you need to move your downloaded/purchased ones to the newer version of PS when you upgrade and before you delete your old version.

Hope this helps.

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KC4

Discussion Starter · #3 · Nov 8, 2009

FeXL said:
First of all, quit PS.

:lmao::lmao::lmao: Thanks FeXL..Yeah, I probably should... just go back to iPhoto and fuggetabout PS......but I'm too stubborn.

OK , so I found all the downloaded FF files in Finder.

I noticed that they had an odd "-" sign on the folder...tried to open them and was told I didn't have permission.

Also - I noticed that Finder did not assign or display any file size for any of the folders?

See?....

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FeXL

· #4 · Nov 8, 2009

Are you doing this from an Admin account?

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kps

· #5 · Nov 8, 2009

I've had this happen the odd time with a download and get the "do not enter" symbol on a folder.

Easy fix is to right click the folder in the Finder, choose "Get Info" and change the ownership and permissions for owner (top line) and group (second line). Leave the third line "Everyone" as is.

If the owner shows "unknown" change that to your login name with permissions of Read&Write. Change the group, if necessary to "admin" with the same permissions as the owner.

I believe that doing this from the Finder's Get Info dialog also changes the files inside the folder recursively, if not, you may have to change the files ownership and permissions manually using this technique.

Than follow FeXL's directions for installing plug-ins.

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KC4

Discussion Starter · #6 · Nov 8, 2009

FeXL said:
Are you doing this from an Admin account?

Yes.

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KC4

Discussion Starter · #7 · Nov 8, 2009

kps said:
I've had this happen the odd time with a download and get the "do not enter" symbol on a folder.

Easy fix is to right click the folder in the Finder, choose "Get Info" and change the ownership and permissions for owner (top line) and group (second line). Leave the third line "Everyone" as is.

If the owner shows "unknown" change that to your login name with permissions of Read&Write. Change the group, if necessary to "admin" with the same permissions as the owner.

I believe that doing this from the Finder's Get Info dialog also changes the files inside the folder recursively, if not, you may have to change the files ownership and permissions manually using this technique.

Than follow FeXL's directions for installing plug-ins.

Thanks kps - but it doesn't allow me to change anything....
I think the little lock in the bottom RH corner tells me why.

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kps

· #8 · Nov 8, 2009

You need to click the padlock and enter your admin pswd to unlock it.
Then, change the owner from "_unknown" to whatever your admin login name is and change the permissions to Read&Write.

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KC4

Discussion Starter · #9 · Nov 8, 2009

kps said:
You need to click the padlock and enter your admin pswd to unlock it.

D'oh! :lmao: How can you tell I don't work with/use locked files or folders much?
Thanks...I'm "in" now. Woot!

FeXL said:
Then, expand whatever files you downloaded until you find a "filename.plugin" file. The ".plugin" is the important part here. Place these in Applications>Adobe Photoshop CS3>Plug-ins and restart PS. Open an image, then click on Filter. Your newly installed filter(s) should show up at the bottom of the list.

If you want to keep them separate from your other filters by placing them elsewhere, you need to instruct PS to look in the correct spot for them. In this case, fire up PS, click on Photoshop>Preferences>Plugins, complete the information there and restart PS. It's been a while since I used PS3, you may have to toggle the "Additional Plugins Folder" box before you tell PS where to look. I like to keep all my plugins together, it just means that you need to move your downloaded/purchased ones to the newer version of PS when you upgrade and before you delete your old version.

Thanks for the heads up on moving my 3rd party filters before upgrading....I will be doing that as soon as I finish my Digital Lab courses at the college (the College uses CS3, so I've delayed upgrading my home version)

Here's another question (and I fear it may be as lame as the " the folder's locked and I can't get in" one) ...but, can't I keep a copy of the third party filters in a separate folder AND the PS library? I picture myself sometime in the near future upgrading to CS4 and forgetting to move them.

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FeXL

· #10 · Nov 8, 2009

Absolutely. PS only goes looking for plugins where you point it to. You can have copies scattered all over the hard drive with no ill effect.

That is one of the key reasons to have your purchased ones in a separate, dedicated folder. It makes upgrading (either systems or software) easier. All you have to do is copy that specific folder over to the new system, tell PS where it is (system upgrade) or upgrade the software. The prefs may be carried over and if not, it's simple to tell PS where to look (as long as you remember where the folder is).

We generally just copy the folder to the upgraded software, then delete the dupes.

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Photoshop Plug-in Filter Help please

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