Take this distortion filter as an example. With the factory presets described above, for instance, you can click on the Settings tab to access individual components of that filter, shifting and adjusting them to suit your specific needs. In addition to the large number of filters that come preloaded with Filter Forge (currently at 7000+ and growing), you have the ability to edit and create new filters as well. The image processing is done with the main Filter Forge application and then it is output back to PhotoShop for your creative needs. The plugin itself is quite tiny, only being used to send and retrieve image information. After the main installation process is complete, you will see a new option within PhotoShop to access and edit the different filters available in Filter Forge. Second, Filter Forge can be used as a PhotoShop plugin.
As you can see, the green version is not only different in color from the red or purple version, but the sizes of the “bacteria” elements are quite different as well. Shown above, for example, is the “bacteria” filter. The user interface has the filters organized based on a number of categories, which are then further broken down by different types of filters.Įach individual filter comes with a number of different factory presets, which are quite distinct variations on the main filter. You can launch it like how you would any other program on your computer, going through to view, edit, and create different filters that can later be used with PhotoShop.
Going through the features page for Filter Forge, we discover that despite the software utilizing just one main user interface, it can actually be used two different ways.įirst, Filter Forge can be used as a standalone application.