Looking for a good Photo Enchancer Plugin

[PhilipJohnBasile]

I am looking to do special effects on photos. Like a glamour effect, or tonal effects. I'm not looking to simulate different types of film. Which plugins would be best for this? I currently have virtual photographer, but I want something "more".

[JasonMX]

55mm:



55mm is the definitive set of digital optical filters meant to simulate popular glass camera filters, specialized lenses, optical lab processes, film grain, matte generation, exacting color correction as well as natural light and photographic effects--all in a controlled digital environment with either 8 or 16 bits per channel processing.

The set of plug-ins includes:

* Black Mist
* Black and White
* Bleach Bypass
* Center Spot
* Color Compensating
* Color Conversion
* Color Correct
* Color Grad
* Color Spot
* Color Temperature
* Cross Processing
* Day for Night
* Defog
* Depth of Field
* Diffusion
* Dual Grad
* Enhancing



* Fast Blur
* Faux Film
* Flashing
* Fluorescent
* Fog
* F-Stop
* GamColor Gels
* Gels
* Glow
* Gold Reflector
* Grain
* Halo
* Infrared
* Lens Distortion
* Light!
* Light Balancing
* Low Contrast



* Mist
* Mono Tint
* ND Grad
* Night Vision
* Overexpose
* Ozone
* Photographic Filters
* Polarizer
* Printer Points
* Rack Focus
* Radial Exposure
* ReLight
* Rosco Gels
* Selection
* Selective Color Correct
* Selective Saturation
* Silver Reflector



* Skin Smoother
* Soft Effects
* Split Field
* Star
* Streaks
* Strip Grad
* Sunset/Twilight
* Telecine
* Temperature
* Tint
* Ultra Contrast
* Vari-Star
* Vignette
* Warm/Cool
* Warm Black Mist
* Warm Mist
* Warm Soft Effects

http://www.digitalfilmtools.com/55mm/

[ssim]

I would agree with Jason that 55mm tools are excellent. In addition to these I also have Nik Color Efex Pro (http://www.niksoftware.com/colorefexpro/usa/entry.php?). I actually prefer the user interface better on the Nik filters but either one is good. When you start to talk about this type of products you have to realize you are going to make your wallet thinner.

[PhilipJohnBasile]

Now it begs the question what's better Nik or 55mm? Whats the best bang for your buck? Which would you go to war with and which would you leave home with the children?

[ssim]

Now it begs the question what's better Nik or 55mm? Whats the best bang for your buck? Which would you go to war with and which would you leave home with the children?

They have some overlaps for sure but there is also some unique ones in each set. I don't need to make that decision as to which one I would give up and in order to do that I would have to spend allot more time on them in the short term. Suffice it to say that I like them both and use them both frequently.

Photoshop filters can do some pretty funky effects that don't appeal to everyone. It really is in the eye of the beholder. If I say black the next person may say white. Both are right.

I'll leave it there. How's that for being noncommittal

[JasonMX]

Try finding the trial versions of each and see which one you like. I know 55mm runs about $200 which is cheap for all thos filters. I mean, some companies sell two filters for $200.

[PhilipJohnBasile]

Yar... back at stage one..lol Any commited postprocessors?

[PhilipJohnBasile]

How about photolab vs. 55mm?