Photoshop & Elements Plugins and Filters

Photoshop-compatible plugins are provided by several companies and generally work with Photoshop, Elements and other image editing applications including PaintShop Pro, PhotoImpact, and Corel Photo-Paint. They are mainly used for creating special image effects that would be impossible or difficult to achieve with your image editor alone. They are integrated into the application and are found under the Filters menu. Always read the requirements and info carefully or try before you buy to make sure the plugin is compatible with Elements! (Most are.)

Here are some good plugins including freebies! I use buZZ Pro, PhotoFrame, Contrast Master, Dreamy and Xero and have tried others. Nearly all websites listed let you download a demo to try before you buy. Also check out freebies link below.

buZZ Pro Turn photos into paintings. Several versions and prices. My FAVORITE filter is the Simplifier 2. This was a nearly $200 commercial program but now they're out of business so it's FREE!
PhotoGrapic Edges Thousands of edges, mattes, frames for your photos - from AutoFX
PhotoFrame 2000+ frames and edges for images (I have this one.)
Blow Up High quality image resizing available for making larger prints
Nik Color Efex Pro 3 Sets of photographic and other filters in several collections/packages. Highly recommended.
DCE Tools Moderately priced set of nice plugins, especially the skin smoother
Contrast Master a plugin for effective contrast enhancement as well as creating dramatic contrast looks, photorealistic paintings and HDR-like effects. It can turn low-contrast photos into vivid and detailed images and transform ordinary photos into interesting and dynamic shots. ContrastMaster works with dozens of graphics applications including Photoshop, Paint Shop Pro, Photoshop Elements.
Topaz Adjust Peudo-HDR effects, bring out hidden details, bring photos to life! Very popular plugin.
Little Ink Pot FREE Offers several neat plugins for artistic effects
Xero FREE 4 sets of plugins for Photoshop, Elements, PaintShop Pro (download)
Dreamy FREE Gives images a soft romantic feel - from AutoFX for Elements, Photoshop
Paint Engine FREE Elements plugin that gives images a painted, artistic effect (nice!)
Virtual Photographer FREE Instantly apply high quality, professional photographic styles to your digital images - includes over 50 presets such as black & white, color modification, contrast,

Full list of commercial plugins
Full list of FREE plugins

Some plugins come with an installer which installs them into the Elements plugins folder. Others tell you to just copy the .8bf file(s) into the plugins folder yourself. (In Explorer - go to Program files > Adobe > Photoshop Elements > plug-ins) Do not have Elements running when you are doing this! Sometimes you have to restart the computer to get them to work. Plugins are accessed when you open your photo and then click on Filters in the top menu bar. They will be in the bottom section below the native Elements filters.

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