Although Photoshop itself is extremely versatile, some operations cannot be performed using existing tools. In such cases, plug-ins for Photoshop come to the rescue - tools whose use allows you to simplify significantly the work and thereby increase productivity.
Plugins are great for performing laborious or repetitive tasks, such as exporting layers, converting files to SCC3 from PSD, converting texts to SVG format and so on. There are a lot of Photoshop plugins. Below is an overview of the best plug-ins for "Photoshop" with their description, which will certainly help you in your work.
Adobe Camera Raw
A plug-in for the Adobe Photoshop CS5 editor that allows you to process images in RAW format. They support working with RAW-format photo prints shot on the most common camera models.
For many designers, this free plug-in for Photoshop has long been perceived as a necessary editor for high-quality photo processing. Toning the image, importing RAW files, adjusting the color balance, using masks is far from a complete list of the capabilities of this plugin. The Adobe Photoshop platform along with the Camera RAW module are indispensable tools in the professional work of any photographer.
The new version of the plug-in supports “raw” files in DNG format, which allows working with “digital negatives” to achieve the necessary results for their artistic processing.
Pros and cons in reviews
In addition to the fact that the plugin works with most amateur and professional cameras from well-known manufacturers, it also has the following advantages:
- convenient dashboard for color grading;
- support for a wide range of digital camera models;
- the plugin is distributed free of charge;
- color noise removal tools;
- support for presets and other effects for Photoshop;
- support for RAW files;
- the presence of a tool for editing masks through the gradient;
- the ability to change the hue, temperature, contrast, light, shadow, saturation and other color parameters;
- Adobe DNG Converter built-in utility allows you to convert RAW files to DNG;
- the ability to eliminate optical distortion;
- preview panel for image settings;
- The fingerprint export feature is similar in many ways to a similar option in Adobe Lightroom.
And disadvantages:
- the plugin is installed and works only with Adobe Photoshop;
- sometimes when installing Camera RAW, an update error may occur;
- older versions of the plugin are not supported by Adobe Photoshop CS6 and Bridge CS6.
Plugin for Photoshop
Portraiture is a plugin designed specifically for Adobe Photoshop that facilitates the process of adjusting portraits. In it you can clear a photo of various kinds of artifacts obtained due to insufficient illumination of the photographed object or at high ISO values. At the same time, the adjustment does not affect the texture of the skin, and various important details on the face remain intact (lips, eyes, eyelashes, eyebrows).
The graphical interface of the module is convenient and simple, while during editing, a copy of the photo is created next to the file being processed, which allows you to track the changes made in real time. The controls are mainly sliders, each responsible for its own parameter. There is a function to automatically highlight the surface of the skin and create a mask that can be processed manually. You can also flexibly adjust the lighting parameters and other color effects for Photoshop. Capabilities:
- removal of skin imperfections without changing its texture;
- acceleration of the retouching process;
- display next to two copies of the photo to evaluate the results of "before" and "after";
- removal of various artifacts;
- the presence of a tool for adjusting light;
- convenient and practical interface.
For high quality color grading
The Photoshop Plugin Color Pilot Plug-in is also adapted for the photo editors PhotoDeluxe, Paint Shop Pro and Photo-Paint. It allows for quick color correction of the image and is able to adjust the color balance of the photo based on custom color collections. The program has an intuitive interface. For example, in such collections you can store the color of the juicy grass and, on its basis, carry out color correction in other landscape photographs. It is also possible to automatically adjust the color of the photo.
The main advantage, according to user reviews, is the ability to accumulate and further use experience when working with the plugin (the above-mentioned saving of color collections).
The second indisputable advantage is called color correction with a reference color, which consists in indicating the color you like and the possibility of its use in the processed image.
And the users attributed to the shortcomings:
- lack of layer correction and filtering operations;
- lack of the "Panorama" function;
- lack of batch processing function.
Knoll light factory
This plugin is used to create reflection effects from a sufficiently bright light source through the camera lens. The tool is much more advanced compared to its counterparts in the standard versions of Photoshop, Premiere and After Effects. With the latest updates, the plugin is compatible with Windows 32/64, works fine with Windows XP. The plugin contains many templates and more than 200 presets. The interface of this Photoshop plugin in Russian is presented in the form of two vertical stripes with buttons for the corresponding effects on the left side of the screen.
It is possible to view effects in real time (without the need to save) and 19 additional tools for creating your own reflection simulation effects.
- the plugin is embedded in After Effects, Adobe Photoshop, Photoshop ;
- more than 200 presets;
- easy-to-understand user-friendly interface;
- 19 tools to create your own glare effects;
- Compatible with Windows 32x / 64x.
From the developer onOne Software
Perfect Photo Suite is one of the best plug-ins for Photoshop with a huge number of features. Managing application tools is intuitively simple, therefore this module is used not only by professional photographers, but also by amateurs.
The plugin provides a full range of basic editing functions: retouching, cropping photos, gluing panoramas, zooming. It is possible to work with layers (copying, combining, adjusting transparency, etc.).
Among the tools in their reviews, many note a variety of markers, brushes, pens, and other things standard for many photo editors.
The application will tell you how to make a color photo in Photoshop, help you put original frames with effects on the finished image, create vignettes, and also process portrait photographs in a high-quality manner.
- simple import of photos (via the browser or by the drag and drop method);
- highlighting a key object in the photo;
- adjustment without loss of image quality;
- library of professional photo effects;
- fractal way to increase;
- tone saturation and transparency settings;
- work with layers.
Topaz remask
One of the best plugins for Photoshop, which uses a very accurate algorithm for selecting individual objects in the image. With it, you can separate the necessary element from the general background or make this background transparent. Initially, it was just a plug-in for Adobe Photoshop with the ability to integrate. And relatively recently, it has become an “independent” application.
By installing Topaz ReMask as a plugin, you get the ability to select objects in a separate layer and transfer it to other images.
In later versions of Photoshop tool, you can create a new layer automatically with each selection. And as a "stand-alone" application, and as a plug-in, it can work in 16-bit and 8-bit modes.
- In Photoshop, you can drag an object into a new layer.
- The function of separating objects with complex contours from the background.
- The ability to adjust the intensity of the mask, the degree of shear and the rigidity of the edges
For Adobe Photoshop Editor
Perfectly Clear is a plugin for manual and automatic image correction. He earned particular popularity as the best plugin for Photoshop, the opportunity to "improve" the picture with one click.
Perfectly Clear, unlike other similar solutions, offers eight modes at the same time for automatic correction.
If the results of using the automatic mode do not suit you, then you can independently “play around” with the sliders by going to the manual settings section.
- Distributed as a plugin for Photoshop.
- It contains many parameters and settings for correction in the "manual" mode.
- Works with RAW images.
- The ability to combine various auto correction modes.
- The ability to compare the original image with one click.
Exposure Plugin
If something seems to be missing for your photos, they look too uninteresting and flat - then this application is for you. With it, you can add a film soul to digital photography. And since the plugin’s interface is intuitive and easy to learn, you can do this in just a couple of clicks.
Exposure can also perform basic operations with graphic files, such as: changing contrast, changing exposure, saturation, light / shadow, and so on.
The choice of presets for simulating analog photos is simply huge: from black-and-white film and the Polaroid effect to the manifestation of cross-style lomography and the effect of overexposed film on the Lomo Compact Automat.