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Series 3 - Screen Filters
Cutline Filter
Andromeda Etch Tone Filter
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When you think of filters for Photoshop the first thing that comes to mind is color. There are hundreds of filters that allow you to alter tone, color, texture, sharpness and a million other variables in a color digital image. Andromeda has been around for a while producing filters for Photoshop. With this set of Photoshop plug—in’s the focus is on altering black and white images. The look achieved with these filters are definetly retro, but can be used for even more creative options when used in layers or in tandem with each other.
The three plug-ins that comprise this set, all of course can be purchased separately, deal with the idea of transforming images more or less into line art, or continuous tones. Taking different approaches, the creative options here are definitely those that have an eye out for the designer or artist with a need for graphic images.
The Screens filter converts gray scale into a wide variety of different line art screens. From 15 to 4000 lpi, the options for lines are far ranging. Such types of screens as mezzotints, sharp contrast, mezzograms, mezzoblends, ellipses, lines, circles, spokes, even waves are here. The options for mixing and matching effects are numerous. When used with layers, the options for improving an image, or making it nearly unrecognizable are enormous. Granted it is difficult to appreciate the effects possible on the Web. The reality is that for specific creative projects, this could be the right tool for that specific project.
The Cutline filter makes short work of rendering an image as if it were a wood cut. The options available include cutlines in shadows, cutlines in highlights, vertical wood cuts, and horizontal wood cuts. The essence of the Cutline filter is that it renders your chosen image as if were a wood cut. The options and adjustments within the filter allow for a considerable amount of play. Four combinations of line dot screens and 5 to 35 lpi screening ensure a great deal of customization within the filter.
Andromeda’s EtchTone is a continuous tone filter. What this filter attempts to do is recreate the visual appearance of a steel etch starting with gray/color digital images. The result of the application of this filter is that images look less harsh and more richly textured. Again, the idea is more or less a retro appearance.
The options offered by these plug-ins from Andromeda are intriguing. They offer yet another way to alter an image. Their value to Photoshop users truly depends on the creative needs of the designer. Unlike filters geared towards the improvement of an image, these filters are directed towards effects with more creative ends. I can see artistic creative users really gaining something from this application. While I am certain Photoshop can perform some of these functions, it is a definite that it may not produce all of them, and certainly not this quickly.
The installation of the program was flawless. Operating the program and the interface is the model of simplicity. There is little here to confuse the user. Big positives here are that there are Mac versions of these plug-ins and the fact that they work well under Photoshop CS.
As specialty filters, they are designed to appeal to a particular market with a very specific goal towards image manipulation. For the busy designer or the creative visual artist, Andromeda’s filters are well worth investing. Also of note, Andromeda produces other filters that certainly make visiting their Web site a real exploration of what is available in Photoshop filters. Price point and feature wise, there is very little risk here.
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