Filter Frenzy

[iamtheblues]

Filters, or plugins, people seem to either love ‘em or hate ‘em.
I definitely fall into the former category. I know some feel that
they are like “painting by numbers”, but in the right hands, and
with imagination and inspiration they can produce wonderful results.
We Xarans are lucky that Xara supports the use of Photoshop
compatible plugins, and I consider them as legitimate and useful
additions to the Xara toolbox.

I have attached some examples of what can be done with just a few
filters on a simple ellipse and a rectangle.
Why not show us what you can do using your own graphics or photography?

Xara has plenty of plugins to choose from, but you could always use others
that are at your disposal. You can download plenty of free trial versions from
the internet of course, and I’m sure we’ll all learn about some that we haven’t
seen before.

So go wild, use all your skills artistry and imagination.
Saludos,
Bob.

[angelize]

This is a drawing of a take-out cup I did for an advertisement. The original on the left was printed in black & white on an offeset press. The version on the right shows the magic of filters. I used Ulead particle for the steam, Redfield Craquelure for the java jacket and Xara's art filter for the background I also removed the black outlines and adjusted shadows.

[zaphodeist]

Alien Skin Xenofex2 Crumple - fun, I think

[steve.ledger]

[1] Liquid Colour
[2] Virtual Painter
[3] Redfield Sketch
[4] Plasma Clouds
[5] Drop Shadows

[iamtheblues]

Not that there was anything wrong with the original coffee cup, Frances, but the judicious use of filters have certainly given it a new lease of life.

John, just because you don't like my orbs, there was no need to screw them up. That's a very useful effect.

Steve, I particularly like the way the skin tones have turned out on your portrait.

Here's a photo of the almond tree on our patio, taken at night. It's a poor photo, taken for the weirdly orangey coloured moon that is just visible through the trees in the background, above the chairs and below the almond tree branches. The picture was greatly improved by using the gradients filter with the "intensity mapped to gradient" setting which is part of a big package of filters from Filters Unlimited 2.0 available here for about 26 of your english pounds, which is now worth about 2 euros or 1 usd I imagine. Canvas texture added from the same source.
Saludos,
Bob

[zaphodeist]

No problem with your orbs really Thanks for tip about Filters Unlimited 2.0 - had a look and ordered so, in 12 to 24 hours , I'll let you know the verdict

This one's a straight VP.

[iamtheblues]

Hope you don't mind me bastardising yours, John.
Just the clone brush in PSP X.
Saludos,
Bob.

[iamtheblues]

Salobreña on the Costa Tropical, Granada province, Andalucia Spain.
left: original. right: Eye Candy 4000 Melt.
Saludos,
Bob.

[zaphodeist]

Xenofex 2 - Flag, plus extrusion ... both effects still live when used together

[iamtheblues]

I experimented with one of the characters from spondoolix's thread, using the "Cigar 3" stroke shape, round ends and joins,
then applied "Rushed Brush" from the natural media brush set.
For the paper I made a fractal cloud fill, and applied the Crumple filter from the Alien Skin Xenofex 2 demo.
Then the Burnt Edges filter from the Alien Skin Xenofex 2 (full product).
Saludos,
Bob.