Filter Forge and Xara

**wizard509** · 16 July 2015, 04:44 PM

frightful I do not see the lock in your image. I found by hard experience that if I forget to lock the effect then my XP&GD application always quits responding if attempting further operations on the image.
The image below shows the effect is not locked in XP&GD. Pressing the lock makes is subtly appear to be pressed in. This is not necessary if using Photoshop for instance because Filter Forge was written for applications like Photoshop. There seems to be some kind of information that FF looks for that it cannot find with XP&GD even though FF does work, one just has to take an extra step.

Click image for larger version.

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**frightful** · 16 July 2015, 06:36 PM

Peachy ? yes, part of one of my large oil paintings.

As I said, I don't have any experience of locking etc and am willing to learn. All I know is that I loaded the jpg and did nothing to it in Xara except to send it to Filter Forge and when it came back to Xara the status was shown as locked.
The locked notice is shown at the bottom left of the image I posted.
Neither programme crashed or complained.
David

**iamtheblues** · 17 July 2015, 10:14 AM

Originally Posted by frightful

Peachy ? ...*

Referring to Zaphodeist's post (#9) Go to Options (Shift+Ctrl+O) and make sure the "New effects are locked by default" box is checked.

*Peachy - a term denoting one's approval.

Bob.

**frightful** · 17 July 2015, 02:41 PM

Thanks for the input folks. Looks like it's been answered... in fact everything is now ... dare I say it... Peachy !
David

**browj2** · 23 July 2015, 05:30 PM

Originally Posted by wizard509

frightful I do not see the lock in your image. I found by hard experience that if I forget to lock the effect then my XP&GD application always quits responding if attempting further operations on the image.
The image below shows the effect is not locked in XP&GD. Pressing the lock makes is subtly appear to be pressed in. This is not necessary if using Photoshop for instance because Filter Forge was written for applications like Photoshop. There seems to be some kind of information that FF looks for that it cannot find with XP&GD even though FF does work, one just has to take an extra step.

Bought FF last night on sale at 80% off (still on sale for one day at 75% off). Got the standard version, should have bought the pro version.

Just tried the lock and the button does not change to a "lock." It simply highlights the button. Is this what you get?

I first clicked on it a couple of times because I didn't see the lock. Xara crashed. Next time, I only clicked once, and it highlighted the unlock button, and thus worked.

Thanks,
John

**wizard509** · 23 July 2015, 08:28 PM

The lock icon doe's not change to a closed lock, what it does is give the appearence of a botton pressed in.
If it would help when I get to my computer I will post an image of what it looks like pressed(locked).

**Mike Bailey** · 24 July 2015, 11:44 AM

I too purchased Filter Forge when the discounted price was in effect, I also purchased the library backup and the librarian to compliment filter forge. So far I have not heard a peep from them about the library files. I emailed support, sent 2 messages via their contact page, even tried contacting one of the moderators on their forum. So far they have not responded to my attempts at contact nor have I received a download link for the library files. I am not very happy with Filter Forge Inc., I would advise a word of caution if you plan on dealing with them.

**wizard509** · 24 July 2015, 04:31 PM

I have had very good luck dealing with them. I don't know anything about the library backuo or librarian I didn't do those. Didn't even know about them. At first I bought v3 standard but soon realized my mistake and upgraded to pro then when v4 came out I bought that. Other than the program having some issues with Xara, I am a satisfied customer.

**browj2** · 24 July 2015, 05:21 PM

The library and librarian mentioned by Mike are in the email received after purchasing FF, trying to sell you more stuff.

Filter Library Backup is a collection of all the 10,000+ filters from our online filter library in a single ZIP file (29.95 USD)
Filter Forge Librarian is an auxiliary program that allows you to view the filters inside the Filter Library Backup and select specific filters to be installed into Filter Forge. Note that Librarian won't work if you haven't purchased a Library Backup (39.95 USD).

Here is what FF has to say about these:
There are 11125 filters available in the online filter library. Though you can freely download them from the website, we also offer an archive of all library filters at a specific date in a single file – a convenient way to load all filters at once into your copy of Filter Forge.

Filter Library Backup without Librarian
If you choose to get a Filter Library Backup without Librarian you will receive a ZIP archive of all library filters. You will need to unpack it and copy its contents to the folder that stores filters on your computer. This option doesn't allow you to select specific filters for import, so you will end up with over 10,000 filters loaded into your Filter Forge. Since there are no caches in the ZIP archive, Filter Forge may take a bit longer to start while processing the newly-added filters.

Filter Library Backup with Librarian (Windows) Recommended option
The recommended option is a package containing Filter Library Backup with Librarian – an interactive filter browser that simplifies import of filters into Filter Forge. It allows you to preview filters and select specific filters to be installed into Filter Forge. Librarian will automate filter installation (you won't need to copy any files manually); it also generates filter caches for Filter Forge. Librarian is a standalone program that is installed separately and doesn't run simultaneously with Filter Forge.

**Mike Bailey** · 24 July 2015, 05:33 PM

I did'nt have any problem getting Filter Forge, I downloaded the trial and Digital River supplied me with the license key on the invoice. When I purchase the library backup and the librarian, The invoice from Digital River said,
"The publisher will deliver the product within 48 hours. Please contact Filter Forge Inc. directly with any questions about the delivery of your order" That was 10 days ago, I'm still waiting to hear from them.