Website: www.asf.com
Summary: Applied Science Fiction (ASF) was acquired by Kodak. Now, Kodak makes Plug-ins for Adobe PhotoshopT computer users.
Photographers and Photoshop users want photo power but don't want to spend thousands of dollars to get it. The answer is ASF plug-in filters for Photoshop.
Applied Science FictionT (ASF) developed ASF plug-in filters software for Photoshop users for both Mac and Windows platforms. The Kodak plug-in filters are available as an Internet download. You can go to the Applied Science FictionT website store www.asf.com/store for downloading the trial versions of Kodak plug-ins. Also, you can check for new ASF programs at their website.
Trial Version Watermark Kodak Plug-in
In the trial version of the Kodak plug-in, each processed image is watermarked with the "Applied Science FictionT." To prevent the watermark from appearing on future images, you need to purchase and register the Kodak plug-ins. Until you register your plug-ins, a "Buy and Register" button will appear in the top left corner of the Kodak plug-ins windows.
After buying the Kodak plug-ins, you will receive a purchase confirmation e-mail. This contains the information you will need to register your ASF Plug- in software.
Working with Kodak Plug-ins in Photoshop CS
DIGITAL SHO Pro Plug-In letters stand for Shadow and Highlight Optimization. I find that using DIGITAL SHO Professional brings out precise details in the shadows and the highlights in my photos. Now, I can balance the density ranges in my digital images by using DIGITAL SHO Pro plug-in.
DIGITAL GEM Pro Airbrush smoothes skin surfaces of your photographs. The amazing DIGITAL GEM Airbrush will soften the lighting of portraits. Also, using the plug-in, you can remove aging shadows without losing the character of the person's face. You can use DIGITAL GEM Airbrush for school portraits and wedding proofs.
DIGITAL ROC Professional plug-In letters stand for Reconstruction of Color. DIGITAL ROC Professional plug-In restores and balances color. The DIGITAL ROC Professional allows you to correct, restore, and balance the color quality of your DIGITAL photos. Using DIGITAL ROC Professional Plug-In, you can analyze color gradients in your images. Also, you can remove colorcasts, tints and restore faded or lost colors.
DIGITAL GEM Professional plug-in letters stands for Grain Equalization Management. The DIGITAL GEM plug-in reduces noise and grain in your DIGITAL image photos.
Kodak Plug-ins "Hands-On" Features
I enjoy retouching family portraits with the various Kodak Plug-ins. I keep the size of my DIGITAL photographs at the JPEG fine setting. The TIFF setting at ISO 100 camera speed is the best for taking photographs and editing with Kodak plug-ins. The minimum size requirement is 512 x 512 for editing with the Kodak Plug-ins.
Round-About Approach
My round-about approach for moving past the minimum display resolution: 800 x 600 pixels is to create a canvas that is 800 x 600 pixels or greater in Adobe Photoshop. Then, I paste several small photo or graphic images into the new canvas and save the new image. Now, I can use Applied Science Fiction plug-ins to make changes to my image. Using the Adobe Photoshop cropping tool, I can now use the converted images.
Pro Reaction
Kodak Plug-ins for Adobe Photoshop works fast. They allow you to correct your photo images in Photoshop's RGB format. I find learning how to use the Kodak Plug-ins sliders fun to use. You can download the free PDF manuals from Kodak's Austin Development Center. The trial version works quite well and gives you the feel of the program.
Con Reaction
Kodak Plug-ins for Adobe Photoshop has small preview windows and there are no printed manuals.
Final Notes
The Photoshop plug-in software products were developed by Kodak's Austin Development Center, formerly Applied Science Fiction.
Kodak Plug-ins works quite well with digital image files by using special algorithms. Kodak plug-ins filters works with your film scanners, flatbed scanners, digital cameras, CDs and the Internet.
The Kodak Plug-ins are compatible with Adobe Photoshop and other Photoshop plug-in compatible programs and supports both Windows and Macintosh platforms.
E-mail from Michael K. Conley, Marketing, Kodak's Austin Development Center on this review:
'We agree with your comments on the preview screen and you will note that the Professional versions do have a larger preview screen, additionally we will be making improvements in all the Plug-Ins and will notify existing customers to download the free updates later this year.Your point about not having printed manuals is valid, but as an Internet download that would be difficult, but we do need to add information to our Help files on how to use and optimized these products.'
System Requirements
The Digital GEM plug-in is compatible with Adobe Photoshop (may also work with other Photoshop plug-in compatible applications) and runs on both Macintosh and Windows.
Recommendations for Macintosh Version:
Download your Applied Science Fiction plug-ins into your hard drive.
Double click on the ASF CD icon. Double click on the MAC icon.
Double click on the icon for the Digital GEM plug- in installer. The installer will guide you through the installation process.
Paul Gerstenbluth is President of the ARIE Foundation and is a computer consultant. The ARIE Foundation's mission is to provide VA hospitalized patients with hobby materials and computer laptops that help in their stay and recovery.
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