AutoFX Gel

[Erik]

Just got a message from autoFX ( www.autofx.com ), the makers of Dreamsuite that they have a new set of plugins called Gel.

I have two of the Dreamsuite plugins, and my opinion is that they ask for a lot of memory but do their job, and do it well.
Still, if I remember well, Kai also has a powertool called Gel...

[theKeeper]

I just took a look at this filter on their site.

And my personal opinion is that you don't need it. The PS6 Layer Effects can more than adequately do the same things i saw in their sample images for the filter -- if you take the time to learn how to use the Layer Effects.

And AutoFX Gel is nothing like KPT's Gel -- totally different effect.

[Erik]

Now there's a good Guru

Thanks Mark, it didn't seem to be that interesting to me either. And, as it often goes with digital stuff: too many shrortcuts to achieve an effect make you go round in circles. I even have the feel that "I" didn't make the thing but just clicked some buttons.

The interface looks a lot like Dreamsuite. I didn't even look whether it is a standalone standalone or an addition to Dreamsuite.???

Still: I won't buy.

[theKeeper]

yep... agreed.

[jonbalza]

You know, I agree with you guys, there is just one picture on the site that bugs me. I have attached it here. (Is that legal? if it isn't, just take it down, Mark.) I have no idea how you would go about doing something like this. I am referring to the bevel, and how the inner edges do not correspond to the general shape of figure. Do you see what I mean?

[theKeeper]

Jon are you really SURE you can't think of how to create that effect? Or something similar?

Give it some further creative thought... i think you'll see a method (or 2) if you break down the image into separate elements -- i.e. levels of effect. The trick to this kind of situation is to NOT look at the image in it's entirety, and as a whole. Think about it.

I'm not positive if that exact effect can be mimiced with minimum hassle, but i'm gonna wait a bit before i give my thoughts on this one. I think it's a great learning exercise.

PS: I don't see how posting that image here is hurting anything... if they have a problem with it, they'll contact me about i'm sure. Hey... at worst it's free advertising right?! hahaa

[Erik]

Jon, like Mark said: see it flat. Forget the 3D effects. Analyse.
To give you a hint: you have a straight outline shape that is divided in several selected parts whose outlines seem to be drawn by hand, and then each selection seems to be made lighter or darker, and eventually some colour is added.

Of course, this is a filter that will do the job automatically, but you can achieve similar effects by hand.

To be honest: I bought two filters from the Dreamsuite, the Liquid Metal and the Metal Mixer.
They're of high quality but require a lot of memory and rendering time. Feel free to ask any questions about them if you want to.

[jonbalza]

Ok, you are right, it wasn't as hard as I thought. It was probably the late hour that caused me not to think hard enough. I didn't finish the effect entirely, but when I got close enough that I knew I could do it, I realized you guys were right.

How are those metal efx filters that Erik bought? Are they worth it? I am always looking for new ways to make metal.

[Erik]

Me too I was fascinated by the images they showed and what "one" can do with the filters.

Because the complete suite is too expensive and most of the effects were (are) not of my liking, I bought these two after downloading the trial.
After a few complications with the font etc, they work fine.
But imo they're not for daily use as that would become boring. So I consider them as some kind of jokers in the game of cards.
Like most plugins.
Personally, I find SuperBlade Pro by Flaming Pear more versatile. Or the standalone Infinity Textures. ( www.i-tex.de )
Still, the Dreamsuite filters do their job, and do it well.
I am on a dual boot system so I can't quickly produce something, but I will make an example.

One I always use is the Boxtop Pro Jpeg plugin. The files are really very small and of high quality.

[Erik]

this is an example of the two filters. The inside is something I'm working on, and has got nothing to do with the Dreamsuite. The greenis lizard skin like texture and the inner border that touches my pic is the metalmixer, the blobs are from the liquid metal filter.
Unquestionable quality, yes, but limited in use, unless you start doing things with it.