Design reviews - Photoshop plugin filters

Alien Skin Photoshop plugins


Special effects filter manufacturer Alien Skin have released the latest in a series of Eye Candy Photoshop filters. Eye Candy 5: Nature is a set of 10 plug-in filters that works in Photoshop and also Photoshop Elements, Paint Shop Pro and Fireworks. As the name suggests, this latest plug-in offering from Alien Skin simulates numerous natural phenomena, including fire, smoke, rust, snow and ice.

This is the second of three upgrades to Photoshop plugins Eye Candy 4000. The first part of Eye Candy 5 was "Textures" which came out earlier in 2004. Eye Candy 5: Nature features four all-new filters and six reincarnated Eye Candy classics. Graphic designers, digital photographers and web and multimedia designers will appreciate many of 'Natures' features.

But, it has to be said that many of these filters are one-shot effects - even if they are effective ones. If you are running an advertising campaign that needs some of these design effects, it may well be worth the purchase price. However, many graphic designers may well consider these plug-ins to be a 'flash in the pan' gimmick.

Other Photoshop plugins developed by Alien Skin include Xenofex, Eye Candy 4000, Splat and Image Doctor. They also have a version of Eye Candy for running special effects within Adobe's motion video package After Effects.