You can change the look and feel of your Adobe Photoshop images with these free Photoshop filters, and improve your working environment with free Photoshop plugins. They're a great way to easily and quickly customize your Photoshop experience.
The Photoshop filters are image effects or settings used to change the way a picture looks, and the plugins are extended features like rulers or guide lines, that aren't included with Photoshop by default.
You can also use free Photoshop actions, templates, shapes, brushes, and textures to change your Photoshop images.
How to Install and Use Photoshop Filters
Once you've downloaded a Photoshop filter, you'll want to copy the 8BF file into Photoshop's Filters folder to install it. This is usually C:Program FilesAdobeAdobe Photoshop (version)Plug-insFilters.
Installed filters can be accessed from Photoshop's Filter menu.
However, some Photoshop filters are installed through an EXE file so that it installs like a regular program. In those instances, you don't need to copy any files into any program folder; just open the EXE file like you would any application.
How to Install and Use Photoshop Plugins
Photoshop plugins are ZXP files that must be installed using Adobe Extension Manager (unless it downloads as an EXE program file). Just choose Install to browse for the ZXP file.
Installed plugins can be accessed from Photoshop's Window > Extensions menu.
Some of the websites below will explain that they are offering plugins when really they're installed under the Filter menu in Photoshop, and vice versa.
Adobe's Free Photoshop Plugins
What better place to get free Photoshop plugins than Adobe's own website? You can sort the resources by title or rating as well as by newest added or most popular.
Not only plugins and filters are on this page. You'll find extensions, actions, and other things as well.
Adobe's Photoshop plugins are installed a bit differently than the others in this list. You must have a free Adobe account and the Creative Cloud program installed to use the plugins.
To find just the free Photoshop plugins at Adobe's website, be sure to choose Photoshop from the filtering area on the left, and then on the right, sort the results by Price (Low to High).
What We Like
- Many are rated, from one to five stars.
- Easy to search for and find what you need.
- Enormous variety.
What We Don't Like
- Requires free Creative Cloud program.
- You must create an Adobe account if you don't already have one.
Mehdi's Free Photoshop Filters
Mehdi has dozens of free Photoshop filters. Each download page has a thorough explanation of the filter as well as screenshots.
Kaleidoscope, Projection, Sorting Tiles, Blots, Weaver, and Contrast Balance are just some of the free filters you can download here.
What We Like
- Thorough explanation of each plugin with examples.
- Dozens of plugins available.
- FAQ page and ability to contact Mehdi for support.
What We Don't Like
- Dated but useable interface.
- Windows only; not for MacOS.
The Plugin Site's Free Photoshop Filters
Harry's Filters (formerly VideoRave) is a download at The Plugin Site that lets you get around 70 image effects for Photoshop in one download.
The Plugin Site has other downloads as well, such as Photoshop actions.
On the download page, scroll past the commercial downloads to find the free options. When you're ready to download something from this website, you'll need to fill out the download form, where you'll get the download link in your email.
What We Like
- Single download saves time.
- Fast access without layers of menus.
- Easy to use.
What We Don't Like
- No MacOS version.
- No updates since October 2017.
Lokas Software's Free 3D Shadow and Photoshop Filter
Lokas Software has only one free Photoshop filter, and it's called 3D Shadow. I include it in this list because while Photoshop has its own text shadowing feature, I find this one to be much more useful.
You can adjust the blur, axis and offset angle, perspective, and color, as well as select a preset shadow effect, such as Cast in Front, Flat Faint, and Rear shadow.
What We Like
- Broad range of shadow effects.
- Easy to use.
RichardRosenman.com's Free Photoshop Plugins
RichardRosenman.com has one page of free Photoshop plugins. Some of them include ones called Diffuse Glow, Box Fitting, Pinch, 3D Sphere, Pixelate, and Solid Border.
The plugins you'll find at RichardRosenman.com have a short description and sample picture to show you what the plugin does.
What We Like
- Easy to browse through available plugins.
- Thorough explanation of each plugin’s function.
What We Don't Like
- Windows only.
- No new releases since April 2015.
Course Info
- Duration:1h 36m 1s
- Skill Level:Advanced
- Released:August 25, 2017
- Viewers:8,009
Learn the most in-demand business, tech and creative skills from industry experts.
Course details
Photoshop filters run the gamut from simple to complex. In this course, photographer and educator Chris Orwig shares some best practices, and highlights the optimal filters for photographers looking to enhance their images. Chris shows how to increase your flexibility when working with Smart Filters, and covers Smart Filter workflows in Photoshop, Lightroom, and Camera Raw. He also explores how to correct and enhance your photos using Camera Raw, apply creative effects with filters, and use plugin filters to boost your creativity.Skills covered in this course
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Course Transcript
- [Chris] Hi, my name is Chris and welcome to this short and focused course on Photoshop filters. In this course, we'll take a look at how we can increase our flexibility when working with Smart Filters. We'll talk about Smart Filter workflow in Photoshop. We'll also discuss how we can integrate Smart Filters into our workflow if we're starting in LightRoom or Camera Raw. We'll explore how we can use Smart Filters to make corrections or enhancements to our photographs. And we'll take some time to talk about applying creative effects with filters. At the end of this course, I have a handful of challenges and solutions. These are designed to help you put into practice some of the topics that we've covered. So thanks for joining me in this course, let's begin.Practice while you learn with exercise files
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Course Contents
If you want the best free Photoshop actions, you've come to the right place. But what are Photoshop actions? Well, Adobe's flagship image editing software has an inbuilt programming language that completes hours of design work in just one click. Photoshop actions record tasks as an 'action' and replay the steps to complete the task automatically - a pretty cool timesaver.
Not only can you record your own Photoshop actions, you can also import free Photoshop actions. This opens up a whole range of shiny new effects and an opportunity to learn them, saving you huge amounts of time now and in the future. Your projects will look better than ever.
We've rounded up the best free Photoshop actions in this list, but if you feel inspired to expand your Photoshop skill set you can head over to our roundups of the best Photoshop plugins and Photoshop brushes, great for photographers, graphic designers, game artists and more.
Filters For Photoshop
You can jump to the section you want right now from the drop-down menu above, but you should definitely bookmark the entire list of free Photoshop actions to check out the rest later – who knows where inspiration will strike.
Free Photoshop actions: Photo filters
01. Deep Matte
This free Photoshop action does exactly what its name would suggest. It will give your image a super-strong matte finish. If you want a lighter matte finish, they have a basic version too, but we love the intensity of this one.
02.Double exposure
This awesome free Photoshop action creates a professional double exposure effect instantaneously. When the action has finished, you can add a colour tone or gradient to your image to complete your composition. You have to register with the site (for free) before you can download, but the site has so many great free Photoshop actions, it's definitely worth it.
03. Color Pop
Give washed-out photos an instant burst of colour with this free Photoshop action from Shutter Pulse. One of its set of 14 Boosters Photoshop Actions, it comes as part of a free bundle of 20 Lightroom presets and 20 Photoshop actions, and it'll bring any photo a much needed dash of colour and constrast.
04. Pastel Effect
Another way to breathe fresh life into your photos is with this set of 40 pastel effect Photoshop actions; they'll provide instant light enhancement and beautiful colour toning at the touch of a button, and transform ordinary shots into something much more Instagram-worthy.
05. Mystical Light
Give your photos an other-worldly air with this Photoshop action from Megan Joy. It'll infuse landscapes with a magical purple haze, enlivening any shot with an ethereal purple haze and giving any location the atmosphere of a mysterious fairy dell.
06. Instant Hipster
For those times you want to give your photos a one-click Instagram effect, Instant Hipster's the perfect solution. It comes with 10 ready-made filters – Amaro, Mayfair, Hudson, Valencia, X-Pro II, Willow, Sutro, Hefe, Nashville and 1977 – so you can find just the retro effect you need in seconds.
07. Nightmare
If your photos just aren't sinister enough for your liking, this free action should make things a little more unsettling. It's designed to let you easily give your photos a dark, haunting effect. Perfect for creating the impression that you're permanently about to stumble into mortal danger.
08. Cold Nightmare
This amusingly-titled action will transform a photo of a perfectly innocent scenario into a window into a dark world. In this example image, the archer probably shooting at a target takes on the look of someone who is definitely trying to kill a human. It’s amazing what some shadows can do.
09. Summer Haze
If you'd prefer to cheer up your images, take a sunny shot and make it intensely summery with this great turquoise haze effect. Outdoor portraits taken in natural light are most suitable for this filter.
10. Hazy Afternoon
Perfect for outdoor pictures, the Hazy Afternoon action certainly lives up to its name by creating a soft gradient colour layer. You can use this free action on black and white or colour images, plus you can easily adjust the gradient until you get the exact look you're after.
11. Sun Kissed
Light up any image with this comprehensive collection of sunlight effects that'll brighten and tone even the drabbest landscape. Simply add a bit of a warm tone, or go the whole hog and throw in a setting sun complete with a lens flare effect; it's all there.
12. HDR Action
Remove the lack of contrast that comes with HDR photography with this set of four actions; HDR fix Light, Normal, Heavy, and Clicker.
13. Strong HDR Effect
Alternatively, try getting vibrant colour effects with this free HDR filter from Shutter Pulse. If it works well for you but you’d like more options, it’s part of a set of 30 HDR actions that you can buy for $13.
14. Blue Evening
Cach tai garena 2018. Blue Evening is the free component of a paid-for set called Touch of Drama, which gives you various ways to add a mysterious atmosphere to your shots. The strength of the blue cast depends on your starting colours, so click through to see a good selection of examples.
15. Night to Twilight
This set of 11 actions convert your nighttime images into twilight photos by introducing a colour cast and lightening the sky. The effect is rendered using layers, so you can adjust the degree of twilight by reducing the layer’s opacity, making it nice and flexible.
16. Purple Contrast
This free Photoshop action washes out some of the colour from an image and gives it a purpley hue. It's a good way to give your photographs a dramatically downbeat look.
17. Bella
This action adds a beautiful warmth to your photographs, bringing out rich tones in hair and skin, and softening colours with a pink cast that creates a romantic, nostalgic feel.
18. Wedding Enhancers kit
Photoshop actions are extremely useful for wedding photographers dealing with a huge number of shots. Here you get a set of 11 actions that automatically create common portrait effects, especially around the theme of wedding photography. The set includes skin smoothing and soft filter effects as well as black and white conversion.
19. Photoshop Color actions
A nice range of colour treatments including rich, grainy black-and-white, bleach bypass, and some heavy casting effects. Great for experimentation.
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Adobe Photoshop gives you the tools to edit images or create new graphics for brochures, advertisements or business logos. Photoshop comes with a library of graphic effects, called filters, from which to choose. Filters have a variety of visual effect; for example, some filters can make your image look like a watercolor painting or a neon sign. Artists and developers create new filters and make them available for download online. If you downloaded some new filters, you need to load them into Photoshop before you can use them.
1.
Go the location where you saved the new filters, such as your My Documents or Downloads folder. Open the folder containing the filters, if applicable.
2.
Click the Windows 'Start' button. Click 'Computer' and 'Local Disk (C:).'
3.
Scroll down and double-click 'Program Files.' Double-click 'Adobe.' Double-click your version of Photoshop, such as 'Adobe Photoshop CS3.'
4.
Double-click 'Plug-Ins.' Copy the new filters to the Plug-Ins folder.
5.
Start Adobe Photoshop. Click the 'Filter' menu at the top of the window. Photoshop typically organizes filters by developer.
6.
Point to a developer name to see a list of filters created by that developer. Click a filter name to activate it.
Tip
- You can also create sub-folders for filters within the Plug-Ins folder. This helps you organize your filters by effect.
References (1)
About the Author
Melissa King began writing in 2001. She spent three years writing for her local newspaper, 'The Colt,' writing editorials, news stories, product reviews and entertainment pieces. She is also the owner and operator of Howbert Freelance Writing. King holds an Associate of Arts in communications from Tarrant County College.
Cite this Article Choose Citation Style
Filters For Photoshop Skin
King, Melissa. 'How to Load a New Filter in Photoshop Elements.' Small Business - Chron.com, http://smallbusiness.chron.com/load-new-filter-photoshop-elements-46340.html. Accessed 29 May 2019.
King, Melissa. (n.d.). How to Load a New Filter in Photoshop Elements. Small Business - Chron.com. Retrieved from http://smallbusiness.chron.com/load-new-filter-photoshop-elements-46340.html
Free Filters For Photoshop
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