Can anyone please advise a newbie?

Hello all

I downloaded the trial version 2 days ago and am really struggling to uderstand how to use this program.

I have created loads of tessellated tiles myself using other programs and already use many of them as filters (I think I'm using the word filter in the same way as you) so that I create loads of more tiles by combining what I call source tiles with what i call filter tiles to make new tiles.

Anyway, to cut it shourt I'm worried that my 30 day trial will end before I've worked out how to use this program.

Can anyone please advise me of how I can import images and my existing filters into this program?

I went to tools -> hdri import (was the only tab I could see with 'import' on it, but my files (jpegs) are not a recognised file type.

Please excuse my lack of techie skills, I'm entirely self taught re photoshop and I learned how to use it over time and time is something I don't havce re this trial.

Also can anyone please advise me how to use this program as a plug in with photoshop?

Thanks so much

edited to add

can nyone please clarify for me the situation re © of the filters and tiles? If I donate a filter an I assigning the © to Filter Forge? Can I use other people's filters donated to Filter Forge to create images that I can use commercially - how does it all work? Thanks again

hi mary,

FF works as both a stand-alone and a plugin. it will work with any program that can use an .8bf plugin.

copyrights are yours. however, IF you submit one to the library you are leasing to filter forge the right for them to sub-lease the filter for EVERYONE elses use, without restrictions. that's basically what it boils down to. that means they can use 'your' presets, all derivative works they create from the filter, and even alter your filter and submit it as their own. they do, however, throw out frivolous alterations. so, if you want to protect a certain look, a certain filter from others using it, copying it or altering it and submitting as their own, DONT SUBMIT IT!. you may sell your filters, create works from your filters and sell those and everything else you could do being the owner of the filter. it is your filter. the engine which you used to create your filter is NOT yours. that part belongs solely to Filter Forge.

you cannot import other filters into FF. you can use other images with it. click on File and then Open. a window will come up allowing you to browse your file system to find the image you want to use. click on that and hit OK. your image will now be in the preview window of FF.

bear in mind that if you use an image in your filter creation, that image does NOT save with the filter. the image is only there while you have FF open and running. it will not save with the filter nor will it upload if you submit the filter. but, you can open an image in FF, use a fitler on it, and save that as a new image.