New to Paint.net-plugin questions

[astronut80920]

I just discovered and downloaded Paint.net and am so far impressed.  It even works on my underpowered Asus 10 inch laptop/tablet, although I am sure  will have to be careful about memory usage.

 

The story behind my choice of Paint.net is this: I have a full size laptop that I use for photo processing.  I use Lightroom and Photoshop Elements to do this.  Lately the laptop has been giving me fits, freezing and crashing and heating up.  Until I can get the $$ to get it fixed (if it  can be fixed),  I decided to see if my lowly Asus can pitch in.  So far it has done just that.

 

Now comes the 64K dollar question.  One reason I picked Paint.net is that it uses layers and has similar functions found in Photoshop Elements.  The other thing I know I will miss is the use of plugins like the Topaz series of plugins, NIK plugin just to name two.  I know Paint.net uses plugins and are different from Adobe's, but I have to ask:  can these plugins be utilized in Paint.net?  If they can't, that's ok.  I will just alter my image processing method because I think Paint.net can handle what I need to do.  As I have progressed in image processing experience, I have found myself using these plugins less and less anyway.

 

Thanks,

 

Jim Lawrence

[Red ochre]

http://forums.getpaint.net/index.php?/topic/20622-psfilterpdn-2015-05-05/

 

^That plugin can 'host' some P.S. plugins.

 

Welcome to the forum

[Cc4FuzzyHuggles]

Hello.

 

I'm not familiar with the NIK plugin, but when I looked up sample images of the Topaz plugin some of the images reminded me of this plugin we have : http://forums.getpaint.net/index.php?/topic/24563-laplacian-pyramid-filter-effect-plugin/

 

If you like plugins to adjust the lighting of images, the Curves+ plugin is nice: http://forums.getpaint.net/index.php?/topic/3749-curves/

Or

You might like the Shadow/Highlight Recovery plugin: http://forums.getpaint.net/index.php?/topic/5578-shadow-highlight-recovery-v22-2008-12-24/

 

If you find yourself wanting to use both paint.net and another program, you can with the help of this plugin: http://forums.getpaint.net/index.php?/topic/13005-that-other-app-v22/

 

Paint.net's built-in Soften Portrait Effect is also very nice. You can see Paint.net's effect samples here: http://www.getpaint.net/doc/latest/EffectsPhotoMenu.html

 

What kind of work or projects do you normally do? If you simply like to play around I suggest you check out the plugin packs: http://forums.getpaint.net/index.php?/forum/44-plugin-packs/

Edited July 20, 2015 by Cc4FuzzyHuggles

[astronut80920]

Cc4FuzzyHuggies:  Thanks for the reply.  I already found and installed some of those plugins you mentioned.   I will check out the Topaz "look alike" you mentioned.

 

One glitch I came across:  I found a plugin called PSfilterPDN that is supposed to host Photoshop Plugins, but when I installed and executed it, Paint.net crashes every time, no matter which plugin I attempt to open.  Anybody have any ideas?  Interesting, the more I investigate, the more I become convinced that I may not need to go back to my PS plugins.  There are a ton of plugins here at this site.

 

 

Jim Lawrence

[BoltBait]

If you're have trouble with a plugin, post the specific error message you're getting right in the plugin's thread.

[Cc4FuzzyHuggles]

Just out of curiosity, you are getting the plugins from this website, right? You have read the warnings to not download plugins from other websites?

 

Also, have you made your way to the plugin index yet? If you think paint.net has a lot of plugins, you're very right.

http://forums.getpaint.net/index.php?/topic/15260-plugin-index/

[astronut80920]

I am getting the plugins from this site.  From past experience, I am very aware and cautious about where I download anything.  Thanks for the warning, I did read the warnings when I first logged on to the forum, good advice.  I have checked the index and have a big list of plugins I am going to try and that's the reason I figure I don't have to figure out how to utilize my other Photoshop plugins.  I have used Photoshop products for years, but over time, tend to go for other less complicated products, especially since Adobe and other companies are going to the subscription model.  I don't like the idea of paying a yearly subscription for software , especially when I can get products like Paint.net for free.  I will pay a reasonable price for software to buy it, rather than subscribe which I consider an insult.  I heard a rumor (stress rumor) that even Corel is considering going to the subscription model for products like Paint Shop Pro.  How times have changed!

 

Jim Lawrence

[null54]

One glitch I came across:  I found a plugin called PSfilterPDN that is supposed to host Photoshop Plugins, but when I installed and executed it, Paint.net crashes every time, no matter which plugin I attempt to open.  Anybody have any ideas?

Could you post the error message in the PSFilterPdn thread?

[astronut80920]

Found the problem.  It occurred to me that maybe when I downloaded the two files that maybe they did not download correctly so I re-downloaded them,  It corrected the problem.  Some but not all of the 8bf plugins ran ok, which I expected since some of them are pretty complicated like the Topaz plugins, but that's ok.

 

BTW, in going through and learning this piece of software, I am pretty impressed with it.  A lot of the functions work as good as and in many cases better than in my copy of Photoshop Elements.  I really like it.
 

Jim Lawrence