Note: You can print this (or any page) from your web browser by selecting File/Print. This information is provided for your personal use only and is not to be redistributed without permission of the author. This tip covers Photoshop 3, Photoshop 4 and Photoshop 5.
 I love filters. And so will you, once you see how versatile they can be. This is a "Don't look behind that curtain!" tip. Once you discover how many (seemingly) complex effects are managed straight from the filter menu, you might just start to think that this computer graphics stuff is easy. The examples in this tip were all created using the Alien Skin Filters, version 2.0, and version 3, also known as Eye Candy. You can contact the Alien Skin folks at their web site at http://www.alienskin.com/ where they have demo versions of their filters All of the following examples started out as the same file and had a single filter applied. The original file looked like this:  This file consisted of two layers, the background layer, and the heart on the second layer. The background pattern was created with an everyday filter from the Photoshop menu. First, the background layer was filled with a pale pink, then the Noise filter was used, and then the blur filter was applied. This file was duplicated a number of times using Image/Duplicate so that I could experiment with different techniques on the same file. Before a filter was applied, the heart layer was selected on the Layers Palette, and the heart itself was selected using the combined keystroke CTRL+ALT+T in Photoshop 3. In Photoshop 4 and 5, you don't need to create a section, simply select the layer.
 1. This example was created using the Alien Skin filter Carve, with the Preset Dark Pits.  2. This example was created using the Alien Skin filter CutOut, with the Preset Deep and Blurred. In Eye Candy 3, use the following settings to achieve this look:
 3. This example was created using the Alien Skin filter Drop Shadow, with the Preset Very Soft. In Eye Candy 3, use the Preset named Subtle.  4.This example was created using the Alien Skin filter Glass, with the Preset Background. The Dropoff type was changed to Button. In Eye Candy 3, use the Preset named Transparent Button.
 5. This example was created using the Alien Skin filter Glow, with the Preset Medium. Use the Preset named Outline in Eye Candy 3.
 6. This example was created using the Alien Skin filter HSB Noise, with the Preset Really Noisy.  7. This example was created using the Alien Skin filter Inner Bevel, with the Preset Button. Use the Preset named Wide Bevel in Eye Candy 3.
 8. This example was created using the Alien Skin filter Motion Trail, with the Preset Photographic, which uses the foreground color. The foreground color was set to a deep magenta.  9. This example was created using the Alien Skin filter Outer Bevel, with the Preset Slightly Raised. This does require a selection, so if you are using Photoshop 4, use Alt+Click on the Layer preview for this image (Command+Click on the Mac) to select the shape first. Use the Preset Slightly Rounded to achieve this effect in Eye Candy 3.  10. This example was created using the Alien Skin filter Swirl, with the Preset Little Bubbles. If this creates an image that is too distorted, adjust the Smear Length setting. Eye Candy 3 also includes these filters:
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