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How it works: effects functionality
Now, I mentioned in the beginning that the full DreamSuite bundle had too many effects to review in one place. And really, even Series 1 has too many. I know 18 doesn't sound like a mind-boggling amount, but keep in mind that almost all of these have just tons and tons of options. For example, here's a fairly typical set of controls for the effects in DreamSuite Series 1. Below you see the primary control panel for the Crackle effect.[an error occurred while processing this directive]
Oh, but guess what.... There are two other sets of controls hidden in there as well, not to mention the submenus, subpalettes and preset dialogs.
Plus most of the filters also include interactive tools, such as paint brushes, selection tools and the like. As a reviewer, I'm daunted by the vast functionality, especially in something that I can't help but regard as a Photoshop plugin, since that's how I use it exclusively. But as a user, I'm thrilled by the wealth of features this software affords, complete with outstanding Photoshop integration.
So what about the effects themselves? O, the effects.
O, the effects
Of the filters included in the Series 1 package, I'd say that all of them are worthwhile, which is unusual for an effects package; I'd say that a good that a good 15 of them are outstanding; I'd say that six of them are amazing; and I'd say that one of them is something no Photoshop artist should be without.
Shall I begin with the best one or leave you hanging? Oh, all right.
The best one is a filter known as Putty, which, as its name implies, is a filter for gooifying your image. So what is this, just another "Liquify" tool? No indeed. Actually, it does share some tools in common with Photoshop's "Liquify" tool. But it's also a Bezier-based envelope distortion tool. What does this mean for you? Well, it means that in Photoshop, you can warp portions of your image any way you want, with precision and transparency.
So, if you have to composite text onto a flag, no problem. The distortions can even do overlapping effects, so that you're not only creating a wavy effect, but also emulating how your image would look if it were waving in three dimensions. Now that, for me, is almost worth the $199 price tag of this software alone because it's the first tool of its kind I've seen for bitmap images that actually works as it should.
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