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Instamatic Frame places a photo frame around your image and can be used to create stacks of any single image to add depth to the effect.
[an error occurred while processing this directive]Other filters in the collection include:- Photo Tone, which produces tonal variations on images;
- Photo Border and 35mm Frame, which create additional edge styles, such as slides, postage stamps, etc.;
- Photo Depth, which adds rumple distortion to an image;
- Tape, which places customizable strips of tape on to the image in a variety of styles; Focus, which allows you to defocus portions of your scene;
- Ripple, which is a great little filter for generating ripple with perspective, waves and other watery effects. (With a little extra effort, you can also use it to create distortion maps for reflective water effects.)
All in all, it's an incredibly beefy collection of effects, one that will unquestionably solve dozens of production problems for you and justify its own expense within a few months.
Disappointments
If I had to find fault with DreamSuite Series 1, it's the same fault I find with all of Auto FX's software, and that is with the interface. There's nothing wrong with the look and feel of it; it's that fact that it takes over the screen by default that's disconcerting. As I mentioned before, the window can be reduced, but, for example, you have to click in another window (or the Desktop) in order to gain access to things like the Dock. And even then, all of DreamSuite's tools and buttons remain active, even when the application is in the background. And DreamSuite doesn't remember your last window configuration, so you have to resize it each time you use it.
There are also some other slight interface issues, including visual artifacting on rare occasions, and settings that sometimes aren't recognized until you cancel and relaunch DreamSuite. (These are problems I encountered in the Mac OS X version and may not apply to other operating systems.) Also, in the Edit menu in my particular version, there's an option called "Add Feature." I was curious about this, so I selected it, and it wiped out my serial number. I'm not sure what's up with that.
Finally, if you're a user of Macromedia Fireworks or other programs that access your Photoshop Plug-Ins folder, you may have trouble if you place the plugin component of DreamSuite into the general Plug-Ins folder. Definitely place it in the Adobe Photoshop Only directory when you install it. (I couldn't even launch Fireworks until I moved DreamSuite.)
But on the whole these are minor problems that can be easily overlooked given the quality and functionality of DreamSuite.
The bottom line
Auto FX DreamSuite Series 1 is an absolutely essential package of effects and tools for work on still images. The envelope distortion filter alone (Putty) is nearly worth the price of the whole package. But there are 17 other effects as well, most of which are unique to this set, and all of which offer excellent features and deep functionality. I can't help but give this a Strong Buy recommendation. At the very least you must download the demo and try it out for yourself.
Auto FX DreamSuite Series 1 is available now as a standalone application and plugin for Adobe Photoshop for Mac OS 9, Mac OS X and Windows for $199. It's also available in a bundle with two other DreamSuite packages for $399. For more information, visit http://www.autofx.com.
Contact the author: Dave Nagel is the producer of Creative Mac and Digital Media Designer; host of several World Wide User Groups, including Synthetik Studio Artist, Adobe Photoshop, Mac OS, Adobe InDesign, Adobe LiveMotion, Creative Mac and Digital Media Designer; and executive producer of the Digital Media Net family of publications. You can reach him at dnagel@digitalmedianet.com.
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