Using special add-ons - plugins - can significantly simplify and speed up your work in Photoshop. Some plugins allow you to perform the same actions faster, others add various effects or have other auxiliary functions.
Let's look at several free useful plugins for Photoshop CS6.
This plugin allows you to quickly get HEX and RGB color codes. Works in conjunction with the Eyedropper tool. When you click on any color, the plugin places the code on the clipboard, after which the data can be entered into a style file or other document.
Size Marks automatically creates a size mark from a rectangular selection. In addition, the mark is placed on a new translucent background and helps in the designer’s work, allowing you to determine the sizes of elements without unnecessary manipulations and calculations.
A very useful plugin that allows you to search, download and insert images into a document. Everything happens right in the Photoshop workspace.
This plugin has been discontinued.
DDS
Developed by Nvidia. DDS plugin for Photoshop CS6 allows you to open and edit game textures in DDS format.
Another plugin for web designers. It includes many templates and standard grids. Built-in modules allow you to quickly create repeating page elements.
The so-called “fish generator”. Fish is meaningless text used to fill paragraphs on created web page layouts. It is analogous to online fish generators, but works directly in Photoshop.
This plugin has been discontinued.
This is just a drop in the ocean of plugins for Photoshop CS6. Everyone will find the necessary set of add-ons that will increase the convenience and speed of working in their favorite program.
Adobe Photoshop is an iconic software that has shaped the modern world of graphic design.
Unfortunately, Photoshop's strength - its huge list of features and capabilities - can become its weakness when it comes to streamlining your workflow.
Fortunately, there are plenty of add-ons for Photoshop that can help reduce the number of steps required to perform common operations. In this article, we will discuss five plugins that can save you a lot of time and get rid of your daily routine.
Let's get started.
Renamy
The first plugin that we will look at is called Renamy and it is designed to perform mass operations with the names of layers (layers).
For beginning designers, the purpose of this plugin may seem far-fetched. But in complex projects with tens or hundreds of layers, Renamy can be a real savior.
Renamy allows you to rename multiple layers in one action. Moreover, it can perform search and find-and-replace operations directly on layer names. For example, if you want to create a series of green layers by duplicating existing red ones, here's how easy it can be:
The authors of Renamy even included an autocomplete feature in their plugin. Start typing, and Renamy will helpfully tell you what to continue from the list of previously entered words. This helps keep layer names consistent and eliminates typos.
Perhaps, in addition to the names of the layers, you are also interested in the order of their relative positions. Renamy will also help you with layer numbering.
Renamy is available for both Windows and MacOS. The plugin costs $9.99, and I must say that it is more than worth the price. There is also a free version, but it lacks some useful features.
Pixel2Vector
Pixel2Vector is a modest but useful plugin from Orange Box that will help you export almost any of your projects to vector format.
All your actions with a brush or pencil are automatically converted into vector drawing lines. What's especially impressive is that this is done with just one click.
Pixel2Vector will save your drawing with all the outlines, and next time you can change the size or color of the drawing elements without losing quality.
Pixel2Vector supports Photoshop CS5, CS6 and CC.
Moreover, this plugin is free, so download it now.
GuideGuide
The author of the GuideGuide plugin is Cameron McEfee. His experience with guides in Photoshop wasn't the smoothest, so he decided to implement better methods for creating and managing guides in his plugin.
In practice, this plugin allows you to apply a number of techniques that save the designer’s time.
The first trick is to create a grid with just a couple of clicks. You don't need to make any calculations or estimates. Simply enter the number of columns, desired column width, border size, and GuideGuide will do the rest.
The second technique is to create guides along the edges of the current selection or along its midpoint, which is automatically calculated by the plugin. An extremely useful feature.
This Photoshop extension is free to install, but if you would like to thank its author, you can make a modest donation on his website.
The plugin is compatible with all versions of Photoshop.
Tiny PNG
The TinyPNG plugin allows you to reduce the file size of PNG format. PNG files are extremely common because of their ability to retain transparency. All browsers and graphical applications understand them. Despite this, PNG files on the Internet are often larger than necessary.
TinyPNG allows you to gradually reduce the number of colors in the palette of a PNG file. The smaller the palette, the fewer bits one pixel weighs, therefore, the smaller the file. Sometimes this way you can save up to half the file size without compromising its appearance.
Once installed, the plugin adds a new panel to the Photoshop interface that helps you set the folder for saving compressed files.
This plugin costs $40, but if you have to process a lot of PNG files, you won't regret the investment. There is also a free online version of TinyPNG, but it is less convenient to use due to the need to access the browser every time. It’s up to you to choose what’s more valuable: money or time.
TinyPNG supports Photoshop CS5, CS6 and CC and has two versions: for PC and Mac. You can download the plugin here.
SavePanel
The SavePanel plugin optimizes the process of saving files. The interface of this plugin is a simple form for entering standard parameters for saved files: destination directory, format, size and name template.
This plugin will be most useful to advanced Photoshop users.
Imagine a situation where you need to save several newly created files into one directory. SavePanel will help you do this in a couple of clicks - of course, if you set the parameters in advance.
And if every time you close Photoshop you have to fight through an endless series of file save dialogs, then this plugin is just made for you.
SavePanel for Photoshop CS5, CS6 and CC is available for free here.
CSS Hat
CSS Hat is an extremely useful plugin for web designers as it is capable of converting Photoshop layers into CSS files that can be embedded into your web project. Promising, isn't it?
As you already understood, the main power of CSS Hat is in the automation of routine actions when translating the site layout into style files. This manual process is quite labor-intensive and error-prone, but with the help of this plugin this stage of layout can be completed in a matter of seconds.
All you need to do is install the plugin and drag the desired layer to the CSS Hat panel. The CSS code will be generated instantly.
Adobe Photoshop is a powerful platform for creativity, but sometimes it lacks many features that can help increase productivity, improve workflow, and make life much easier. Luckily for us, Photoshop supports extensions and plugins that help expand the editor's capabilities. And you're in luck, we've rounded up some of the best and must-have Photoshop plugins that are available today.
These plugins help you save time, reduce work steps, automate tedious processes, and much more. They'll help you work faster and more productively, and they're an absolute must-have in your design toolbox.
Lorem ipsum is finally here in Photoshop CS6, but don't worry, the generated text still lacks variation. For those of you in need of change, we suggest you try Lorem Ipsum Generator. With this plugin, you can customize the settings to generate words, sentences or paragraphs with just one simple click. The service is provided by lipsum.com, which has been used by many designers for many years. The plugin only needs to be installed once and can then be used across multiple Adobe applications.
Compatibility: Adobe Photoshop, Illustrator, InDesign and Dreamweaver CS5
How do you manipulate multiple smart objects in Photoshop? It would be great to have a way to create or split multiple smart objects with one click. Cell allows you to do this. This is a plugin that can compress multiple selected layers and groups into multiple smart objects plus the ability to uncompress them, splitting multiple smart object groups into layers in one click. The Save action is also very useful: you can now save multiple Smart Objects into a single PSD or PNG file.
Swatchy is a simple and elegant swatch manager for Photoshop that allows you to organize your color swatches into folders. Swatches can be selected as foreground or background colors. This way you can save and easily access your color schemes, and preview the colors you use most often. Let's say you want to create an app or website, this free plugin will help you create alternative color schemes by simply selecting color swatches and organizing them into multiple folders. It's convenient and saves time.
Compatibility: Photoshop CC, CC2015
Navigating through Photoshop to find the tools you need is annoying. It takes time to move from tool to tool. Centering elements is also a problem if you haven't used the right tool. To get rid of all this, you can use this little free plugin. This plugin puts all the essential tools and quick shortcuts you need access to at all times in one place. It does a lot of simple things very well. Turn snapping on and off, center horizontally or vertically, crop a document, or “save to web,” all with one click. This is a huge time saver, so we highly recommend it as a plugin if you want to keep all your tools together.
Compatibility: Photoshop CC
How often do you need to take time away from your work to find the icon you need? Why not use the FlatIcon plugin to quickly find the icons you need. There are over 40,000 icons available, and the database is always in sync - you won't need to manually update. This free plugin will create a new panel in Photoshop that allows you to search for any icons and place them directly in your document. Since they are vector shapes, you can resize and edit the icons without losing quality. Get a collection of arrows and typical web elements after just one installation. You can also download icons from the site.
Compatibility: Photoshop CC, CS5, CS6
Layrs Control 2 is a set of seven scripts that make working with layers in Photoshop much easier. This is a practical solution for layer management and will be especially useful when working on complex projects with many layers to process. The plugin provides seven core features, including renaming layers and folders, removing unused effects to optimize your project, aligning all layer effects, highlighting empty layers, and rasterizing smart objects. Additionally, you can also convert layers into individual smart objects and find similar files and folders.
Compatibility: Photoshop CC, CC2014 - Download
When creating a layout design, we spend time searching for random photos of people to include in the layout. Another activity that also takes time is creating believable users. If these problems bother you, then you can easily solve them using this plugin, which will do all the tedious work for you. You can drag and drop random male or female user images and generate names directly in your PSD file. Then simply click and drag your profile photo into your Photoshop document, or copy and paste the image and name you want. To create a new random user, simply click the New Random User button.
Compatibility: Photoshop CS6, CC2014, CC2015
Cut & Slice Me is a plugin that will export the assets you need as PNG files, and all transparent pixels will be cropped. All you have to do is add @ to the end of your layer name and the plugin will do the rest. It also organizes and groups layers as if they were objects. If you want your file to export at a fixed size, you can create a rectangular vector as the first layer and then call it #. The final group will be exported in the size you want. If you encounter any problems using the plugin, just check out the FAQ section and enjoy the creator's sense of humor as he provides answers to common problems faced by users.
Compatibility: Photoshop CS6, CC
The GuideGuide Photoshop plugin makes it easy to get pixel-accurate columns, rows, midpoints, and source data based on your document or selection. This allows you to save frequently used guide sets for future use. You can also use multiple types of sizes. With the plugin, you can define exactly how wide the navigation element should be to evenly fit the width of the site, as well as create baseline gridlines and padding elements.
Compatibility: Photoshop CS5, CS6 and CC
Transform Each is a great feature from Illustrator that is missing from Photoshop. The plugin allows you to transform groups of layers as if they were converted individually. It's great when you can resize, rotate and move multiple elements without rearranging them every time. The plugin also has the ability to scale styles and limit aspect ratios. Remember to always use the Preview button to get a peek at the final result before clicking OK.
Compatibility: Photoshop CS5, CS6, CC2014, CC2015
Creating a Long Shadow Effect can look easy, even for a beginner level Photoshop user. But it will become an editing nightmare if your client doesn't like the end result. To prevent this from happening, try this Photoshop extension called Long Shadow Generator 2. As the name suggests, this plugin is capable of creating a long shadow with just one click. In its settings panel, you can adjust the shadow length, transparency, make the shadow smooth or gradient, black or white.
Compatibility: Photoshop CC, CC2014, CS6
If you want to allow Photoshop to use variables for attributes like colors, text, font size, and visibility, you should try Ditto. It supports variables for fill colors, text strings including special characters, visibility, font size, font family, font colors, line height, X and Y position. Each variable requires its type, name, and value. Those without the plugin will see a group in the Layers panel called dittoVariables. A layer can have multiple variables, and they do not define layer names.
Compatibility: Photoshop CC2015
CSS3Ps is a Photoshop plugin that converts layers to CSS3 styling. You just need to select the layers and then click the CSS3Ps button. The plugin will direct you to the CSS3Ps web page where the result is generated. The CSS3Ps plugin supports multiple layers, vendor prefixes for cross-browser compatibility, SASS and SCSS. It also supports styles like border radius, gradient overlay, bevel and emboss, stroke, shadow and glow, and more. It's worth noting that you need to use the right Photoshop effects to convert correctly.
Compatibility: CS3 and above, CC, CC2014, CC2015
Breeezy is an extension that adds multi-layer export functionality to Photoshop, giving you the ability to export multiple graphic elements from your PSD in one click. It allows you to quickly and easily prepare graphics for developing applications, websites or flash banners. The extension also gives you the ability to preserve layer transparency when exporting, pass layer names to files, and organize all exported files and assets into one folder.
Compatibility: Photoshop CS5 and above
Pixel2Vector is a very impressive tool that can convert any pixel art into a fully scalable vector format with just one click! The Vector Shape function converts each selected layer or group of layers into a vector shape. Once this is done, you can edit the vector like any other vector file, scale without loss, or easily recolor. Another nice feature is the Custom Shape Tool, which converts each selected layer or group of layers into a Custom Shape Tool. You can then find the shape you want by selecting the Custom Shape Tool at the bottom of the palette.
Compatibility: CS5, CS6, CC, CC2014 and Photoshop CS3+
Another reliable icon finder, the Font Awesome plugin helps you find and insert an icon directly into Photoshop. This free plugin adds a new panel that will allow us to search for any icon by entering the desired keyword. Find the icon and click to create a new layer shape that you can easily edit. This is a real time saver and highly recommended if your daily routine revolves around working with icons.
Compatibility: Photoshop CC
Render.ly will export screens, assets, and detailed design specifications for you. Only those elements that have been changed are exported. You just need to use the correct prefix and Render.ly will do all the hard work. Render.ly allows you to add screen variations, manage assets, detailed design specifications, and ultimately automatically export them all with one click. To save your icons as vectors, add the ico prefix. To export images, add "img" as a prefix and it will be exported as raster graphics.
Compatibility: Photoshop CC2014, CC2015
With Griddify, you can now create custom grid systems, vertical rhythm, and more with tutorials in Photoshop. Griddify adds an intuitive panel to Photoshop that includes three simple but wide-ranging features: Griddify, Divide, and Wrap. Enter the pixel value and click "Griddify" and the guide will be added at the intervals you entered. You can play with it for more columns or change the orientation to create a baseline. The "Divide" option is great for responsive sites, dividing the highlighted area into as many sections as you want. The "Wrap" option adds guides to the edges.
Compatibility: Photoshop CS6, CC
Save Panel is a file saving plugin that allows you to customize save options with your favorite settings. For example, you might want to save a drawing at different sizes for different purposes. Using the save panel, you can select the destination folder (absolute or relative), image dimensions, file type, and file name. There is no limit to the number of buttons you can create and customize using the save panel. To customize it, simply save the presets you create in the options dialog. Each preset will then be presented with a button on the panel, giving you quick access to your favorite settings. You can also share images within Photoshop using cloud services such as Dropbox.
Compatibility: Photoshop CS5, CS6, CC, CC2014
In Photoshop, it's a big pain to set up two separate text layers and align them when you need multiple columns of text. In this case, UberColumns is a Photoshop plugin that can help. This allows you to convert a single block of text on a layer to a specified column layout. To use this plugin, simply drag the text box using the Text tool and enter your text as normal. After entering your text, open the Columns panel in Window > Extensions > Columns. Set the number of columns and space for gutters, and click OK. Your text should now be converted to columns.
Compatibility: Photoshop CC, CC2014, CC2015
In this article we will look at seven free interesting plugins from one of the developers. This developer's website offers both free and paid plugins: www.the-orange-box.com. The process of downloading and installing these plugins is quite simple. You need to select the plugin you need, enter your e-mail, and you will receive an email with a download link.
But, before downloading and installing plugins, you need to download and install a panel script in which all the plugins you need from this developer will be located, it’s called FX BOX. It is downloaded and installed in exactly the same way as all plugins.
And so, I think it was not difficult for you to download FX BOX and the necessary plugins, now all this needs to be installed. First we install FX BOX, then the necessary plugins. To install the plugin, you need to place the downloaded archive in the Plug-ins folder located in the root of the Photoshop program.
Next, you need to launch Photoshop and select “File” - “Scripts” - “Browse” in the top menu and specify the installation script file located in the unpacked folder, it usually has the signature “install”. After this, the program will notify you with a notification window about the successful installation.
Let's take a brief look at all the free plugins from this developer and what they are intended for.
FX BOX
As mentioned earlier, this script is a toolbar (plugin library), in which all installed plugins from a given developer will be displayed, so this plugin must be installed first.
HDR SHARPENER
This plugin allows you to create HDR effects, i.e. increase the dynamic range of the image. Set the slider to the desired value from 1 to 10 and apply.
OIL PAINT FX
Here I think everything is clear, this plugin allows you to turn a photo into an oil painting. For the best result, the developer recommends applying the effect to a photo with a size of at least 1000px; on a photo with a smaller size, this effect will not look so impressive.
PHOTO FX
This plugin adds a set of 18 different effects and filters that can be applied to photos. Filters and effects can be layered on top of each other to create unusual compositions.
3D 360-DEGREE STEREOGRAPHIC PROJECTIONS
As you can see in the image, this plugin allows you to create such compositions with a twist effect from panoramic photos.
PIXEL TO VECTOR GENERATOR
From the name of this plugin it is clear that it is designed to generate a vector format from a raster one. I think there is nothing more to explain here; the conversion of a raster image into a vector occurs instantly, by pressing just one button.
SEAMLESS TEXTURE GENERATOR
This free plugin can turn any background into a seamless texture. A very useful thing for web designers.
ISOMETRICON GENERATOR
This plugin helps you easily create isometric shapes - icons, badges, etc.
To summarize, I can say that all the plugins from this developer are useful and of high quality. Personally, what I liked most was the implementation of applying the effects of any of the plugins to the image. The trick is that the effects are applied in a separate folder in the layers panel, while your image remains intact and undamaged.
