Blinky2004

Called "Path Styler Pro".
Still in beta, but seems to work just fine.
Free 30day trial here: http://www.shinycore.com/products/pathstyler/index.htm

Looks like one of those "time saver" type plugins.

Lee

That one looks like it does a better job than other simular plug-ins. Thanks, Mark. [righton]

Joy Foraker

Ahaaa another toy, muchas gracias Mark

Welles

Well I went for it! Here's a brief reaction to my first use.

Right off the top, PathStyler Pro is a great plugin. It operates on a work path so you can type some text and then use Layer > Type > Create Work Path. Of course you can always use Shapes or the Pen Tool to draw a work path as well.

Once you have a work path, make a new layer and launch PSPro. The plugin is extremely logical and well thought out although it's interface is unique. Within two hours of experimentation and reading the manual all the abilities are at your finger tips although there are infinite results possible.

Every aspect of the program is easily modified (gloss, color, transparency, relfection, highlights, shadows, four lights with 3D attributes and on and on...). It is a snap to add textures. Unlike one of my old favorites, SuperBlade Pro, you can comprehend the results of your manipulations in advance...every time. Effects applied to a unique layer in Photoshop can be defined to be editable in the future after closing and opening the file again. While styles do this, I don't believe any other Photoshop plugin provides live effect functionality. You can use alpha channels as bump maps for textures, loading separate files isn't necessary.

While this is an excellent plugin for Photoshop, what's more amazing is that the Illustrator version creates identical effects! It's unreal.

In the two little sample images I created to tout the possibilities, I used two different techniques. The metal PSG was done on three separate Photoshop layers and a bit of PS Styles were added after the render. The three color one was done on three layers at one time within PathStyler Pro. Great fun!

Joy Foraker

Wow Welles - great results! thanks for tinkering and posting...I gotta get to that soon.

Bacardi

Looks very good, but $99 is a lot of money. I guess it's that "pro" that makes the price.

Lee

Thanks up the update, Welles. That looks like a mustget.

Erik, I thought the price was a little high too but you know what, I also thought the $99 was high for my Knockout 2 when I got it a few years ago. Now I can't imagine being without it. It does such a great job of separating the subject from the background that I now think it's a bargain.

Welles

It's all comparative. For the quality of the plugin in comparison to others which are being marketed it is a fair price. If you also use Illustrator and get the bundle for $130 is 'seems' like a very good price to me. I suspect nobody will ever beat Flaming Pear's quality/price again except for rare freebies offered by crazed Utopians.

[size=9px](Don't get me wrong, I like crazed Utopians)[/size]

Bacardi

You may well be right. But I guess they'd sell uch more at a lower price so they would make more profit.
I am not criticising the plugin's quality, and I might well get it one day. In fact: it is on my wishlist.
But I got to have a need for it before I buy.