Fun with the venerable Alien Skin Eye Candy

[plugsnpixels]

I first came across Alien Skin plug-ins 20+ years ago (remember the Black Box?), and they're still around (maybe a bit more serious now, but still fun).

I made this strange illustration last evening using only Eye Candy. See here for more of my examples.

[Shadowman]

Interesting effects.

[plugsnpixels]

Strange days indeed!

[lukaswerth]

Two a penny for such effects in these days: the viewer gets overfed with them. The art is, if anything, to handle them carefully and with a purpose in mind.

Lukas

[plugsnpixels]

This is purposely over-the-top and obviously overdone to show the possibilities.

In issue #7 of my ezine you can see a dry SoCal desert-type scene made into winter as part of a tutorial and it looks more realistic. Except for the icicles maybe ;-).

[IzzieK]

Awww comeon guys, I love it...I have been thinking of getting this for quite sometime since I started using After Effects...what do you think of it, Mike? Is it easy to use?

[Donald]

Clever stuff. I imagine graphic artists could have a great fun with it.

[plugsnpixels]

Izzie, very easy to learn. On the page I linked you can see a screenshot of the presets. You basically make a selection within your image and apply the effects to it, inside or outside the selection, while adjusting the parameters as desired.

My city scene was done just like that, selecting bits at a time and adding effects. Hope it's not too much of a "downer", but what else are you going to do with fire, smoke and lightning, ha!

Did you notice the icicles on the lamp and the rust on the lamppost? Not to mention the bubbles inside the lamp.

Donald, yes, it's great for logos and such because the effects can be apple to type as well (see my other examples). I need to experiment with the chrome effects more though. Actually, here's a quickie I just did.

[IzzieK]

Yes I did, Mike...I went to your website and will read up on some more tutorials in the morning...I love special effects. Sometimes it can look overdone like HDR but that is only because either one is too bias or having too much fun...

[plugsnpixels]

With Eye Candy it's all about the fun!