Textures Actions and Other Plugins

August 25th, 2014
I am starting to play around a bit more with my editing mostly using Aperture3 ( I have a Mac) or one of the Topaz plug ins. However I am keen to take that next step and have a play with some textures and other plugins and am looking for advice as to a reliable source.
I have Googled and researched but am keen to get some first hand recommendations from members of this community who use them so effectively. I am really looking forward to hearing from you.
August 25th, 2014
Hi Lindy, there are plenty of free textures & tutorials around, but for quality textures I do really like http://frenchkisstextures.com/ - there are some freebies of excellent quality to trial, and I have bought quite a few! The inspiration and tutorials are very good, and the instructions with the downloads are a great place to start. I also use http://shadowhousecreations.blogspot.com.au/. and http://jessicadrossin.com/ for lighting texture overlays.

I recently bought Alienskin Exposure plug in which seems not too difficult to use and an 'allrounder', -- I would use it now over Topaz Adjust. For the others, it really depends on what effect or use you are wanting, and if the plug in is compatible with your OS and software. I think @northy uses Nik Silver Effex.
August 25th, 2014
@lwain Hello Lindy - I have The Nik Collection. It is really good - I use aperture and a Mac as well. I do not use textures other than what is available with the collection - It is a great bundle. I am not sure I use them effectively or at all to their capabilities. However lots of options, easy to use and have helped me create work I am pleased with.
August 26th, 2014
@lwain Like spanner, I use all the plugins in the Nik Software bundle. Google bought them out a couple of years ago and they now cost a fraction of what they used to cost.
August 26th, 2014
I second Lyn's recommendations for French Kiss and Shadowhouse.
If you sign up for her emails Kim sends links to free textures, her classes are great too: http://www.kimklassencafe.com/ and Denise has a few of her fab textures available on her site, they change so check back to see whats new: http://2lilowls.com/ http://www.joelolives.com/category/freebies/ http://www.jaiart.com/freetextures
Sarah Gardners textures are nice, reminds me I haven't used any of hers for a while: http://www.sarahgardnerphotography.com/#!waxworks/c1af6
August 26th, 2014
@suebarni thnks for the link to Sarah Gardner Sue. The site & textures look lovely, and her free ebook is full of inspiration! http://media.wix.com/ugd/76a60f_8b5e83df164e4b0497f3bc64c73ae4b4.pdf
August 26th, 2014
@ltodd Thank you Lyn I particularly like some of the textures on Shadowhouse and French Kiss was one of the sites I had Googled. In reading more of the information I am wondering if I need to do a course in PS first as I am totally comfortable with Aperture I have not been using PS very often at all.
August 26th, 2014
@spanner Thank you. I do love the look of the Nik collection thank you. i will take a closer look over the weekend.
August 26th, 2014
@jocasta Thank you Jo it certainly came way down in price. As I said to Lyn i will re look at it in the weekend.
August 26th, 2014
@suebarni I just love the look of some of the textures on Joel Olives Sue. I can really relate to those. I have been studying Sarah Gardner for some time and she takes a beautiful photo.
August 26th, 2014
Thank you all so much. I recognise most of the sites but now feel a lot more comfortable downloading from them. It now remains to be seen if I can negotiate my way around PS enough to use any of them.
August 26th, 2014
If you joined Kim's test kitchen it would give you access to several of her photoshop courses http://photoshoptestkitchen.com/ I've done lots of her courses and I'm doing the Be Still 52 now, she is lovely, her courses are nice. Did you see her free tutorials: http://www.kimklassencafe.com/free-video-tutorials/
I have nothing to gain by recommending her, I just enjoy her work, she puts a lot of effort in and clearly loves what she is doing.
August 26th, 2014
@suebarni @ltodd What wonderful resources - thanks for sharing!
August 26th, 2014
@kass You are welcome Kass, you produce some of the nicest texture work I've seen (I might not comment often but I'm certainly looking) I look forward to seeing what you do with the new to you resources ;-)
August 27th, 2014
@suebarni Many thanks, Sue - very kind of you. But I'm doing it the hard way - combining 2 or 3 textures to get the look I want. The above resources will make my work much easier. ;)
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