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What is a Filter and How do I Install One?<o:p></o:p>

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A Filter is a “plugin�?  So first, let’s answer the question �?SPAN>  What is a “plugin�?  A plugin is an “add-on.�?SPAN>  A “plugin�?is anything that is added to your hardware or software that will enhance or improve its capabilities.  One type of “plugin�?is a filter.<o:p></o:p>

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So�?what is a Filter?  --  A filter is a small program that renders a special effect on your image.  A lot of Filters have more than one special effect to choose from and each of those effects is also called a filter. Most filters are not free-standing.  They must have a Host program to work in, i.e. Paint Shop Pro, or Photoshop.  Filters are extracted into your PSP “plugins�?folder in Windows Program Files which you will find here:  <o:p></o:p>

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C:\Program Files\Jasc Software Inc\Pain Shop Pro 9 (or 8, or 7)\Plugins<o:p></o:p>

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There are hundreds of filters available for FREE on the internet.  Refer to our PSP Links in the C.I. Index for the website addresses to some of the most popular filters you can download.<o:p></o:p>

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FREE Filters available on the internet:<o:p></o:p>

. Simple<o:p></o:p>

. DSB flux<o:p></o:p>

. Filter Factory A through Z (each letter is a separate filter).<o:p></o:p>

. Texturizer<o:p></o:p>

. VM toolbox<o:p></o:p>

. Mura Meister <o:p></o:p>

. Almathera (applies water effects, very nice.)<o:p></o:p>

. Toadies<o:p></o:p>

. Visman<o:p></o:p>

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Filters which are NOT FREE, but popular:<o:p></o:p>

. Eye Candy by Alien Skin�?An expensive filter but very popular.  For beginners I usually recommend downloading a lot of the free filters available online first.  Later on when you've become more familiar with PSP you will be in a better position to decide whether or not you would like to buy and install this additional filter.  You can, however, visit their website and look at the effects this filter can accomplish for you.  I make the same recommendation for all the non-free filters, check them out and hold off on buying them for a little while.<o:p></o:p>

.  SuperBladePro by Flaming Pear �?another expensive filter but also very popular.  <o:p></o:p>

.  Xenoflex by Alien Skin<o:p></o:p>

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How Do I Install a PSP Filter?<o:p></o:p>

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.  Just about all PSP downloads are “zipped�?files, so you will need either Winzip or Ultimate Zip to unzip them (refer to “Links�?in our index for the websites to both of these programs).  F.Y.I. �?At present…very few PSP downloads use RAR to unzip them.  <o:p></o:p>

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.  First I suggest you download the filter and store the zip files in one folder marked PSP Downloads (just as a suggestion).  Then take a copy of the zipped file to Jasc. Software Inc.’s “plugin�?folder and extract the data there.  Each filter will have its own file folder with all of its components in it.  There are a few filters which don’t do this, so just keep an eye out as you extract each filter.  Make sure everything that belongs to a filter is in a folder with the filter’s name on it.  Not only will your plugins folder be neat and tidy, but it is also a practical thing to do should you have to uninstall the filter for any reason.<o:p></o:p>

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If you downloaded 10 filters and extracted them all into one huge file and then had a problem running one of them, it would be a painful task to have to look through all the individual files for the ones that belong to that filter only.  The same reasoning applies to uninstalling a filter you don’t want.<o:p></o:p>

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You also don’t want to overload your plugins folder with files left over from filters you don’t have.  In fact, you don’t want to overload any PSP file, otherwise your PSP program gets sluggish or doesn’t run well any longer.  It’s best to make a 2^nd folder for your plugins, i.e. plugins2, and **change a setting that will tell PSP to look in both folders for your plugins. <o:p></o:p>

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PSP gives us two copies of all its folders.  1) One set that is used when the program runs are in Windows Program Files.  A 2nd set is stored under Windows Documents.  Use this 2^nd set for extras that you accumulate, i.e. tubes, patterns, textures.  You can also **change the settings to have PSP look into those files as well.  However, for plugins, that 2^nd file is a good place to store extra filters only.  Perhaps you can put the original downloads in there, but all plugins have to be among your Program Files in order to work.<o:p></o:p>

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***IMPORTANT***:  <o:p></o:p>

Some filters will not work without the following two extra .dll files:  plugin.dll  &  msvcrt10.dll<o:p></o:p>

These two files are available in our “How2Tutorials�?listed in our index.  Right click on them to download each, then place them in their appropriate location.  I suggest you do this first before installing any filters.<o:p></o:p>

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For those who do not know a lot about computers and don’t know how to find the PSP “plugins�?folder in Windows Program Files, etc., Refer to our tutorial on “Finding your PSP folders�?<o:p></o:p>

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This is the end of this tutorial.  If you have any questions about it feel free to ask your Tutors.<o:p></o:p>

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**We’ll be discussing this in another tutorial.   <o:p></o:p>

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