The Photoshop Genie

[Greg Vander Houwen]

A simple question.

If you were able to get one wish from the Photoshop Genie, what would you ask for.

Change a current feature, add a new one...?

Please show restraint and hold to the challenge, ONE wish.

Not a Genie just curious,

Greg

[dlz]

Mac OS X implementation through the Cocoa framework -- even though I know they're doing it in Carbon... :[

[Stevos]

Originally posted by dlz
Mac OS X implementation through the Cocoa framework -- even though I know they're doing it in Carbon... :[
Myself too..however..this would be a massive undertaking (I myself am a Cocoa developer) and believe me, this could take like 2 years..

so my wish is:
G5 (no, its not a PS feature, but it'll help PS like no other)

[dlz]

Originally posted by Stevos

Myself too..however..this would be a massive undertaking -- this could take like 2 years..Yes, I know. But I didn't see Greg ask for realistic wishes :)

There's also another good reason for not doing it in Cocoa besides the development time issue. Adobe needs to maintain a platform-agnostic program core. A task much more difficult under Cocoa than Carbon.

[Greg Vander Houwen]

Personally, I am torn between four ;).

First, I'd like to be able to treat individual layer effects more like layers. For instance, it would be very handy to be able to duplicate a drop shadow effect and alter its lighting angle so I could simulate a multiple light source. Also to be able to change the stack order of the effects would be great, some sort of dominance order control. And maybe some sort of switch to allow an effect to have it own effect set under it.

Second, the ability to automate the transform of light source angle and altitude. So I could more easily fly light sources for use in animation.

Third, a grid based distortion function that would allow you to activate a point/s on the grid and push/pull them. Liquify is a great improvement but the brush metaphor makes exact point to point translations tricky at best.

Fourth, a request I put in a long time ago that isn't currently viable due to the draw on the system it would create but hopefully someday... A Filter Layer that would respond like an adjustment layer in that the filter would reside on it own layer and apply to any layer under it. It would be virtual in that you could double click on it and it would open to the filter's last settings, allow you to readjust it... It could be masked, moded...

So if I were to pick one, I guess I would go for what I think would be the most practical, the Filter Layer.

Greg

[Sandyfan]

My wish is very simple.....
Just a link to a live site or forum that could help answer questions, and give creative ideas.

[Greg Vander Houwen]

Sandyfan,

You might try this. I've been a member on and off. They do a pretty good job.

http://www.photoshopuser.com/

Greg

[swanky]

my wish of course and almost a whine by now is to get rid of those damn dialogue boxes somehow..so you can only see the function or whatever is going on the image itself...like that damn Blend If box...it is huge, constantly moving it around just to see what you are doing...makes me crazy..gotta be a way...other than getting the second screen and keeping all tools on one screen and just image on the other... I am still real new to all this but that for sure in my very limited knowlege would be my wish..is this a trick question..maybe you finally have adobeboys looking in..???;)

[Rick Miller]

To have it do all my thinking and work and to just wake me up when it's done. ;)

I have to agree with Sir Swanky, the layer styles dialog box is ridiculously huge; I hate trying to apply a layer style while not being able to view the piece properly. The layer styles proxy preview area is pretty useless to me - it's not like the proxy preview area in other dialog boxes which ARE useful. The layer styles dialog box is fine in Image Ready 3 so it ain't as if Adobe can't do it.

The layer styles dialog box slows down production as one is frequently having to reposition that damn thing in order to see the effect. Your average user isn't going to invest in another monitor just to show their palettes.

Greg you wrote:
Third, a grid based distortion function that would allow you to activate a point/s on the grid and push/pull them

Would that be sort of like the gradient mesh tool in Illustrator, only with a distortion?

Rick

[Raphael]

OK

I've given it some thought, and the ONE realistic, based on existing PS Technology thing I'd like the Genie to bring is:

The ability to use the 'Liquify...' distort feature whilst being able to see the layers below the one I'm distorting.

Useful for: If I have created a texture on a layer above a picture of say... a naked girl (works for me), and I want to use the Liquify function to distort the texture to 'Map' the contours of the girl. See attached for example (you can't see the fur detail at this size but you get the idea with the spots.)

But, me ever so famous, gradient blur filter came a close second.;}

Raphael

[Raphael]

Hang on! Here's a detail bit.;}

[Greg Vander Houwen]

Nice detail work there Sir Raphael.

Is that the norm for the ladies of your country?

And yes, I would second the gradient blur but would extend it out to gradient "filter" so it could have wider application.

Sir Rick,

Yes, you would also see a similar metaphor in a fine little product called Metaflow. I still go there when I need more control.

Greg

[Rick Miller]

Way cool Sir Raphael!

How did you create the fur/hair texture?


Greg.

I tried www.metaflow.com and it wasn't up, then I searched google and came up with an article outlining STMicroelectronics' acquisition in May 1997 of a majority stake in Metaflow and a somewhat strenous relationship. Do you have a link or info on Metaflow? I'd love to check it out, anything to expand my production techniques (really an excuse to play with cool software).

Rick

[Greg Vander Houwen]

Here you go...

http://www.valisgroup.com/mac-metaflo.htm

Greg

[David Anders]

Teach it to drop a quarter, into a bucket in my closet, once a minute.
I will empty the bucket...

[Par]

Voice activated commands.

That would be perfect. Sit back call out a command and then look at how bad it looks. Say, "Undo" and poof it never happened. That would be great. But then again, I don't think it would work to well with dragging a brush along the image. But hey, you can't have everything.

[Stevos]

yeah.. ever heard of AppleScript?

[Three Z]

One feature I'm pretty sure is not available that would help me out, would be the ability to save a layered file with some sort of compression. Many times when working with layered files, they can become quite combersome in size. So instead of having to save your layered file as a 500 meg space hog, you could make it much more manageable. I realize you could stuffit or make a .sea file, but that is such a pain in the Ace.

Regards

Z

[NymPhezze]

My first post!

I know its just me being lazy but if only i could take a whole chunk of stuff from the history platte and move it to the actions pallete to make an action using that because i always find myself wishing i had had the record button on when doing an effect and then i can never reproduce the same effect exactly when i redo.

I would also love it if the liquify tool was enhanced like somebody mentioned earlier, its a pain trying to figure out where the layer underneath corresponds to the one i'm liquifying.

[Greg Vander Houwen]

Welcome NymPhezze,

Both excellent ideas. Thanks for posting.

Greg

[NymPhezze]

Aww thats sweet Greg, you're welcome :) Great forum by the way, very nicely done!

[sPECtre]

Welcome on board, NymPhezze.

Your signature reminds me a (vynil) house record cover with vampiress/she-devils, I wish I could find the name (and the drawing!!!)

I'll ask some dj-friends of me...

[sPECtre]

If you like those, try this HOT link (http://pub54.ezboard.com/fcartoonandillustrationparadise66133frm2.showMessa geRange?topicID=1304.topic&start=1&stop=20) but Attention, there are some drawings of nude devils (anything that hurts, but since the web is international, and I don't know all the laws, ...):d

[sPECtre]

BTW, Raphael, how did you do the hair, AlienSkin, or KPT, or handmade? I like the fact that it follows the curves of the body... ;)

[Rick Miller]

NymPhezze.

Welcome!

I like your idea; Macromedia Fireworks has this capability and as you alluded to - it's very convenient.

Rick

[Raphael]

Yes, welcome Nymphezze.

Anyone with a handle and sig like that are cool in my book.;}

sPECtre,

Hand made, using Noise filter, sectioning bits off and Motion Blur...ing them and then using the Liquify tool to make the fur follow the body contours. Then blending the sections into each other with the Blur and Smudge tools.

That's why the way Liquify works at the moment annoys me so much. It would have been 10 times easier if I could have seen the layer beneath.%(

Raphael

[NymPhezze]

Thanx spectre that link was great! Very inspirational. For my sig i was deciding between the figure i got there or a more suggestive one, i'm still deciding actually...

Raphael: I've had fireworks for a few months now and i didn't even realise it had that history feature, thats going to be a great help. I like your fur by the way.

p.s. thanx everybody for the really nice welcome :)

[Stevos]

If you're running Mac OS, there are a number of cool things you can do with Applescript and Photoshop. I, for example, have it setup so that me screaming 'Twirl it baby' applies the twirl filter at maximum settings. I read somewhere that AppleScript 2.0 will have support for variables in commands.

[sPECtre]

That handmade hair needs to be posted on the site.

In fact, I "re-discovered" it, "away from the p.c." in that place where you can think because you're always alone in there :| (besides in Ally Mc Beal ;} )

I thinked, the LeopardGirl's fur follows the body, it has to be Handmade (mmmh, this is an awesome experience, putting hair on a leopard girl... :nuts: ) then I get the noise, and wind as a start... of course you'll get more control with moBlur and Liquify !I'll try your techn. soon (if you don't mind)!

[Raphael]

sPECtre,

of course I "don't mind".

It's not "my" technique, it's a Photoshop Technique.%'

That is what this site is about after all.

Have Fun.:D

Raphael:nuts:

[Kuru!]

Originally posted by Raphael
It's not "my" technique, it's a Photoshop Technique.

I've seen so many places (for flash effects, or other programs) where they claim it as their own stuff, and you say it's photoshop's.. that's splendid! I'm not very used to things like these x|.. props!

As for the wish.. I haven't used photoshop for long now, but I'd like something like this:

Filter > Blur > and when you mouse over an effect, it gives a description, because somethimes I can't decide what to use. Decisions, decisions ^_^.

-Kuru

[theGuest]

And a hearty Welcome! from me too NymPhezze, theGuest. :D

My only REAL wish here... does not directly pertain to only Photoshop... but instead, it's a technology that i wish WACOM would come up with, and THEN all of the bigger graphics apps would make their programs capable of doing... and this is what it is...


As in the real world... if you're painting with say, a Fan brush... and you make a long sweeping stroke down your canvas... you can twist, or roll the brush in between your fingers to create a certain effect - thin stroke, thick fanned stroke, thin stroke, thick fanned stroke, etc, etc...

This technique is very useful for creating thick, full looking trees, for instance.

Well i want this ability to be possible using a Tablet.
I want to be able to grab a dotted line brush in Photoshop, and spin my tablet pen over in my fingers, and have the brush in Photoshop roll over on the canvas.

I can't imagine why, with all of this hightech stuff we have today, that this is not possible, or has even been thought to be possible by companies such as Wacom.

This one thing alone is, IMHO, THE most useful thing one can do with a REAL brush. It makes SO many effects and techniques possible. Imagine if paint programs could do this?! WooHoo! THEN we'd be talkin' a PAINT program! ;}

This make sense to everyone?

And that's about my only wish, right now. :[

OH! And PS: to Par!... do a search on an app called "Dragon Naturally Speaking". With a little preliminary voice recognition programing by you, it will do your 'voice activated commands' for ya.
;}

[sPECtre]

Mark, are you sure Painter doesn't do this?

Or Deep Paint? My wish would then be Adobe to buy out Deep Paint!

[theGuest]

Actually no sPECtre, i haven't seen any program that can do that - not even Painter (unless i missed it, in the Demo!). And it's most likely because the Tablet isn't capable of doing that... yet.

I have an acquaintance at Wacom's developmental dept... i think i'll email him and ask him. I'll post whatever i find out about it.

[NymPhezze]

Hi theGuest! Thanx for the welcome, love the whacky name.

[theGuest]

:D Glad you see the humor in it NymPhezze, and you're welcome.

And please, call me Mark now ok. ;}

[Raphael]

Wow! OK, OK! I just thought of this one. It's a doozy.

I work a lot with images for print. (It's ma job.)

I want a:

"Fix a lossy JPEG" Filter.

Come on it's got to be possible!:d

Raphael

[Smurf]

"Fix a lossy JPEG" Filter.

yeah, sign me up for one of those :)

[Rick Miller]

Does this work for everyone?
:d


Rick

[theGuest]

NO!...?


Rick where mine?! %(

please go back and add this to the menu:

"Make my brushes twist"

Thanks! :d

[Ammar Midani]

Ricky, i love this filter menu, you’re unbleaveable, you really made me laugh
please add: Give Suggestions:O

[Greg Vander Houwen]

Rick,

I hope I'm not past UI freeze on this. I'd like to see;

Filter, Render, Masterpiece

For increased sales I would suggest;

Filter, Make Nakid'

For dealing with tight deadlines;

Filter, Distort, Space-time

Greg

[housefreax]

Originally posted by Rick Miller
Does this work for everyone?
:d


Rick


LOL i wish i had the bottom Do my work 4 me:D ha ha

[David Anders]

Computer Features Needed (http://rita.thegourmet.com/computers.html)

[Ammar Midani]

Very impressive Dave:d

[Smurf]

some true classics there dave :)

[Rick Miller]

Mark.

You wrote:
NO!...? Rick where mine?! please go back and add this to the menu:
"Make my brushes twist"
Thanks!
Uh... Mark. Did you happen to check out the new Brushes palette I added? No, you probably didn't. If you did, you would have seen this (picture):
:nuts:

As an Information Architect I try to place and classify things in a logical, formulated manner - this is what I refer to as "The Taxonomy of Photoshop". Over a Guinness (or two, well... maybe 3) I decided that adding the twisty thingy brush (as per your request) would best be suited in the brushes palette (a logical catagorization). I hope this meets with your approval. Oh, by the way - it's a magical twisty brush.
:nuts:

Rick

[Rick Miller]

Greg.

You wrote:
Rick, I hope I'm not past UI freeze on this. I'd like to see;
Filter, Render, Masterpiece
For increased sales I would suggest;
Filter, Make Nakid'
For dealing with tight deadlines;
Filter, Distort, Space-time


Greg, as per your request you'll see the new additions as well as Ammar's. Although for the Filter > Distort > Space-time, I'm currently in talks with Stephen W. Hawkins on this so I'll have to get back to you!
:nuts:

[Ammar Midani]

As I see all our wishes is coming true, I would like to add:
Filter/magic/beg/no colormismatch pls.

[theGuest]

hahaha great page Dave... real nice bunch of ideas there. hehee

Hey alright Rick! You da Man! :D

Now can you make a fan brush that'll twist like that?! %'

Hey who needs Adobe huh?! When we can just solicit Rick to make us feel like we're getting what we want! hahaa

[swanky]

as I keep saying you guys have WAY too much time on your hands...but we for sure need you people so keep it up..I of course never waste time..this blustry cold sunday I am going for an hour run in a snow storm..then later will spend a couple hours on this damn program we all love to hate...that would be photoshop..guess I am not as committed as most as I can be led astray merely by saying it is guiness time...what say you Ricky..guess my dream genie,, besides the make nekid filter, which in my book could be the best one yet...would be to have a filter that would just have everything you guys do make sense...easy... Filter>Render>ahhhhhyeah..... kinda like lighteing bolt coming from nowhere to crack the knowlege and sense into ya...likely does not make sense to you'all but there ya go..see gotta go work up a sweat..

[Rick Miller]

Sir Swanky.

You wrote:
guess I am not as committed as most (snip)
Uh... you're just another type of "committed". Glad to see they let you out after the holidays!
:nuts:

You continued:
I am going for an hour run in a snow storm
I gave up running because the ice kept spilling from my drink.
If you by chance get lost in the snowstorm we could send out a search party for Sir Swanky the Snowman.
:D

Mark wrote:
Hey who needs Adobe huh?! When we can just solicit Rick to make us feel like we're getting what we want! hahaa
I'm blushing (and hey, I don't even charge for upgrades!).
:blush:

I submit that Adobe needs to bring us all on as New Feature Advisors! We should just arrive on their doorstep and say "we're here!"

Ammar wrote:
As I see all our wishes is coming true, I would like to add: Filter/magic/beg/no colormismatch pls
Oooh, so would I! I'll get to it immediately (but after my Guinness and a dip in the jacuzzi of course!).
:D

Rick

[Rick Miller]

Sorry to be serious (I'll try to keep these distractions to a minimum), but what I'd like to see in Photoshop is a picture slide viewer. While there is a very anemic workaround, I'd still prefer the real thing.

Rick

[Ammar Midani]

Ok, one of the things I’d like to see in Photoshop 7, is a small layer properties handy icon. Or someone please give me the shortcut for that.

the jacuzzi is getting cold Rick.

[Smurf]

the jacuzzi is getting cold Rick.

not any more :D

[Rick Miller]

You Rock Smurf!!!

Very funny.
:D

Ammar, you wrote:
Ok, one of the things I’d like to see in Photoshop 7, is a small layer properties handy icon. Or someone please give me the shortcut for that.
Other then Right Clicking (Command Clicking on a Mac) on the layer or layer set or Alt + double clicking (Option on a Mac)?

I wish Adobe would have left the layer properties alone. In previous versions you could just double click on the layer to bring layer properties up - now doing that brings up the layer style dialog box, although if you double click on a layer in ImageReady 3 you get layer options.

I would hope that version 7 would offer more consistency between PS and IR.

I use to create all my animation, rollovers and Image Maps in Fireworks (gee, at one time I use to do Image Maps by hand) instead of ImageReady2 because Fireworks was superior for my workflow (In 5.5 I changed the "Jump To" icon to Jump To Fireworks instead of IR2. Although with Image Ready 3 I've set it back to the default as it's a lot better then version 2 so now I use it along with Fireworks (depends on my mood and what I'm trying to accomplish). Hopefully the new version of ImageReady will be even better and more consistent.

Rick

[Osakajo]

Sir Swanky trying to take pictures after too much Guiness again or that hour long run in the snow froze his finger to the shutter button like a tongue on a frozen pole. How about a genie filter that goes to work so you can be productive through long coffee breaks.:d

[swanky]

thanks Osakajo, it is supposed to be art...jeeeeez .... :[

[sPECtre]

Where was that thread in which there is a picture you took of people wearing helmets staring at you.

Sir Greg launched a contest for the better caption.

I whish to know if I won the "no" prize.
Do you think I could press the "any" key with it?

BTW, I bought a French/English-US slang dictionnary... now I Know what Swanky means ;}

[Rick Miller]

sPECtre.

You wrote:
Where was that thread in which there is a picture you took of people wearing helmets staring at you. Sir Greg launched a contest for the better caption. I whish to know if I won the "no" prize.
Hey now, that was my idea. Greg has enough good ideas without you having to go and credit him with mine!
:nuts:

For those interested in submitting a caption/quote for Sir Swanky's pic, check out: Member forums > Photography forum > Digital Photography review and look for the picture Sir Swanky took of all the people with helmets looking down.

The winner gets nothing, but hey it should be fun!

Rick