JGUni,

I think the Photoshop plugin that Susan is referring to is CreoScitex's Powertone 1.5. I would post a link to some amazing examples of Powertone's output, but the server that CreoScitex uses is woefully inadequate, and it would take "forever" for the webpage(s) to open. Powertone was originally created by a company called Intense Software and, as I recall, version 1 was for Photoshop 3. But CreoScitex either absorbed Intense Software or just acquired Powertone and Silvertone (a similar companion plugin for metallic inks) from them.

CreoScitex originally released Powertone 1.5 for Photoshop 5 and it hasn't been modified or updated since. Version 1.5 had a distinctly better user interface and maybe a dozen other improvements. There were plans for a Powertone 2.0 with some killer new capabilities (2, 3, 4 or more spot colors with possible metallic ink capability) but I think there must have been "creative differences" and the programmer(s) left for greener pastures, or were "downsized", leaving Powertone now essentially unsupported (in my opinion).

Powertone can do amazing things with two inks. Here are a few links:

Powertone by CreoScitex plugin for Adobe Photoshop < http://www.adobe.com/products/plugins/photoshop/powertone.ht ml>

Powertone listing at PlugInz.com < http://www.pluginz.com/index.php?product=0000010882&from =rlist>

Adobe FAQ for Powertone by CreoScitex < http://www.adobe.com/products/plugins/photoshop/faq/powerton efaq.html>

Mini-review of Powertone 1.5 <http://www.freephotoshop.com/html/intense_software.html>

Powertone CreativePro listing <http://www.creativepro.com/software/home/656.html>

Powertone plugin for Photoshop < http://www.pluginsworld.com/Photoshop/plugins.php3?action=so ftware207&soft=Photoshop>

CreoScitex has a free downloadable trial version of Powertone 1.5, but it is limited to only two separations before it requires a purchased serial number. Perhaps you could get something useful with those two free outputs. We are now entering the slow service of CreoScitex's sluggish server.

Powertone demo download form < http://www.creo.com/global/products/software_solutions/creat ive/powertone/Powertone%20Form?countryid=global>

In case you want to further explore within the limitations of that slow server, here is a link to menu of a gallery of some amazing sample separations, classified by ink-pair combinations. You are not limited to those simple ink combinations and, indeed, you can choose from the Pantone spectrum.

Powertone image gallery < http://www.creo.com/global/products/software_solutions/creat ive/powertone/powertone_gallery>

Here is a sort of home page for Powertone 1.5, once again subject to slow server service:

Creo Powertone Version 1.5 < http://www.creo.com/global/products/software_solutions/creat ive/powertone/default.htm>

Powertone 1.5 is not cheap, but Publishing Perfection discounts it:

Powertone discounted by Publishing Perfection < http://www.publishingperfection.com/productdetails.asp?sku=I SW112>

Refer to the FAQ link < http://www.adobe.com/products/plugins/photoshop/faq/powerton efaq.html> for information on the two file format options that you can output from Powertone.

In my opinion it is a major tragedy that Powertone's development stagnated, because as good as its current two-ink cabilities are, the planned Powertone 2.0 would have been truly revolutionary, and even more exciting developments would have logically followed in subsequent new versions. I think we should be up to at least Powertone 3.0 by now. But alas. What went wrong, CreoScitex?

-- Burton -- (not associated with Powertone, Intense Software, CreoScitex, or any other vendor mentioned or linked)

JGUni

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