Plugin development : is it possible to...

Hi !

I'm completly newbie to photoshop plugin development and I have several questions:

1) I want to know if it's possible to make a plugin that apply some blending operation pixel-by-pixel between separate layers of the same image (or separate images ?) and output the result into a single image.
2) Can I write this kind of plugin with old versions (5 or 6) of the official SDK and run it with latest version of PS (7 or CS) ?
3) Can I write this kind of plugin with an alternate tool (like
FilterMeister) ?
4) Additionnaly if someone can give me url references or samples source code as a start point it will be a great help for me...

Thanks for your reply...
Marc.

In article , marc
wrote:

I'm completly newbie to photoshop plugin development and I have several questions:

1) I want to know if it's possible to make a plugin that apply some blending operation pixel-by-pixel between separate layers of the same image (or separate images ?) and output the result into a single image.

A single filter plug-in cannot do this as filter plug-ins can only access the current layer. However some developer have been able to accomplish this via a combination of an automation plug-in and a hidden filter plug-in that gets is invoked by the automation plug-in once for each layer it needs to acces.

2) Can I write this kind of plugin with old versions (5 or 6) of the official SDK and run it with latest version of PS (7 or CS) ?

You will need Photoshop 6 or later to accomplish this - that is when support for hidden plug-ins like this was added.

3) Can I write this kind of plugin with an alternate tool (like FilterMeister) ?

Not sure what that it.

4) Additionnaly if someone can give me url references or samples source code as a start point it will be a great help for me...

--marc

Thanks for your reply !

(marc) wrote in message news:...

Hi !

I'm completly newbie to photoshop plugin development and I have several questions:

1) I want to know if it's possible to make a plugin that apply some blending operation pixel-by-pixel between separate layers of the same image (or separate images ?) and output the result into a single image.
2) Can I write this kind of plugin with old versions (5 or 6) of the official SDK and run it with latest version of PS (7 or CS) ?
3) Can I write this kind of plugin with an alternate tool (like
FilterMeister) ?

FilterMeister (http://www.filtermeister.com/) is a very neat tool but subject to the same limitations mentioned by Marc (a Filter plugin can only access the current layer).

4) Additionnaly if someone can give me url references or samples source code as a start point it will be a great help for me...

I am sure Adobe is planning a new plugin API which will allow layer access - then it will be straightforward... if you can afford the new SDK and pass their background checks.

T

Thanks for your reply...
Marc.