OnOne Software released their new Plug-in Suite in November of 2009. It contains some wonderful software that can be used for:

I will be reviewing each program separately. While all these packages can be purchased individually, you will save a lot of money by purchasing them as a unit in Plug-in Suite 5. If you purchased each item separately, you would spend over $1,000 while the cost of the suite as a full version is $599.95 with an upgrade price of $199.95. All the programs are new except for Mask Pro 4 and Genuine Fractals 6. Some of the software comes in two version - a standard version and a professional version. Plug-in Suite 5 contains the professional versions. You will be able to do the following and more with thes plug-ins:

Updating note, December 2010. Some of the links immediately below now refer to onOne Software's new products in Perfect Photo Suite 5.5.

The programs I will be reviewing are: Genuine Fractals 6, Mask Pro 4, PhotoTune 3, FocalPoint 2, PhotoTools 2.5, and PhotoFrame 4.5. Plug-ins Suite 5 supports 64-bit as well as Windows Vista and Windows 7. These programs will be tested on a Windows 7 64-bit machine using Photoshop CS4 32-bit and Photoshop CS4 64-bit. . The programs will install in both versions. They are also installed on a laptop with Vista Ultimate 32-bit. When the program is underlined, follow the link to read the review. This section will be on-going until all the programs are reviewed.

OnOne Software provides a multitude of tutorials and helpful information. The Splash Screen of the program links to many of these features.

Most of the plug-ins that are in Plug-in Suite 5 can be accessed from the Automate command under File. Mask Pro 4.1 is accessed from the Filter menu. However, you can also find the plug-ins under onOne on the top Photoshop toolbar.

More product information can be found on the onOne Software website as well as a trial download of the program.

The system requirements are:

 

Apple Mac OS X

Microsoft Windows
Operating System
  • Mac OS X 10.5 or 10.6
  • Windows XP, Windows Vista SP2 or Windows 7
Computer Processor
  • PowerPC G5 or Intel processor
  • Pentium 4 or equivalent
Computer Memory
  • 2GB RAM
  • 3GB of hard drive space
  • 2GB RAM
  • 3GB of hard drive space
Display
  • OpenGL 2.0 capable video card with 128MB VRAM running at 1024x768 (1280x1024 or higher recommended)
  • OpenGL 2.0 capable video card with 128MB VRAM running at 1024x768 (1280x1024 or higher recommended)
Required Host Application
  • Adobe Photoshop CS2, CS3 or CS4
  • Adobe Photoshop CS2, CS3 or CS4
Optional Host Applications and Integration
  • Adobe Photoshop Lightroom 2
  • Apple Aperture 2.1
    Integration with Adobe Photoshop Lightroom or Apple Aperture requires Adobe Photoshop CS2, CS3, or CS4
  • Adobe Photoshop Lightroom 2
    Integration with Adobe Photoshop Lightroom requires Adobe Photoshop CS2, CS3, or CS4
Other
  • Internet connection for auto-updates, activation, and video tutorials
  • Adobe Flash Player 10
  • DVD Drive if installing from disk
  • Administrator privileges to install and uninstall
  • Internet connection for auto-updates, activation, and video tutorials
  • Adobe Flash Player 10
  • DVD Drive if installing from disk
  • Administrator privileges to install and uninstall
Language
  • English Only
  • English Only

Synopsis of individual programs:

Genuine Fractals 6 Professional Edition. I have been reviewing and using Genuine Fractals since its inception. I cannot imagine not being able to have it on my system. I regularly print 13 x 19" prints. I rely on Genuine Fractals when I render from 3D programs. I can render at 2400 pixels by 1800 pixels at 72 dpi. At 300 dpi the image is 6 x 8". Without Genuine Fractals I couldn't produce renders that are clear and show all details in both shadow and highlight area.

Mask Pro 4 is an easy and very useful tool to separate an object from the background or to remove the background. It works by differentiating colors. You choose those to keep and those to drop. It is very powerful with many methods to achieve the goal. Using masks, you can easily correct for any mistakes .This is another excellent product.

FocalPoint 2.I loved FocalPoint 1 and this new version is incredible. While some of the effects could be accomplished in Photoshop, they would be very time consuming involving creating layer masks, etc. Think of hours instead of minutes. It is so easy to create, change, or modify how you use depth of field in an image using FocalPoint 2. The additions of multiple FocusBugs as well as the FocusBrush where you can paint in focus or blur or erase adds another dimension to this plug-in. Whether you are doing portraits, flower shot, butterflies, landscapes, etc. this program can make a good image great!

PhotoTools 2.5 gives the user a way to create effects easily that would take a long time and a number of filters in Photoshop. Since presets can be saved, it is a great way for being able to create similar effects on different photos. The more you work with PhotoTools 2.5 Professional Edition, the more you will realize the flexibility of stacking and unstacking presets as well as individual effects. This plug-in has many layers of depth. The more I used it, the more I found out what it was capable of doing. Another excellent addition to a toolbox!

PhotoTune 3 is an excellent and easy to use color correction plug-in. It allows the user a choice of the easy Wizard mode as well as the more precise Pro Mode to quickly color correct an image. This is another excellent product by onOne software.

PhotoFrame 4.5 is a fantastically versatile plug-in to add interest and style to any image. The ability to work with multiple effects on their own layer makes this even more of a winner.