Link Texture Effect Option - If you happen to choose a texture effect already in use in another tabbed section of the plug-in, you will be asked by the plug-in if you'd like to link these texture settings. If you wish to link the settings, simply choose which tabbed section settings you'd like to inherit and click Yes to link and apply these settings. If you do not wish to link the settings, simply click the No button.
You may unlink and relink any linked or previously linked textures at any time by clicking the link button to the right of the Choose button. Note you cannot link any multiplier texture effects in the plug-in.
Add Depth to Your Image
Enable Depth Perspective - When you first apply the Surface effect after you've selected your texture, you'll notice your image now has some great textural depth but this effect does not dimensionally distort your image to match the surface. To create a more natural looking depth perspective, click this checkbox to apply the depth effect to the entire image.
Apply Surface to Entire Canvas* - When you load a layered image into the Surface effect, only the layer isolated image is affected by the filter, by enabling this option, you can apply the Surface effect to the entire visible image.
* NOTE - This option is available when you're working with a layered image in Adobe Photoshop or other imaging applications that support layering.
Including Wash Area - When the Apply Surface to Entire Canvas setting is enabled and you have also applied a Wash effect, this option is available and allows you to fill the Washed areas of the image with the Surface effect as well.
Adjust the Surface Orientation
Flip Horizontal - Click the checkbox to flip the texture effect horizontally.
Flip Vertical - Click the checkbox to flip the texture effect vertically.
Invert Surface - Click the Invert Surface checkbox to inverse the texture effect.
Rotate - Click either rotate button to rotate the texture effect in 90 degree increments.
Adjust the Surface Properties
Surface Scale - Using the slider control, you may enlarge or reduce the scale of the selected texture effect appropriate to the resolution of the image by moving the slider below or simply enter a number in the text entry field to the right. By default the texture effect is applied at the smallest scale to the image.
Texture Depth - Increase or decrease the texture depth effect by moving the slider control or by simply enter a number in the text entry field to the right.
Lighting Control - Click and drag anywhere on the sphere control to change the direction of the source of the light being applied to the image surface or simply enter your desired lighting positions in the text entry fields below the sphere. (TIP: The outer areas of the sphere create a richer color effect, while the inner areas will apply stronger lighting resulting in a lighter image)
Surface Tone - Any realistic surface is informed by its surroundings, so we've created the ability to colorize the image surface. To start, click the color selector button to the right of the Surface Tone control to launch the color picker and choose the ideal Surface color. Once you've selected your color, click and drag the Surface Tone slider control to the right to adjust the intensity of the color on your image. (TIP: While Surface Tone is used mainly to add color tone to the image surface, you'll also notice that it can enhance the appearance of texture depth)
User Settings - The User Settings dialog allows you to save or apply previously saved Surface settings to the image you're working with. Once you've created a Surface effect setting you like, click the Save button, name the setting and click OK to save this setting. To recall and apply a setting, simply click on the setting name in the dialog box. To delete a setting, simply click its name in the dialog box and click the Delete button.
Working with the Preview Window
Preview Options - Above the Preview window at right, you'll notice some viewing options. By default the Composite option is selected to show you what all combined tabbed section effects look like applied to the image. At any time you can click the Original option to toggle between the unaffected image and a preview of the filtered image with all effects applied.
Preview Options - Surface Multiplier - By default you are only working with a single Surface effect (Surface One), by clicking the Add Surface option, you can now define an additional Surface texture effect with its own settings (Surface Two). You can easily toggle between each Surface texture effect by clicking Surface One or Surface Two or click Composite to view the fully composited preview with both Surface effects applied in addition to all combined tabbed section effects. At any time you can delete either effect by clicking the red close box icon to the right of the Surface name.
Magnifying the Preview - Below the Preview window, you'll see the magnification controls. By clicking the appropriate icon (- or +), you can increase or decrease the magnification of the Preview window. The current level of magnification is shown between the magnification icons.
Moving the Preview - When you have increased magnification and wish to view the texture effect on the rest of the image not visible in the Preview window, simply move your mouse into the Preview window and click and drag your image around to reveal the texture effected image.
Re-positioning the Texture Effect - To modify the position of the texture effect on your image, hold down the Command (Apple) key (or the Ctrl key on Windows) then click and drag the texture effect within the Preview window. If for some reason the texture does move, try increasing the Surface Scale amount so there is more of the texture to move around on the image.
Generate Effect in New Layer Above* - Simply enable this option if you want the filter to create and apply the Surface effect on a new layer above the original image leaving it intact.
* NOTE - This option is only displayed in Adobe Photoshop and other imaging applications that support layering.
Applying the Surface Effect
Once you're satisfied with your Surface settings, you can continue to define more settings in other tabbed sections, or simply click the OK button below the Preview window to apply the filter with the current settings. Clicking Cancel closes the plug-in without applying the effect.
