> Is the fade filter a plug-in? Everyone talks as if it is a standard
> component of Photoshop.

Technically I don't believe it is a 'plug-in'. I believe Fade was in 6, but
under the Filter menu. It is definitely is in 7 as a standard. It is limited to
certain features and functions. If you have a version that does not have it, or
want to 'fade' a function that Fade doesn't handle, you can imitate it like
this:

1. Create a new layer at the top of the layers stack
2. Press CTRL+ALT+SHIFT+E/Cmd-Control-Shift-E (PC/Mac). this will copy the
current visible image into the new layer as a flattened result.
3. Run the filter you want to run on the layer.
4. to Fade, shift the opacity.
5. To affect the Fade mode, change the Layer mode.

It is really that simple.

So, say you have an image with a layer you want to apply a luminosity fade
adjustment to:

1. duplicate the layer.
2. Run the filter you want to run on the duplicate layer.
3. Change the Layer mode to Luminosity.
4. Shift the opacity to affect the fade.

Putting this in an action can simplfy the process and provide more control than
the function, as you can run additional filers and masking on the fade layer.

Hope that helps!

Richard Lynch
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The Hidden Power of Photoshop (due October '2003)
http://ps6.com
The Hidden Power of Photoshop Elements 2
http://hiddenelements.com

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PS -- for those that have noticed, I have been off for a while. Sorry for the
long hiatus. I hope to be back at this somewhat regularly over the coming
months. I look forward to your questions.

LET ME KNOW: If there is anything that you want in Photoshop (or Elements) and
don't have, drop me a line either on the list or through email and I'll see what
I can do to help make it happen.

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