Alien Skin - Exposure 7

UaeExile · 7 Nov 2015

Anyone use it? I'm thinking of picking up a copy but I'm unsure whether it's best to use it as a standalone application or in conjunction with Lightroom?

I'd prefer Lightroom but not sure if the plug-in means I get all of the features?

Cheers

Neil Burnell · 19 Nov 2015

I would think the plug in would give you all the features, I've used alien skin software before through photoshop and it seemed pretty good. I take it you want these plug ins as they are non destructive compared to say Nik software?

juggler · 20 Nov 2015

Neil Burnell said:
I would think the plug in would give you all the features, I've used alien skin software before through photoshop and it seemed pretty good. I take it you want these plug ins as they are non destructive compared to say Nik software?

You can use Nik's plugins as smart filters - that makes them non destructive.

Neil Burnell · 23 Nov 2015

juggler said:
You can Nik's plugins as smart filters - that makes them non destructive.

Does that save directly to the raw file though Simon?

juggler · 23 Nov 2015

Neil Burnell said:
Does that save directly to the raw file though Simon?

Not exactly. To use in a totally non-destructive way you need to open the raw file as a smart object in photoshop and then use the Nik plugin as a smart filter on top of that. You can then save as a psd or tiff. After that you can go back to the smart object or filter and tweak the settings if you need to. It's not something I've done in a long time though - I often end up doing some cloning or spot healing in PS as some point in my workflow and that can't really be done non-destructively (other than using the ACR or LR spot healing & cloning tool). So check with a trial before buying.

Neil Burnell · 23 Nov 2015

juggler said:
Not exactly. To use in a totally non-destructive way you need to open the raw file as a smart object in photoshop and then use the Nik plugin as a smart filter on top of that. You can then save as a psd or tiff. After that you can go back to the smart object or filter and tweak the settings if you need to. It's not something I've done in a long time though - I often end up doing some cloning or spot healing in PS as some point in my workflow and that can't really be done non-destructively (other than using the ACR or LR spot healing & cloning tool). So check with a trial before buying.

Same as how I work Simon, I believe some of the Alien Skin plugging work directly in ACR. To be honest they would have little use to me anyway as I like to layer mask in photoshop using Nik.

juggler · 23 Nov 2015

I think VSCO's presets work by manipulating the camera calibration and various other raw sliders. Perhaps Alien Skin do the same?

Neil Burnell · 23 Nov 2015

juggler said:
I think VSCO's presets work by manipulating the camera calibration and various other raw sliders. Perhaps Alien Skin do the same?

I would think this is the case yes, essentially just short cuts for creating a base to work with.

Toxic · 24 Nov 2015

I have it and use it sparingly, some of the effects are interesting, I use it through PS.

Lots of adjustments to experiment with, it is good but I tend to use Nik more.

gpc1 · 25 Nov 2015

I use LR and then use ASE7 plug in.
There are a few great tools in there. Some great effects, and some stuff that could be seen as gimmicky.

However, some people turn out amazing work using it. Its just another tool that can come in handy.

give it a try, free trial for 30 days I think

GHP · 26 Nov 2015

Could you not simply make a virtual copy in LR, and then work on that one?
You would keep the original to go back to if necessary.

UaeExile · 2 Dec 2015

gpc1 said:
I use LR and then use ASE7 plug in.
There are a few great tools in there. Some great effects, and some stuff that could be seen as gimmicky.

However, some people turn out amazing work using it. Its just another tool that can come in handy.

give it a try, free trial for 30 days I think

What's your workflow like then Greg? I love some of the presets to get me in the ball park of what I like and I quite enjoy some of the gimmicky stuff too. I'm just not sure which way to work it.... Lightroom or Exposure first?

gpc1 · 4 Dec 2015

UaeExile said:
What's your workflow like then Greg? I love some of the presets to get me in the ball park of what I like and I quite enjoy some of the gimmicky stuff too. I'm just not sure which way to work it.... Lightroom or Exposure first?

LR first. I have a couple of presets I created then I adjust / tweak WB / Exposure etc. If I feel I want to add something (maybe add some flare / or blur) I then rightclick 'edit in' ASE 7. I think, if you wanted to, you could entirely edit in ASE but I know my way round LR and use VSCO keys too. I have just finished editing a wedding and didn't use it once, but thinking about it now I might take a couple of images into it and have a play.

doublemint76 · 8 Dec 2015

The likes of Nik and Alien Skin use their own algorithms etc which is why they are almost standalone programs, completely different to presets which are just slider/tone curve based.

I could be wrong buts its what ive always thought.

Btw Alien Skin 7 has some great film filters in there, it also gives you a brief desciption when you hover over each one of what it does and works best with