Filters

Filters

Q1:	Why is the Filter menu grayed out?
A1:	There are a couple of possible reasons: You are transforming (Free Transform, Warp, Transform Selection), and you haven't "finished" yet. Press Return (PC: Enter) to complete the transformation and the Filter menu should reappear. The document is either in Indexed Color or Bitmap mode (Image>Mode), and these modes do not allow filters to be used.
Q2:	Why are some of the filters grayed out?
A2:	Your document is in CMYK, Lab Color, or 16-bit mode, and in each of these modes, some filters are not available.
Q3:	How do I apply a filter in CMYK mode? My document is in CMYK mode, and the filter I want to apply is grayed out. Is it possible to apply this filter but stay in CMYK mode?
A3:	It depends on the filter. For many filters, you can go to the Channels palette (Window>Channels), click on the Cyan channel, and apply the filter. Then, click on the Magenta channel and press Command-F (PC: Control-F) to apply the filter again. Repeat for the Yellow and Black channels. Note that filters that apply a random effect, such as Filter>Render>Clouds, will apply a different look to each channel.
Q4:	Why are some of the filters missing?
A4:	If "standard" filters do not appear under the Filter menu, it suggests that the menus have been customized. Go to Edit> Menus and click on the right- facing arrow to the left of the word "Filter" to show the missing filter(s) for that menu. You can also hold down Command (PC: Control) as you click on the Filter menu in the menu bar to temporarily show the missing menu items.
Q5:	Where is the 3D Transform filter? In Photoshop 7 I had a filter called 3D Transform, but when I upgraded to Photoshop CS2, it's gone. Can I get it back?
A5:	As of Photoshop CS, that filter is no longer installed by default, but you can find it on the installation disc in Goodies>Optional Plug-Ins>Filters. Drag it from the disc into Photoshop CS2>Plug-Ins>Filters. Restart Photoshop and the 3D Transform filter will appear in Filter>Render.
Q6:	How do I apply a filter to type without rasterizing?
A6:	Technically you can't apply a filter without rasterizing text, but you do have a couple of options: Duplicate the Type layer (Command-J [PC: Control-J]), rasterize the copy (Layer>Rasterize>Type), click on the Lock Transparent Pixels icon, and then apply the filter to the copied layer. That way you at least have a backup copy in case you need to edit the text. For some filters, you can add a new layer above the Type layer (by clicking on the Create a New Layer icon with your Type layer active in the Layers palette), fill it with the same color as the type (by pressing Option-Delete [PC: Alt-Backspace] with your Foreground color selected), and apply the filter to that layer. Then press Command-Option-G (PC: Control-Alt-G) to create a layer clipping mask, so the filtered layer is only visible within the letters . This way the type is still editable. ( Note: Not all filters will be visible on the colorized layer.)
Q7:	Is there a way to lessen the effects of a filter once it's been applied?
A7:	If you've applied a filterand have not done any other operationyou can use Edit>Fade to "fade out" the effects of the filter. Unfortunately, that is pretty much a one-shot deal. So, before applying the filter, press Command-J (PC: Control-J) to duplicate the layer. Now apply the filter, and then lower the layer Opacity to lessen the effect.