Installing Plug-Ins

By default, the plug-ins that come with Photoshop install to various subfolders of the Program Files\Adobe\Photoshop CS\Plug-Ins\ folder. You can purchase additional plug-ins or download a variety of freeware and shareware plug-ins from a number of sources online. If you download a particular type of plug-in, you typically can just move or copy the plug-in file (after decompressing it, unzipping it, or renaming it, if indicated by the instructions accompanying the plug-in) to the folder that holds similar plug-in files, assuming the plug-in doesn't include its own installer program. In other cases, you may want to store your third-party plug-ins in a separate folder to distinguish them from the plug-ins provided with Photoshop. If you choose this route, you need to specify the alternate plug-in location, as described next .

Note

If a plug-in was written for Photoshop only, copy it to the appropriate subfolder of C:\Program Files\Adobe\Photoshop CS\Plug-Ins\Adobe Photoshop Only\. If a plug-in was written for ImageReady only, copy it to the appropriate subfolder of C:\Program Files\Adobe\Photoshop CS\Plug-Ins\Adobe ImageReady Only\.

1. Click on Edit . The Edit menu will appear.

2. Point to Preferences . The Preferences submenu will appear.

3. Click on Plug-Ins & Scratch Disks . The Preferences dialog box will appear with its Plug-Ins & Scratch Disks settings displayed.

   

   Note

   In ImageReady, you would choose Edit, Preferences, Plug-Ins to start specifying another plug-ins folder.

4. Click on the Additional Plug-Ins Folder check box. The check box will be checked, and the Browse for Folder dialog box will open .

   

5. Select the folder that holds the plug-ins in the folder tree. The specified folder will become active as a plug-in folder.

6. Click on OK . The Browse for Folder dialog box will close.

   

7. Click on OK . The Preferences dialog box will close.

   

8. Click on File . The File menu will appear.

9. Click on Exit . Photoshop will close.

   

   Note

   When you close Photoshop, save changes to any open file, if prompted. You must exit and restart Photoshop (or ImageReady) for the new plug-ins folder to take effect.

10. Open the newly specified plug-ins folder on the desktop.

    

11. Decompress or rename the plug-in file or run its installer as required. The appropriate plug-in files will decompress or be installed in the appropriate folder location.

12. Close the folder on the desktop.

    

    Note

    In some cases, you may have to move the plug-ins to C:\Program Files\Adobe\Photoshop CS\Plug-Ins\ rather than running them from the alternate folder. Be sure to read any Readme file that comes with a plug-in to verify how to install it, particularly if the plug-in creates one or more folders when you unzip or decompress it.

13. Click on Start . The Start menu will appear. If using Mac OX, double-click on the Photoshop icon to start the program.

14. Point to All Programs (or Programs in Windows versions prior to XP). The Programs submenu will appear. If you are using Mac OS, simply double-click on the Photoshop CS icon to launch the program.

15. Click on Adobe Photoshop CS . The Photoshop program will load with the added plug-ins newly active. You can now open files as needed and use the plug-ins.