Beyond Frustrated...

[pixiegirl Profile]

I'm beyond confused. I spent a good hour trying to figure out how to post to other discussions and it wasn't until I came here and clearly saw the "post a new discussion" button that I realized that I can't post anything to most of the other topics, there is no post button. So an hour later this seems to be the only place I can find that has a post button.

Here is what I don't understand, now I've only spent a very short time playing with SPE so I'm very much a novice. I like the effects gallery but what I don't understand is how do I create my own effects? I like some of the other and see that if I choose a community effect I can modify it in some way but how did these people in the community make these effects in the first place? The only tools I see on the right side will add in sky, erase something, put in some text, remove a red eye, etc. Where did the high key, grunge, pencil, effects come from in the first place? I don't see contrast, exposure, definition, saturation, tint, vibrancy, highlights adjustments anywhere? What am I missing?

I don't want to just borrow someones effect, I'd like to make my own. Where are the controls to do this?

Susan

[admin]

Hi Susan,

There's only a very small number of places you can't post to. What you might not realise is that you can't post unless you log in (this has so far prevented any spam appearing on this forum). The easiest way to login to the forums is by using the links from the Community menu in the software, which log you in automatically.

To make your own effects, you need to use the Effect Editor. The best way to learn about the effect editor is to watch the video tutorials in the effect creating forum. Creating effects does require a bit of investment in time. Some of the effects you mention can actually be made without the effects editor by compositing textures on top of your photo and choosing a different "Blend Mode", and some of the image controls you mention are found in "Image Treatment" then pressing the "More Sliders..." button.

Hope this helps,

Tony