Merging photos and using plugins

[joe mama]

Is there a way I can load some photos and have them merged? What I want to do is, I guess, like HDR -- take a couple of pics or so of the same scene with different exposures, and merge them. I mean, I know I can do it manually with layers, but I was looking for an "auto merge" feature where I just set a few parameters and then click.

Also, can I run Photoshop plugins? Specifically, Noise Ninja (http://www.picturecode.com/). If so, how do I do it?

Thanks!

[Pjotr]

About your second question: yes, you can. Just take care about 32bit or 64bit - the number of bits of the plugin and PL have to be equal.
How to do: install plugin and select the path in the PL-menu "settings/...(dont know the name of the entry at english version)/plugins" or copy the plugin-file direct to the "PL-path/defaults/plugins".

About the first question: there is a menu-point called "filter/digital camera/HDR" this should do what its called, i think.

Please be patient about my english, my native language is german.

Regards Peter

[Hoogo]

There's "filter > digital camera > create HDR". You also find it in the context-menu of selected pictures in the picture-browser. The pictures must have the same size, that's easy when you create them with a camera. You have to align the pictures by hand, find more about that in the help.

I have no idea about plugins and macOS, but for windows you put or install the plugins to "...\PhotoLine\Defaults\Plugins". If you like to have your plugins at a different folder, then you have to add the path into PL's search list. You can add 4 paths with "filter > manage plugins"
Most plugins (>99%) are only available for 32Bit-host-programs, so you have to run the 32bit-version of PL to see them in the filter-menu.
Don't know if Noise Ninja works with PL, Neat Image does.

...lol, to late

[joe mama]

Thanks!

OK, I installed the plugin -- but now I don't know how to access the plugin. I assume it's a menu item, but I can't find it.

[Hoogo]

It should appear at the bottom of the filter-menu. Make sure that you run the 32bit-version of PL, see the splash-screen, help > about, the 64bit-version shows 64bit there.

[OldRadioGuy]

OK, I installed the plugin -- but now I don't know how to access the plugin. I assume it's a menu item, but I can't find it.

If your plug-in doesn't appear under the Filter menu that means either PL is not seeing the location of the plug-in or it's a 32-bit plug-in and you're running the 64-bit version of PL. You asked specifically about Noise Ninja. I use that filter virtually every day in PL. Noise Ninja has both a 32-bit version and a 64-bit version, and your license should entitle you to download both. NN does a great job in PhotoLine!

Bob

[greenmorpher]

Hi Joe

Like Bob, I use Noise Ninja with PL; in my case in 32 bit mode on a Mac. Supper plug-in -- simply the best solution for noise.

Cheers, Geoff

Geoffrey Heard
Publisher, Editor, Business Writer
The Worsley Press

FREE Bonus book offer. Get "How to make great ads for (sm)all business" FREE when you buy "Type & Layout: Are you communicating or just making pretty shapes?" or "How to Start and Produce a Magazine or Newsletter". Amazon or www.worsleypress.com

[joe mama]

Thanks all! I think I have it! One last unrelated question on the way out -- when I lasso an area of the image, and want to paste it somewhere else, how do I do that? I just upgraded to the new version, and in the previous version, I'd lasso the selection, drag it where I wanted it (it would copy the selection), double-click, and it would paste it there. This isn't working in the new version of PL. Also, and this is a minor detail, can I get the SHIFT key to select the copy point like it used to use, rather than the ALT key that it uses in the new version?

Thanks again!

[bkh]

when I lasso an area of the image, and want to paste it somewhere else, how do I do that? I just upgraded to the new version, and in the previous version, I'd lasso the selection, drag it where I wanted it (it would copy the selection), double-click, and it would paste it there. This isn't working in the new version of PL.

This feature has gone - as far as I understand, it was a remnant from times when PL didn't have real layers. Simply create a layer from your selection (using copy & paste or the menu command "Create layer from selection"). You can then move, scale, distort the new layer in the same way as the selection. If you don't like to work with several layers, you can reduce everything to the background once the new layer is in position.

Cheers

Burkhard.

[Hoogo]

This kind of selection was dropped in the latest version. The fastest way now is ctrl+C, ctrl+V, or create a keyboard shortcut for "convert selection to layer". You will have a normal layer afterwards.

[joe mama]

when I lasso an area of the image, and want to paste it somewhere else, how do I do that? I just upgraded to the new version, and in the previous version, I'd lasso the selection, drag it where I wanted it (it would copy the selection), double-click, and it would paste it there. This isn't working in the new version of PL.

This feature has gone - as far as I understand, it was a remnant from times when PL didn't have real layers. Simply create a layer from your selection (using copy & paste or the menu command "Create layer from selection"). You can then move, scale, distort the new layer in the same way as the selection. If you don't like to work with several layers, you can reduce everything to the background once the new layer is in position.

Cheers

Burkhard.

Hello! I'm afraid I'm not following. Let's say want to copy one section of a photo and paste it onto another section. I outline the section I want to copy -- then what? If I convert it to a layer, everything but the selection disappears. How can I convert it to a layer, drag it somewhere else seing it superimposed over the background, and then merge it with the background?

Thanks!

EDIT: OK, I finally figured it out -- I have to do *both* CTRL-C then CTRL-V -- I was only doing one or the other, rather than both in that order, which is why I was so confused! So, my question now is, is there a way that I can make the CTRL-CV and option in the right click menu? That is, when I lasso the selection, right-click, and right-click again for the menu options, is there a way to make CTRL-CV come up as an option rather than using the keyboard?

[bkh]

Sorry for not being clear enough about copy & paste. Glad you figured it out. There's been a discussion on the German board pages about mouse shortcuts for creating a layer from a selection, however, I am not sure if the developers will add something.

In the meantime, you might consider using the PL custom context menu (you can set it up in Preferences -> Extended -> Context Menu). This menu comes up when you press the middle mouse key (or CTRL-CMD-Mouse key on the Mac). You could add the "Convert Selection to Layer" and "Merge with Background" menu commands to that menu.

Cheers

Burkhard.