Graphicxtras FAQ

1. How can I access PSD files ?

Use Photoshop in this first case, as the PSD file format is native to Photoshop. Another good candidate would be Paint Shop Pro. Irfanview is another excellent viewer of many image types (http://www.irfanview.com), freeware.

2. How can I get transparency in a mesh in Illustrator ??

Gradient mesh is Illustrator does not support transparency on a node by node basis. A way around this would be to create another same sized mesh, modify the color as 'transparency' and copy the new gradient mesh into the opacity mask field of the mesh.

3. How can I write plug-ins for Photoshop ??

Best bet would be to check out the adobe site for the current Photoshop SDK, please contact the Adobe Solutions Network. You will need to have C++ experience. An altermative is www.filtermeister.com who have in a plug-in development tool and there is an excellent group of developers on the site and mailing list. Or try out the filter factory plugin. There is also a plug-in tool 'Filter Forge', worth checking out also.

4. Frames, how do I use them in Photoshop?

There are a number of ways, select the frame and copy as a new layer in Photoshop and set the blend mode to multiply is one way. Apply the image (frame) using the apply image command, the frame and image need to be the same size (likewise calculations). Or use the frame as a selection / mask and apply.

5. Where is the frame plug-in ?

There is no frame plugin. The frame collection is a collection of JPG images. If you wish to purchase a frame plugin, I would suggest checking out autfox.com or extensis.com as well as perhaps some freebie plugins on the web as well as frame plugins / tools in applications such as Corel ® Photo-Paint ™

6. Illustrator CS2 Plugins on the mac? How do I install them??

The plugin files are supplied in a HQX (SIT) file for the mac. The files expands into a file structure such as 'Plugins for Illustrator CS2' 'Plugins for Illustrator CS1 10' etc. The format of the plugins changed in version CS2, the reason for the split. All the files in the 'Plugins for.. ' must be include in the plugin path of Illustrator. You can change the name of the folder if you wish but the underlying folders should remain the same, if you change the name or remove resource etc then the plugin will not work.

7. Will the tubes / brushes etc work in the latest version of Paint Shop Pro ® ?

In most cases, yes. Most of the resource content material generally is readable in later versions, this is not always the case but things seem to have settled down now and the current applications can read a lot of older format files. Some of the features might not be available. The brushes etc for Photoshop were created in Photoshop 6 for maximum compatibility and work well up to CS2, they will not work in Photoshop 5 etc or PSP

8. The plug-in 'Symbol Multitoolbox' displays an error message when I select it and click the document space.

You need to select a symbol before using the tool (volume 10) in Illustrator. Add a symbol or use the native symbols in the symbols palette (Illustrator also comes with a huge range of symbol libraries)

9. During ordering, the price seems to be different from that of the product page (changes during the ordering process).

Any questions relating to the price or the ordering should initially be sent to the CC customer Care section on shareit.com. They should be able to help there. I never see any of the transaction side / purchase side, that is on a secure server run by shareit.com Element5! part of Digital River. The price indicated should not change, there are no additional costs added at a later stage such as a delivery charge. The charge should only be ever reduced by using a promotion coupon.

10. How can I get the latest updates for Illustrator (r) CS2 / CS3 ?

All the updates are on the plugins sections of the site. Please check out the plugin pages for Illustrator via this page. You will need the serial numbers (supplied with the original purchase generally in a folder 'Keep for reference'). The serial number request pops up in different ways on pc to mac, the mac side asks for key phrase. The serial number or key phrase is in the serialnumber text file. The updates are free.

11. How do I install styles in Photoshop Elements 4 / 5 / 6?

Elements has less features to load styles. The best approach is, perhaps, to open the styles file via the file > open command in Photoshop and the styles will be loaded into the styles palette (up to the maximum allowed). Or simply add the styles to the presets styles folder. PSE has no load / replace feature

12. Bundle sets?? I would like to purchase a set of all the fonts

Please let me know, I am always happy to sort out a special deal and if you can't find say a bundle of all the fonts say, I can either find it for you or setup a new item on shareit.com for you to download / purchase.

13. Purchasing physical items but listed only as e-mail / download

Please contact me, I can quickly sort something out for the order

14. Will the items work in CS3?

Yes, most will. I would suggest downloading some of the samplers and checking them in CS3. Some of the plugins might not work but the resource files for shapes, brushes, etc should be fine in CS3 as they were in CS2 CS and other versions.

15. Will you be releasing any updates for CS3?

Yes, all the plug-ins are now for CS3. Please check out the update sections on the site

16. I want to use your brushes (shapes etc) to create an illustration / scrap book item / cover etc to sell

All the items on the site are royalty-free and for commercial purposes as well as hobby. You can use them to create nearly anything. Basically they are like royalty-free photographs / stock photography. If you are using the material as part of a design, that is fine.

How do you create your products??

Over a long period but generally with a mixture of Illustrator and Photoshop and a lot of drawings and pondering.

Digiscrapwarehouse??

Yes, many of the smaller sets can also be purchased on the Digiscrapwarehouse site. They accept paypal only

You can not however just take an item and then sell it onto a client and establish new rights that you own the 'original' source material. If you are selling the items say as a company creating designs that will then be passed to a different company and then they demand exclusive rights to all parts of the source material. That is not allowed under the license. The items are all non exclusive and may be used by 100s of other people to create a similar design. A mention in any TOU document that the original source material is non exclusive and (c) Abneil Software Ltd / Andrew Buckle would be great.

Opinions and info on this page might or might not be correct.