FxFactory Effects Plug-ins Released for After Effects

Noise Industries on Friday announced the release of FxFactory 2.0.4, an update to their collection of visual effects plug-ins for the Mac. A free update for registered users, FxFactory Pro 2.0.4 costs $399.
FxFactory 2.0.4 includes more than 300 visual effects plug-ins designed for real-time performance. Capabilities include blurs, color correction, distortions, glows, half-tones and stylization filters, generators and transitions. The software is designed to use the system graphics card to offset rendering times and preview functions.
Already compatible with Apple's Final Cut Express and Final Cut Pro digital video editing software, FxFactory Pro 2।0.4 gains native support for Adobe After Effects CS3 as well.
Reference : http://www.pcworld.com/article/149612/2008/08/.html?tk=rss_news

Nik Releases Black-and-white Imaging Plug-in

Nik Software unveiled a new plug-in for Adobe Photoshop and Apple Aperture that lets photographers convert their images into black-and-white photos.
Silver Efex Pro features 18 emulated black-and-white film types along with a grain engine to mimic the silver halide process. The plug-in uses a range of imaging algorithms to protect against unwanted artifacts.
The software runs a basic conversion of a color image into a black-and-white one. Users can then make adjustments for more than 20 preset styles as well as make other changes to color filters, toning controls, and more.
Users can download the US$200 Silver Efex Pro now from Nik Software. A boxed version of the plug-in goes on sale in August. A 15-day trial version is also available. Through September 15, Silver Efex Pro will include a free sample pack of Pictorico's Gekko Fine Art Collection of papers designed especially for black-and-white-prints.
Silver Efex Pro runs on OS X 10।4 and later on G4-, G5-, and Intel-based Macs. The plug-in is compatible with the CS2 and CS3 versions of Photoshop, along with Photoshop Elements 4.0 and 6.0; it also works with Aperture 2.1 and later.
Reference : http://www.pcworld.com/article/148231/nik_releases_blackandwhite_imaging_plugin.html

OnOne Offers Plug-In Suite 4 for Photoshop

onOne Software has announced the release of Plug-In Suite 4 for Adobe Photoshop. The collection of Photoshop plug-ins costs US$499.95, or $199.95 to upgrade.
Plug-In Suite 4 combines full versions of six software tools developed by onOne, including Genuine Fractals 5 Print Pro, which helps you resize images by more than 1,000 percent with no loss of detail; PhotoTools 1.0 Professional Edition, which uses Photoshop Actions to create effects that can be stacked and blended like filters; PhotoFrame 3.1 Professional Edition, used to create border and edge effects; Mask Pro 4.1, a high-quality masking and selection tool that works with difficult subjects like hair and glass; PhotoTune 2.2, a color correction tool; and FocalPoint 1.0, a new plug-in that simulates selective focus or tilt-shift lenses.
System requirements call for Mac OS X 10।4.8 or later, Photoshop CS2 or CS3 or Photoshop Elements 4 or later, 512MB RAM, 3GB hard disk space, DVD drive, Adobe Flash Player 9.
Reference : http://www.pcworld.com/article/id,147493-pg,1/article.html