Online Help for Chasys Photo

Photoshop Plug-ins Bridge

What is Photoshop Plug-ins Bridge?

Adobe Photoshop is a graphics editing program developed by Adobe Systems Incorporated. The Photoshop plug-in format, which uses the file extension .8BF, is a file format for plug-ins used by Adobe Photoshop, and by a few other major image editors. 8BF files can be opened with these programs and act like mini-editors which can modify images for use in the parent program. There are two variants of 8BF; a 32-bit variant the is used by older versions of Photoshop and a 64-bit variant that is used by the latest versions.

“Photoshop Plug-ins Bridge” is a Chasys Photo image effects plug-in that allows you to use 8BF plug-in files with Chasys Photo. It acts like a bridge between Chasys Photo and 8BF (both 32-bit and 64-bit).

Chasys Photo features the unique ability to simultaneously execute 32-bit and 64-bit Photoshop (.8BF) plug-ins in the same editing session, eliminating the need to restart or switch application builds. This is something that even Adobe Photoshop itself doesn't do. This is possible because Photoshop Plug-ins Bridge has two back-ends, one for 32-bit plug-ins and another for 64-bit plug-ins, with both feeding into the same front-end for a seamless experience.

How do I use Photoshop Plug-ins Bridge?

To use Photoshop Plug-ins Bridge, go to the Effects menu and select External Plug-ins. You'll be presented with a dialog box where you can choose the effects plug-in you want to use. Select “Photoshop Plug-ins Bridge” and then click “CONNECT”.

The plug-in then searches the configured 8BF folder for 8BF files and lists the effects contained in these. Note that one 8BF file can contain more than one effect. You then choose the effect you want an click "RUN" to execute it.

Photoshop Plug-ins will be added to the recent plug-ins list as you use them. You can access them directly from there withose going through the plug-in selection dialog boxes.

Photoshop Plug-ins Bridge searches the folder and all its sub-folders, and will dereference (follow) any shortcuts it finds. This can be very useful if you have multiple image editors; you can just create a new folder and copy in shortcuts to the various plug-in folders of the other editors and Photoshop Plug-ins Bridge will be able to find all of them.