Using plugins

A plugin is an additional bit of software produced by a third-party company. It's designed to either expand Elements' existing features or add new ones. Plugins are typically called Photoshop-compliant plugins, which essentially means that they will work with all Adobe programs, as well as a wide range of other editing programs (such as Corel Paint Shop Pro).

My current favorite Elements plugin changes the look of any image from purely photographic to something very illustrative at the click of the mouse.

My all-time favorite plugin for Photoshop Elements is called Moku Hanga (a Japanese phrase for wood block printing). Now, I love these traditional Japanese prints, but I could never afford one because they are very expensive—however, I can reproduce the look of a real wood block print using this amazing plugin from JixiPix. It takes a few minutes to create an effect like this but, because the plugin offers so many variants, it usually...