Photoshop Elements >
Plug-ins >
2 - Installation & More
To install a plug-in, follow the instructions for the plug-in.
If there are no instructions, try the following.
1) Close Photoshop Elements.
2) Click the download file on the website.
3) Select Save.
4) Save the file to My Download Files (XP), Download (Vista),
or Downloads (Windows 7), or Desktop (Mac).
5) After the file is downloaded, go to the above download
location.
6) Look at the file name extension for the file, and click on
it below.
• .exe
• .dmg
• .zip
• Other File Extension Names
.exe is used by Windows.
Do the following.
1) Double click the .exe file to extract the plug-in.
2) You'll be prompted to browse to the destination for the file.
Go to My Computer (XP) or Computer (Vista & Windows 7), and
use the path below.
If you can't find the folders below on your computer, go to
Hidden Files &
Folders.
C: > Program Files > Adobe > Photoshop Elements > Plug-Ins
Select an existing folder, or create a new folder.
A new folder could be named after the software company, or the
type of plug-in.
3) Restart Photoshop Elements.
4) Go to Where's the Plug-in
on the Menus?.
.dmg is used by Macs.
A file with a .dmg file name extension is a disk image, which
is a virtual CD or DVD.
Do the following.
1) Double click the .dmg file to extract the plug-in.
2) You'll be prompted to browse to the destination for the file.
Open Finder, and navigate using this path:
Applications > Adobe Photoshop Elements > Plug-Ins.
Select an existing folder, or create a new folder.
A new folder could be named after the software company, or the
type of plug-in.
3) Restart Photoshop Elements.
4) Go to Where's the Plug-in
on the Menus?.
Zip files are used for sending files.
Windows (XP, Vista, Windows 7), and Mac OS X 10.3 and later, can open zip
files.
If You Can't Open a Zip File
Windows
If you don't have a zip file program on your Windows computer, download
WinZip, which has a free
trial period, PKZIP, or
7Zip.
If you're unfamiliar with Zip files, go to the
WinZip tutorial.
Mac
If your Mac computer doesn't have a zip-file program, go to
StuffIt (Mac).
Do the following.
Windows
1) Double click the zip file to unzip (open) it.
2) Look for an installer file, such as plug-in_name_setup.exe.
If there's no installer file with an .exe extension, go to
Other File Name Extensions.
3) Double click the installer file.
4) You'll be prompted to browse to the destination for the plug-in.
Go to My Computer (XP) or Computer (Vista & Windows 7), and
browse via the path below.
If you can't find the folders below on your computer, go to
Hidden Files &
Folders.
C: > Program Files > Adobe > Photoshop Elements > Plug-Ins
Select an existing folder, or create a new folder.
A new folder could be named after the software company, or the
type of plug-in.
5) Restart Photoshop Elements.
6) Go to Where's the Plug-in
on the Menus?.
Mac
1) Double click the zip file to unzip (open) it.
2) Look for an installer file, such as Drag-Me-to-Your-Plug-Ins-Folder.dmg.
If there's no installer file, go to
Other File Name Extensions to
the right.
3) Open Finder, and navigate using this path:
Applications > Adobe Photoshop Elements > Plug-Ins
4) Drag the file to an existing folder, or create a new folder.
A new folder could be named after the software company, or the
type of plug-in.
5) Restart Photoshop Elements.
6) Go to Where's the Plug-in
on the Menus?.
Other File Name Extensions
Here are some of the file name extensions used with plug-ins.
Look for the file name extension of the plug-in file that you
downloaded.
| .8li |
Automate |
| .8bf |
Digimarc |
| .psd |
Displacement Maps |
| .8bi |
Editor Only - File Formats |
| .8bf |
Effects - Filter Gallery |
| .8bx |
Extensions |
| .8bi |
File Formats |
| .8bf |
Filters |
| .8be & .8ba |
Import-Export |
| .apl & .8bi |
Organizer Only |
| .8by |
Parser |
| .8bs |
Selection |
| .pat |
Patterns |
| .asl |
Styles |
| .jpg & .psd |
Textures |
Do the following.
Windows
You need to have two windows open—My Download Files (XP),
Download (Vista), or Downloads (Windows 7)—and Plug-Ins
or Presets—the destination window.
1) Go to My Download Files (XP), Download (Vista), or
Downloads (Windows 7).
If the window fills the screen, make it smaller.
You now have the first window open.
Next, you'll open the second window.
2) Go to My Computer (XP) or Computer (Vista & Windows 7).
If the window fills the screen, make it smaller.
You need to see the the download window, and the My
Computer/Computer window.
3) Using the My Computer/Computer window, browse to the destination folder.
Plug-ins
For a plug-in, follow this path.
C: > Program Files > Adobe > Photoshop Elements > Plug-Ins
Select an existing folder, or create a new folder.
A new folder could be named after the software company, or the
type of plug-in.
Patterns, Styles, & Textures
For patterns, styles, and textures, follow this path:
C: > Program Files > Adobe > Photoshop Elements > Presets
Select the appropriate folder.
4) In the download window, select the file.
5) Click, hold, and drag it to the destination folder in the
other window.
6) Restart Photoshop Elements.
7) If you installed a plug-in, go to
Where's the Plug-in on the Menus?.
Mac
The file to be installed is located on the Desktop.
You need to open a window for the destination folder.
1) Open Finder.
If the window fills the screen, make it smaller.
You need to see the file on the Desktop, and the Finder window.
2) Using Finder, browse to the destination for the file.
Plug-ins
For a plug-in, open Finder, and navigate using this path:
Applications > Adobe Photoshop Elements > Plug-Ins
Select an existing folder, or create a new folder.
A new folder could be named after the software company, or the
type of plug-in.
Patterns, Styles, & Textures
For patterns, styles, and textures, open Finder, and navigate
using this path:
Applications > Adobe Photoshop Elements > Presets
Select the appropriate folder.
4) Drag the file from the Desktop to the destination folder.
5) Restart Photoshop Elements.
6) If you installed a plug-in, go to
Where's the Plug-in on the Menus?.
Where's the Plug-in on the Menus?
The plug-in will probably be located at the bottom of the Filter
menu, unless the developer has specified another location.
Some plug-ins may appear in File > Import, or in File > Export,
as well as file formats in the Open and Save As windows.
If you've installed many plug-ins, Photoshop Elements may not be
able to list them all in their appropriate menus.
If so, they'll appear in the Filter > Other menu.
Normally, plug-ins are placed in the Photoshop Elements plug-ins
folder.
However, if you'll be using the same plug-ins with other programs,
do the following.
1) Create a folder for the plug-ins.
For example, create a folder called Plug-ins in My Pictures.
2) Go to Preferences in Photoshop Elements.
Windows
Go to Edit > Preferences > Plug-ins & Scratch Disks Preferences.
Or, press Ctrl + k, and select Plug-ins & Scratch Disks Preferences.
Mac
Go to Photoshop Elements > Preferences > Plug-ins & Scratch Disks Preferences.
3) Select Additional Plug-Ins Folder.
You'll be prompted to browse to the new plug-ins folder.
4) Restart Photoshop Elements.
If you have plug-ins that are not located in the Photoshop Elements
Plug-Ins folder, you can add shortcuts for the plug-ins in the Photoshop
Elements Plug-Ins folder.
Stop from Loading
A plug-in may cause Photoshop Elements to load slowly.
To stop a plug-in from loading, add a tilde character, ~, which
is the key below the Esc key.
When you restart Photoshop Elements, the plug-in is ignored.
Make Your Own
You can make your own plug-ins with the
FilterMeister.
