Features:9/10
Ease of use:8/10
Qualityofresults:9/10
Value for money:7/10VERDICT
FINAL SCORE:8/10
TOP 5 ENGRAVER III
EFFECTStoo. Randomisation controls allow for deliberate
‘printing errors’ to be introduced – the look of too
much ink, too little, or a fault on the plate – features
that give old-fashioned engravings and etchings
their charm and character. These too are fully
configurable, although the best way to approach
them is perhaps trial and error – this is the kind of
style where happy accidents can reap real
dividends in the final artwork.
Controls can look complex at first, particularly
when you’re presented with a host of options and
numerical values. They’re clearly labelled though
and the speedy preview system allows you to see
what effect changing the settings will have on your
artwork, making this a powerful but not overly
complicated plug-in. If you’re into the look of
antique and retro printing technologies – from the
16th Century to the Seventies – then Engraver III
will give you just as much control over creatingthem as if you’d built the effects from scratch
yourself. The only difference will be the increased
speed of your workflow.The third iteration of this engraving filter from Alpha Plugins
introducesmultilayersupport,whichtakesitoutoftheworldof simple filters and into the realm of real creative control
CREATE RETROSTYLE
ENGRAVED ILLUSTRATIONS
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CREATE THE ENGRAVING
Open a suitable image in Photoshop – it
needs to have strong, clear definition and good
contrast to work best. Duplicate the background
layer and desaturate. Adjust Brightness/Contrast
or Levels if necessary. Go to Filters>Alpha
Plugins>Engraver III and choose Ancient Print.
Adjust the settings as required, then choose
Paper 04 from the Effects menu. Click OK.03
FINALISE THE DESIGN
Place the masked Glowing Edges layer
above the engraving filtered layer, then grab a
Pastel or Pencil Brush and, working on the layer
mask, use it to bring back detail in any areas where
the engraving filter has obscured them. Finish up
with vintage typography and grungy paper texture
overlays to make the artwork look authentic.02
BEGIN TO COMPOSITE
We’ve used a book cover fromwww.
CGTextures.comto create the look of a Fifties
style book jacket. Place the engraving image onto
it and mask or trim the edges to fit. Duplicate the
original photo layer, desaturate, go to Filter>Filter
Gallery>Stylize Glowing Edges and set Edge Width:
3; Edge Brightness: 11; Smoothness: 10. Invert,
then go to Layer>Layer>Layer Mask>Hide All.Engraver III has one job, and it does it well.
Don’t expect to be able to just set and
forget it though – for best results you’ll
need to build up your vintage effects using
both this plug-in and Photoshop’s tools.ENGRAVING COLORED
This preset is good for reducing saturation and adding
warmth and a low-dpi look. It’s also great for popping
highlights into a blown-exposure effect. Try it for surf or
skate artwork for a classic Californian style.
CROSS WAVES ACCENT
Get a Sixties-style look with this wavy halftone setting
- it’s perfect for re-creating Pop or Op Art styles or for
creating a deliberately cheap and pulpy printed look.
Try with a scruffy paper texture for poster designs.
ANCIENT PRINT
This go-to preset is effective for all kinds of
engraving-style artwork, from re-creating retro-style
illustration to working up a realistic money look.
Experiment with the settings for complete control.
ENGRAVING PAINTED
This colour effect adds a painterly wavy texture that’s
also good for creating a deliberately grungy print.
Give it a try on t-shirt artwork if you want the design
to look pre-loved and worn-in or replicate the look of
a peeling print.
HALFTONE MIDDLE CMYK
This slightly bleached-out colour halftone is excellent
for adding an authentic look to backgrounds or colour
highlights in manga artwork or for achieving a cheaply
printed comic-book effect. Try it on full-colour pages or
character designs.