This documentation is the text version. See the Word 6 documentation for a better representation of this documentation. This version doesn't have pictures in it so you'll see references to things you can't see so open the one with pics! :-)
Introduction
Welcome to Frosty 2.0! Thank you for taking the time to download this little gem for Photoshop and compatible programs. Inside this document you will see an overview of this filter and a brief example to show you some of what you can do. One of the great things about Frosty is that it can actually do different effects if you give it different images. For example, give it a line-art based graphic and your results are different from if you gave it a highly variable document. This is done because Frosty's algorithms are anticipating variable data but can do some interesting effects on anti-aliased lines, too.
Check out the example to see a little bit about what Frosty does.
What's different since 1.0 (a.k.a. New Features)
Frosty is now a version 5 Photoshop filter
Previews in the dialog box
Numbers based on percent, not levels
Fat binary, supports PowerPC and 680x0
Faster algorithm
Works if you have multiple layers in your document
Placed in the 'Noise' menu now instead of 'Stylize'
Better documentation with examples!
General Description of Features
Frosty is an image manipulator. It takes the selected area and does an algorithm on it and produces a snow like effect on the image. The amount of snow can vary according to the intensity you select. You can choose between 1 and 99 percent. The effects can be different according to the type of graphic you are applying the filter to. On simple pictures Frosty acts like a 'find lines' filter, adding frost along the edges. On more complex graphics, Frosty adds the 'snow' more evenly. In a sense, think of it as this: the snow goes into the 'pits' of the image.
The 'snow' color is the current background color you currently have selected.
The dialog you see has an image preview on it. Just type in the percent of intensity you wish into the box and you can get an idea of what the final picture will look like.
It's pretty simple! Just experiment with it and see what you can do. I've found that some of the best results occur after you blur the result of Frosty's operation. I like putting on a gaussian blur of about 0.5 or just using the regular blur tool.
Compatibility
This is a Adobe Photoshop version 5.0 filter. That is, it works with all programs that use Photoshop plug-ins compatible with version 3.0 of Photoshop and higher. The filter has native code for both 680x0 and PowerPC based Macintoshes. I don't have a 680x0 Mac anymore so I cannot test it but it is based on the same code. If there are any problems, please see the contact information in this document.
Cost
This use of this filter is free for all, commercial and otherwise. It is NOT public domain, however. See the Legal section for redistribution restrictions.
Example
This is a small example of what the Frosty filter can do. These captures were done on my PowerCenter Pro 180 on a 17" monitor so you'll have to forgive the sizes... :-) I had to squeeze them.
First, I opened a picture up and displayed it.
Then I opened the Frosty filter and selected a 15% frost just to see what it looks like. After looking at the picture, I decided to put some snow on the base of the statue. I don't know why, I guess for the surrealistic effect.
Anyhow, I did a rough selection of the base with the lasso tool and then chose to feather my selection by four pixels.
Next, I opened up Frosty and started looking at various strengths of frost.
I finally decided on a 35% snow value. I figured that would be a nice amount of frost.
This is what it looked like after I added in the frost. As you can tell, it looks a little rough. Probably a little less would work better or maybe on a layer and put made a little more transparent. It would also be good if the ground was snowy but that's why this is an example and not for mailing out to people!
Anyhow, as I said earlier a gaussian blur usually looks pretty good on a frosty-ied image so I applied that filter to the selection area.
I previewed a number of settings and found that a setting of 0.5 for this particular image did a pretty nice job. So after this was done and I deselected my area, this is what the base of the statue looks like.
Please experiment with it! There are lots of things you can do with Frosty!! It's not a canned filter, but an imagination filter.
Contact
Hi, I can be contacted at the following electronic mail addresses: (in order of preference)
nwcs@delphi.com
nwcs@usit.net
schulman@smtpg.compsys.com
If you need to write me, please send mail to:
Neil Schulman
790 N. Cedar Bluff Road #2314
Knoxville, TN 37923
Thank you to...
Above all, I thank Jesus the Messiah for being my Lord and Savior.
My brother Bruce for keeping me motivated all these years...
My friend Dr. John P. McMurry for being my friend and confidant, not to mention one of my biggest fans!
My friend Penney Woods for being a great woman and liking Leslie Nielson movies. I swear, Penney, I'll bring Airplane back!
Apple Computer for giving me the tools to set me free.
Legal/Distribution
Any non-commercial distribution must include the filter and all documentation as found on the original archive I created. I am not responsible for any alterations done to this program.
This program and its documentation cannot be sold or used for profit or used to add value to any product without my express consent via electronic mail or written.
The exceptions:
The following organizations do not need permission to redistribute:
Pacific Hi-Tech CD-ROMS of shareware/freeware
Macintosh User's Groups
Organizations where ALL proceeds benefit a chosen legal charity organization
Online services that do not charge users for downloading files. For example, Delphi Internet Service and America Online.
Just a note: the picture used in the example is a picture I took in Boston during MacWorld Expo in August 1996 of Paul Revere's statue behind the North Church.
About the Author
Currently I work as a Software Engineer for Computational Systems Incorporated (http://www.compsys.com) dealing with internationalizing of software and firmware. Like many others, I'm forced to work on a PC at work so I take refuge at home with my Macs. The first version of Frosty was written on a Mac LC III in 1995. This new version was written on a PowerComputing PowerCenter Pro 180. A lot sure has changed between those systems!
Anyhow, outside of work I write Macintosh programs. I have written such popular programs as:
Spam Filter Maker - Build Eudora filters for filtering out unwanted email
MacEmatics - A match education program for kids. Version 3 is still in the works
Frosty 1.0 - Made you look
and others!
My undergraduate degree is in Business from the University of Tennessee, Knoxville in 1995. See my website at http://www.public.usit.net/nwcs. I am, though, in the process of moving it. If it isn't there, see it at http://people.delphi.com/nwcs!
