TO BE UPDATED (Feb 2010)


This tutorial covers the basics
of installing Plugins and Filters in Paint Shop Pro
and
was created by Jemima 10 May 2003

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If this is your first time installing plug-ins,
you will need to first download these two .dll files. 
 These are required in order for some plug-ins to work properly.  
Unzip these files and place them in your C:\Windows\System folder.

Msvcrt dll
Plugin dll




Most Paint Shop Pro compatible plug-ins are in .8BF format. 

However

 
There are some, such as the Filter Factory and Andrews collections
that are in a different format
and will need to be converted to .8BF format.  
To convert these plug-ins,
you will need the Plug-in-Commander (PiCo)
(freeware (Light) version is all you'll need).

Plugin Commander download site

  A tutorial for converting these files at this link.

http://www.tut.pspug.org/tutweb/plugincom.htm

But... in these classes we won't be using any of these filters
which need converting...
because we figured, installing plugins for the first time
is confusing enough without us making matters worse for you *S*
So perhaps you could save the links and attempt installing
some of these at a later time *S*


OK.... now to the regular, no nonsense plugins..
Where do they go??

Having too many of anything in PSP folders
(that especially includes tubes because they are so large)
causes Paint Shop Pro to slow down and possibly even crash.


So... it's best to keep these files which we tend to accumulate
in their own folders, separate from PSP and then link them.

SO.... lets create new folders for the plugins
and for the sake of this exercise.. we'll create them in "My Documents"

Name your folders
Plugins 1
Plugins 2
Plugins 3
since you will only be able to link 3


When you are about to install a new plugin
open your folder 'Plugins 1'
and create a new folder for whatever plugin you are installing.

For example if you are installing Eye Candy 3
Name your folder 'Eye Candy 3'

If you are installing DBS Flux
the name your folder 'DBS Flux'

Simple... isn't it *S*


Then open up your Zip File and EXTRACT your plugin to the relevant folder.

(Pay no attention to the fact that this particular folder
isn't named 'Plugins 1'... I wasn't so smart when I first started *S*)


  



Right..... now that you have the plugins installed,
we need to tell PSP where to find them. 

 
Open up Paint Shop Pro.  
Go to File >>> Preferences >>> File Locations .

Click on the Plug-ins Tab






 
Click on the Browse buttons to locate your plugins folder.  
When you locate it, click on it to highlight it and click OK.  
Click OK on your File Locatons box.



Close Paint Shop Pro then re-open it. 
You need to do this so as to install the Plugin and have it show up
on your EFFECTS menu.



Open up any .jpg image,
it has to be an image that is in 16 million colors.
(You need to have an image open to be able to use or check out the plugins)


Go to Effects >>> Plug-in Filters. 
 You will see a list of all of the plug-ins that you've installed,
ready for you to use. 


They will most likely be in one long column...
I used artistic license with this so as to reduce the size of the image.





That's all there is to it...
Now don't you wonder what all the panic was????

(GRIN)

Hope this helped ease your worry about installing plugins *S*



Now you can go check out all the Plugins listed
HERE

and add this page to your 'Favourites for future reference *S*