artBob Loc: Near Chicago

Speaking as an artist, professor, and juror of various kinds of art and photo shows, I think it depends on who you want to show the work to. If for yourself, do whatever you want. If for "high-end" galleries, museums, shows, "filters" (which are what you are using) are looked down upon, unless they are (usually) complex, and definitely part of the artist's expression/intent. "Prettifying" a photo is not acceptable.

If you want to show/sell to people in general or what I might call the popular or decorative photo market (looks nice, not particularly "heavy" in meaning), go ahead and do what you enjoy and your audience responds to.

Photography is similar to music, in that there are vastly different audiences and creators.

Almostageezer Loc: USA

Have you tried Dynamic Auto Panter 5 or 6 by Mediachance? I have been using the DAP 5 demo and like the paintings I can get from it. Version 6 just was recently
released, and that is probably the one that I will buy. It seems like their Windows version offers more features and settings than the Mac version, but whichever you
use, try the demo first.

gilpog

I agree with Linda. Great idea!!!

loosecanon Loc: Central Texas

I'd hang that stilt on any wall.

hassighedgehog Loc: Corona, CA

There is also a cheaper version of Painter called Painter Essentials (I have version 5).

Vigneron

Very Very nice

Vigneron

Sounds like I just gave them a new potential customer.
You might like them. BTW, they are a Russian company.

Guyserman Loc: Benton, AR

I think it is wonderful that you are doing something you like to do but I don't understand why you say "just try them." Why do I need to try them?

lamiaceae Loc: San Luis Obispo County, CA

Yes, I'll play with some of my images at times. I'll use Ps CS6 as is with its filters, and several different products by Topaz, including Impression 2. Yes, that even worked on some otherwise throw-a-way "bad" shots.

Vigneron

You don't, but if you do, you may like it. Not meant as a command but merely a suggestion

Inaflash Loc: NE New Jersey

Very nice work Linda and thanks for the tip.

Vigneron

I like a lot of what you have to say but just a few thoughts:

Most of us who use the "Filters" and pretty up our photos do not intend to display in a gallery (alongside photos that used "Filters" that were used on lenses - or darkroom techniques to alter the development of the prints)

I am an amateur wine maker with past commercial work experience. There have been quite a few examples of fine wines served to distinguished wine tasters with an educated pallet along with disguised "Box Wines" and it has not been uncommon to have the "Box Wines" favored over the so called premier wines.

Sometimes people must be "Carefully Taught" to bias and prejudice their own personal tastes and preferences.

Guyserman Loc: Benton, AR

Oh. OK.

jjanovy Loc: Lincoln, Nebraska

I've used those filters to make book cover designs, and I've certainly used photos as material for drawings and watercolor paintings, even tracing images in photos to produce pencil and/or ink drawings that were later used in publications. Put technology in the hands of some human, and he or she will use it in a variety of ways. So I have no problems with photograph modification; after all, there is lots of software to help you do it, and only some humans who may discourage it for whatever reason. I guess the real answer is based on whatever you intend to do with the altered image

E.L.. Shapiro Loc: Ottawa, Ontario Canada

"There's nothing new under the sun"...or something like that certainly applies when it comes to photography. "What's old is new again" is another applicable adage.

Special effects like posterization, solerizations, multiple exposures, overlays, texture screens, high contrast renditions, paper negatives and abstractions of every kind have been part of photography for years. Nowadays many of theses effects are easier to acheive withou all the fuss and muss. There is a time and place for unadulterated "pure" photography and certainly a place for all the variations, possibilities and other means of artistic expression.

As a commercial photographer, nowadays, I find that clients are calling for more graphic arts services- some of the stuff that used to be relegated to prepress services and lithographers. Many of theses effects will help us produce the required effects.

Besides- this stuff is FUN! I have at least 20 Apps on my Android phone and tablet and have TOPAZ on my computer at the studio. I had mountains of Mortensen kinda texture screen in my old analog darkroom.

I have always had a good sense of composition and placement but long ago, as a kid, and much to my chagrin I discovered I simply can not draw or paint. My 7th grade art teacher said my work looked like cave drawerings- I never progressed beyond stick figures. I soon realized that my "painting" should be confined to interior decoration of the walls and whitewashing the cellar as per my grandmothers request. When the other bad boys were drawing naughty picture on the bathroom walls, my naughty stick figures just didn't make it! So after all (not naughty) PHOTOGRAPHY was my salvation as a visual artist! So now- with theses apps...well you can only imagine!

Many of theses effects, like the old fashioned texture screens can be applied in very subtle increments- you don't have to use them all full-throttle! In the old days we could apply the texture screens, on the enlarging easel, for only a certain percentage of the exposure or apply the effect only to the background. You can do the same with many of theses apps, PhotoShop and Topaz actions.

When it comes to all theses effects, canvas mounting, special textures and print finsines. I always explain to my clients that I am NOT attempting to pass my photography off as "paintings" or imitation drawings, etchings, graphics or other manually made art works. I am just applying artful effects and imparting various moods and implications.

At one time I had my studio and portrait showroom in a popular shopping center in Montreal. I displayed many larger traditional portraits in color, on canvas mounts in a variety of decorator frames. Many of the pieces had various textures and surface finishes. Everyday folks would stop in and ask the price of my "paintings". The studio was located in a very mixed bilingual community and my broken high school French with a Brooklyn accent was not doing well. One phrase, however, I soon mastered in perfect Quebecois French was 'Ce ne sont pas des peintures, ce sont des photographies"- "Theses are not paintings, they are photographs".

One fine day, a lovely older lady visited and enquired about my "paintings"- said she was planning a 50th wedding anniversary portrait of her and her husband to present to her family. She pointed at a large and rather expensive print on display in a costly gold leaf frame. The price at the time would have been $2500. She thought that was extremely reasonable for such "beautiful and realistic paintings" and was about to book a sitting. When I emphatically explained in both languages, throughout our conversation, that theses were not paintings... the whole drill! She, however, persisted in referring to PAINTINGS! I finally got through to her, she paused, hesitated, and finally exclaimed, "SO MUCH MONEY FOR A PHOTOGRAPH"! Well- I figured that I lost a good order but she returned a few days later and book in. I guess she priced the the commissioning of an oil painting and decided to go with photography. Honesty pays off!

By the way- the "war" between the f/64 group and the impressionists is ancient history- nasty business that! No reason to revive it. Do whatever rings your creative chimes and enjoy your photography.