Lens Distortions is a Photoshop plugin that allows you to easily add lens blurs and light leaks to your images for creative effect. With the continual proliferation of digital photography, there is still a great demand for the look and authentic feel of 35mm film. There are certain colors, textures, and tones that are unique to the format many of us grew up with. Lens Distortions Legacy Plugin allows you to build on the replication of analog photography by adding carefully placed imperfections to your photographs.
Often going back and forth between being true to an image and pushing the editing into a realm of higher creativity, I'm always really enthusiastic when I see a product like this. I stumbled on Lens Distortions and immediately wanted to try it. I found it to be an easy-to-use Photoshop plugin that gives you freedom to add happy defects to your images without screwing up composition, in fact often times enhancing it. It is extremely easy to use and non-destructive to the photo as you move along. Manipulating the action and layers with it to best suit your image is smooth and painless.
Sometimes a little flare from moisture on the lens or blurring off the edge of the photo can add an organic element to the photo or easily draw the eye to a particular part of the image. Lens Distortions gives you the power and freedom to do this easily and effectively. Additionally offering an iPhone app as well, grading your images on your mobile device or just adding a hint of subtle mood to your Instagram is extremely easy. However, this plugin is not just intended for photography. They can also be used in After Effects to add an ethereal element to video. Below are some beautiful examples of this plugin at work.
For more information on Lens Distortions, check them out on their website. More examples can be found on their Instagram.
I don't really have a problem adding these sorts of things to photos, even in post, but for goodness sakes... go make your own. They aren't hard.
Umm.. how about using your creativity and practice your improvisation while taking photos to add depth with foreground ouf-of-focus elements, instead of pasting them in Photoshop.
I hope I'm not the only one thinking this way.
Honestly I like the idea of doing it in post. Say if I wanted this effect for a wedding I don't think I'm willing to waste the little time I have to experiment. Its still using your creativity if you do it in post.
To each his own, gentleman. I agree that as professionals we should first act on taking the image correct the first time. However, sometimes its fun to spread our creative wings and create something unique and fresh in post editing. James, I agree with your thoughts as well on creating your own plugins and layers... By presenting this article, I'm showing the alternative for individuals who may strive to achieve different results with their work but don't posses the technical knowledge of how to do so. We were all there once; plugins like these help us learn and grow as photographers.
As a photographer who does as much as I can in camera, we as a community have to realize and accept that there is more than one way to do things now. Using photoshop doesn't mean one is more or less creative. It is just a different way of achieving a vision.
Well said Ken! Rather than look down our noses at what's different - we are better off encouraging progression of art and creativity!
Maybe it's just me, but I find nothing progressive, artistic, nor creative about paying $100 for a clipart gallery of cut-and-paste gimmicks marketed to an audience already saturated with phony stuff like this.
I'm with James Johnson on this. Go make your own.
say cheese!
With all due respect, I honestly believe that this is a thought process that hinders the progression of creativity, contrary to what you have to say about it. Writing this off as clip art and gimmicks is a huge stretch to begin with. Not everyone has the time to experiment in every situation where they may want to get some of these effects, and this provides a bridge for that gap. You can write it off and make outrageous comparisons that have no merit, but that doesn't make it true. Adding a grain filter over a photograph could be considered a gimmick if done in bad taste, but if done with care, like any of these and many other presets, can have a powerful effect on a photograph. Don't blame the tool, blame the "photographers" who abuse it. I do agree though that $100 is an unreasonable price. Perhaps $20 or less would be worth it.
Looking at their examples, I think it works on some shots when it's subtle, but looks too obvious on some of the others. Then I looked at the After Effects plug in video and I think that would be really handy to use on videos. When the effect is moving, I think it's really cool and compelling. Still or video, it's definitely interesting and I'm sure it will find some creative uses, and save many shots.
If it was more reasonably priced I would've bought it. $15... I'm sold, but $100 I'll stick to doing my own film emulation when the photo requires it.
I used to belong to the camp of photographers who would use flowers, leaves, and crystals to create edge-blurs in-camera. While I'll still do this, I would sometimes find that the in-camera image had just a tad too much of the effect, or not enough. Adding textures and effects in post has recently become my preference.
Thanks for the article, I may have to experiment with this plugin.
Thanks for the comment! Glad you find this useful!
Just bought for Iphone... 1.99 it's ok, but honestly doesn't deserve 99 for ps plugin, not at all!! Cool for a phone, nothing else.
While it's an interesting tool, I'd say at least half of the examples in the first video looked terrible. A subtle blur, distortion, or flare at the edge of an image can help composition, but so often this is overused and just ruins what could be a great images. The one labeled "Legacy 4" is an example of ruining a perfectly good shot. We lose the bride's arm and half her dress. Move that distortion further left so it only hits the sand and just the very bottom corner of the dress, and you'd have a much better composition, IMHO.