FYI - Insights Xenofex

Xenofex from Alien Skin was released in the fourth quarter of 1998.  It is comprised of 16 plugins:

I've found these plugins to have great FX, and some of these FX can also be utilized into other programs (such as Bryce).  You can download a demo of most of the plugins from the Alien Skin web site.  Most of these plugins have a full range of control FX, as well as color pickers on some to choose what color you want your FX to be.

Here are some examples of what these plugins can do.

This is the original image I created in Bryce that I will use to illustrate the Xenofex plugins.

Lightning

This plugin is very easy to use and set up.  It works best on an empty layer, and with Photoshop 5, you can add several of the built-in layer FX to achieve some interesting results.  In Image 1, I've applied the Lightning FX.  In Image 2, I've added layer effects of Drop Shadow and Bevel/Emboss.   Image three I've taken only the lightning component, then copied/pasted it into the Bryce 3D mountain terrain editor.  By adjusting the terrain parameters, I can make a decent river, complete with branches and tributaries, as shown in Image 4.  Just remember Bryce likes copied images to be 128x128, or multiples thereof, otherwise some distortion may occur (as in my river image).

Image 1                                                               Image 2

Image 3                                                               Image 4

Little Fluffy Clouds

This is a plugin with nice FX.  You can vary the amount and density of the clouds.  This plugin can be put on an empty layer.   Image 1 shows the flat, 2D FX as applied.  By manipulating the Transform options for perspective and free transform, you can get the results of receding clouds going off into the distance, as in Image 2.  Plus, you can adjust where these clouds are placed in your scene.

Image 1                                                                Image 2

Puzzle

Probably one of the most asked for plugins.  Here is a nice example of what it can do.

Baked Earth

I will probably have the most fun with this plugin.  I got the best FX by choosing two earth tone browns, one each for the foreground and background colors, and then going Render>Clouds to get the principal color scheme of dirt in Image 1.  After applying the filter, the outcome is quite realistic in Image 2.  In Image 3, I did a Copy/Paste of Image 2 into the Bryce Terrain editor, which supplied me with a really great bump map to create a rough terrain (the terrain texture is one of Bryce's built in textures.  The colors did not follow, only the light and dark areas create the grayscale-to-height map in Bryce).

Image 1                                                              Image 2

Image 3

Television

Another sought after special FX plugin.  Does a good job of simulating TV reception, as well as screen curvature, ghosting and more.

Stamper

Does what it says - makes repeating patterns of your image (Image 1).  You can also import your own image (Image 2) to create an almost montage effect using one image (Image 3).

Image 1                                                                Image 2 

Image 3

Stain

Just as it says.

Flag

This one has a nice effect of a fluttering flag.  The only thing I wish it did have is an adjustment to control the ripple direction.  For now, you have to rotate your layer or canvas to get the ripple going in the direction you want.

Constellation

This works best on a layer, with another layer underneath that is all one color (say a dark blue or black bucket fill), since it removes the area  you apply it to and replaces it with a starry background.   This image was created using two layers.  The topmost layer is the original image.  The bottom most layer is a bucket fill of dark blue.  I then used the Magnetic Lasso on the original image and outlined the sky around the mountains and water.  Then, I filled the marquee with a gradient fill of Spectrum, then applied the Constellation filter.   I finished it off by using the blur tool to better hide and blend the edge between the sky  and water.  Nice FX using the Spectrum gradient.

Crumple

Lots of variance can be had in the amount of crumples and their size.  I added the layer effect of Drop Shadow for a more realistic look.

Distress

Kind of hard to control (at least for me) this filter 'stresses' the image from the edges inward.

Electrify

This one was fun to play with.   This will work on an empty layer.  It works best by first making a selection by using any of the marquee tools, then applying the filter.  Here, I've used the magnetic Lasso around the smaller mountain. Lots of variable parameters to change with this one.

Origami

The art of paper folding.  The cells can be changed in size.

Rounded Rectangle

This plugin can be varied quite a bit and can be applied to an empty layer.  Basically, you're making the 'tube' conform to the borders of the image.  You can also adjust the thickness and color of the 'tube'.   I can see some nice FX for importing into Bryce's mountain terrain editor

Shatter

Breaks up the image into glass-like shards.

Shower Door

Shades of the Hitchcock's movie Psycho comes to mind.  Nice FX.