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Home | Products | Photoshop | Plug-ins
Universe Image Creator
Reviewed by Geetesh Bajaj, June 27th 2006

Introduction
If you need to create night skies, space scenes, and galaxies
often for your image compositions, then you'll love to explore
Diard Software's Universe Image Creator product. Using Universe
Image Creator (hereafter called Universe), you can whip up your
own Milky Way in a few seconds!
Universe is actually two programs -- first, there is a standalone
version that outputs images in any size and resolution you want.
And then there's the Universe plug-in that works from within Photoshop
or any other plug-in compatible program to provide the same possibilities.
Whichever version you use, they both work the same way although
the plug-in version does make your image editing workflow so much
easier.
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About Universe
Universe is from Diard Software, a North Carolina, United States
based company that specializes in creating
multimedia programs. You can learn more about Diard
Software and download trial versions of the products at
their site...
My contact at Diard Software for this review was Wendy
Diard -- thank you, Wendy.
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Installation
Installation is easy -- and for the plug-in version, the setup
also installs itself within Photoshop's Filters menu.
Universe is a shareware plug-in. All the effects
can be seen but only three effects (stars, textured
stars, and the nebula) can be rendered unless you register the
software. The
remaining effects are rendered with a watermark.
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How To Use
Here's how you can use the Photoshop plug-in version.
- Open a new or existing Photoshop image. Fill the layer with
black color (or any other dark sky color). The effect can be
applied on existing layer and even on a empty layer.
- In Photoshop, choose Filter | Universe.
(see Figure 1)
Figure 1
- There are nine effects like Stars, Textured Stars, Nebula,
Vortex, Lens Flare, Galaxy, Distant Star, Interstellar Gas, and
Planets choose any of these effects as required. For this tutorial,
I'm selecting Galaxy.
- All the effects generate realistic space images -- also, every
effect opens a new dialog box containing:
- Properties sliders
for the effect selected to make changes,
- A preview area,
- A Reseed button
which is used to recreates the plug-in effect using a new
sequence of random numbers,
- An orientation control to change
the placing of the effect, and
- Preset types that you can choose.
- Figure 2 shows the Galaxy effect dialog box.

Figure 2
- This effect generates a galaxy by rendering a 3D image behind
the scenes. You can create a spiral, elliptical, or barred galaxy.
Orientation and viewing distance controls to give the galaxy
a true 3D appearance. Click OK when you are ready to apply the
effect.
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Specifications

Photoshop Versions: |

PhotoShop 4.0 and higher versions |

Platforms: |

Windows, Mac |

Site: |

Diard Software |

Price: |

$24.95 (Standalone) and $39.95 (Plug-in) |

Trial Version: |

Available |
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