I've been using Showit Effects for a couple of weeks now but sometimes it's so slow opening up. For example, right now, it took about 4 - 5 minutes to open up & I was sat watching a spinning beachball and praying it wouldn't crash coz I'd forgotten save my work first. I'm not exactly working on an old PC, I'm on a quad core Mac so it shouldn't be THAT slow! I'm loading it straight from my scripts in Photoshop and sometimes I'll have open about 5 or 6 files I'm working on which are not usually jpegs (I hate jpeg!). Is this the problem? That they're not jpeg?

I work with a lot of layers and I find it really frustrating that Showit flattens your layers & deletes your history! Is there any way around this? Sometimes I need to use the history brush on something or whatever other reason which I can't think of now and there's no way back! Other than that little gripe (sorry!), I just love the LOMOit & LB effects

well, i am no tech smart guy, but showit should make it so that all of your files are super small. but, i do recommend you to at least use image processor in bridge to make small enough jpgs.

i kinda don't see your reasoning for keeping the files different from a finished product. make multiple files if you need to. we usually keep 10 different folders: OriginalJPG, JPG, Album, Website, Slideshow, Prints, etc. In there you can replicate your files and duplicates.

another thing that i have noticed on a few slideshows is that if you use music, you have to make the song super small. we make a copy of the song at 48 kbps in itunes. music files and photos should be small so they load quickly.

hope that helps.

matt sloan

Here's what I do:

Go to Image --> Duplicate. Then flatten. Then open up the SIE script. Run whatever. Click done. Then Cmd z to get all the layers back (SIE flattens). Select all layers but "background" (duplicate it if you want to select it, too). Then create a group from layers. Shift-drag onto original image.

This way you don't lose anything and it should run faster opening up a flattened file. You also have the effect in its own group so you can turn it on or off if you want. I do this so I can go back to the "straight" file if someone wants it.

Hey Sofie - We're working on the flattening issue. I was also frustrated that the latest version did that and just last week asked to have it function the same way the previous version did where you'll be able to use the "ctrl z" trick that Adam is talking about.

As for it running slow I think it's because of having multiple RAW's open which sucks all the RAM outta your machine. Because the Showit "Effects" are pretty intense effects it's best to do it with only one image at a time...I actually shoot RAW as well but do all my edits on small JPEGs and then use Showit Effects automation feature so I never have to be around while Photoshop works on RAW files.

You've lost me! I think I'm having a mega-dense night tonight. I shoot RAW so my finished file is always a PSD, TIFF (or JPEG - worst case scenario!) Thanks for the advice on the 48kbps music though!

Adam, I need follow your instructions while I'm using SIE coz right now it sounds too complicated but thank you for how it can be done. I like the idea of the effect in it's own group.

DJ, I didn't have the earlier version but I'm glad to hear you're frustrated too Just kidding! I'm sure you'll keep us informed when the flattening issue is changed.

Sorry, I'm being dense here but I've read & reread your post where you say "I actually shoot RAW as well but do all my edits on small JPEGs and then use Showit Effects automation feature so I never have to be around while Photoshop works on RAW files" and I don't get it! When you say you do your edits on small JPEGS what do you mean by edits? Deletions? Or post-process, digital work? If it's the latter why would you do it to small JPEGS and have to re-do them for print size if they're ordered? If it's the former how do you delete your RAWs at the same time as your JPEGs? What editing program do you use? Hell, I'm confoooozled! It's probably so simple and my female brain is making it flippin' complicated.

Ho hum, I should just call it a night & hit the sack!

Hey Sofie I believe Matt was thinking we were talking about Showit Web...

...and we have fixed the history issue for you ...so you can log in to the store and it should offer it as a free download for you...if not use the support ticket system and they'll get it to you.

Yea - Showit Effects 2.0 can record what effect you put on what small JPEG and then automatically (while you're at lunch) apply that same effect to the large RAW file so you don't have to reapply it yourself.

Watch the videos here

It's fixed already?!!

Thanks for the video links - I kinda jumped straight into the program without watching the tutorials I'm loving the idea of working on small jpegs & then the same work being transferred to RAW... that'll teach me for not watching your videos!!

Hey, if you have some free time when you're in the UK, drop us an email & we'll see if we can get together...

Right on! I'm hoping to hangout more when I'm back in July so let's be sure to hookup then!