- Best free Photoshop plugins: Super PNG. SuperPNG is a handy open-source Photoshop plug-in specifically for using with PNG files. It has more comprehensive support for the format than Photoshop's included plug-in and provides control over alpha-channel handling.
- These plugins for Photoshop are designed for those who want to master the art of skin retouching, without using a complicated photo enhancer. Within a single click, you may smooth the skin texture, get rid of minor imperfections, and add a matte touch to the skin tone. It doesn't matter if you are only a beginner PS user.
Adobe Photoshop is known as professional-level, widely-acclaimed photo editing software. Using Photoshop, you can edit layered photos, design logos, and posters, and create your own pieces of art. Photoshop includes over 100 different editing tools from a hex color picker to image blurring to 3D tools. And for tools that aren’t available within the software, there are hundreds of photoshop plugins available that can be integrated with the base tool. Many of them come free of charge–an important thing, considering Photoshop users are already paying a minimum of $20.99/month for the app. As such, to get the most out of Photoshop without paying even more, you should use free Photoshop plugins.
Ink is a Photoshop plugin that allows you to see additional information on a design you're creating - this includes text size, font name, color codes, and the size of your image in pixels. It also gives you grid lines to help you center and level your artwork. Image Credit: Chrometaphore. Photoshop plugins for working with layers; Photoshop plugins for photo effects; Photoshop plugins for improving your workflow. How you organize your tools and resources influences your project’s quality and duration. Fortunately, there are many free Photoshop plugins that make your work more efficient and organized.
However, with so many free Photoshop add ons available, it can be difficult to identify the best ones for your needs. This is why we have compiled a list of the 10 best free Photoshop plugins. Using these extensions is sure to bring your Photoshop experience to the next level. So, without further ado, here is our list of the best Photoshop plugins for 2021 that you can integrate for free.
Top 10 Free Photoshop Plugins
1. Pexels
Website Pexels provides a collection of over 30,000 free stock photos and videos that can be downloaded and used for non-commercial use. Pexels’ Photoshop plugin lets you search through this collection directly on Photoshop and use them in your creations. Additionally, you can browse through suggested categories, popular photos, recent photos, and previously liked photos. Any photos you like on the Pexels website will automatically sync with Photoshop and vice versa, making the Photoshop Pexels plugin one of the best free Photoshop plugins for marketers and graphic designers.
2. Ink
Ink is a free Adobe Photoshop plugin that lets you add more information to mockups before you hand them off to a developer team. The plugin documents your layers by recording which effects, text formatting, and measurements you used for each of your layers. Ink is a vital plugin for any designers who use Photoshop.
3. Tych Panel 2
Tych Panel 2 is an open-source Photoshop extension that automatically diptychs and triptychs pictures. In simple terms, it divides a Photoshop creation into 2 or 3 panels, as shown above. Tych Panel 2 supports many different layouts of rows and columns and includes an easy-to-use panel interface.
4. Texture Anarchy
Texture Anarchy provides a set of Photoshop filters for creating textures and borders on your images. This free Photoshop plugin includes a number of preset textures and borders as well as tools for editing and creating your own. These tools include palettes for lighting, layers, fractal noise, and color gradients, color wells, blend modes that let you combine colors and patterns with one another. Texture Anarchy can create both 2D and 3D textures.
5. Pathfinder for Photoshop
Pathfinder for Photoshop is an extension available on Adobe’s Creative Cloud app storethat can merge shapes. Based on the PathFinder Panel of Adobe Illustrator, this plugin’s toolbar lets you click on two separate shapes and merge them together to form a new shape on your image. It’s that simple!
6. PixelSquid
PixelSquid contains a library of 3D objects that can be overlayed on design projects. You can manipulate these objects to find the right angle and downloaded them with a transparent background. PixelSquid’s free plugin lets you add these objects and manipulate them directly on your Photoshop creation. Though PixelSquid does include paid features, the entire catalog and Photoshop plug-in are available for free commercial use. Simply make an account and download the PixelSquid plugin for free.
7. Composer
Composer is a Photoshop plugin that updates multiple layer comps in Photoshop with just one click. You can use Composer to update the layer style, position, or visibility (or all three at once) for multiple layer comps. To do so, simply select the layers you want to be changed, then select which layer comps you want those changes to apply to, and then click the update command you want to occur on the Composer ribbon.
8. Camera Raw
Camera Raw is an Adobe product that can be integrated with Photoshop, Photoshop Elements, After Effects, and Bridge. Adobe Camera Raw lets you import and enhance raw images directly from your camera. Camera Raw supports camera models from 29 different brands.
9. EasyMockups
EasyMockups creates app design mockups for iOS from Photoshop creations. To present your design, simply choose from one of 10 predesigned mockups, select a background, and choose your artwork layers. The plugin then automatically generates a high-resolution mockup for the perfect presentation or your design.
10. Chroma Palette
Chroma Palette is a Photoshop plugin created on GitHub that allows you to create and store colors with hotkeys. The plugin can store up to 20 colors across 9 pages for up to 180 colors total. These colors can be accessed through their assigned hotkey while switching pages and toggling separate Background/Foreground color palettes can be accessed using the NumPlus/NumMinus and NumMultiply keys respectively.
How To Install Photoshop Plugins
Installing Photoshop add ons is as easy as going to the plugin’s website or page on the Adobe Creative Cloud app shop and clicking download. To integrate the plugin with Photoshop, first, download the plugin onto your device. Then, open up your Photoshop folder in your Program Files folder, then click on the Plugins folder nestled inside the Photoshop folder. You can simply drag your plugin for its current location on your device and drop it into the Plugin folder. To access your new plugin from within Photoshop, find it under Filters in the drop-down menu.
If you’re still having trouble, you may need to set Photoshop to accept new plugins. Open up Photoshop and select Edit > Preferences > Plugins from the dropdown menu. Then check the “Additional Plugins Folder” box so that the software will accept new files. If you have any further trouble, be sure to contact either Adobe or your plugin’s distributor.
Using The Best Photoshop Plugins
Adobe Photoshop plugins are useful tools that help make an already incredible app even better. Free plugins are especially useful for designers, illustrators, and advertisers on a budget. Be sure to check out any of the above plugins that interest you so you can begin taking your Adobe Photoshop experience to the next level. If you want to check out even more Photoshop plugins, then you can read our article 10 Best Photoshop Plugins That Anyone Can Use.
If you’re a Droplr user, then be sure to check out our Photoshop plugin so you can send your edited images directly from Photoshop to Droplr! This way you can easily share your Photoshop image using a Droplr short link. Simply copy and paste the tiny URL into Gmail, Slack, or whatever app you use to communicate with co-workers and clients, even if they don’t have a Droplr account. Droplr’s plugin makes it easy to share your Photoshop creations online with cloud sharing, making it one of the best Photoshop plugins available.
- January 03, 2021
- 23 min to read
Photoshop boasts countless different possibilities - no wonder it’s an all-time favorite tool amongst designers and photographers. Though, to unleash the full potential of Photoshop, you might need some extra help… This is where plug-ins fit into the picture. The following are 22 of the best plug-ins, in no particular order, that you need to add to your to-download list today.
1. Luminar AI
If you often work with raw photos, Luminar AI is a plug-in that you’d find rather helpful. With the help of AI and preset effects, it makes editing jobs like object removal and masking significantly easier. It’s available for both Lightroom as well as Photoshop.
2. Photolemur 3If you’re using Photoshop CS5 or higher, you’ll love the Photoleumr 3 plug-in. This automatic photo editor uses AI to make your photos pop. Why do all the hard work, when there’s a plug-in that was created for this job? From recovering color to correcting your exposure, Photolemur 3 will make your photos just as magical as your special moments.
3. RH Hover Color Picker
The RH Hover Color Picker is ideal for designers and artists who want better color control. Published by Rico Holmes, this plug-in boasts color sliders that you can customize giving you much better control. It’s definitely better looking and less awkward than the color picker offered by Photoshop.
4. Double Exposure Photoshop Plugins
If you want to transform your ordinary photo into the one with the Double Exposure effect, you should have a closer look at this universal bundle consisting of 26 cool actions. There are tools producing Color Double Exposure, Dispersion, Splashes, Silhouette and Advanced Double Exposure effects in a matter of seconds. To get even more flexibility while editing your pictures, you can use any of 13 Photoshop brushes included in the pack. The cost is reduced to $50.
5. Texture Anarchy
If need to include rich textures into your designs, Texture Anarchy will help you to get the job done. In addition to the wide range of filters that you can use for your designs, it also enables you to create fractals.
6. ALCE 3
Photographers will love this easy-to-use plug-in. With the help of ALCE 3, you can add more depth to your photos by enhancing the contrast. What makes it so great is that it’s much easier to use than Photoshop’s unsharp mask filter.
7. GuideGuide
Designers who often make use of grids when they’re creating layouts will find the GuideGuide plug-in oh-so-useful. It allows you to save your preferences which means that you will save loads of precious time whenever you want to access it again. In addition to enabling you to create extremely accurate grids, you can also use negative margins with the help of GuideGuide.
8. Low Poly Photoshop Plugins
To make viewers look at your photos again and again, you need to give them an unusual feel. With this idea in mind, FixThePhoto has created a new collection of Low Poly Photoshop actions and supplemented them with 3 brushes and 5 nice-looking patterns. You can get all these tools just for $24.
9. Blow Up 3
Blow Up 3 will blow your mind. Thanks to this practical plug-in, you can create piercing sharp enlargements. As a matter of fact, the algorithm that this plug-in uses is better than the filters that Photoshop boasts. Next time that your client emails you a low-resolution photo, Blow Up 3 will see to it that your project will not be blown off course.
10. SuperPNG
If you work with PNG files often but don’t have access to the latest version of Photoshop yet, you’ll love the SuperPNG plugin. With the help of this plug-in, you can gain better control over the exporting process. Battling to render your PNG files will be a thing of the past!
11. 3D Invigorator
Photoshop Plugins 2021
Let’s face it, the 3D process can be challenging, even for experienced designers. Though with 3D Invigorator in your arsenal of design tools, you can create 3D elements and polished final renders without breaking a sweat. This Photoshop plug-in boasts an easy-to-use object editor that will make it a lot easier to draw and edit your shapes.
12. ParticleShop
Photoshop Plugins For Artists
Thanks to the ParticleShop plug-in for Photoshop, you can now play around with Corel Painter tools. From fabric to fur, ParticleShop boasts over 10 brushes! These brushes will boost your productivity and help you to take your creativity to the next level.
13. Machine Wash Deluxe
Machine Wash Deluxe is definitely no washout! With the help of this Photoshop plug-in, you can add a realistic scratchy weathering effect to images. It works especially well with typography. So, if you want to add an attractive aging effect to design, this is the tool for the job.
14. B&W Effects
If you’re serious about digital photography, B&W Effects is an essential plug-in. What makes this plug-in so great is that it lets you create black and white photos that really stand out. Thanks to its conversion engine, you can transform your colored photos into magnificent monochrome pics that have just the right texture and tone.
15. Dream Suite Ultimate
Dream Suite Ultimate is one of the most comprehensive plug-ins for Photoshop that’s available on the market. It boasts an impressive range of effects that include borders, textures and tonal correction to mention only a few. What makes this plug-in so great is that it gives you access to many options in a single plug-in which means that don’t have to buy countless different plug-ins.
16. Texture Tools Industrial
If you’re in need of a metal texture to magnify your photo, the Texture Tools Industrial Photoshop plug-in offers everything that you’ll need. With 50 metal textures on offer, designers and artists can first put the metallic filters to the test before reaching for their credit card. What’s more, the plug-in also allows you to manipulate the texture so that it fits your photos.
17. Shutterstock
Designers who regularly have to work with Shutterstock can make their workflow more efficient with the help of the Shutterstock plug-in. In short, it offers you direct access to the countless stock images that the Shutterstock library boasts. This means that while you’re working inside of Photoshop, you can quickly search Shutterstock’s complete library, select and insert. Voila!
18. Watercolor Painter Plugins
Those inspired by watercolor paintings, will definitely appreciate this bundle designed by professionals. It includes 3 watercolor Photoshop actions, 14 brushes and 3 patterns aimed at giving your photos that specific look and mood. These actions are compatible with all Ps versions and cost only $35.
19. PageCurl 2
Although the functionality of this plug-in is very limited, what it does it can do brilliantly. It’s ideal for graphic designers who need to create a realistic fold and page-turn effects. So, if you regularly work with ebooks, get PageCurl 2 to promote your page-turner.
20. FlatIcon
If you need access to a large database of free vector icons, FlatIcon will make sure that your designs will not fall flat. With the help of this Photoshop plug-in, you can search for icons within Photoshop that you can download in different formats including PNG, SVG, and PSD.
21. Eye Candy
Published by Alien Skin, Eye Candy is a well-known plug-in among Photoshop users. It boasts a really impressive collection of effects which you’ll find quite handy for plenty of projects. If you find that the effect is too obvious and boring, just fiddle with the default settings to create a better effect. This plug-in might just be a lifesaver next time that you’re battling with a tight deadline.
22. Subtle Patterns
Another great plug-in that will save you a lot of time is Subtle Patterns. By adding Subtle Patterns to your plug-in list, you get access to a library of tileable, textured patterns. It’s oh-so-convenient to use as you simply click on the thumbnail of the pattern that you want to use and it will be applied to the layer that you’re currently working on.
23. Portraiture
Calling all portrait photographers! If you’re searching for a plug-in that can help you to smooth skin tone and remove imperfections without removing skin texture altogether, this is the tool just for you. What makes this plug-in so great is that it’s compatible with Aperture, Photoshop as well as Lightroom.
24. Fixel Edgehancer
Photoshop Plug-ins 2021
Fixel Edgehancer is the perfect plug-in for those who are just starting to use Photoshop. In short, it’s a quick way to emphasize the edges without increasing the surrounding pixels’ contrast.
Photoshop Plugins Location
With the help of these popular plug-ins, you’ll be able to turn Photoshop into an even more powerful tool. So, which one of these 22 plug-ins will become your favorite new tool?