Examples

Cracked Paint

Dreamy

Flat Light

Tiled

Conclusion

Once the ins and outs of Filter Forge 5.0 have been mastered, actually using the program is very easy. Well, it's easy to use from the off anyway, but there are areas that a newcomer can struggle with until some practice and studying of the community and help sections, it's fairly simple to get your head round it enough to get using it straight away.

The amount that you go into it will arguably depend on your level of intelligence. There are components that allow mathematical equations to be added to the values of the filters as well as various Curve presets and scripts.

The filters are essentially as precise as you want them to be. It's entirely possible to keep tweaking them until you get the result that you're after. The presets can be a little over the top but are good to begin with until you're ready to take more control.

Filter Forge is, and always has been, an all-rounder filter creation program. It's not designed specifically for photographers or just for Graphic Designers. It's worth bearing that in mind when looking at the price because it's more expensive than other filter programs out there. However, what you get for that additional expense is a highly intelligent, flexible and powerful program. Simply adding an image component to the right part of any textured filter will make it a photographic filter immediately. That's what we did with the tiled sample you can see attached to this review.

With that kind of flexibility you have over 11,000 filters at your disposal along with what looks like limitless variations. Add to that the bustling community available to help out whenever they can and a stimulating rewards system that is mutually beneficial in the way that if it's a filter that's used by Filter Forge, you get the program for free and while you don't get a refund on a previously purchased version, the fact that they have this type of system at all puts them head and shoulders over the rest.

If you're simply looking for a layover filter system, you should look at other programs such as Alien Skin Exposure or Replichrome from Totally Rad. Filter Forge 5.0 isn't a program for “click a button and it's done”. This is a program that takes us back to the old days of photography where you had to put some work into your pictures to get them to look like you wanted. From that you got a sense of achievement. These days cameras and software do everything for you, so it's good to have an option where you can think for yourself and create your own effects.

If you're looking to expand your creativity to new levels and give yourself the opportunity to think about what you're doing, then take a look at Filter Forge 5.0.

Ratings (out of 5)
Features	5
Ease-of-use	4
Value for money	4

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