The Bottom Line
Bokeh 2 by Alien Skin is a plug-in effect system for Photoshop, Photoshop Elements, and Lightroom. While the cost might seem a bit high for casual amateurs (list price $199) at first, once you weigh the cost of this software against all the multiple lenses you would otherwise need, Bokeh 2 becomes a bit of a bargain. For professional photographers, Bokeh 2 is a powerhouse software plug in that lets you offer a wide variety of effects to customers quickly and easily.
Pros
- Wide Variety of Effects Available
- Intuitive Controls
- Free Trial Download
- Strong Tutorials Available on Alien Skin Site
- Works on Mac and PC
Cons
- Price
- Relies Heavily on Selection Skill
Description
- Includes a large number of lens presents to emulate the look and feel of images taken with specific equipment
- Allows for precision control of planar and radial bokeh (with multiple focal points) as well as easy vignette
- Strong tutorials available on Alien Skin website at no charge
- Trial copy of software available form Alien Skin at no charge
Guide Review - Photo Software Review - Review of Alien Skin's Bokeh 2
Bokeh 2 by Alien Skin gives photographers more creative control over their images in Photoshop, Photoshop Elements, and Lightroom without adding a lot of work. Picking up where the original Bokeh software left off, Alien Skin again ups the ante by adding more creative lens optics simulations, grain matching for a much more seamless effect, an multiple focal point capabilities. Bokeh 2 also adds more factory presets and a wonderful new bleaching vignette option to help you get just the right look to your photos in a snap.
While the system relies heavily on the photographer's selection skills (as does every system currently available), it has a wide variety of presents to emulate the bokeh of various lenses and camera systems. Want to play with Holga effects but not purchase a Holga? Bokeh 2 can do it. Want your bokeh pattern to be hearts for Valentine's Day? They're only a quick mouse click away in Bokeh 2 from Alien Skin.
While effects such as depth of field simulation (planar bokeh) require very precise selection of subjects by the photographer, Bokeh 2 also allows you to recreate Lensbaby effects and vignettes without tedious selections. The half planar bokeh lets you mix and match field of focus for precise control over the bokeh areas for ultimate creative effect. Bokeh 2 is also an excellent way to "fix" bad bokeh where you might have pattern lines or an unpleasing amount of bokeh in an image. In these cases Bokeh 2 can give you a second chance at getting the diffusion right.
Controls within the Bokeh 2 tool are relatively intuitive and very precise control of the resulting bokeh are quickly attainable. This software much more closely emulates the patterns of real lenses than basic Photoshop blur effects are capable of doing. From the shape of the aperture to the amount of highlight and even the creaminess of the effect, Bokeh 2 by Alien Skin lets you control it all. This makes Bokeh 2 from Alien Skin a very attractive piece of software for photographers.
While the system relies heavily on the photographer's selection skills (as does every system currently available), it has a wide variety of presents to emulate the bokeh of various lenses and camera systems. Want to play with Holga effects but not purchase a Holga? Bokeh 2 can do it. Want your bokeh pattern to be hearts for Valentine's Day? They're only a quick mouse click away in Bokeh 2 from Alien Skin.
While effects such as depth of field simulation (planar bokeh) require very precise selection of subjects by the photographer, Bokeh 2 also allows you to recreate Lensbaby effects and vignettes without tedious selections. The half planar bokeh lets you mix and match field of focus for precise control over the bokeh areas for ultimate creative effect. Bokeh 2 is also an excellent way to "fix" bad bokeh where you might have pattern lines or an unpleasing amount of bokeh in an image. In these cases Bokeh 2 can give you a second chance at getting the diffusion right.
Controls within the Bokeh 2 tool are relatively intuitive and very precise control of the resulting bokeh are quickly attainable. This software much more closely emulates the patterns of real lenses than basic Photoshop blur effects are capable of doing. From the shape of the aperture to the amount of highlight and even the creaminess of the effect, Bokeh 2 by Alien Skin lets you control it all. This makes Bokeh 2 from Alien Skin a very attractive piece of software for photographers.