Series 4 filters is called Techtures. It comes on a CD and includes 900 hand rendered smart Techtures. It included three texturizing engines and two special effects engines. It can be use for both print and web effects. Included in series 4 is another filter on a floppy disk called a Velociraptor. There are separate manuals for both programs. These give good overview of the elements found in the programs. Both filters will be discussed in this review.

System requirements are windows 95 or NT. The filters are designed to be used with Photoshop 3 (or Higher) and other 32 bit programs that can use Photoshop plug-ins. The Package retails for $99.00.

The three categories found in Techtures are: Textures, Environments, and Map. The type of effects that can be achieved are endless. In textures one can create such effects as: decay, swirls, tiles, fabric, subtle colors, bold colors, polished stone, etc. Each of these categories contain other presets as well as the ability to create one s own. The orientation of the effects can also be positioned. The preview area is well designed. By the use of a slider, one can alter the opacity of the effect. The window is also nice and large and easy to see and use.

In the area of environments can be found: shatter, explosion, karma, star, smoke, etc. Likewise in the area of maps can be found water, wavy, stain glass, and many others.

The following two parts of a photo show the addition of smoke and water droplets to the partial pane of glass.

Velociraptor is a unique velocity trails filter. No more does one have to have boring velocity trails. One can create a jumping duck, or swiftly flying bird. The trails can be manipulated as to where they appear, how dark they are, whether they are straight or convergent, etc. There are so many variations that they could be endlessly described. These trails can also be used for various effects. the manual that ships with this program, gives step by step illustrations of various combinations such as using the invert button.

Once again, Andromeda has presented a filter program that works flawlessly, is easy to use, and creates some marvelous effects.

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