Hydra JPG Degrader

Photoshop Plugin

Features

 
Hydra JPG Degrader is a photoshop plugin that adds JPG compression, noise and chromatic aberration to an image. This plugin helps dramatically speed up the process of compositing a CG rendering into an existing jpg background. Typically CG renderings look too sharp and clean compared to a jpg background, you need to subtly degrade the CG rendering to match the look of the background you are compositing it into. Currently the only way to do this is to save off part of a layer with strong jpg compression and then reimport that layer and mask off the areas outside of the CG rendering layer. This is a tedious process and the best you can do is guess at what level of jpg compression you need to match the background. Hydra JPG Degrader lets you see the new layer composited on top of your other layers as you see in realtime the amount of compression you are adding to get a flawless transition. In addition to jpg compression this plugin also lets you add noise and chromatic aberration, which is the subtle hue shifting that can occur when you are taking a photograph.
 
 
On the technical side of the plugin there are also 2 fine tuning sliders for horizontal and vertical phase. Jpg compression in an image is created on a grid layout. By adjusting the horizontal and vertical phase of your new layer you can subtly shift this grid around to match the grid used in the background you are trying to match. This plugin also utilizes a new Adobe SDK feature for plugins that allows better handling of layers. With this plugin you are now able to see your target layer composed on top of all other visible layers of your document. This is extremely useful when you are trying to match the jpg compression of your target layer to an existing composition of layers.

Installation

Hydra JPG Degrader is compatible with the following versions of Photoshop.

Windows XP, Vista, Windows 7, Windows 8 and above 32  + 64 bit CS3, CS4, CS5, CS5.1, CS6, and CC

Mac OSX 10.6 thru 10.9 and above 32 + 64 bit CS3, CS4, CS5, CS5.1, CS6, and CC

To Install on Windows double click on Install Hydra HDRi Pro.exe and follow the on screen instructions

For Mac doubleclick on Hydra HDRi Pro.dmg and follow the on screen instructions

The installer will search for a copy of photoshop, if it finds a different version that the one you want to install into then click no and then manually find the version you want to install it into. You should select the Plugins folder inside of where your Photoshop is installed.

After installation you can find the plugin under Filter>Hydra>JPG Degrader

 

Registration

When you launch the plugin for the first time it will start the registration process. Follow the on screen instructions to register your product.

Without registering you can try out the plugin as a demo. All of the features work but the apply button is disabled.

 

Using the Plugin

1.WIth an image open goto Filter>Hydra>JPG Degrader to open the plugin

Features:

Chromatic Aberration (C.Aberration): the chromatic aberration box lets you shift the red and green channels of your image to simulate the aberration that happens with some cameras. Drag the red and green dots away from the center to shift those channels. Clicking in the center of the C. Aberrarion box will reset the dots to the center.

Quality: the quality slider adjusts the amount of JPG compression that is applied to the image. A quality of 100 is no compression. If your image has no noise this effect works best when combined with some noise on the Noise Slider.

Noise: applies noise to your image, the range is from 0 to 10% noise

HPhase and VPhase: Jpg compression in an image is created on a grid layout. By adjusting the horizontal and vertical phase of your new layer you can subtly shift this grid around to match the grid used in the background you are trying to match.

Original and Effect Buttons: these buttons will toggle back and forth between your original image and the effect.

Apply and Cancel: Lets you either apply your effect to the image or cancel and return to your image without adding an effect.

Support

For any problems or questions with the plugin or installation please email Hydra101 at info@hydra101.com

Thank you for purchasing this plugin.

Check out Hydra101 for tutorials and videos for tips on how to use this plugin.

Jon Hull

President

Hydra Design Labs

Hydra101