Is there a new Electric Image Format plug in for Photoshop CS4?

I tried coping the EIFormat.plugin from my CS3 into the CS4 plug in folder and when I open an .img file it asks me if I want to “premultiply”.  Whether I select the “premultiply” button or not it doesn’t seem to make any difference, I still don’t get an alpha channel.

What does “premultiply” mean?

As I heared all the plugins are on the adobe support pages now.

From adobe:

All of these optional Plug-ins and Presets can be found in the Goodies folders on your installation disc. They can also be found at the following locations:

For Windows: http://www.adobe.com/support/downloads/product.jsp?product=39&platform=Window
For Mac OS: http://www.adobe.com/support/downloads/product.jsp?product=39&platform=Macintosh

Regards

Frankg

Thanks Frank.

I downloaded the latest plugin from Adobe’s website for Electric Image Format but it still won’t show an alpha channel when I open a .img file.

Bummer!  I guess I will have to keep CS3 around just to open EI files.

I just checked my CS4 PhotoShop as well. The plugin wasn’t there but I downloaded from the link above. Adobe only seems tp provide a legacy version.

Toby Thain’s site “http://www.telegraphics.com.au/sw/” doesn’t have a newer version that works with CS4. My PhotoShop just crashes/hangs if I try to open an Image file. I am using an Intel 8 core machine.

So much for PhotoShop’s new ‘3D’ version… -Derryl

If you are on a mac, you could try this workaround.

Download the QuickTime plugin from Telegraphics and install it (you may need to restart).

Open the file in QuickTime and export with the alpha intact to any of the many file types.

Just a thought.

Mat.

d.rice - 11 November 2008 06:03 PM

So much for PhotoShop’s new ‘3D’ version… -Derryl

This doesn’t sound like an Adobe issue.  It’s just a conflict between upgrades.  I’m sure we’ll hear what will be done soon.

Yon

I will be investigating Derryl’s issue.

Is anyone else having problems (crash) with the plugin? Please report to me if so.

I would also like to hear about any issues on Windows, 32 or 64 bit.

As far as I know, there is no reason why the existing CS3 plugin would not be perfectly compatible with CS4, but I can’t test on Intel or with CS3/4 so I am dependent on user reports.

-- Toby
support@telegraphics.com.au

Yon, Adobe has been touting PS CS4 as being perfect tool for painting/etc. 3D models. At the same time w/CS4 they relegated the EI import to the legacy plugin folder (and with it the loss of the alpha channel?). PS isn’t a cheap upgrade. They expect us to upgrade to this new Extended edition but offer less in some repects.

If it wasn’t for Toby generously providing his plugin (as donation-ware) we wouldn’t have a decent solution for some time. On the other hand AE imports EI great. Why the disparity?

btw: thanks again for the help with the polar bear commercial, I think it airs soon. -Derryl

Derryl,
Hopefully the polar bear project turned out great.  Let’s see it if it’s done.

Compatibility between programs is unfortunately not an issue for the dominant program.  So Adobe is loosing no sleep, and really it’s a question for them.  As Toby suggests, he is willing to address the situation.  It may require the procurement by him of CS4 first I’m sure if this is an issue, EITG will be working on it very soon.  Compatibility is very import.

I have not upgraded to CS4, so I can do no testing there, but I imagine exports using the layer shader are still fine, and it may also be possible to open things in quicktime and export them that way… Toby has a plugin for that too I believe.

Keep us updated as to what works.

Yon

You can download the PS CS4 trial here:  http://www.adobe.com/products/photoshop/photoshopextended/ This is what I did for testing at work and found it functionally identical to the DVD version which I have at home. -dr

Hi Derryl, For some reason I didn’t think of using the trial version. Excellent tip. Now I just need to wait to use my wife’s Macbook as I don’t own an Intel Mac.

The problem Derryl reported has been fixed in a new build for Mac CS3 and CS4 ONLY: 3.7f2 which can be downloaded from my site

Thanks Toby. My donation’s in. Hopefully if everyone that uses it donates, you will have an intel machine to test on next time

It’s always refreshing to see people that care whether it’s for their work or the community. Thank you Toby.

Toby,

I downloaded the new plugin from your website but I am still having the same problem, no alpha channel.  When I open a .img file that has been rendered “millions + alpha” and try to open it in Photoshop CS4, I get a little dialog box that asks me if I want to “Premulitply” the image.  Whether I check the box or not I get the same result, no alpha channel and a flattened image.  This is on a PPC Mac using OS 10.5.5.

Thanks for your help!