General Website Questions

Who are you?
What is this site all about?

Questions About the Downloadable Content

General Questions
How do I download the files?
How do I know what the download does?
Can I see what it will look like before I download?
Are the files safe for my computer?
Do the downloads work on a Mac? How about a PC?
What version of Photoshop do I need?
Are the downloads compatible with Photoshop Elements?
Do you have Terms of Use, and what are they?

Questions about Paid Content
What methods of payment can I use?
How and when will I receive my download?
What if something doesn't work?

Actions
What are actions?
How do I use the actions?
Are you sure it's really that easy?
Some of your actions talk about loading extra contours. What is that and how do I do it?
Some of your actions have a "+" in their name. What does that mean?

Styles
What are styles?
How do I use styles?

Brushes
What are brushes?
How do I use brushes?

Contours
What are contours?
How do I use contours?
Why bother with contours?
Some of your actions talk about loading extra contours. What is that and how do I do it?

General Website Questions

Q: Who are you?
A: My name is Karl Sneath. I am a videographer and multimedia designer for an independent video production company in Kansas.

Q: What is this site all about?
A: I created this site to conveniently share both my free and paid Photoshop creations with others, as well as provide another portal in an extended community of creative Photoshop enthusiasts.

Questions About the Downloadable Content

General Questions

Q: How do I download the files?
A: There are download links for the free files both on the main content pages that list all downloads in that category (these links are on the right-hand side of the page) and at the bottom right of each individual description page for that download. Simply click on one of those links, and your download should begin automatically. All downloads are "zipped", and will appear on your computer in your default download location (usually the desktop). Depending on your system, the .zip file will either be uncompressed automatically, or you may need to click on it to activate your "unzip" program. Once the file has been "unzipped", it will appear as a folder, and the actual file(s) will be located in that folder. If you experience any problems with this process, please contact me.

Q: How do I know what the download does?
A: A description and a sample image of the effect is given on the description page for the individual download. The description pages are accessed simply by clicking on the download's name (on the left side of the page) on each main category page. In addition, a larger, different preview image is available on each main category page (just click the "preview" link for the download you are interested in).

Q: Can I see what it will look like before I download?
A: Yes. As described in the previous answer, there are preview images available on the main pages of each content category (click on the "Preview" links to see the image). If you click on the "Preview" links, and nothing appears, you may need to temporarily disable your browser's pop-up blocker. In addition to this sample image, there is another preview image located at the top of each description page.

Q: Are the files safe for my computer?
A: To the best of my knowledge, all the files are completely harmless. None of the files EVER have adware, spyware, malware, etc. included. In addition, I create all my submissions using the Mac OS X operating system, which is almost completely free of viruses and trojans.

Q: Do the downloads work on a Mac? How about a PC?
A: All downloads should work just fine on either the Macintosh or Windows operating system.

Q: What version of Photoshop do I need?
A: Each description page for a particular download states the minimum suggested version to use for that particular download. Some of the submissions may work (or you may be able to get them to work with some effort) with earlier versions, however the version listed is the earliest version in which the download was created or is known to work. Should you run into problems getting the downloads to work using the version listed (or a later version), please contact me.

Q: Are the downloads compatible with Photoshop Elements?
A: Yes and no. To my knowledge, the styles, brushes, and contours should be compatible with Elements (but I have not tested this, as I do not have a copy of Elements). The actions, however, are a little trickier. Please keep in mind that I have not created the actions for PS Elements, but for the full version of Photoshop. Some of the simpler actions may indeed work, but action sets and complex actions using more advanced features will probably fail. Some day I hope to be able to make some of my actions available for Elements. Check out this link for more information and instructions on the topic.

Q: Do you have Terms of Use, and what are they?
A: I haven't written out a fancy, lawyer-like page with official "terms of use", however, here is how I would ask that you use (or don't use) my files:

1. You may use any and all downloads on this site for personal and/or commercial use, without any payment other than that which may be required to download the file from this site itself. I do not require that you acknowledge me in any way when you use the files in your projects. However, any acknowledgment by name or by URL of this site (including online links to this site) is very much appreciated, and is helpful in continuing to promote my work!
2. You may not sell, redistribute, modify (other than for personal use), or claim as your own, any download on this site without my express written consent! To do so would be lying and cheating. I also ask that you not use my downloads to in any way defame, degrade, or blaspheme the precious name of Jesus Christ.


Questions about Paid Content

Q: What methods of payment can I use?
A: When you click a "Purchase" button, you will be directed to Paypal's secure site where you can choose to pay via Paypal, or pay using your credit/debit card.

Q: How and when will I receive my download?
A: After your payment has been submitted you will receive an email containing a link to your download. You may use either your Paypal account or a debit/credit card:

(1.) If you choose to pay with a credit or debit card, please ensure that you enter your email address correctly on the payment page (the same place where you also enter your phone number)! This is the address to which your download link will be sent. If this is not entered correctly, you won't receive your email link! (If this occurs, please contact me with your information and transaction ID#, and I will manually send you the download link).

(2.) If you pay with your Paypal account, the download link will be sent to the email address that you have on file with Paypal.

With both methods of payment, there is a "Return to Merchant" button on the bottom of your payment confirmation page. Press this button and your browser will load a page with the download link, so you don't even have to wait for your email!

Note: If you've sent a payment, and you do not see an e-mail with a download link, be sure and check your spam/junk folders to ensure that the email did not sent there! The email will be titled "Your Download Link from FinesseFX!"

Q: What if something doesn't work?
A: In the event that your payment will not process, or you never receive your download link after payment, please contact me and I will try to ensure that the issue gets resolved.


Actions

Q: What are actions?
A: Actions are small script files that the creator has "recorded" through Photoshop's automatic process (this is done using the "record" button at the bottom of the actions palette). Basically, when the "record" button is pushed, Photoshop logs all the user's subsequent actions and places them in this script. This file can then be saved and later played back within Photoshop to repeat the same processes over and over. In effect, actions record Photoshop workflows. As you can see, actions can be very powerful!

Q: How do I use the actions?
A: If you've never read the Photoshop manual or downloaded actions that someone else created, you've probably not had much call to use or even take notice of the "Actions" palette within Photoshop. However, if you're ready to get started, here's what you need to do:

(1.) Find the action that you've downloaded on your computer and double-click it (alternatively, make sure the "Actions" palette is open in Photoshop, click on the arrow in the upper right and choose "Load Actions..." from the dropdown menu). This will load the action into Photoshop's action palette.

(2.) You should now see a folder (at the bottom of the list) with the name of the action you just loaded. Open this folder by clicking on the arrow to its left, and you will see the actual action or actions inside. Select one of these, and then press the play button (located along the bottom of the palette).

(3.) Follow any on-screen instructions and have fun!
#thateasy?
Q: Are you sure it's really that easy?
A: Yes! (Well, it should be anyway, if the action's creator -- i.e., me! -- has structured everything correctly and conventiently for the user). One of the great things about actions is their ability to create complex effects and perform a myriad of tasks while you simply sit back and watch it happen.

Q: Some of your actions talk about loading extra contours. What is that and how do I do it?
A: The contours I refer to in some of my older actions are the full set which Adobe ships with the Photoshop CD. Therefore, you probably already have them on your computer (unless you did a custom installation, and chose not to install some of the extras). However, if you can't find them, you may download them from this site via this link:

Adobe's Full set of Photoshop Contours (4K)

Once you have the contours on your computer, you'll need to load them into Photoshop. The easiest way to do this is to use the Preset Manager (Edit:Preset Manager). From the "Preset Type" Dropdown menu, choose "Contours". Then press "Load". At this point you should see the contours added to this list. Now just press "Done", and play the action! For what it's worth, you may want to keep the contours file on your computer in case you need to re-import them again at a later time.

Q: Some of your actions have a "+" in their name. What does that mean?
A: The "+" symbol added to the end of an action title is representative of the fact that the action has been updated and improved over the original action of the same name. I have been creating actions since 2001, and both Photoshop and my knowledge of it have changed considerably since that time. Therefore, at times, I will return to early works and seek to improve upon them. Normally once the action has been updated, I will replace the old one with the updated one, adding the "+" symbol to the end of the title.
If you're interested in some of the old original effects, check out the "Legacy Set" under the Styles section of the website.

Styles

Q: What are styles?
A: Styles are simply a combination of Layer Styles (like Drop Shadows and Bevel & Emboss, etc.) saved to a file. Styles can be applied to text, pictures and shapes. There may also be unique, user-created patterns imbedded into the styles.

Q: How do I use styles?
A: Simply import them into Photoshop using the Styles palette or the Preset Manager. When they are loaded, select the object to which the style is to be applied, and click the desired style from the Styles palette.

Brushes

Q: What are brushes?
A: Brushes are black and white images, saved for the express purpose of being used as a repeating art brush in Photoshop. Brushes can be used to "paint" onto portions of an image or canvas, as well as being used by other tools in Photoshop like the "Smudge", "Stamp" and "Eraser" tools.

Q: How do I use brushes?
A: As with styles, you need to import them using the Brushes palette or the Preset Manager. Once they are loaded (and you have a compatible tool selected), you can select the desired brush from the list appearing in the Brushes palette or the Options toolbar.

Contours

Q: What are contours?
A: A contour is a line (curved or straight) on a graph which represents light and dark values, and which is applied to various elements of Layer Styles (basically a "Curves" adjustment for Layer Styles).

Q: How do I use contours?
A: Contours need to be imported into Photoshop via the Preset Manager. Once loaded, they may be used in customizing your Layer Styles.

Q: Why bother with contours?
A: Most casual users of Photoshop have probably never noticed contours. However, anyone that has applied a Layer Style has used one (or more). Custom contours expand your options for applying Shadows, Glows, Bevel & Emboss, and Satins. Using unique contours produces unique looks. Try it!

Q: Some of your actions talk about loading extra contours. What is that and how do I do it?
A: The contours I refer to in some of my older actions are the full set which Adobe ships with the Photoshop CD. Therefore, you probably already have them on your computer (unless you did a custom installation, and chose not to install some of the extras). However, if you can't find them, you may download them from this site via this link:

Adobe's Full set of Photoshop Contours (4K)

Once you have the contours on your computer, you'll need to load them into Photoshop. The easiest way to do this is to use the Preset Manager (Edit:Preset Manager). From the "Preset Type" Dropdown menu, choose "Contours". Then press "Load". At this point you should see the contours added to this list. Now just press "Done", and play the action! For what it's worth, you may want to keep the contours file on your computer in case you need to re-import them again at a later time.