Auto FX software - Mystical Lighting etc.

[iamkaren]

Do any of you use Auto FX software? I'm thinking about getting Mystical Lighting. Because you can buy it bundled with other products I'm wondering about 'Mystical tint tone and Color' and 'Photographic Edges'. Does anyone use these products and would you recommend them?

TIA!

[Jana1506]

I have all the Auto FX software. I was looking at the mystical lighting first and then got the whole bundle. LOL - yes I'm compulsive.

I have not used it nearly as much as I thought I would. I think it’s mainly because I don’t know how to use the software correctly and to its fullest potential. I’ve just been messing around with it. I did get some really great effects with the mystical lighting one. Everything else I feel more comfortable doing in PS7.

So, I cannot really recommend it or say don’t get it. It is expensive software, too expensive to just play around with it on occasion. But I think if you are taking the time to learn it you will get some good use out of it. - especially if you are a photographer and can recover your cost.

[iamkaren]

Thanks Jana. I think I would use the Mystical Lighting, but not sure how much I would use any other.

I feel sad because my kids are ages 14 and 10 and I still don't have a good camera. I'm supposed to get my first DSLR for Christmas. I've been wanting one for a couple of years. So, I'm looking for ways to improve my average baby/child pictures. I just think about all those moments that I can never have back again...and I have stinky digital camera that has a long shutter delay. I don't have a single decent picture from the last 3 Christmas'. MOst of my pictures in low light are completely blurry. Of course, part of it is probably user error on my part.

Thanks for answering my questions!

[Leila]

I have all the AutoFX filters as well, I use them ALL the time. My favorite is Mystical TT&C, I love the B&W conversions I get with that set. I use Auto-Eye a lot for minor photo touchups, and I use PhotoGraphic Edges a lot too. DreamSuites 1&2 are great for gel, glass and metal effects as well as a host of other things. Mystical is just fun, I love the Fairy Dust filter. TOO fun.

That said, AFX is a spendy investment. A lot of what I use AFX for can be done in your graphics program with some playing around. So, as much as I love AFX, I'd suggest holding off on it unless you absolutely know that you'll use it a lot.

[Hollie]

I have some Auto FX products (although not Mystical Lighting) and although I really like them, I would say save your money for a nice lens or just other accesories for your dSLR camera, or even just to contribute to the cost of the cam itself :)

I've seen a thread or two about the Mystical Lighting in the past, where a significant majority of the posters said that it wasn't nearly as much of a "had to have" as they thought it would be--once they got it and used it a bunch.

Now a dSLR---you won't be sorry you got that!!!!

[coloradogigi]

I'll have to agree with most of the posters here on this. I have AFX Mystical Tint, Tone and Color, Mystical Lighting and Photographic Edges. I used them at lot at first, but now that I shoot in RAW, I have learned to get a lot of the effects in PSCS. They are great fun to play around with, though. If I were going to get just one, I would probably get the Photographic Edges, if you are into that sort of thing. It saddens me to think of the money that I spent on these programs and am not using them hardly ever now. In other words, not the big deal I thought they would be at the time.

[Franbvm]

ive used mystical lighting...can get some awesome effects but software is too expensive...i use psp 11 and corel graphic suite and find you can get awesome lighting effects without this software.

[iamkaren]

Oh man...I just checked back and saw all the replies! I actually bought Mystical Lighting and Mystical Tint and Tone yesterday. I had a 40% off coupon so it wasn't too bad.

But, I have to say that I'm a bit disappointed that I couldn't just open them up and create something beautiful! I think I'm going to have to download and read some of the manuals..yuck!

But, here is my problem and why I think (hope) that I will get use out of the software. I still don't have a good camera and my kids are ages 14 and 10. I'm saddened about all thier baby and childhood pictures that I have that are not so hot. I'm hoping that with this software I'll be able to improve my older photos since I didn't have a decent camera back then.

Thanks for all the feedback!