This already exists in apps like After Effects, Shake and other post-processing software, and many people have asked for more of it in Photoshop. Adobe have started putting some stuff like that a bit, with non-destructif filters and such, but it requires using smart layers, and is just generally pretty half assed and useless. :( 

with non-destructif filters and such, but it requires using smart layers, and is just generally pretty half assed and useless.

Seriously what planet are you on! the filter layers are awesome, extremely easy to add, test out settings, combine them and re-arrange the order. It also does not require smart layers (cs5+), you just add them. The only downside is you cannot apply them to groups which would be useful for global style effects. 

are less intuitive to grasp than the layer concept though. It might steepen the learning curve for more casual users. 

 

Mmmm... I'm on CS5, and I don't see how to use them without smart layers. When I try to it says my layer needs to be converted to a smart layer, which makes it useless for me.
Maybe it's better in CS6, haven't tried it yet (we're still using CS5 at work).

What I'd want the most in Photoshop is a way to instance layers, that would make my job so much easier. You can kind of do it with smart layers, tried to use them for a while but it's really clunky and wasn't worth the effort in the end for me. 

http://userbase.kde.org/Krita/Tutorial_2#Clone_layers 

Why not release the source? Maybe I'm being naive, but it worked for id. 

@Bal, I use the shortcut icon to create the special filter layer. I rarely use the menu's and I never get any messages about smart layers. Honestly I find them amazing and they have saved me destroying original layers because of effects. I often put the filters into groups so I can test different combinations. 

Do you mean adjustment layers? Those are fine (and I also use them a lot), but what I'm talking about is smart filters, for instance having a filter applied to a layer that gives it a gaussian blur, but that you can still paint in (and the blur would be applied more or less on the fly, depending on how expensive it is, and be able to tweak it like an adjustment layer), honestly don't see how that's possible in CS5 without using smart layers (which makes it alot less useful). 

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=niEFNEkbNKk 

have you seen this already?

www.dailymotion.com/video/xzc0u2_giant-god-warrior-appears-in-tokyo_shortfilms#.UZqV_Hkgvxc 

fucking cutoff

http://www.dailymotion.com/video/xzc0u2_giant-god-warrior-appears-in-tokyo_shortfilms#.UZqV_Hkgvxc 

@mfx, sorry but that was terrible, you should be playing THIS!?! 

Do you mean adjustment layers? Those are fine (and I also use them a lot)
Yeah sorry man, I mean adjustment layers, it has been years since I have found a use for the filters anymore! The adjustment system is amazing, it certainly would be cool if they extended the adjustment system to affect groups. 

i don't know... 

it certainly would be cool if they extended the adjustment system to affect groups.

You can do something among those lines by setting the knockout, but I've never used it myself.

http://www.peachpit.com/articles/article.aspx?p=26131&seqNum=4

Being able to set adjustment layers to target group as a clippy mask would be nice though. 

So I start my new job tomorrow.

My new boss called me last week to discuss what kind of workstation to get. He is a pure Apple fanboi, and naturally asked me 'How would you like a nice brand new PowerMac?'. I have never used a mac, so I said (trying to remain on the fence) 'I'm not averse to the idea of learning to use a mac, but for the last 15+ years I've been a Windows user, and learning a new OS would slow me down some'. Then he said that on a mac there is no right-mouse-button. 'AAAAAaaargh!' I cried, and convinced him that I needed a PC.

Would anyone here tell me any different? The job is web design. 

Use what you are comfortable with as long as it can run the software you are required to use (if you are). 

@RickyT23, I have a powermac and laptop pc and switching between them is a nightmare. Shortcuts are different, no backspace, no right mouse click (there is a keyboard equivalent), interface is back-to-front (especially all the window icons). It is like apple deliberately made the interface arse about face.

Once you get over the interface issues luckily most of the software works the same. If you switch to Mac, play with it for a while, don't keep switching back, it will drive you nuts! 

...ayand counting! Phew! 

...I started on PC, turned to the Mac for your exact same reasons, some 10 years ago, on OS9. Now, that was a Nightmare! Been going back and forth since then and, while I'm what you'd call an Apple Fanboi ;), I'd say Spirit got it right.

My 2 cents of experience anyways, tell me that iMac is far superior when it comes to font management and that's not to underestimatedbe if you're doing ANY kind of graphic work.

Also, don't forget that you can still plug a Logitech (Or whatever you like) 3-buttons into that funky Powermac!!! 

of an edit button.

I guess you got what I mean anyways.... 

is really fascinating all that!

but was thinking.. what if one starts a campaign getting funds but then quits the project ?
funds must come back to pledgers ? 

some posts above were you answering to me or to fifthelephant ..about some pirates mod ? 

macs can support 2 button mice, you just have to plug one in.