NBP ColourmapX Plug-in for Photoshop 1.0.3: A Powerful and Versatile Tool for Color Grading and Retouching
NBP ColourmapX Plug-in for Photoshop 1.0.3: A Review
If you are a photographer or a retoucher who wants to enhance your images with stunning color palettes, you might be interested in a Photoshop plugin called NBP ColourmapX. This plugin is designed to help you extract and apply color palettes from one image to another, as well as customize and edit them to suit your needs. In this article, we will review the features, functions, benefits, drawbacks, pricing, and sources of NBP ColourmapX Plug-in for Photoshop 1.0.3.
NBP ColourmapX Plug-in for Photoshop 1.0.3
What is NBP ColourmapX?
NBP ColourmapX is a color palette exploration tool that allows you to extract the colors from one image and apply them to another as a gradient map in just a few clicks. It is developed by NBP Retouch Tools, a company founded by professional photographer and retoucher Nino Batista. The plugin is based on his approach to color work in Photoshop, which involves using gradient maps and blending modes.
The plugin has several features that make it easy and convenient to use, such as:
A smooth and intuitive interface that lets you preview and adjust your color palettes in real-time.
An advanced algorithm that extracts up to 10 colors from an image, even if only three to five are selected.
A variety of options to modify your color palettes, such as changing the smoothness, muting specific colors, brightening or darkening the entire palette, changing blend modes, adjusting opacity and fill intensity, applying blend-if for luminosity range control, and editing individual color swatches.
A possibility to save your own color palettes as favorites for later use or share them with other users.
A compatibility with Apple Silicon (M1/M2), new Windows, and Adobe UXP.
How to use NBP ColourmapX?
Installing and activating the plugin
To use NBP ColourmapX, you need to have Photoshop CC 2019 or later installed on your computer. You can download the plugin from the official website of NBP Retouch Tools or from other sources such as Adobe Exchange. The plugin comes in a zip file that contains the installation instructions and the license key. You need to unzip the file and run the installer to install the plugin in Photoshop. Then, you need to activate the plugin with your license key, which you can find in the email that you received after purchasing the plugin. You can activate the plugin on up to two computers with the same license key.
Exploring color palettes with the plugin
Once you have installed and activated the plugin, you can access it from the Filter menu in Photoshop. You can also assign a keyboard shortcut to it for faster access. When you launch the plugin, you will see a window that shows your current image and a panel with various options and controls. To explore color palettes with the plugin, you need to follow these steps:
Select an image that you want to use as a source for your color palette. You can use any image that has colors that you like or that match your mood or theme. You can also use images from online sources such as Unsplash or Pinterest. You can drag and drop the image into the plugin window or use the Load Image button to browse your computer.
Select how many colors you want to extract from the source image. You can choose between 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, or 10 colors. The plugin will automatically extract the most dominant colors from the image and display them as swatches on the panel. You can also manually select specific colors from the image by using the Pick Color tool.
Apply the color palette to your current image as a gradient map. You can do this by clicking on the Apply Palette button or by double-clicking on any of the swatches. The plugin will create a new layer with a gradient map adjustment layer that applies the color palette to your image. You can see how your image looks with different color palettes by switching between them on the panel.
Customizing and editing color palettes with the plugin
If you are not satisfied with the color palettes that the plugin generates, you can customize and edit them to suit your preferences and needs. The plugin offers several options and tools to modify your color palettes, such as:
Smoothness: This slider allows you to adjust how smoothly or sharply the colors transition from one to another on the gradient map. A lower value creates more contrast and separation between colors, while a higher value creates more blending and harmony between colors.
Mute Color: This button allows you to mute or disable a specific color from the palette. This can be useful if you want to reduce or eliminate a color that is too dominant or distracting in your image.
Brightness: This slider allows you to brighten or darken the entire color palette. This can be useful if you want to change the overall mood or tone of your image.
Blend Mode: This dropdown menu allows you to change how the gradient map layer blends with your original image layer. You can choose from different blend modes such as Normal, Multiply, Screen, Overlay, Soft Light, Hard Light, Color, Luminosity, etc. Each blend mode creates a different effect and impact on your image.
Opacity: This slider allows you to change how transparent or opaque the gradient map layer is. A lower value makes the gradient map less visible and more subtle, while a higher value makes it more visible and more prominent.
Fill Intensity: This slider allows you to change how saturated or desaturated the gradient map layer is. A lower value makes the gradient map more gray and less colorful, while a higher value makes it more vibrant and more colorful.
Blend-If: This button allows you to access a dialog box that lets you control how the gradient map layer affects different luminosity ranges of your image. You can use this feature to create more realistic and natural-looking color grading effects by preserving some of the original colors and details of your image.
Edit Swatch: This button allows you to access a dialog box that lets you edit an individual color swatch of your palette. You can change its hue, saturation, brightness , and alpha values. You can also use a color picker to select a color from the source image or from anywhere on your screen.
Save Palette: This button allows you to save your current color palette as a favorite for later use. You can name your palette and store it in a folder of your choice. You can also export your palette as a Photoshop gradient file or as a PNG image.
Share Palette: This button allows you to share your current color palette with other users via email or social media. You can also copy the color codes of your palette to your clipboard for easy pasting.
What are the benefits of NBP ColourmapX?
NBP ColourmapX is a powerful and versatile plugin that can help you improve your images with amazing color palettes. Some of the benefits of using this plugin are:
It can save you time and effort by automating the process of extracting and applying color palettes from one image to another.
It can inspire you to explore new and creative color combinations that you might not have thought of before.
It can enhance the mood, atmosphere, and emotion of your images by using colors that match your vision and intention.
It can make your images stand out and look more professional by using colors that are harmonious, balanced, and consistent.
It can help you achieve different styles and effects by using different blend modes, opacity, fill intensity, and blend-if settings.
It can help you create your own signature color palettes that reflect your personality and brand.
What are the drawbacks of NBP ColourmapX?
NBP ColourmapX is not a perfect plugin and it has some drawbacks and challenges that you should be aware of before using it. Some of the drawbacks of using this plugin are:
It can be overwhelming and confusing to use at first, especially if you are not familiar with gradient maps and blending modes in Photoshop.
It can be difficult to find the right source image for your color palette, especially if you have a specific idea or theme in mind.
It can be tricky to adjust the color palettes to fit your image, especially if the source image has a different lighting, contrast, or tonality than your image.
It can be hard to achieve realistic and natural-looking results, especially if the color palette is too extreme or unnatural for your image.
It can be incompatible or unstable with some versions of Photoshop or operating systems, especially if they are outdated or unsupported.
How much does NBP ColourmapX cost?
NBP ColourmapX is not a free plugin and it requires a one-time payment to purchase and activate it. The plugin has two pricing options: $49.99 for a single license or $79.99 for a bundle license. The single license allows you to use the plugin on up to two computers with the same license key, while the bundle license allows you to use the plugin on up to four computers with two different license keys. The plugin also offers a 15-day free trial that lets you test all the features and functions of the plugin before buying it. You can download the trial version from the official website of NBP Retouch Tools or from other sources such as Adobe Exchange.
Where to get NBP ColourmapX?
If you are interested in getting NBP ColourmapX, you can get it from various sources online. Some of the sources where you can get the plugin are:
The official website of NBP Retouch Tools: https://www.nbpretools.com/colourmapx. This is the best source to get the latest version of the plugin, as well as other products and services from NBP Retouch Tools.
The Adobe Exchange marketplace: https://exchange.adobe.com/creativecloud.details.104419.nbp-colourmapx.html. This is a convenient source to get the plugin directly from Photoshop, as well as other plugins and extensions from Adobe and third-party developers.
The FilterGrade marketplace: https://filtergrade.com/product/nbp-colourmapx-plugin-for-photoshop/. This is a popular source to get the plugin along with other photography resources such as presets, actions, overlays, textures, etc.
The PhotoWhoa marketplace: https://www.photowhoa.com/deals/nbp-colourmapx -plugin-for-photoshop/. This is a discounted source to get the plugin along with other photography deals and offers.
Conclusion
NBP ColourmapX is a plugin that can help you create stunning color palettes for your images in Photoshop. It allows you to extract and apply color palettes from one image to another, as well as customize and edit them to suit your needs. It has several features and functions that make it easy and convenient to use, such as a smooth and intuitive interface, an advanced algorithm, a variety of options, and a possibility to save and share your color palettes. It also has some drawbacks and challenges that you should be aware of before using it, such as a learning curve, a difficulty in finding the right source image, a tricky adjustment process, a realism issue, and a compatibility or stability issue. It is not a free plugin and it requires a one-time payment to purchase and activate it. You can get it from various sources online, such as the official website of NBP Retouch Tools, the Adobe Exchange marketplace, the FilterGrade marketplace, and the PhotoWhoa marketplace.
If you are looking for a plugin that can help you improve your images with amazing color palettes, you might want to give NBP ColourmapX a try. It is a powerful and versatile plugin that can help you explore new and creative color combinations, enhance the mood and emotion of your images, make your images stand out and look professional, achieve different styles and effects, and create your own signature color palettes. It is a plugin that can help you unleash your color potential in Photoshop.
FAQs
What are the system requirements for NBP ColourmapX?
The minimum system requirements for NBP ColourmapX are:
Photoshop CC 2019 or later
Windows 10 or later (64-bit) or macOS 10.14 or later (64-bit)
4 GB of RAM (8 GB recommended)
1 GB of free disk space
An internet connection for activation and updates
What are some alternative plugins for color grading and retouching?
Some of the alternative plugins that you can use for color grading and retouching in Photoshop are:
LUTs Color Presets: This plugin allows you to apply professional color grading effects to your images using LUTs (Look Up Tables). You can choose from over 1000 LUTs presets or create your own custom LUTs.
Infinite Color Panel: This plugin allows you to generate random and unique color combinations for your images using an algorithm. You can adjust the hue, saturation, contrast, brightness, temperature, tint, and more.
Color Efex Pro: This plugin allows you to apply over 50 filters and effects to your images using the Nik Collection by DxO. You can use presets or customize them with control points.
Coolorus: This plugin allows you to access a color wheel panel in Photoshop that lets you pick colors from different color models, such as RGB, CMYK, HSV, HSL, etc. You can also use harmonies, gamut lock, swatches, history, and more.
How to update NBP ColourmapX?
To update NBP ColourmapX, you need to follow these steps:
Open Photoshop and go to the Filter menu.
Select NBP Retouch Tools and then NBP ColourmapX.
In the plugin window, click on the About button at the bottom left corner.
In the dialog box that appears, click on the Check for Updates button.
If there is an update available, click on the Download Update button.
Follow the instructions to install the update.
How to contact NBP Retouch Tools for support or feedback?
If you need support or feedback for NBP ColourmapX or any other product from NBP Retouch Tools, you can contact them through these channels:
Email: support@nbpretools.com
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/nbpretools
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/nbpretools/
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC6X9o1wZg0Qy4Y2g7c6f3jw
How to learn more about NBP ColourmapX?
If you want to learn more about NBP ColourmapX and how to use it effectively, you can check out these resources and tutorials:
The official user guide of NBP ColourmapX: https://www.nbpretools.com/colourmapx-user-guide. This is a comprehensive guide that covers everything you need to know about the plugin, such as installation, activation, interface, features, functions, tips, and tricks.
The official video tutorials of NBP ColourmapX: https://www.nbpretools.com/colourmapx-tutorials. These are short and easy-to-follow videos that show you how to use the plugin for different scenarios and purposes, such as color grading, retouching, creative effects, etc.
The official blog of NBP Retouch Tools: https://www.nbpretools.com/blog. This is a blog that features articles and posts about photography, retouching, color work, and other topics related to NBP Retouch Tools and their products.
The official podcast of Nino Batista: https://ninobatista.podbean.com/. This is a podcast that features interviews and conversations with Nino Batista and other photographers and retouchers about their work, techniques, experiences, and insights.
I hope you enjoyed reading this article and learned something new about NBP ColourmapX Plug-in for Photoshop 1.0.3. If you have any questions or comments, please feel free to leave them below. Thank you for your time and attention. dcd2dc6462