Comments In previous versions of Photoshop, many of the more “artistic” filters were not only available through the Filter Gallery, but were also listed in the Filter menu in categories such as Artistic, Brush Strokes etc.. In previous versions of Photoshop, when any of these “artistic” filters were selected, they invoked the Filter Gallery (where multiple filters could be added and individual Filter options could be customized). In order to clean up this “duplication” (filters being accessible via the Filter menu as well as the Filter Gallery), in Photoshop CS6, the “artistic” filters have been hidden from the menus yet are all available via the Filter Gallery.
If you prefer to see each one of the “artistic” filters in the FIlter menu, choose Preferences > Plug-ins > Show All Filter Gallery Groups and Names.
although that tip SHOWS all the “Artistic” filters, how come they aren’t USABLE? on my PS, they’re greyed out, along with the Distort and Pixelate options??
Is your file in 16 bit? Those filters will only run on 8 bit files. To change the bit depth select Image > Mode > 8 Bits/Channel.
Thanks that just helped me too
Thank you very much!! I am a student still learning this program and I about lost it when I got the upgrade and lost some of my filters. Thank you, thank you, thank you.
I was really hoping that those filters would be able to be used when working within 16 bits as part of the improvement in CS6 vs. CS5. I would like to work at 16 bits due to banding issues that crop up but use those creative filters all the time so not having this be part of the upgrade is extremely disappointing.
Why is it that you did not upgrade those filters to work with the extra bit depth??
Its frustrating though because there is not an option for the pattern maker, do you know of a way to get that back? i know that importing it from cs5 will just break it.
Pattern maker is no longer supported in CS6 — http://helpx.adobe.com/photoshop/kb/plug-ins-photoshop-cs61.html#id_14532
where is the preferences menu, i cant seem to find it
On the Mac it is under the Photoshop menu, on Windows it is under the Edit menu.
all who can not find it can go to edit >preferences and check the three boxes from bottom and enjoy.
Thank you so much for the information.
It might be added that the artistic filters did not display when in CMYK, only in RGB. On my Win8 CS6 install.
Artistic filters have never been enabled to work on CMYK documents.
I am using CS5. I had all the filters available and now they are greyed out. Why is that? I did go into preferences but don’t have a choice in Plugs In to Show All Filter Gallery Groups and Names. Why is it I would have the choice of Artistic and other filters and now they are gone? What can I do to get them back? I am working on a project now where I planned to use the filters and am now stymied. Thank you for your help.
Is your image in 16 bit? Most of the artistic filters work with 8 bit images. Try converting them using Image > Mode > 8 Bit.
Great! Thanks so much. That worked perfectly. And thank you especially for your fast reply.
Another question: I have my filters back but when I try to apply them, they are applied over the image so it can’t be seen, rather than to the image. I have used these before and they affected the image, rather than painting over it. What do I do to change that? Thanks.
Never mind last question! It was a dumb one. Realized that I was zoomed in so only seeing changes on a blank wall not whole photo.
Thank you! oh thank you so much!
Thank you so much for this simple article… I’ve had my cs6 for 6 months or longer now and I was wondering where my filters went. Spent over an hour on hold with adobe several times and finally gave up. Had contacted online chat support, but they said I had to call… THANK YOU for solving this problem for me!
I changed it to 8 bit and mine still wont let me use the artistic filters or the brush strokes filter.
Help?
I already was in 8 bit mode and mine still wont let me use the artistic filters I need (they’re greyed out)
I’m using Photoshop CS6 Adobe Creative Cloud.
Help!
Are the files in RGB?
hi ERIK!!! ok click on ‘Edit’….click on ‘Preferences’….click on ‘Plug-Ins’……then check the box that says “show all filter gallery groups and names”….then click ok
I have installed all the plug-in as it’s said in the instruction. But I still can’t see the pattern maker in filters menu. HELP please…
Max,
The Pattern Maker is one of the optional plug-ins that you can download from the Adobe site.
Look for the optional plug-ins for CS5; it’s stated that the Pattern Maker is not supported in CS6 but I installed it and it works fine.
Cheers
Erwin
I am working in CS6, working in 8bit, looked at the preference-plug-in and they are checked:
show all filter galleries, etc. in the filters menu many of the specific filters are still greyed out or missing within a specific filter.
Looking specifically for plastic wrap filter. Any suggestions… thanks
PS if i change to RGB then more of the filters are present, still can’t find the plastic wrap?
It’s not listed under Filter > Filter Gallery > Artistic > Plastic Wrap?
Have you looked in the Filter>Filter Gallery Ronny? It should be in there.
If you would like to see the item in the Filter menu, you can change the Photoshop PReferences
Preferences: Plug-Ins: Filters / Show all Filter Gallery groups and names
Check that and restart Photoshop — You should then have plastic wrap in your filters menu again.
I did as well all the check in preferences and rebooted the pc but still no access to Filter / Artistic
in it unclickable, in light grey but no drop down menu to access it
Is there any possibility to have that plug-in?
thanks for your advise