The Blend-If.Machine panel for Photoshop

Introduction

Most photographers and retouchers usually skip the “Blend If” function in Photoshop.

However, it is an efficient tool for quick masking and smooth transitions when blending different elements.

While it is a technique commonly used by architectural photographers for quick sky replacement or smoothing out the shadows, it can be used for many other purposes; moreover, it can totally boost your creativity and save you a tremendous amount of time.

Read more about Blend-If VS Luminosity masks: https://stephenbayphotography.com/blog/blend-if-vs-luminosity-masks/ (A post by Stephen Bay)

A little bit of history

During the year 2020, I have been actively working on creating a panel/plugin for Photoshop called The Blend-If.Machine.

At the time I developed The Blend-If.Machine, the CEP technology was recommended by Adobe to create panels. In the meantime, while continuing to support panels using CEP technology, Adobe started promoting the use of a new technology called UXP.

IMPORTANT: CEP extensions do not work on native Apple Silicon. UXP does. You need to run Photoshop under Rosetta mode (right-click on the application icon in the applications folder, select Get info, then Run in Rosetta) to use CEP extensions.  https://helpx.adobe.com/photoshop/kb/photoshop-for-apple-silicon.html

Not having the immediate skills to convert my panel to this new technology, I had postponed a potential commercial distribution to an undetermined period.

The Offer

We are in July 2022 and since it is perfectly functional on the last 3 generations of Photoshop, I finally decided to distribute the panel - as it is - for a symbolic minimum amount of $5.

As of 07-19-2022, the panel is guaranteed 100% functional for the current version of Photoshop (23) on MacOS (Rosetta mode only) and Windows and as of 07-26-2022, I can confirm that an UXP version is under active development.

The Blend-If.Machine is a very affordable panel plugin for Photoshop based on Ansel Adams zone system. It makes the blend if technique almost as simple to use as a standard luminosity mask.

Watch more about the Ansel Adams Zone system: https://youtu.be/x_k2iAgZfGs?t=177

Many options are available as well as simplified access to the most useful Photoshop tools.

IMPORTANT: Although offering features designed to drastically simplify the image retouching and color grading workflow, the use of the Blend-If.Machine panel is rather is intended for users with previous Photoshop experience.

Installation Instructions

Download ZXP Installer ( at least version 1.8.2 ) for your system then Drag and Drop the com.blendifmachine-2.0.ext.zxp file that you will have received following your purchase.

Follow the instructions then start Photoshop.

Access the plugin from the Window > Extensions (legacy) menu item and select Blend-If Machine 2

Documentation

I plan to shoot some short instructional videos in the coming weeks. In the meantime, advanced Photoshop users should have no trouble understanding and using the panel.

Website: https://www.blendifmachine.com/