How to Install Plug-ins for Adobe Photoshop

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Download plugins from the Creative Cloud app or install them manually
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Do you want to install plugins for Adobe Photoshop? Plugins are separate files that interact with Adobe Photoshop to increase its functionality and introduce new features. In Adobe Photoshop, plugins range from filters and patterns, to brush and pen styles. You can purchase and download plugins from the Creative Cloud desktop app or download them from other sources. Some plugins need to be installed manually, but doing so is not hard. This wikiHow article teaches you how to install plugins for Adobe Photoshop.

Things You Should Know

  • Find plugins in the Creative Cloud app by clicking "Stock & Marketplace" > "Plugins". Click "Get" next to the plugin you want to install.
  • Unzip downloaded plugins and copy the folder to "C:\Program Files\Adobe\Adobe Photoshop <year>\Plug-ins" on Windows.
  • Unzip downloaded plugins and copy the folder to "~/Applications/Adobe Photoshop <year>/Plugins" on a Mac.
Method 1
Method 1 of 2:

Installing Plugins Manually

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    Most plugins are available through the Adobe Creative Cloud Marketplace, but you can often find unofficial plugins on third-party sites. Some are even free.
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    Most Photoshop plugins come compressed inside a RAR or ZIP folder for easy transfer. Simply right-click on the downloaded file and extract it anywhere on your computer.
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    Copy the entire folder that contains the plugin files. Do this by right-clicking on the folder and selecting “Copy” from the context menu.
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    You can typically find the plugins folder at one of the following locations depending on if you are using a Windows PC or Mac:
    • Windows: C:\Program Files\Adobe\Adobe Photoshop <year>\Plug-ins
    • Mac: ~/Applications/Adobe Photoshop <year>/Plugins
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    Right-click an empty area in the “Plugins” folder and select Paste . This will install the plugin.
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    Do this by clicking its shortcut icon on the desktop or by opening it from the list of applications installed on your computer. You can also launch Photoshop from within the Adobe Creative Cloud app.
    • If Photoshop is open while you copied and pasted the downloaded plugins into the Plugins folder, you will need to close the program and restart it.
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    Select the tools required to use the plugins you installed.
    • For example, if you installed brush style plugins, use the Brush tool to test the styles you’ve installed.
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Method 2
Method 2 of 2:

Using the Creative Cloud App

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    It has a rainbow-colored icon with the Creative Cloud logo in the middle. Click the Creative Cloud logo in the Windows Start menu or in the Applications folder on Mac.
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    It's the last tab in the menu bar at the top of the Creative Cloud app.
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    It's the third-from-the-last tab in the secondary menu bar at the top of the Creative Cloud app.
    • Alternatively, you can open this page from within Photoshop. To do so, click Plugins in the menu bar at the top of Photoshop. Then click Browse Plugins in the drop-down menu.
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    If you know the name of the plugin you want to install, you can enter it in the search bar at the top and press Enter . Otherwise, you can browse plugins on the Plugins page.
    • To browse Photoshop plugins, click All Plugins in the menu bar to the left. Then click the checkbox next to "Photoshop."
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    Depending on the plugin you want to install, you will either need to click Get to install the plugin or Learn More to go to the plugin's information page.
    • Some plugins are free, while others require purchase. To buy a plugin, click Buy .
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    The plugin will now install in Adobe Photoshop.
    • If you install plugins using a personal Adobe account, you can use the plugins with a business account as well. However, if you install plugins using a business account, you will need to install them separately using a personal account in order to use them with a personal account. [1]
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      Tips

      • Plugins are created both by Adobe and by other users. You can download either one, but make sure that you’re downloading from a reliable source or website to avoid malware infection.
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      • Some plugins, especially patterns, may have copyrights. Contact its developer if you’re planning to use these plug-ins commercially.
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      • You can also buy and download fonts and stock photos from the Adobe Stock & Marketplace on the Creative Cloud app.
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      References

      1. ↑ https://helpx.adobe.com/creative-cloud/kb/installingextensionsandaddons.html

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