Plugins - How To Create

[TXShooter]

I've been using PSP 8.0 for a few years now, and have VERY recently updated to X3 because it was affordable. I'll be looking towards X6 once I get a new laptop. My current one overheats way too easily, particularly when processing video files, but that's a conversation for another place, another day.

One of the things that I was introduced to in 8.0 was the 8bf Plugin Feature. I find these tools to be invaluable in the creation of my graphics. However, those were mostly trials, or they did very little on their own (simple shading / color blending / etc.)... one tool at a time type of thing. My cousin had Alien Skin's "Eye Candy" V6 on his setup and I found a trial of this, and I really love it! Problem is though that it's outside of my budget to purchase the now Version 7 release, so it got me to wondering...

How does one go about creating plugins in the 8bf format? What tools are needed to accomplish this? How difficult is it to create, test, and install a plugin?

I've tried to Google this subject, but mostly I'm finding either where to purchase them, or how to install them... nothing about creating them. I think that I read somewhere that these are mostly created in C++. Does it have to be straight C++, or can MS Visual Studio be used? (I have access to VS2008 and have some experience programming, not much, but maybe enough to get me going in the right direction, if that's how these plugins are created.)

Any pointers would be greatly appreciated!


BTW, I did perform a search in the forums for the keywords "create plugin" in the PSP sub-folders, but didn't find anything relevant to my query.

[LeviFiction]

I have never been good at C++ and my last attempt to build the base plugin failed as a result of my lack of knowledge.

However, since plugins in PSP are Photoshop plugins a quick search for programming photoshop plugins revealed this - http://www.photoshoproadmap.com/Photosh ... p-plugins/

And of course there is Adobe's own site where you will download the SDK from.

[TXShooter]

I have never been good at C++ and my last attempt to build the base plugin failed as a result of my lack of knowledge.

However, since plugins in PSP are Photoshop plugins a quick search for programming photoshop plugins revealed this - http://www.photoshoproadmap.com/Photosh ... p-plugins/

And of course there is Adobe's own site where you will download the SDK from.

Hmmm... looks like this is going to be a challenge putting code 'A' and code '...T' in with proggies 'U...Y' in order to come out with plugin 'Z', and there doesn't seem to be much documentation about the 8bf format either (at least very little that I've found thus far).