PHOTOSHOP
SOFTWARE DEVELOPMENT TOOLKIT
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTION
1. Introduction...............................................................................................................................................................2
2. SDK............................................................................................................................................................................2
2.1. What is an SDK? ..........................................................................................................................................2
2.2. Where can I get an SDK?............................................................................................................................2
2.3. What is an API?............................................................................................................................................2
2.4. What is a plug-in?........................................................................................................................................2
2.5. Why should I write a plug-in?....................................................................................................................2
2.6. How do I make a plug-in?............................................................................................................................2
3. Photoshop SDK.......................................................................................................................................................2
3.1. Photoshop API.............................................................................................................................................2
3.1.1. What is the Photoshop API?.............................................................................................................2
3.1.2. What can I do with the Photoshop API?.........................................................................................2
3.1.2.1. What are Import plug-in modules?..........................................................................................2
3.1.2.2. What are Export plug-in modules?...........................................................................................2
3.1.2.3. What are File Format plug-in modules?..................................................................................3
3.1.2.4. What are Filter plug-in modules?.............................................................................................3
3.1.2.5. What are Selection plug-in modules?......................................................................................3
3.1.2.6. What are Color Picker plug-in modules?.................................................................................3
3.1.2.7. What are Automation plug-in modules?.................................................................................3
3.1.3. What can I not do with the Photoshop API?..................................................................................3
3.1.4. Why does my plug-in not show up?................................................................................................3
3.1.4.1. Your plug-in is not in the proper place....................................................................................3
3.1.4.2. Your plug-in does not have the correct extension or type/creator.....................................3
3.1.4.3. Your plug-in does not have a PiPL. .........................................................................................3
3.1.4.4. Your plug-in does not have an ENTRYPOINT/PluginMain................................................3
3.1.4.5. Why does Photoshop crash?...................................................................................................4
3.2. Windows-specific issues ............................................................................................................................4
3.2.1. Cnvtpipl and Resource (Rez) files.....................................................................................................4
3.2.1.1. What is a Resource (Rez) file?..................................................................................................4
3.2.1.2. What is CnvtPiPL? .....................................................................................................................4
3.2.1.3. What resource types does Cnvtpipl understand?................................................................4
3.2.1.4. Do I need a custom build step in my project to make this work?........................................4
3.2.1.5. What is the specific custom build process for rez files?......................................................4
3.2.1.6. How do I see these settings?....................................................................................................4
4. Filter Modules...........................................................................................................................................................4
4.1. How do I preview my effect in the original document window? ...........................................................4
4.2. How do I have a live preview instead of a proxy preview?....................................................................4
4.3. Can I write/read from other layers?............................................................................................................4
4.4. Can I get the number of layers of the current image?.............................................................................4
4.5. Can I generate a new layer? ........................................................................................................................4
5. Automation Modules ...............................................................................................................................................5
5.1. How do I construct an event correctly? This “Actions Event Guide” is confusing..........................5
5.2. What is Listener?..........................................................................................................................................5
5.3. What if it is not in the Listener log file?....................................................................................................5
5.4. How do I get the number of open documents?........................................................................................5
5.5. How do I get other information?................................................................................................................5
6. Discussion mailing list..........................................................................................................................................5
6.1. What is the discussion mailing list?..........................................................................................................5
6.2. How do I subscribe to the discussion list?..............................................................................................5
