Frequently Asked Questions

These are some frequently asked questions about ProDigital Software and StarSpikes Pro 4. Check them out to see if any of them answer your question.

If your question still isn't answered, send us an eMail at Contact@ProDigitalSoftware.com.

How do I run StarSpikes Pro 4 once it is installed?

Because it is a filter plug-in, once you have an image open you can find StarSpikes Pro 4 in these places:

• From the Adobe® Photoshop® menu choose Filter > ProDigital Software > StarSpikes Pro 4...
• From the Corel® PaintShop™ Pro menu choose Effects > Plug-ins > ProDigital Software > StarSpikes Pro 4...
• From the CorelDRAW® PHOTO-PAINT™ menu choose Effects > ProDigital Software > StarSpikes Pro 4...
• In IrfanView, press Control K, then add the plug-in to the list. After that, choose StarSpikes Pro 4...

How can I make more effects show?

• Increase the Quantity control. In fact, to get familiar with all the controls we strongly recommend you just try them all to see what they do!
• You could use the Show (+) tool to reveal an effect on a star that's below the Quantity control threshold.
• Or you can choose the Edit (pencil) tool and double-click to add an effect where there is no detected star.

Can I add spikes or flare to only the stars I want?

Absolutely! Several different ways, in fact:

• The plug-in chooses stars on which to create effects (and how bright those effects should be) based on detected brightness and the Quantity setting you choose.
• You can hide specific effects (or groups of them) in the image by using the Hide (X) tool while running the plug-in.
• If effects on a star are not shown at a particular Quantity setting, you can make them show with the Show (+) tool.
• You can make a selection in your editor prior to running the plug-in and only the stars that are inside the selection will receive effects.

Can I adjust the effects or add some where no star was detected?

Yes! Using the Edit (pencil) tool:

• Click the tip of the pencil cursor once on the center of a set of effects to edit the brightness, color, and/or position.
• You can add effects in a place the plug-in has not detected a star by double-clicking the pencil on the location you'd like the effects to appear, then adjusting the brightness, color, and/or position.

Is StarSpikes Pro 4 the right plug-in for general photography?

If you are a photographer and looking for a plug-in to add star filter effects to your general photography images then you may be more interested in our StarFilter Pro product, which is similar to StarSpikes Pro 4 but optimized for general photography work.   Please click here to go to our StarFilter Pro main page.

How is the StarSpikes Pro plug-in different from the StarFilter Pro product?

StarSpikes Pro (the plug-in for astroimages) is highly optimized to detect the positions and sizes of stars in astronomical photos - to subpixel accuracy - as people often scrutinize such imagery very closely. It also goes to extra effort to differentiate stars from bright nebulae. StarSpikes Pro offers only what we term a "Standard Star" effect, in which the points are evenly distributed around the 360 degree circle (astronomers normally choose 4 points). Lastly, StarSpikes Pro renders a greater difference in effect intensity between bright and dim stars.

StarFilter Pro (our plug-in for general photography) is optimized to quickly find highlights in brighter images, and the plug-in renders large, visually significant effects. Besides Standard Star effects, StarFilter Pro also offers 7 additional effects: Star Burst, Hyper Star, Hollywood Star, North Star 1, North Star 2, Vector Star, and Religious Cross. Most of these match the effects available with glass filters for general photography.

Is StarSpikes Pro 4 compatible with Corel® PaintShop™ Pro?

Yes. We have crafted the StarSpikes Pro 4 plug-in to be compatible with any modern editor that supports Adobe® Photoshop® compatible 8BF style filter plug-ins.

What about PHOTO-PAINT™ from the CorelDRAW® Graphics Suite?

Yes. We have crafted the StarSpikes Pro 4 plug-in to be compatible with any modern editor that supports Adobe® Photoshop® compatible 8BF style filter plug-ins.

What about Corel® PhotoImpact®?

Yes. We have crafted the StarSpikes Pro 4 plug-in to be compatible with any modern editor that supports Adobe® Photoshop® compatible 8BF style filter plug-ins.

What about Computerinsel PhotoLine editor?

Yes. We have crafted the StarSpikes Pro 4 plug-in to be compatible with any modern editor that supports Adobe® Photoshop® compatible 8BF style filter plug-ins. Please note that our plug-in is only compatible with versions 7.55 and later. If you have an earlier version of PhotoLine, be sure to update before using StarSpikes Pro 4.

What about other editors such as Paint.NET, ACDSee, Affinity Photo, or IrfanView?

Yes. We have crafted the StarSpikes Pro 4 plug-in to be compatible with any modern editor that supports Adobe® Photoshop® compatible 8BF style filter plug-ins.

Do you take PayPal?

Yes, and credit cards. Look for the PayPal logo during the checkout process, after you have entered your name and other information.

Am I obligated to buy the software if I install it?

No, the free trial is completly obligation-free, and the plug-in is fully functional during the trial period. It will remind you once a day that you're running it in free trial mode. We're confident that once you see the dazzling effects that you can create with the plug-in you'll want to add it to your set of tools for making great images.