Filter Forge has announced a beta and pre-order availability of Filter Forge 2.0 (http://www.filterforge.com/download.beta2/), an update of the plug-in for Adobe Photoshop allowing computer artists to build their own filters: textures, visual effects, distortions, patterns, backgrounds, frames and more. Just remember: beta software is unfinished software, so use with care.

With the second version of the software. Filter Forge 2.0 will feature full support for unlimited HDR colors, shadows via ambient occlusion, point and area lights, and dozens of new components to create filters from. It's available for pre-order at a special price; pre-order customers can save up to US$170. The offer is valid until the commercial release of Filter Forge 2.0 which is planned for the second quarter of the year.

Filter Forge is a Photoshop plug-in that lets users create a variety of realistic and abstract textures and effects. Users can take instant advantage of over 7,100 free community-created filters in the online filter library at http://www.filterforge.com/filters/ or create their own filters in the visual filter editor by assembling them from components such as blurs, gradients, color adjustments, noises, distortions, or blends.