Well I went for it! Here's a brief reaction to my first use.
Right off the top, PathStyler Pro is a great plugin. It operates on a work path so you can type some text and then use Layer > Type > Create Work Path. Of course you can always use Shapes or the Pen Tool to draw a work path as well.
Once you have a work path, make a new layer and launch PSPro. The plugin is extremely logical and well thought out although it's interface is unique. Within two hours of experimentation and reading the manual all the abilities are at your finger tips although there are infinite results possible.
Every aspect of the program is easily modified (gloss, color, transparency, relfection, highlights, shadows, four lights with 3D attributes and on and on...). It is a snap to add textures. Unlike one of my old favorites, SuperBlade Pro, you can comprehend the results of your manipulations in advance...every time. Effects applied to a unique layer in Photoshop can be defined to be editable in the future after closing and opening the file again. While styles do this, I don't believe any other Photoshop plugin provides live effect functionality. You can use alpha channels as bump maps for textures, loading separate files isn't necessary.
While this is an excellent plugin for Photoshop, what's more amazing is that the Illustrator version creates identical effects! It's unreal.
In the two little sample images I created to tout the possibilities, I used two different techniques. The metal PSG was done on three separate Photoshop layers and a bit of PS Styles were added after the render. The three color one was done on three layers at one time within PathStyler Pro. Great fun!
