Lots of good plug-ins have emerged in the last few months:

• Alien Skin has unveiled Image Doctor 2.0, a set of tools that tackle a variety of retouching tasks.  The Smart Fill feature in particular promises some nifty results (roll over the image).  They’re offering a 10-20% discount via PhotoshopSupport.com.  More info is in their press release.
• Nik Software has announced the new Color Efex Pro 3.0.  Offering “52 filters and over 250 effects,” the software’s U Point control system “lets you identify and isolate objects within a photograph by placing a Control Point on the object or area to be affected.”  I got to see it in action at PhotoPlus this fall, and it does look cool indeed. [Update: Get a discount & learn more via photographer/instructor Moose Peterson. [Via]]
• The guys behind Filter Forge, the visual editor for creating your own Photoshop filters, have announced Filter Forge Freepack 1, “a set of seven photorealistic metal textures and effects.”  They plan to release seven Freepacks over the course of the coming year; see details.
• Mr. Retro is now offering Vol. I-IV of their Machine Wash image filters in a single bundle for $49.95. [Via]  These filters came in for some love in designer Cameron Moll’s well-known series on “That Wicked Worn Look.”
• onOne Software (publishers of numerous former Extensis products) have announced that their plug-ins are now Leopard-compatible.  The goods include Genuine Fractals, Mask Pro, PhotoFrame, PhotoFrame, Intellihance Pro, and PhotoTools.
• Pixels Vistas’ PhotoLift plug-in adjusts local contrast in images.  According to developer Matthew Hollingworth, it’s “like ‘clarity’ in Adobe
  Camera Raw, but on steroids.”  The plug-in is Windows-only for now, with a Mac version on the way.