Thanks Victoria and Speedler for the info.  Now if i could just find some good PS CS2 training DVD's or books that show step by step how to use filters to get the effects and colors I want.  There are so many options and settings that it looks like it will take quite a while to get what I am looking for.  What would be cool is a gallery book of impressive visual effects images like the ones I'm looking for with each image accompanied by the step by step process taken to reproduce each one.  Something that would show every setting, dial, slider, brush, layer, etc. used to recreate the image.