how do you get the effect of sun rays coming through the clouds? also, how do you use plugin effects, textures, etc.? do i have to put them in a certain folder?

Most of these are best answered through tutorials. Here is a rather extensive tutorial that includes rays, but if that doesn't satisfy you can always run a search on google. Often times, you pick up subconsciuos tips that really help even if the majority of the tutoprial blows you by. I hipe you have a good deal of free time. :-)

thankyou!

As far as plugins go, I recall you have to have some third party app. installed on your PC before they will work (it does tell you this somewhere). I remember thinking I wouldn't really need it for some reason, but the plugins didn't work until I installed it. Sorry for being so vague. Personally I am not using plugins at the mo' and really don't think they are necessary unless you are seeking a particular feature to your image. It's much better to concentrate on getting the basics right first, before trying to use that other fancy stuff.

how do u get sunrays that are not overpowering but still very pronounced? i'll get a landscape i like then i'll mess with the sky and get really good sun rays. i'll render landscape and sky together, but the sun rays will be covered up by the landscape. i'll mess around with the clouds, sun, etc. but i still won't get the sun rays to go where i want them to. help anyone?!

I usually tweak the shadows. Go into background light in the Sun adjustment.....change the shadow lightness by reducing it. Fiddling about with it gets the right effect of sun rays. Try moving the sun around, or increasing the effect of the atmosphere if that doesn't work.

You can also try increasing the height of the sky which will allow you to see more of the sky that is usually hidden behind the horizon; increasing the height of the camera position can also help in this regard, but both methods are tricky as you often end up seeing where the sky ends (ie a big black line/void)

Then you have to consider fiddling with the landscape/sea levels. There is a fair bit of trial and error involved in it, and it changes depending on the image you are doing.

how do you install plugins for photoshop?