Adobe Photoshop and CS

[geetey]

I took this picture while zipping along the TTA in Magic Kingdom. My sister wants a poster sized print but wants the dark ledge overhead taken out. (I agree). However, when I try cropping, I can't keep the correct ratio without having some of the ledge in the picture or without the castle being too far to the left.

If anyone would like to take a shot or offer a suggestion as to how they think the image should be cropped or improved? I would love to see it! I know I need to work on my photoshop skills.

http://i52.photobucket.com/albums/g13/geetey/Disney/IMG_0692.jpg

[Anewman]

I took this picture while zipping along the TTA in Magic Kingdom. My sister wants a poster sized print but wants the dark ledge overhead taken out. (I agree). However, when I try cropping, I can't keep the correct ratio without having some of the ledge in the picture or without the castle being too far to the left.

If anyone would like to take a shot or offer a suggestion as to how they think the image should be cropped or improved? I would love to see it! I know I need to work on my photoshop skills.


If you use the crop tool in photoshop enter the ratio you want to print at in the toolbar but leave DPI blank(to avoid resampling), you will now keep the exact ratio as you crop.


What would I do?

I would do a little cropping and a little cloning(using patch tool). I will give you an example after I get home, Have a 6pm meeting(Pacific time) and I have no photoshop here.

[Sonno]

All you want is the black blurb removed?
5 mins... brb...

[indigoxtreme]

Here is one example for you i used the Kodak kit

http://i18.photobucket.com/albums/b120/indigoxtreme/IMG_0692castle06-07.jpg

[JR6ooo4]

Ya, don't crop. Add the sky in where the black ledge is. Sky is one of the easiest texture to clone.
Let us see what sonno comes back with.
Mikeeee

ok Sonno cropped it. I was thinking in another direction.

[Sonno]

http://www.oldtimersguild.com/testbb/junk/IMG_0692 copy.jpg

Thankfully the corner vignetting was equal on both sides. It's a little blurry though... lemme mess with this some more...

[JR6ooo4]

I took this picture while zipping along the TTA in Magic Kingdom. My sister wants a poster sized print but wants the dark ledge overhead taken out. (I agree). However, when I try cropping, I can't keep the correct ratio without having some of the ledge in the picture or without the castle being too far to the left.

If anyone would like to take a shot or offer a suggestion as to how they think the image should be cropped or improved? I would love to see it! I know I need to work on my photoshop skills.

http://i52.photobucket.com/albums/g13/geetey/Disney/IMG_0692.jpg


ok Sonno cropped it. I was thinking in another direction.

I cloned out the ledge, then lightened the foreground with a very rough selection. I think I like your original dark version better. But what do you think of the cloning. Leaving the image full size makes the scene more massive.

http://mnmstudios.smugmug.com/photos/74095945-L.jpg

Mikeeee

[Sonno]

http://www.oldtimersguild.com/testbb/junk/IMG_0692 copy2.jpg

There ya go :D

[Kelly Grannell]

These are my interpretations of your pictures. Which one do you like most? I may be able to do it for you (if you provide me with the high-res file).

original
http://i15.photobucket.com/albums/a372/sapiendut/Interpretations/interpretation1.jpg

dusk-effect
http://i15.photobucket.com/albums/a372/sapiendut/Interpretations/interpretation2.jpg

silhouette effect
http://i15.photobucket.com/albums/a372/sapiendut/Interpretations/interpretation3.jpg

silhouette effect with dusk effect
http://i15.photobucket.com/albums/a372/sapiendut/Interpretations/interpretation4.jpg

[JR6ooo4]

I like:


silhouette effect
http://i15.photobucket.com/albums/a372/sapiendut/Interpretations/interpretation3.jpg



Were those all the one click adjustments?
Mikeeee

[Kelly Grannell]

no, this time it actually took me about 10 minutes to do them all

[keagansmom]

I have a question for all of you who use photoshop and other digital developing software. What version do you use and why do you like/dislike it. I'm thinking of purchasing a software program but I leary of "breaking the bank".

Thanks for all of your help! :teeth:

[YEKCIM]

At present, I'm still using Picasa, freeware available from Google, but considering moving up to either Photoshop Elements 4 or Microsoft Digital Image Suite 2006. A trial version is available on both of those, if you want to try them out. It appears to me that PS is more comprehensive, but DI is a little easier to figure out. Also, PS is a big program, and takes a while to load, and runs slowly, at least on my Dell 4300S. Have not tried it on my home PC, which is a much more powerful rig.

~YEKCIM

[MICKEY88]

I am a big fan of Paint SHop Pro X it will basically do everything that photo shop does, for a lot less money, and the learning curve is easier....


you can download a 30 day free trial from corel.

or right now you can buy it from amazon, and get it for 29 dollars after rebates...

[boBQuincy]

I use Photoshop, it is the industry standard, has the most support (plug-ins, actions, etc.) and offers the most features.

Photoshop also has the steepest learning curve and I highly suggest at least one class (local community college) to get to know even the basics.

My needs may be greater than some, I use mostly RAW and process the images a lot with Photoshop (as opposed to JPG which is processed in the camera). I use layers and layer masks, gradients, blurs, sharpening, effects, paths, and noise reduction, all of which run within Photoshop.

If you really need all this there is probably no substitute but it is expensive and time consuming, I won't gloss over those points. If you are in school and can get the educational version it is a bargain, the only limitation is you are not supposed to use it for profit.
Profit? What's that? ;)


boB

[Sonno]

Photoshop CS2.
I reckon I'll be using it until CS3 comes out.

[Kelly Grannell]

or get the reviewer's full version of Photoshop Elements 4 for $20 through my connection.

[Marinerbaby]

I use CS2 which I love. I use layers and more layers so photoshop is the way to go. I use a lot of RAW images and photoshop will process them without a problem. I also love the cloning and healing tools. They are fantastic for baby drool and bumps and bruises.

[Anewman]

Been using the Photoshop series since about 5.0(could have been 4.0).

I purchased a hard drive many years ago that came with Photoshop 5.0 LE for free, and I have been hooked ever since.

I would pay the full price for ACR alone, even though I now feel that CAPTURE ONE PRO delivers better detail from raw files. Raw processing is the real deal, even Canon states(on their training page) "Image processing with a personal computer yields higher image quality than with the camera's internal processing."

[Deedee]

I use photoshop elements 4.0 it does everything i need to do.

[YEKCIM]

or get the reviewer's full version of Photoshop Elements 4 for $20 through my connection.

Ummm...a little more details on this "offer", please, Kelly...?

Thanks,

~YEKCIM

[pyrxtc]

I use photoshop also. I started with 5.0 and now use 7.0. I actually have CS2 but don't like it as much. It offerd nothig that I used that wasn't already in 7.0

[Kelly Grannell]

Ummm...a little more details on this "offer", please, Kelly...?

Thanks,

~YEKCIM

you got PM.

[majimikate]

I use Photoshop Elements 4.0. The learning curve is steep, but it's a great program. Taking a class (or at least getting a better instructional manual than the one that came with it :badpc:) , are in my immediate future. But, all things considered, it's a fantastic program with amazing capability for my novice needs. And Kelly, I paid $75 (US) for mine :furious: !!!!

Good luck!
Chris

[Kelly Grannell]

Quite honestly I feel even at $75, it's worth the money. Of course if it's $20, it's REALLY worth the money.

[Charade]

or get the reviewer's full version of Photoshop Elements 4 for $20 through my connection.

:confused3

[Charade]

I've been using PS since version 2.5. I now have CS2. I've tried a lot of others but always come back to PS. While others may have a lot more automated "fixes", most lack the fine control and other features that PS has.

[keagansmom]

Thanks for all the info so far! So, this may be a dumb question, but what exaclty is the difference between the photoshop Elements 4.0 and the pro-version? I already have a program that came with my camera that will do your basic color adjustments, but I'm looking for something a little more advanced. Thanks again!!!

[RadioNate]

I have both Elements and CS2. Elements does everything I need and more. Elements is a scaled down version but for the general home user it is pleantly. To someone who doesn't know Photoshop the main difference is more than $500.

If you are looking for something 'a little more advanced' Elements will be pleanty.

Photoshop would fall into the way more advanced catagory.

[jann1033]

I've been using PS since version 2.5. I now have CS2. I've tried a lot of others but always come back to PS. While others may have a lot more automated "fixes", most lack the fine control and other features that PS has.

agree... not an authority but i found on the corel ( trial version at least) the quick fixes looked worse than the pre processed picture lots of times( like i said could be I didn't know what i was doing but clicking one single button is usually within my realm of "expertise" ;)

[Kelly Grannell]

jann, you sound like me. I'm a 'click-one-button' type of person too. But I have my reason behind it... I'm too dumb to remember all the other stuff. :)

[keagansmom]

Thanks for all your help guys! I purchased the photoshop elements 4.0. I've used adobe products in the past for work (graphic design stuff) so I'm somewhat familiar with the name brand. I'm sure I'll be asking a whole bunch of dumb questions later :teeth:

[ThinkTink510]

I just got Adobe Photoshop and i am having trouble trying to figure out how to make a picture black and white with one certain thing in color?

If anyone could help I would greatly appreciate it.

[tolookaa5]

I can't do it either. I tried following directions from online sites but I always get stuck!! :confused3 Hope someone gives you and I some easy directions. :thumbsup2 Thanks for the question.

[Anewman]

Simple steps
1. Open an Image
2. Duplicate the background layer(goto Window/layers/right click and select duplicate)
3. lower Saturation(goto Image/adjustments/hue/saturation/slide saturation to all the way left).
4. Select an Eraser from the tool and erase what you would like to be in color.
DONE.

[ThinkTink510]

Thank you thank you thank you!

[Dznefreek]

1) Open Image
2) Click Image, Adjustments, Desaturate
3) Click on History brush and paint back in the areas you want to be color.
4) Press Ctrl+- or Ctrl++ to zoom in or out to feather edges Use a #3 on the brush size
5) Save as a copy
6) Answer "NO" to the question save changes to original. Now you have the original and your new image saved.

[miss missy]

Simple steps
1. Open an Image
2. Duplicate the background layer(goto Window/layers/right click and select duplicate)
3. lower Saturation(goto Image/adjustments/hue/saturation/slide saturation to all the way left).
4. Select an Eraser from the tool and erase what you would like to be in color.
DONE.

for step 3 I just use desaturate. as always also make another dupt layer of the photo untouched... makes it easier to grab when u mess up.

Layers are your friend!!!!

[miss missy]

1) Open Image
2) Click Image, Adjustments, Desaturate
3) Click on History brush and paint back in the areas you want to be color.
4) Press Ctrl+- or Ctrl++ to zoom in or out to feather edges Use a #3 on the brush size
5) Save as a copy
6) Answer "NO" to the question save changes to original. Now you have the original and your new image saved.

just saw this... I have another hint... always listen to Dzne who has the best pics ever!!!!!!!!

[MOmousefan]

Here is the easy way I learned to do it.

http://www.betterphoto.com/forms/Discussiondetail.asp?threadID=156746

[pyrxtc]

a better way to do it and then you don't have to go back into history to erase any mistakes.

Duplicate layer by clicking on the turned triangle on the layers pallet
go to Image, adjustments, desaturate
Go back over to the layers pallet and click on the small square with the circle inside it on the bottom.
use your paintbrush set to black to paint in what you want in color, if you paint something by mistake, then you just switch to white and paint over it again and you are all set!

[tolookaa5]

Thank you for all your help. It is very easy but WOW!! time consuming.
Here is a trial run:
http://i22.photobucket.com/albums/b343/tolookaa/hdltest.jpg

[JR6ooo4]

Niiiice!

Mikeeee

[KarenAylwood]

I recently bought a Sony H5 and absolutely love it- have been taking a ton of pictures lately and am really getting into it. The software that came with it allows you to saturate/unsaturate and change the brightness/sharpness. I have another program that allows me to zoom/crop but I really want to do more.

I looked up Photoshop because I saw on the Photoshop vs paintshop thread that it really is the ultimate in software.. but almost 600 DOLLARS? Are they kidding? Is it really worth that?? I mean, heck- that's more than I paid for my camera!

I'd love to play around in an editing program and I'm not afraid to read up and learn the software, but is the old version of photoshop just as good?

Pretty much I'm asking- is this worth the money, and is there something out there almost equal in features that might be a more economical option?

I know the earlier thread had some other recommendations but I don't want to just crop and remove red eye from Disney pics.

TIA! :)

[alan]

Well, it's a professional tool. Why not try the downloadable free trial of Photoshop Elements - it's got a lot of what Photoshop can do, with pretty much the same user interface, but at a fraction of the price.

regards,
/alan

[eeyoreiscool]

We have Photoshop Elements and find that it does everthing that we need and more. I think I bought it bundled with Premiere Elements and it was less than $100.

[caniswolfie]

I agree that Photoshop is really expensive, but it does have a ton of features and potential (with plugins, etc.). However you might look into Photoshop Elements to start out if you are just trying things out and learning. It has a lot of the basic features of photoshop and can ease you into learning about their software.

When I say basic features, I mean most of the ones I would use as a newbie. I'm not sure what features in the full photoshop I would need/use that isn't in Elements. Perhaps someone could comment on that.

The other thing is that if you do get your hands on a copy of photoshop once for the full price, you can pay the upgrade price thereafter and it's much more manageable.

[PoohJen]

Reviews of Photoshop Elements 4.0 seem very negative; folks seem to recommend v3 instead.

Can you be creative with Elements (for instance, change colors, add captions), or is it more for catelogueing and general light fixes, cropping, etc?

[JR6ooo4]

I have an older version, PS7. It was eligable for the CS2 upgrade. $150 at best Buy and they are never the cheapest. You can get someones old PS7 on ebay for cheap.

But elements does a considerable amount. Especialy with the "Hidden elements" book and CD.

Mikeeee

[Sonno]

Yep, Photoshop is expensive. And if graphic arts is your thing, it's worth every last single penny!

[alan]

Can you be creative with Elements (for instance, change colors, add captions), or is it more for catelogueing and general light fixes, cropping, etc?

You can do a LOT with Elements. Here's an example:

http://www.thepotters.pwp.blueyonder.co.uk/temp/KMK-1_copy.jpg

I've blurred the background (some of the performers were under 16), then chagned the image size and added the caption. In another version, I changed my dance partner's skirt to be lilac, but the original blue was better. All of this in Elements 4.

Elements 3 allowed something called "actions", which can be useful, but 4 has other useful things like simple-to-use redeye reduction. Nothing's perfect, I suppose.

regards,
/alan

[manning]

For everyday nonprofessional photography Elements is enough.

A few years ago I bought a camera from a major manufacturer and they had an offer on the professional version for half price. I passed on it. Couldn't justify the cost. Elements does everything I want it to do.

[jann1033]

depends on how computer savey you are but i think photoshop is hard to learn...eventually i want to purchase one of the elements but right now have arcsoft and nero( like nero a little better as it has a noise fix right in it) both of which have layers so i can break into a more detailed shop gradually...so far they are able to do what i want( i however can't do what i want but that is another story.) arcsoft came with my camera, nero came with my lightscribe dvd burner so don't know the prices

[Sonno]

I'm going to have to check out Elements. I know I don't use everything in PS CS2, and I really don't want to buy CS3 when it comes out if I don't have to. If Elements will suit my needs, I'll gladly make the switch.

Anyone know how it handles compositing?

[PoohJen]

In another version, I changed my dance partner's skirt to be lilac, but the original blue was better. All of this in Elements 4.


That be you, Alan?! Very handsome!

Janet, yeah, arc soft came w/ my xt too, but doesn't seem to have creative stuff, like making pic b&w and then coloring one aspect. However, I have't really explored it in depth yet.

[Kelly Grannell]

If you can get your hands on the reviewer's version of PSE 4, it's only US$20.

as far as Photoshop goes, well movie posters, DVD menu, DVD covers, they all are made using Photoshop, so yeah, it's the ultimate and de-facto standard in the industry.

[jann1033]

That be you, Alan?! Very handsome!

Janet, yeah, arc soft came w/ my xt too, but doesn't seem to have creative stuff, like making pic b&w and then coloring one aspect. However, I have't really explored it in depth yet.

i don't know about the selective coloring thing...i'm still trying to figure out how to work with a stinking layer...hence no need for me to spend more money at this time :rotfl: :rotfl: :rotfl: :rotfl: i started reading the instruction manual a couple days ago and realized i couldn't get the clone to work cause i was hitting "space click" ( for days) instead of "shift click."..way to much air between my ears

[KarenAylwood]

Thanks for all the replies. I'm going to look into Photoshop Elements- does anyone know if version 3 or 4 is better? I know PoohJen said the reviews weren't so good for 4, but the few websites I looked at rated it higher than 3.

I'll have to do some more research. I think Photoshop is a little over my head (and my wallet) ;)

[disneyfreakjackie]

Thanks guys ... it was my dd who is the OP!! I have been DYING to learn how to do this and now I can!!! I am SO excited!!! :thumbsup2

Boy does it cramp up your hand and almost makes you go blind!!! ... but I LOVE the results!! :cool1:

Only thing is ... there's not enough hours in the day for all this playing!!!

Well, off to see my guy JON BON JOVI!!!

[alan]

Anyone know how it handles compositing?

Hi,

By "compositing" do you mean blending multiple images into one?

If so then it's not bad. You do have layer blending modes, you do have graduated fills to transparent, you do have layer masks.

http://thepotters.pwp.blueyonder.co.uk/temp/elements_blending_modes.png

You do NOT have quick mask mode. You do have a "magic extractor".

In other fields, you do have a very effective red-eye reducer and a much simpler straighten tool where you tell the program what should be a horizontal or vertical line, and it rotates and optionally crops the image appropriately.

You do not have actions. You do not have curves, though a third-party plugin has now provided that. You do not have scripting.

Not sure what else to say,

regards,
/alan

[alan]

That be you, Alan?! Very handsome!

:blush: Why thank you!

Anyone wanting to try the program out for a month or so can download the fully-functional trial from adobe; go to

http://www.adobe.com/products/photoshopelwin/tryout.html

regards,
/alan

(almost finished PPing day 1 of my holiday snaps - how many pictures can I possibly have taken in an airport?)

[miss missy]

Yes it is fun huh!!

The pic came out great too! Congrats!

[miss missy]

Thank you for all your help. It is very easy but WOW!! time consuming.
Here is a trial run:
http://i22.photobucket.com/albums/b343/tolookaa/hdltest.jpg

Love it!!!!

[PoohJen]

Very cool! Can this be done on Photoshop Elements too, or just Photoshop? :confused3

[JR6ooo4]

It can be done in almost any photo editing program. But there are different ways to do it. Some methods require a more advanced program.
Mikeeee

[tolookaa5]

Thank you Miss Missy!! I am so glad to be able to do this now!! Love It!! :love:

[OCSurfCity]

I use Photo Shop 7.0 and it serves me well for my needs. I create and sell Little League baseball photo collages.

[Miller1412]

How did you ever learn this program? I am so completely overwhelmed!! I switched to a Mac and had to give up my SO easy to use Digital Image Pro and I am just lost with photoshop!

Any tips for making this easier to learn?

[boBQuincy]

http://ed2go.com/
has some good Photoshop courses that are available online from many community colleges. It's a good way to learn the basics of Photoshop.

myjanee.com has a lot of really good tutorials on Photoshop and Janee is a lot of fun (look for her photo of ducks at Beach Club).

[boBQuincy]

Btw, I am not a Photoshop expert, just an advanced user (after about 8 years and three classes).

[Miller1412]

Thanks for the site, I'll check it out.

You're scaring me! It really takes that long to learn? :guilty:

[boBQuincy]

It's not that bad, like most of photography it's a short time to learn the basics, a lifetime to learn the rest. :)

[PoohJen]

Thanks for the link Alan! I look forward to trying that!

[Dan Murphy]

I have had Elements 2, 3 and now 4, each is better than the previous, IMO. Good program.

[jann1033]

budget tip for photshop...you can get a video professor software tutor for it...i got it when i signed up for something(?) for $7...unfortunately after my free ps trial was over but if i ever get it i'll be ready..it seems pretty detailed and you use it along with the program

[miss missy]

i don't know about the selective coloring thing...i'm still trying to figure out how to work with a stinking layer...hence no need for me to spend more money at this time :rotfl: :rotfl: :rotfl: :rotfl: i started reading the instruction manual a couple days ago and realized i couldn't get the clone to work cause i was hitting "space click" ( for days) instead of "shift click."..way to much air between my ears

My sis taught me photoshop... 1st thing she taught me was... LAYERS ARE YOUR FRIEND!!! True for sure!!

[minmaui]

I got Photosuite 5.5 with my Canon A610 camera. You can color select a photo. Open up the photo, now copy and paste the photo...you now have 2 layers. Go to hue, saturation and change layer 2 which is your open layer to black/white by desaturating. Now go to tools and choose erase (the pencil) and erase out the b/w on the areas you wanted colored...voila you now have a color selected photo. Just save as jpeg and you're good to go...

[15minfromOGDL]

Donning on Flame Retardant Suit...

Bring out the GIMP! Open source software that is sometimes referred to as "Photoshop Free point O". Has layers, creative filters and downloadable plug-ins just like the big boy. Just Google it - the GIMP.

[0bli0]

GIMP is great and it's available on pretty much all platforms. it's not as pretty as others, but it's got 75% of the functionality.

[Binkrin]

I know this isn't a photo question, but it has to do with photoshop and you guys know more about photoshop than anyone I can ask. Is there any way to take something and make it a brush or a stamp? Like a Mickey Mouse head outline? :confused3

Thanks!!

[aliwolly]

I know this isn't a photo question, but it has to do with photoshop and you guys know more about photoshop than anyone I can ask. Is there any way to take something and make it a brush or a stamp? Like a Mickey Mouse head outline? :confused3

Thanks!!

Hi there!

Here are the steps I take...

1. I create a new file with a white background.
2. I create a new layer (I click the little button on the Layers window - see red arrow) and paste the image that I want to create a brush of into that new layer.
http://aliwolly.com/images/brushscreen1.jpg
3. I hold ctrl and click on the layer that I pasted into in the layer window - that selects just my image that I want to make into a brush.
4. I click Edit, Define Brush Preset. A window pops up where I can name my brush.
http://aliwolly.com/images/brushscreen2.jpg
5. I open the file that I'd like to use my brush in and select the brush tool. I click on the brushes tab of the options window and select my brush.
http://aliwolly.com/images/brushscreen3.jpg
6. I can now use my brush like normal on any image!
http://aliwolly.com/images/brushscreen4.jpg

Have fun... and if I wasn't clear enough, you should be able to find a bunch of great tutorials by google-ing "create brush photoshop". :)

[Binkrin]

Sounds clear enough, and thank you so much for the visual aids :thumbsup2

I can't wait to get home from work so I can try this! :banana:

[Terk-1]

Am looking to invest in this software and was wondering how difficult it is to use. My new pc came with a sample of Corel Draw, but I did not care for that software. Is Adobe Photoshop 4.0 a good software for photos?

[jann1033]

i just bought it on eBay so am no expert but so far i like it better by far than corel( had free trial of that) or the Nero or arc soft programs i got with my DVD burner and camera..it seems easy to use although i have not really played with it that much(...like just basic cloning etc, no layering stuff yet.) it's way easier than the big photo shop( had free trial of that also and thought i would lose my mind using it :rotfl2: )

i really like the photoorganizer set up so far too and it tells you when you should backup your pics( i have a tendency to forget to)

[Rascal1003]

Assuming you mean Photoshop Elements 4, yes, it will have everything you will ever need.
If you have not experienced the Phooshop software before, why not look at saving a bit of money and go for Elements 3 or even 2. They have loads and loads of great features that are taken from the professional versions of Photoshop.

[aunt kelly]

I purchased Photoshop Elements 4 a few months ago, and I really like it. It is amazing what you can do on it. I use it to edit photos and to do digital scrapbooking.

I am pretty bad about not reading instructions. I like to try and figure out how things work on my own. I have found that this program is not intuitive (at least for me) and I had to buy a "how-to" book to use it. I bought Photoshop Elements for Dummies-Just the Steps. With the help of the book, I've been able to figure out how to do just about everything I've wanted to do.

I did find that it was really time consuming editing each and every photo. Now I really pick and choose which ones I edit.

[jann1033]

hey aunt kelly that book sounds right up my alley...in the mean time....tell me, is there any way to get a bunch of photos in the photobrowser into the editor or do you have to click on one, edit it , close it, click on the next in photo browser repeat repeat ...i am figuring since there is the photo bin across the bottom of the editor there must be a way to fill it but can't find that little tidbit anywhere if there is...
thanks

[letsgoagainsoon]

I am a graphic designer and use the full blown version of Photoshop. However, as others have said all you probably need is Photoshop Elements. I think you will be able to do everything you would ever need with Elements. The full version may be a little overwhelming...

[Cyrano]

I've Photoshop loaded but still need to learn how to use it :)

[Jeanne B]

i just bought it on eBay so am no expert but so far i like it better by far than corel( had free trial of that) or the Nero or arc soft programs i got with my DVD burner and camera..it seems easy to use although i have not really played with it that much(...like just basic cloning etc, no layering stuff yet.) it's way easier than the big photo shop( had free trial of that also and thought i would lose my mind using it :rotfl2: )

i really like the photoorganizer set up so far too and it tells you when you should backup your pics( i have a tendency to forget to)

What is there in particular that you like so much more about Photoshop vs Corel? I can't decide which one to buy although I can by Paint Shop Pro X on Amazon right now for just $22 after a $50 rebate (actually $12 because I have a $10 Amazon gift certificate). I haven't come across any good deals on Photoshop and I hate waiting for rebates but I'm very tempted to buy Paint Shop at this price.

[Belle's Mom Tink]

Does Photoshop elements have the History Brush so you can make photos black and white and then color in a part of the picture? A friend of mine has the all out version, provided for her work as a graphic designer, and she does some amazing things with the history brush. She offered to help me with any pics I have but if the elements version has this tool then I would much rather be able to do it myself whenever I want. Do any other programs have a tool like this? Thanks for the help!

[Anewman]

Does Photoshop elements have the History Brush so you can make photos black and white and then color in a part of the picture? A friend of mine has the all out version, provided for her work as a graphic designer, and she does some amazing things with the history brush. She offered to help me with any pics I have but if the elements version has this tool then I would much rather be able to do it myself whenever I want. Do any other programs have a tool like this? Thanks for the help!

I do not use Elements(use CS2), but I am sure it allows you to make selective color images. The history brush method is not the only way to produce such images so I can not say for sure that it is part of ELEMENTS, just sure that I have seen many selective color images from elements users.

[jann1033]

i downloaded the freebie tryout but do not really know if it's worth the upgrade or not. any opinions of what you think would seal the deal either way?

[AZ JazzyJ]

If we are talking Photoshop rather than Photoshop Elements then both version 4 and 5 are extremely old (in terms of software release). Currently Adobe is selling Photoshop CS2 which is equivalent to version 8. They are working on the next release which I would expect to be available after the first of the year (according to the little software elves who come to sing and dance while they spread their merryment to unsuspecting computers).


Jeff

[ndelaware]

I am pretty sure Jann is talking about Elements which was just released.

Sorry Jann, I haven't seen Elements 5 yet.

[LoraJ]

I just got Elemnts 5 and started playing around with it. What I loved about Elements 4 was how easy it was to take photos and make webpages out of them. Elements 5 has some really neat looking webpage templates. So I put one together for my friends wedding, but for some reason, the way they name the directory, my hosting site will not accept it. Not sure why. I need to figure this out.

[jann1033]

yeah sorry i was talking about elements :rotfl2: i think i am going to upgrade since the missing manual book i got said it has enough improvements to make it worth while. technically since i could use it for hubby's work i can declare at least some of it i think ( well our accountant will, i just sign the papers :teeth: )

[wdwmom2]

Would you trust purchasing this product off of eBay??? Pros or cons????

I downloaded the trail from Adobe and am enjoying it. But it is going to take me more than 1 month to figure out the program to my satisfaction.

Any opinions??? Would you buy it off of eBay? If not, where? (I can purchase the trial I downloaded off of Adobe)

[rtphokie]

Would you trust purchasing this product off of eBay??? Pros or cons????

I downloaded the trail from Adobe and am enjoying it. But it is going to take me more than 1 month to figure out the program to my satisfaction.

Any opinions??? Would you buy it off of eBay? If not, where? (I can purchase the trial I downloaded off of Adobe)

I wouldn't buy software from ebay, especially PhotoShop, especially an old version of PhotoShop.

If it's someone selling off their old copy because they upgraded, the license probably doesn't allow this. When you try to register the product to use it, you may not be able to because it's already registered somewhere else. You may be buying a pirated copy, you may be getting a grey market copy.

You just dont know.

Look for sales from known retailers and get it cheeper that way. Once you have a legal copy, upgrading is much much less expensive. I usually skip a release or two because I dont necessarily need the absolute latest and greatest and it really keeps my cost down.

Another way to save on software like Photoshop is to buy educational versions if you can. Another good way is to look for bundled deals. I got my original copy of Photoshop bundled with a scanner I bought 10 years ago. I've upgraded 3 times since then have the latest and greatest. In those 10 years I've not spent in upgrade fees what the original software cost.

[Master Mason]

It depends on who is selling it. If it is a Brick and Mortor that has an eBay store, then it should be ok. If it is an individual, I wouldn't do it as they most likely don't have authorization to be selling the product.

ETA: If you have a student you can get it from here http://www.campustech.com/c/campust/store.html?id=Va8izYBq&mv_arg=Adobe At a pretty good discount. This is where I bought my full Photoshop CS2 Suite from.

[jann1033]

i did buy photoshop elements 4 from ebay, it was a new copy, upgradable,worked great, etc..however right now if you buy from adobe the upgrade to elements 5 is 74 including tax and 89? not including tax for the non upgrade..that is about what i saw on ebay for it (the prices are a 20 instant rebate)...i really like the 5 so far even though i just bought the 4 a few months ago :rolleyes:

i had the free trial also but didn't know how much it would be(ie if the rebate would still be in effect) so i just bought it, so since i bought already it'll probably be way cheaper in a week or two :rotfl: :rotfl: :rotfl: i couldn't get the trial "buy now" page to work so i just went to adobe to buy it from their regular store. i don't know if the price would be the same or not

[woodlandsparty]

Just thought that I would pass this along....

This site has several free Photoshop tutorial videos....not for someone that has never used PS before probably, but for someone that is familiar with it and likes to tweak photos. The presenter gets right to the point, so it's a quick, informative watch.

http://www.nobsphotosuccess.com/

[Diamond Girl]

Just thought that I would pass this along....

This site has several free Photoshop tutorial videos....not for someone that has never used PS before probably, but for someone that is familiar with it and likes to tweak photos. The presenter gets right to the point, so it's a quick, informative watch.

http://www.nobsphotosuccess.com/

I took a quick look at one of the tutorials, I must say I'm impressed what can be done, but it's probably way over my head. Thanks for posting it, though.

[jann1033]

hmm i liked the pinstripe effect but didn't quite get the cloudy border...but kind of like the finished looked to the pic
http://i22.photobucket.com/albums/b332/jann1033/IMG_5243copyframed.jpg

[wdwmom2]

My trial period is almost over and I really am enjoying using Photoshop. I just checked out Circuit City and this is what they offer.... http://www.circuitcity.com/ssm/Adobe-Photoshop-Elements-5-0-plus-Adobe-Premiere-Elements-3-0-PC/sem/rpsm/oid/161283/catOid/-13353/rpem/ccd/productDetail.do

Is this a good price??? I also like the fact that it has PE 3.0!

[MarkBarbieri]

For Photoshop Elements by itself, not really. You can pick it up at Amazon for $79.99. For the combo, yes, I think it's pretty good.

Note that it is Photoshop Elements and not Photoshop. If you don't know the difference, you probably want Photoshop Elements. It's much cheaper and easier to use but can't do quite as much.

[wdwmom2]

Note that it is Photoshop Elements and not Photoshop. If you don't know the difference, you probably want Photoshop Elements. It's much cheaper and easier to use but can't do quite as much.

You are correct, it is Elements that I want!

[jann1033]

just curious, what is the benefit of the 3.0? there is a free download to the organizer for album 3 on the adobe site but don't know what the difference would be

a while ago they had the upgrade to e.5 on adobe for 70, initial( no upgrade) for 90 and most of the bundles i have seen have been over 100( haven't checked for a couple weeks)

I really love e 5 btw too, according to the missing manual book it can do most of what the big boy can do but you just have to look for the tools...at least it does way more than i can figure out as of yet :teeth:

[wdwmom2]

I forgot about this place... http://www.campustech.com/c/campust/23691.html . With 2 in college and 1 in 10th grade, I'm pretty sure I qualify :thumbsup2 !!!!!

[MarkBarbieri]

just curious, what is the benefit of the 3.0?

The 3.0 is Premiere Elements 3.0, not Photoshop Elements 3.0. So the benefit is that you can a video editing package along with your photo editing package.

[jann1033]

thanks, since i don't have a video camera guess i have no use for that then so i can scratch if off my list :rotfl:

[pyrxtc]

best Buy has PE 5.0 for $50 on 11/23 to 11/25

[Dan Murphy]

That is a great price!! :thumbsup2 Best I see there is 99.99...........

http://www.bestbuy.com/site/olspage.jsp?skuId=8029858&type=product&productCategoryId=pcmcat44000050070&id=1157067062027

[Jeanne B]

best Buy has PE 5.0 for $50 on 11/23 to 11/25

And no rebate involved, it's an instant savings which is even better!! I have Paint Shop ProX which I haven't even used yet although I've at least managed to get it installed!! I paid $12 for it after rebates but I'm tempted to buy PE 5 since there's so much more information out there for PE vs PSP. Finding books or classes on PSP seems to be nearly impossible.

[jann1033]

And no rebate involved, it's an instant savings which is even better!! I have Paint Shop ProX which I haven't even used yet although I've at least managed to get it installed!! I paid $12 for it after rebates but I'm tempted to buy PE 5 since there's so much more information out there for PE vs PSP. Finding books or classes on PSP seems to be nearly impossible.

if you do get ps e5, imho, get the missing manual (barbara brundage wrote it someone on the dis recommended it) it's around $30 but really tells you everything about it..550 pages worth :lmao: i had a video professor tutorial for photoshop but i use this book much more( actually keep in by the computer for reference)

[wdwmom2]

best Buy has PE 5.0 for $50 on 11/23 to 11/25

Thank you sooooo much!!!! I am definitely ordering it Friday :thumbsup2 . I'll have to check out the missing manual.

ETA: missing manual http://www.amazon.com/Photoshop-Elements-5-Missing-Manual/dp/0596527284/sr=8-1/qid=1164134285/ref=pd_bbs_sr_1/104-0066297-2056766?ie=UTF8&s=books

[Jeanne B]

jann1033, thanks for the Missing Manual recommendation (if there was only one for PSP!!).

And wdwmom2, thanks for the link. I've got it sitting in my shopping cart and I'll definitely buy it if I pick up PE 5 on Friday.

I wonder if the PE deal will be available online, I was going to try to avoid Black Friday this year but at $50 I'm sure you have to be at BB as soon as they open to snag one. Sure would be nice to order it from my warm, cozy house!!

[wdwmom2]

I wonder if the PE deal will be available online, I was going to try to avoid Black Friday this year but at $50 I'm sure you have to be at BB as soon as they open to snag one. Sure would be nice to order it from my warm, cozy house!!

I just called BB.com and they said that you could order it for that price online!!!

[Jeanne B]

I just called BB.com and they said that you could order it for that price online!!!

Great!! :thumbsup2

[Jeanne B]

Best Buy is putting up BF items up early online, shipping is $3.99 for PE 5 but heck, that's more than it will cost me to drive an hour to my closest BB and I don't have to get up at 4:00 a.m. now to be there early. :thumbsup2 Well worth it IMO!! I also bought the PNY 1GB SD card for $14.98 and free shipping, I could survive without more memory cards but it's a good deal. I tried getting the SanDisk from CC for $2.99 but they're already sold out online.

[SplshMtnLvr28]

Is it basically the same thing as the Photoshop that's $700?

[Jeanne B]

I don't know what the differences are between PE 5 and Photoshop CS2. You would think there would be huge differences considering the price difference but it seems like I've read that PE will do a lot of what the full-blown Photoshop can do (but I could be totally off with that statement!! :teeth: )

I just noticed that Amazon is selling PE 5 for $59.99 after rebate, free shipping and no tax.

[Dan Murphy]

That is a great price!! :thumbsup2 Best I see there is 99.99...........

http://www.bestbuy.com/site/olspage.jsp?skuId=8029858&type=product&productCategoryId=pcmcat44000050070&id=1157067062027

I see the $50 now. :woohoo:

[wdwmom2]

I see the $50 now. :woohoo:

I just purchased it. And good timing too. My free trial just expired :thumbsup2 !!!!

[wdwmom2]

For those of you who know how to use Photoshop Elements well, what do you think about this website???? Is it worth refering to?

Just ordered PSE 5.0 today, my trial version just ran out. I can't wait to get it to try out some of the editing explained on this website, especially hand coloring.

http://tutorialoutpost.com/tutorials/photoshop/photo-editing/5

ETA: I can't wait to try this one... http://tutorialoutpost.com/count/5355

[jann1033]

For those of you who know how to use Photoshop Elements well, what do you think about this website???? Is it worth refering to?

Just ordered PSE 5.0 today, my trial version just ran out. I can't wait to get it to try out some of the editing explained on this website, especially hand coloring.

http://tutorialoutpost.com/tutorials/photoshop/photo-editing/5

ETA: I can't wait to try this one... http://tutorialoutpost.com/count/5355

looks like lots of fun stuff but ( always a but) for the link you mention
unfortunatly i don't think some of those tools are in elements 5 but i think (you could just make it b/w then select the shirt ( in that example) and replace the color..i'll see if i can find it in the missing manual.

edited cause wrong again :lmao: :lmao: :lmao:

i found it on page 272( 3 different ways) easiest looks like make a duplicate layer( (ctrl +J or layer- duplicate) go to enhance-b&W( top layer active for that step)in the top layer use the eraser tool ( soft brush) to remove the part you want to leave colored so when you put them together the colored part will show through

or option #2
uses selection brush in mask mode to paint over what you want to keep color in then convert to black and white like above

the benefit of the first option is if you don't flatten the layers you can change it.

[wdwmom2]

jann

I am going to order the missing manual, sooner that later! I guess it is a very thick book with alot of reading. Is there any pictures in the manual?? Not the before and after type of pics, but pics that help you to see where to find a certain tool.

I did realize that not all the editing would work with PSE 5. It just happened to be the best free online tutorial that I could find.

Did you order your PSE 5 from BB yet???

[Olaf]

I can highly recommend Scott Kelby's books for both Elements and Photoshop. There are things that you can do in Photoshop, which you can't do in Elements and he gives you lots of workarounds to get the same effect. I've found the tutorials at Adobe to be pretty good. You have to pay for them, but they're worth it IMHO. I also took a Photoshop class, which really helped me to understand levels and layers.

I just tried that tutorial with Photoshop CS Like the Jann stated, I don't think you're going to be able to do that (with those instructions) with Elements 5.

[jann1033]

jann

I am going to order the missing manual, sooner that later! I guess it is a very thick book with alot of reading. Is there any pictures in the manual?? Not the before and after type of pics, but pics that help you to see where to find a certain tool.

I did realize that not all the editing would work with PSE 5. It just happened to be the best free online tutorial that I could find.

Did you order your PSE 5 from BB yet???

i like the book, it has lots of "see figure 1-3" type directions with pics that i need to understand what in the world they are talking about :blush: . it's thick and i was just reading it through but now i got to the less basic stuff so am just looking it up as i need it.there is also a web site that has pictures you can practice with and maybe other stuff but i have plenty of my own pictures that need help so i have yet to go there :rotfl: :rotfl: :rotfl:

i got mine from pse5 from adobe but it sounds like better deals are around now( naturally)

www.missingmanuals.com

[JR6ooo4]

some animated humor

http://www.atomfilms.com/af/content/animator_vs_animation
click "watch film"
then the video itself has a start button
it also requires flash player if you are having problems viewing


sorry if this has already been posted

Mikeeee

[Sparx]

haha. Thats cute. Thanks!

I'm pretty good at photoshop/photoediting/photomanipulation, but yeah, I've felt like that WAY too many times.

[Cyrano]

I'd love to get to grips with Photoshop, so hopefully these links will help :)

[JR6ooo4]

glad you liked it...

anyone else want to take a look?

Mike

[jann1033]

:goodvibes

it's really sad when a stick figure is better at photoshop than me :rotfl2: :rotfl2: :rotfl2:

[Gdad]

Very Funny! :rotfl: The sequal video is good also.

[manning]

It was raining and I had to protect the camera with a piece of paper

Panasonic TZ-1
http://i138.photobucket.com/albums/q249/lincoln30/P1000664.jpg


PS Elements using the healing brush and the cloning brush
I took the reflection of the tree out of the window.
http://i138.photobucket.com/albums/q249/lincoln30/P1000664A.jpg

[Amy]

That's awesome! I just got Elements 4 about a month ago and I'm still learning; haven't had much free time to get past Chaper 4 in the "Missing Manual" book, so I haven't learned those neat tricks yet. Right now I'm just muddling through and trying this and that and it's taking forever and not working the way I'd like. One of these days I'll be as good as you!

[Miss Kelly]

Cool! Good Job. :thumbsup2

[jann1033]

nice work manning...as a photoshop e5 first grader i'm still doing more error than trial but i did do this last weekend.
i wanted the mountain ash to simulate the mountain waves so i wanted it in the opposite direction. first i tried to flip the picture which of course didn't work( that kind of dumb mistake is what keeps me in first grade :rolleyes:) so then i selected the ash with the magnetic lasso and put it on another layer then flipped it and it worked. i blurred the edges of the ash, stamp cloned in the hole in the mountain left by moving the ash, leveled it and and that was it ( at least from what i remember doing)...someday i'll get out of grade school but for now i'm at least getting happier with my results
before
http://i22.photobucket.com/albums/b332/jann1033/IMG_4066.jpg
after
http://i22.photobucket.com/albums/b332/jann1033/IMG_phothsopash-1.jpg
(if a gray strip is across the bottom i couldn't get it to download righton photoshop , that isn't on the real picture)

[Dznefreek]

A 'model" of DAKL . . . . . done with PSCS

http://www.wdwinfo.com/photopost/data/548/18596DAKL_113_model_Medium_-med.jpg

[Snurk71]

I just bought Scott Kelby's book this weekend, since I've had PSE 4 for 6 months but don't really know how to use it well. I like what I've read so far - it has some good real life examples of how to use the software instead of just going through menu by menu item.

I doubt I'll ever get real good with photo editing, because I'm color blind. But here is one of the first things I've played with. Only took about 30 seconds.

A horribly backlit picture with Captain Hook - no use of keeping whatsoever (or so I thought)...

http://photos.imageevent.com/thevails/misc/small/EP%20-%20Mommy%20and%20Hook%202%2012-12-053.JPG


to one you can actually see who's in the picture...

http://photos.imageevent.com/thevails/misc/small/EP%20-%20Mommy%20and%20Hook%202%2012-12-05%20-%20adjusted.jpg

DW was amazed at how the picture went from nothing to something. Though she's probably a little easy to amaze with some technological things, as she isn't as much of a computer geek as I am.

[klmall]

http://i22.photobucket.com/albums/b332/jann1033/IMG_4066.jpg
after
http://i22.photobucket.com/albums/b332/jann1033/IMG_phothsopash-1.jpg
(if a gray strip is across the bottom i couldn't get it to download righton photoshop , that isn't on the real picture)

jann1033 -Your mountain pictures are beautiful! Where were they taken?

FYI - For those looking for 'book help' with Photoshop Elements, I have been using "Photoshop Elements by Example" written by Mark Clarkson; very user friendly and helpful with versions 3 and 4 (don't know about 5). It was readily available on Amazon about a year ago and I got a used copy for practically nothing.

[jann1033]

this one was taken on the blue ridge parkway either around mt mitchel/asheville NC area OR between asheville and boone Nc,but it think the first place due to where it's at on the memory card.

that is my problem with bigger cards and multiple vacation stops, i forget where i was when i took it...anyone know a solution to that ? :)

[manning]

this one was taken on the blue ridge parkway either around mt mitchel/asheville NC area OR between asheville and boone Nc,but it think the first place due to where it's at on the memory card.

that is my problem with bigger cards and multiple vacation stops, i forget where i was when i took it...anyone know a solution to that ? :)


You need one of those Sony cameras that embeds the GPS location. :rotfl: :rotfl:

[kbnovak]

Dznefreek,

Now THAT is cool. I've seen images like these done with tilt/shift lenses, but doing it in PS makes is feasible.

Care to share your PP technique?

Kevin

[iwynlea]

I just bought PSE 5 at Best Buy on Black Friday...now I just have to learn how to use it! Keep the examples coming, as this really helps me to know what the possibilities are!

[Dznefreek]

Care to share your PP technique?

If I remember correctly . . .

Open an image in Photoshop
Press "Q" for Quick Mask
Press "D" to get B&W as you color choices, Black on top, click curved arrow to change.
Choose gradient from the tools, make sure 4th icon is a cylinder
Put your cursor over the focal poit you want and draw a line up to the top of the frame.
Press "Q" again
Go to Filter->Blur->Lens Blur
Play around with the settings never go below 250 on Threshold
Iris - Hexagon 6
Radius - 57
Curvature and Rotaion - 0
Brightness 35
These are just initial settings, try different ones

[JonetteA]

Hey I am a true newbie to Photshop. I have version 7.0, and I am wondering if someone can give me some help. I have a picture that I want to remove the people out of but keep the background intact. Can someone help???

Thanks!

Jonette

[SplshMtn99]

I just bought Scott Kelby's book this weekend, since I've had PSE 4 for 6 months but don't really know how to use it well. I like what I've read so far - it has some good real life examples of how to use the software instead of just going through menu by menu item.

I doubt I'll ever get real good with photo editing, because I'm color blind. But here is one of the first things I've played with. Only took about 30 seconds.

A horribly backlit picture with Captain Hook - no use of keeping whatsoever (or so I thought)...

http://photos.imageevent.com/thevails/misc/small/EP%20-%20Mommy%20and%20Hook%202%2012-12-053.JPG


to one you can actually see who's in the picture...

http://photos.imageevent.com/thevails/misc/small/EP%20-%20Mommy%20and%20Hook%202%2012-12-05%20-%20adjusted.jpg

DW was amazed at how the picture went from nothing to something. Though she's probably a little easy to amaze with some technological things, as she isn't as much of a computer geek as I am.

Great work! I was wondering if you would share WHICH book it is by Scott Kelby -- he's written several. I was just about ready to buy the Missing Manual today, but now I would like to also look at this book, but I'm not sure which one it is. I have PE5 by the way.

Anyone familiar with Scott Kelby's books that might be able to shed some light based upon the above quoted description?

[MarkBarbieri]

Try the "cloning tool". It allows you to copy one part of the picture over another. So if the people are standing in from of some grass and a blue sky, you'd clone a matching section of blue sky and grass over them.

[MarkBarbieri]

I'm heading out this morning. If you see a short, geeky looking goomer with a Canon 1D and a belt with lens pouches, that's me. Feel free to say "Hi."

[mabas9395]

If you post a copy of your photo we can help judge how easy it would be. Some are harder than others depending on the complexity of the background. For example, my wife had never used Photoshop before but after 5 minutes of training from me (who's no expert either), she was able to take this other kid out of a picture of my son holding a flag. This looks like two different pictures side by side, but it really is that same picture, we just cloned out the other kid. This would not have been possible with a more complicated background.

http://farstead.smugmug.com/photos/101206141-M.jpg

[JonetteA]

Like the one in my signature. This one if I wanted the fountain.

http://i15.photobucket.com/albums/a367/jonettea/JL16585-18-06.jpg

[JR6ooo4]

The "image below me" thread was looking for a backlot tour photo. This was all I had:
http://mnmstudios.smugmug.com/photos/114167390-M.jpg

a large level adjustment later:
http://mnmstudios.smugmug.com/photos/114162273-M.jpg

open photo>adjustments>levels>move right triangle slider to the bottom right side of the histogram graph>move the middle triangle slider left or right to set the middle brightness
Such a drastic action will create some noise but it looks ok to me. When I get noise ninja reloaded (just did a reformat on the laptop) I will see how it looks after.

Most every editing program has a similar action.
Looking back at the photo I should have deselected the sky so it would still be blue.
Mikeeee

[mabas9395]

Wow, thats a hard one. The question you have to ask when taking something out of a picture is what are ou going to put in its place? So if you want to get rid of the water from the fountain, you will have to recreate parts of the window and tree branch. I'm sure there are people around who can do it, but its hard to create something out of nothing and make it look natural.

[Groucho]

This is a good candidate for making an HDR photo. (High Dynamic Range.) Here's what I came up with with about two minute's work in Photoshop, hope you don't mind:

http://www.totalsham.com/pics/main.php/d/1162-1/JR6ooo4-HDR.jpg

I forgot to do the sky - that would help that, too. All I did was open both pictures. Did a Ctrl-A on the lighter one to select the whole image, then Ctrl-C to copy it to the clipboard. I went to the darker image and Ctrl-Ved to paste it. I used the erase to quickly erase the flames (which lost their detail when the image was lightened), revealing the flames from the original photo underneath. Since it was a quick and dirty exercise, I didn't bother doing nice smooth edges or anything like that - but you get the point. With a few more minute's work, it could look really nice.

[grover]

that is impressive!!!

[JR6ooo4]

Ya, my version definately blew out the flames, so to speak, most the detail is gone. It is such a small difference until you look at the two versions, then the difference is huge.

thanks for the tip!
Didn't I read somewhere about an automated routine for large dynamic range scenes and layering pics. I will ahve to look that up tonight, if I get enough decorating done and the wife will let me... hehehee
Mikeeee

[SplshMtn99]

I received a reply about the book via PM. Its "PhotoShop Elements 4 Book for Digital Photographers" by Scott Kelby.

In case others were interested.

I've ordered the book for version 5...and waiting for its release in December.

Thanks!! Oh...and I also ordered The Missing Manual for PE5.

[SplshMtn99]

I think is even harder than that. I THINK she wants to remove the people. :confused3 But that's ALOT of fountain to recreate then from nothing. Do you have another shot where maybe the full fountain is visible, but maybe way off to the side & behind?

[Master Mason]

plus the fountain is blured in the back ground, so even if you did it, you'd have a blured picture of a fountain.

[jann1033]

since my photoshot elements 5 decided to just stop working( i can't edit anything and have it go back to the organizer, it just says disk error or the organizer is busy) and the organizer is not showing up in my search at all...

anyone knowif i can uninstall and reinstall it with out losing my photos or what ever? i can try to back up the few i haven't but just wonder if i'll lose them or be able to open them up still since it has the little cd icon on the ones i moved offline, not sure if they would transfer to a new download or not

anyone know since stinking adobe has yet to email me to tell me and i am getting sick of waiting?

[Dan Murphy]

Your photos are not 'in' PSE 5, but rather just indexed in a file as to where they are on your hard drive.

[fitzperry]

As Dan said, the images themselves are stored elsewhere on your hard drive, so uninstalling PSE won't cause you to lose them. I would assume that if you uninstall PSE, you'd have to pull them all into the catalog again when you reinstall it, but that wouldn't take too long. I would also assume though that if you've backed up the catalog (including your tags, etc., if you've done all that), then you'd be able to reinstall that too. I have close to 15,000 images on my computer, and I've tagged all of them in PSE, so recreating that would be quite a job. Of course, I'd probably just uninstall it and then blame my husband for anything that I couldn't recover because all technological problems in our house are his responsibility. ;)

Hopefully someone will be able to provide you with some more useful information than my assumptions. :teeth:

[SplshMtn99]

Take a look at the forums on www.photoshopelementsusers.com (i THINK it cost to join site....not sure if cost to post in forum though. But you can read for free.) and www.scrappersguide.com. They each have sections for PSE5.

Good luck.

[SplshMtn99]

Is this your problem?
http://www.photoshopelementsuser.com/forum/showthread.php?t=16868

[jann1033]

no that wasn't my problem but interesting none the less since i just installed a new virus program...hopefully this won't be on the horizon anytime soon...

on the adobe forum i found that evidently my problem is a bug in pse5. basically, you edit something then it won't save.( which makes a photo editing program worth oh maybe -$.00??? :furious: ) i was having problems early in the week ( slow slow slow, getting weird things come up or go away, just acting up in general)and went to adobe and had to reset the preferences in the editor but couldn't find anyplace to do that with the organizer which at the time seemed fine. then this started friday (??) and couldn't fix it so i went to adobe( they didn't respond to my email as of yet) and couldn't find it in the troubleshooting but in the forum there is a whole thread on it.. i ended up restoring the catalog(it's under file in the organizer) rebooting and it seems to have worked ....at least for the moment..

:badpc: :badpc: :badpc: :badpc: :badpc: :badpc: .i hate computers and software and don't get them enough to not get irritated but be able to fix it grrrrrr

thanks for the links...i hope i never need them but bookmarked them incase

[SplshMtn99]

well if its a bug, then hopefully they'll be issuing a patch/update for it. something to keep eye out for. still sucks though.

[manning]

Try a System Restore.

[JonetteA]

Hmm you guys have given me something to think about!

[SplshMtn99]

My friend just bought their first house. They have 4 kids. Since any money they have left needs to go to fix up the house, I'm making artwork for each kids room using scrapbooking supplies & photos as gifts.

Anyway, I'm working on the NASCAR one...and I've got too many items to fit nicely into the frame. I'm wondering if someone can take some or all of these items & condense them into a single photo.

I've searched using Google images for the largest files I could find, but some just aren't large. Hoping they will still work. I'm thinking the finished picture could be somewhere in the 4x6 or 5x7 range (if resolution allows for printing that large???)...and I would still have room in my 12x12 frame for other items I want to include. It can be portrait or landscape. I'll make it work - but landscape would be first preference.

Here are the items:
http://www.garnermedia.com/_photos/Jeff%20Gordon%20Headshot.jpg
http://www.speedtv.com/_assets/library/img/large/96086_jeff.gordon.duel.jpg
http://www.brunswickbowling.com/uploads/2750/1282/Jeff_Gordon_Front.jpg (JUST THE #24 FROM THAT PHOTO)
http://nascar-racing-2003.tripod.com/logo.jpg (JUST THE NASCAR LOGO PART)

What I'm TRYING to do is make a finished frame like these.
http://www.pricegrabber.com/search_attrib.php/page_id=1975/popup1%5B%5D=110:1886/popup2%5B%5D=5:1889

So, I need someone to take the 4 items I linked above & meld them into 1 photo. Background is up to you. Feel free to throw in the name Jeff Gordon in yellow to match the 24 if you can make it work. ???

I'm working in blues, reds, blacks. So a track, the green field, sky, grand stand...anything like that would work. Kind of on the idea of what they've done here where it all softly blends together maybe? http://www.jeffgordon.com/home/default.sps?itype=12215

I have a black 12x12 frame; some background paper that looks like black asphalt; other papers in whites, reds, blues; some small checkered flags; a Jeff Gordon autograph sticker in red/black; a small gold trophy; a sticker of his car shot from above - but I don't love it; yellow "24" sticker which I can omit if 24 included in the large photo.....and I'm going to include career stats. I'm going to use what ever I can make work.

Thanks so much. The other kids frames won't be this complicated. I don't have much to work with in those and shouldn't have to go this route.

[extreme8]

I'm no photoshop genius but I am a Gordon fan and I'd be willing to take a shot at it.
Here is a graphic I did in Photoshop and Illustrator for the top of a Nascar themed arcade cabinet I built. It was printed on translucent paper and lit from behind.

http://i111.photobucket.com/albums/n130/bpantani/nascarcade300dpifinalresize.jpg

Send me a PM if you still need the help so we can discuss the exact details of your project.

[ukcatfan]

Just a word of advice. I am not passing any judgement here at all, but you will probably not find any printing services that will print these for you because they are all copyright protected. You probably should not use them without permission, but if you do, you will likely have to print at home.

I am certainly not trying to spark a copyright debate, so everyone please do not hijack this thread and turn it into one.

Kevin

[extreme8]

Just a word of advice. I am not passing any judgement here at all, but you will probably not find any printing services that will print these for you because they are all copyright protected. You probably should not use them without permission, but if you do, you will likely have to print at home.

I am certainly not trying to spark a copyright debate, so everyone please do not hijack this thread and turn it into one.

Kevin

I don't know how far our "fair use" laws go, but I didn't have any trouble getting this printed, or the graphics for the arcade machines control panel and large side art.

[SplshMtn99]

I understand your copyright concerns, but REALLY, there's no need to worry.

Its just a 4x6 and I have a really good printer (Canon i9100). And its just for a 6yr old boys room. So I had no plans on having someone else print it for me. Since its for personal use only, and the imagines are public files from the internet and not marked as copyrighted, I didn't see any problems with it. I saw a few pictures I liked on pbase.com, but since all those clearly state copyrighted, I didn't touch them.

The whole frame thing is going to come in at around $7 for frame & supplies. We are NOT talking about a professional job here. :rotfl: Think kids room on NO BUDGET....and he'll probably hate a NASCAR room in 3 yrs anyway & want naked girls on his wall. :rotfl: (They bought a 1920's house with knob & tube wiring that had 1 electrical outlet per room. ALL $ is going to updating house services...not into decorating. I'm just trying to help & be nice & give the kids a little something.)

I just needed someone to squish some pictures together for me because I have too many items I wanted to include in the frame.

[SplshMtn99]

I'm no photoshop genius but I am a Gordon fan and I'd be willing to take a shot at it.
Here is a graphic I did in Photoshop and Illustrator for the top of a Nascar themed arcade cabinet I built. It was printed on translucent paper and lit from behind.

http://i111.photobucket.com/albums/n130/bpantani/nascarcade300dpifinalresize.jpg

Send me a PM if you still need the help so we can discuss the exact details of your project.
That's great work!!

Yes, I would appreciate if you can take a stab at it. I'm not looking for anything extravagant. Just somehow getting the 4 items I picked into 1 picture. It doesn't have to be exact proportions of 4x6 or 5x7. I've got plenty of ways to play around with all the other items for arrangement.

Really, it will just look like a scrapbook page when I'm done placed into a black frame.

Thanks so much. And if anyone else wants to try too, I would appreciate it. I have to get 4 different frames done by Sunday in between life....and this one is my stumper. I can handle the other ones.

[ukcatfan]

Like I said before, I am not passing judgement. That was not why I posted. It was just and FYI so that you do not spend too much of your time only to be let down in the end. I just wanted to let you know that if you do not have a decent printer, you might not be satisfied with the end results. I had pictures of my sister's wedding that I took with my Canon S1 turned down by Wal-mart b/c they said that they looked like I was trying to re-print copyright material.

Different places have different rules and sometimes the employees themselves do not know the rules. Also, just another FYI, every image/picture produced in the USA has copyright protection even if it is not stated. The rest of the world also has similar laws. Again, I could care less what you do with someone else's pics. That is why I do not put too many of mine out there in cyberspace. I would not be very happy if I saw one of mine on an ad somewhere. Also, it is almost slim to none that you could get in trouble for using them for the purposes you stated.

Are you asking for help b/c you do not have the right programs or b/c you do not know how to do it? There are free programs that can do this and you may be happier with the results. I like WinGIMP for the free programs, but there are others.

Good luck, I hope it turns out well.

Kevin

[SplshMtn99]

I have several programs. But I just don't have the knowledge on how to get done what I want to get done. And I'm under a time constraint...and won't have time to learn it on top of getting all the other kids frames done too. I'm a scrapbooker, not a graphics pro. I use my programs, but for different purposes than this.

I've seen the great work others have done here...and I simply thought I would ask if someone would take some time & help me out. That's all.

If I did it, it would end up looking like my siggy pic. Just squares put together. I wanted it to fade together better than that.

[ukcatfan]

When you have the time to play, get to know layers, selecting techniques, feathering the selection, and masks. Those are some of my most used features. Here is one of my favorites that I made for going back to school this year.

http://i22.photobucket.com/albums/b309/kmhobs/Polaroidlayout-20061stdayofschool.jpg

Kevin

[SplshMtn99]

Thanks, I have 2 books about Photoshop Elements 5 ordered, but they haven't come in yet. After the holidays settle down, I was planning on spending more time learning. But unfortunately for me, fortunately for them, they are moving in this weekend after spending 2 yrs of living in her parents downstairs room (6 people in 1 room). So, I wanted to give the kids something now to hang on their walls of their very own rooms.

She's worked so hard to turn their situation around & I'm just so proud of her. I just wanted to help.

I see people whip out photos from photoshop here in a matter of minutes sometimes. Really, we've spent too much time discussing this already. :rolleyes: Thank you for all your suggestions & information.

[Groucho]

Here is a graphic I did in Photoshop and Illustrator for the top of a Nascar themed arcade cabinet I built. It was printed on translucent paper and lit from behind.
A MAME cabinet, eh?

Small world.......... :)

I'm not a Nascar fan, though. Gimme the WRC any day! :thumbsup2

[ukcatfan]

I would try to help you, but on this pc, the only graphics program I have is MS Paint. You are correct, it would only take a matter of minutes.

[extreme8]

While browsing my graphics collection for something to use in this project I found a desktop wallpaper I had downloaded that might work.
I've offered the full sized version to SplshMtn99 if it seems like it will be of any use. Otherwise I'll fire up photoshop and knock something out.

http://i111.photobucket.com/albums/n130/bpantani/JeffGordon2copy.jpg


A MAME cabinet, eh?

Small world.......... :)

I'm not a Nascar fan, though. Gimme the WRC any day! :thumbsup2

Have I stumbled on another BYOAC'er?

[SplshMtn99]

That's awesome!!! I'll take it. Thank you sooooo much for helping! I'm sure the little boy will be thrilled with it. :thumbsup2 I know I am.

I'll be sure to post of photo of the finished project when done. :teeth:

[Groucho]

Have I stumbled on another BYOAC'er?
I'm not sure if I've ever posted there but I have done a lot of lurking. :)

I have two MAME cabs half-built. I got a couple decent, mostly empty cabs for free - a black Stern one (vertical monitor) and a green Taito one (horizontal monitor, like used for Jungle Hunt), bought a couple new 19" arcade monitors, got PCs stuck in there... and then the baby started taking up too much of my time. I did, beforehand, build a really sturdy MAME control box - just a square of wood with a couple controllers (Happ rotary ones, for Ikari Warriors) and a bunch of buttons in it, all run through an ipac encoder - so I can plug it into any system and it works straight away as a USB keyboard. I also have a full Baby Pac-Man game that was in the basement of my sister's old house when she bought it - after several years, I finally got it professionally repaired last year and did a ton of cleanup afterwards, but just recently it stopped working again and I haven't taken the time to take a look at it.

Just haven't had much time for gaming lately... :( I have way too many hobbies and never enough time!

Sorry about the thread hijacking!

[SplshMtn99]

I FINISHED THE NASCAR FRAME!!! Along with some other items for the girls room. But I'm not done yet. More items to do.

I'll post a picture of the NASCAR frame in the morning when I can take a photo with better light.

Extreme8, your wallpaper photo worked perfectly. I found the font online that was used for the "24", so I downloaded it & added the name "Jeff Gordon" in matching color & shadow. It looks like it was there all along. :teeth:

[SplshMtn99]

Here's a quick shot of the finished project.
http://albums.photo.epson.com/j/ViewPhoto?u=4002141&a=30512088&p=75083957&f=0

Not bad for just $7.49 total!!!!! :thumbsup2 ($5.99 frame, $1.50 in scrapbook paper & stickers)

[spoon2003]

Looks great, well done :thumbsup2

[Amy]

I have Photoshop Elements 4, and am VERY slowly working my way through The Missing Manual book, but it's not going very well. I had some free time here at work, so I checked out our community college's website to see if they had any Photoshop Elements classes starting in Jan/Feb. They have an online course for Elements 3, and two regular classes called "Photoshop Elements Beginning" and "Photoshop Elements: Beyond the Basics." I'm going to call tomorrow and see which version of Elements these last 2 are based on.

If they're also Elements 3 like the online course, will I be confused learning Elements 3 in class and working with Elements 4 at home? Are they pretty similar programs so I'll be able to adjust, or are they so totally different that I'd be better off waiting for an Elements 4 class? I think I remember some posts on this board that 4 isn't that much different than 3 but that it IS a whole lot different than 2.

[Dan Murphy]

To confuse even more, remember that PE 5 is now out. :scared1: :teeth:


Hi Amy. :wave:

[lilo62]

Like the one in my signature. This one if I wanted the fountain.

http://i15.photobucket.com/albums/a367/jonettea/JL16585-18-06.jpg


Ok, so I LOVE this pic of you guys! :sad2: I miss you both!

[cryssi]

Hi Jonette! :wave:

Do you have any other pics with the fountain that you might be able to piece together? You'd probably need a lot of different photos...

a tip when cloning is to clone from different areas to make it look more natural...ok, that didn't make any sense, but you want everything to blend...um...let me find an example...or, can I help you with a photo?

[Amy]

:wave: Hi Dan!

Yes, I know...sigh....Elements 5 came out a couple of weeks after DH gave me Elements 4 as a surprise gift. Oh well.

Anyway......do any of you know if there's a big difference between Elements 3 and Elements 4? I really need to take a class, but if the class is using Elements 3, I don't want to get myself even more confused. Right now about all I can do is remove red-eye and lighten up shadows. I want to do more!!!

[Anewman]

IMO anything you learn in the Elements 3.0 course should be helpfull even if using Elements 4.0(or 5.0). When a new Elements is introduced they tend to add features not take any away, so all the tools you learn to use should still be there with newer versions.

IMO it should give you solid base to work with.

[Furgus]

Just found this site that has a lot of free PhotoShop/Elements actions on it. They have a really cool one for Snowy Font.

panosfx (http://www.panosfx.com/)

[tinksdad]

Interesting site! Thanks! :thumbsup2

[jann1033]

like some of the very different effects..Thanks!

[garris3404]

Now I know where some of those great photo effects I seen on the boards are coming from. Thanks! :thumbsup2

[Groucho]

On a similar note, I just found ActionCentral (http://www.atncentral.com/) the other day... 130 actions for download. Unfortunately most of the mouse-over before/after photos don't work right, but you can usually get the idea from the description (or look at the page source to find the "after" jpg.)

Fans of black/white photography should be interested, there are several there including at least one that attempts to replicate specific film stocks, like some commercial software does.

[manning]

http://www.pcphotomag.com/content/2006/dec/photoshop_skills.pdf

[Cyrano]

Thanks for the link :goodvibes

[stm61]

Hope someone can answer this! Today I was looking at different photo editing programs. There were 3 on the shelf at Staples: Photshop Elements, Digital Image (or something close to that), and I'm forgetting the 3rd one. I was looking for a program that had cloning or a stamp features. The employee who helped me said the Elements won't do it, only the full version of Photoshop will, and that Elements can be almost as hard to figure out as the full version. One of the 2 other programs, think it was the Digital, said it had cloning that could be used to make posters, like taking parts of 4 smaller pics and creating a larger picture from them. The other said it had 75 stamps. What I want to do is cover over unwanted parts of a pic, like the kids are in front of the castle wall and somebody else's kid ends up in the pic. I just want to cover over the other kid, nothing really fancy, I'm only showing the pics to friends and family. Can anyone suggest a program? The employee had told me the other 2 programs wouldn't do it. When I showed him the info on the box, he said he hadn't used those programs but still didn't think they'd do what I wanted them to. I'm not familiar with any other editing programs and am basically clueless about anything other then the preset settings (auto, red-eye, etc, and not sure about some of those!) on my Kodak Easyshare Z740.

Sorry this is so long!

[MarkBarbieri]

Photoshop Elements doesn't have the clone feature? That surprises me. Perhaps someone with it can confirm that.

You might want to download GIMP. It's free and it's adherents swear that it is as good as Photoshop. I have to admit that I've never tried it.

[Gdad]

Elements 4 has a clone tool. I used it before I got CS2.

[jann1033]

elements 5 has a clone and stamp and is it as hard as the big photoshop?...no!
i do have a book for it...mainly because it has tons of features that might be hard to know/remember how to use( at least for me since i have no memory to speak of) but i about went nuts trying to use the trial cs2 or what ever it's called. according to the book i have( the missing manual for elements 5) with the exception of some features for raw photos, most of what the full version has is in the elements 5 but you have to know where to find it.
adobe has a free download of elements 5 on adobe .com , go try it out and see how you like it plus you'll be able to see if it does what you want

[fitzperry]

Your Staples clerk is mistaken. I've had PSE 3.0 and 4.0, and there most definitely is a clone tool. You were probably looking at 5.0. I've never used CS2, so I can't compare the two, but I don't think the learning curve is that steep with Elements, at least wrt basic editing.

[stm61]

wow! Thanks ya'll! This was Elements 5.0 and it's on sale this week. I'll go back and get it tomorrow. We live in a rural area, can't get cable or dsl, so downloading anything on dial-up is just not happening. Everything I try to download ends up with errors in it somehow. The book that goes with it is called The Missing Manual for Elements 5? I think someone on another post was talking about that, I'll have to look for that also. There might be hope for my pics after all!

Thanks again!

[jann1033]

wow! Thanks ya'll! This was Elements 5.0 and it's on sale this week. I'll go back and get it tomorrow. We live in a rural area, can't get cable or dsl, so downloading anything on dial-up is just not happening. Everything I try to download ends up with errors in it somehow. The book that goes with it is called The Missing Manual for Elements 5? I think someone on another post was talking about that, I'll have to look for that also. There might be hope for my pics after all!

Thanks again!
the book is not sold with it ( not sure if you understood that due to the title) but i got my copy at barnes and nobel for around $30( it's hugh....like 500 pages :rolleyes1)

it really is amazing what it can do... this is a shot my daughter took with her 4mp easy share ...i worked and worked and tried to make it better and the first picture is the end result after trying every program that came with her camera, stuff i got with my camera, other photo programs etc...the second one with photoshop all i did was adjust the levels, remove the color cast and i think then maybe sharpen it , i should have reduced the noise also but it didn't show up that much on the 4x6 she wanted printed. the original is just a black hole behind their heads, you can't even see the musicians at all :teeth:


http://i22.photobucket.com/albums/b332/jann1033/peru_257.jpg
http://i22.photobucket.com/albums/b332/jann1033/beccaperu06059.jpg

[wdwmom2]

Photoshop Elements 5.0 most certainly does have the clone and stamp features. It's really not that difficult to use, although I will be purchasing the Missing Manual.

Here is a pic that I took the ducks out of the grass, and the men out of the background. They are near the fence that is by the grist mill. This was my first attempt ever at using this program and found it quite easy. I also did some cropping and color adjustments of the photo.

Before
http://i3.photobucket.com/albums/y71/wdwmom2/Copyofskylinedriveblueridgeparkway2.jpg

After
http://i3.photobucket.com/albums/y71/wdwmom2/Copy2ofskylinedriveblueridgeparkway.jpg

[JonetteA]

Ok, so I LOVE this pic of you guys! :sad2: I miss you both!


I miss you guys too!!

[JonetteA]

Hi Jonette! :wave:

Do you have any other pics with the fountain that you might be able to piece together? You'd probably need a lot of different photos...

a tip when cloning is to clone from different areas to make it look more natural...ok, that didn't make any sense, but you want everything to blend...um...let me find an example...or, can I help you with a photo?


Can you send me your email address again Cryssi?

Jonette

[stm61]

both those before and after pics came out great! I understood you have to get the book seperate, but thanks for making sure. I'll try barnes and Nobles or maybe Amazon if they have free shipping. Can't wait to try it, I'm definately photo-taking challeneged!

[Jeanne B]

I'll try barnes and Nobles or maybe Amazon if they have free shipping.

I just bought the Missing Manual from Amazon a week or so back. It's over $25 so it would qualify for free shipping.

[stm61]

Thanks again ya'll! I went back to Staples, got the same story from another clerk. I told him I'd spoken with people who've used Elements 5.0 and they all said the stamp and cloning features were in the program. He then actually read the box, lol, and agreed that those features probably were included. Ended up ordering both the program and the book off Amazon with free shipping because it turns out that Elements 5.0 isn't on sale this week, only the movie editing program (Premeire 3.0?) and the combo pack are.

[manning]

I just caused trouble in the family :teeth:

My SILs Son in law deer hunts and has three heads hanging on the wall with an empty space in the center. I filled in the space...... with SIL. I thought she would enjoy it. :duck:

Using elements 3 I did a little cloning here, healing brush there and well she ended up hanging on the wall. Now there isn't an empty space. I'd post it but wife made me promise not to.

You will enjoy Elements 5.

[jann1033]

it may be staples is having a problem cause they basically list just the new stuff in the promo stuff..i had to call to see if a couple things were included and then they told me everything in 4 is in 5 plus some but they weren't very clear about that in the lit...have fun and post some of the stuff you do once you get it!

[Jeanne B]

My SILs Son in law deer hunts and has three heads hanging on the wall with an empty space in the center. I filled in the space...... with SIL. I thought she would enjoy it.
:rotfl2: :lmao: :rotfl2:

I'd post it but wife made me promise not to.

But aren't promises made to be broken?!!

[MarkBarbieri]

I'm curious as to why people chose CSx over Elements or vice versa. Obviously, a lot of people picked Elements because it's $100 vs $600 for CS2. I'm sure others preferred the easier to learn Elements UI. So what reasons influenced your decision?

I made my choice (Photoshop 7) eons ago, so my reasons may no longer even be valid. I picked full blow photoshop for the following reasons:

1) Actions - PS had the ability to record actions (macros) to automate a series of steps and PSE didn't. This feature alone has been worth the cost difference to me.

2) Examples - Several years ago, just about every photo processing book and website assumed that you had Photoshop and all of the examples were designed around how to do this with Photoshop. I've been noticing that many websites now offer examples for a variety of tools, but PS is still the most common.

3) Color Management - I wasn't sure how important this would be, but everyone swore it was a big deal (sort of like the DOF preview button people said I needed to have). Well, now I've had it and use it, but I'm still not sure that it would be a huge factor to me. I guess I just don't print enough. I suppose without it my prints might not match my monitor well at all and I'd be cursing the lack of sophisticated color management.

Here are a few things that didn't influence my decision but would now:
1) LAB color - I often find it much easier to make adjustments in LAB mode rather than RGB. CMYK, on the other hand, has never been of any use to me at all. I assume that's primarily for people sending things to magazines or something.

2) 16 bit support - This was very weak in PS when I first got it. So weak that I could rarely do much with a photo before having to convert it to 8 bits. Now I rarely convert to 8 bits except to save as a JPG. I've been told (but don't know for sure) that PSE still has weak 16 bit support.

3) High Dynamic Range images - I haven't played much with these, but I intend to. The problem of dealing with HDR usually hits me more when doing landscape work, and I haven't done any of that in quite a while.

4) UI - Even though the PSE user interface is much easier, I've grown accustomed to the CSx UI and would probably have trouble switching. I've been told that the CSx interface is actually more effecient once you get to know it. Not having used PSE, I couldn't confirm that. Personally, I think the CSx interface is pretty dreadful, but I've gotten used to it.

[jann1033]

pse 4 was the first editing program I got that didn't come free with camera or hardware.
i tried corel, photoshop ( think it was cs2) and i thought they were to hard to learn..layers drove me nuts..so i got pse 4 after a free trial and i could handle it...except layers..so i got a tutorial and book and figured layers out( well mostly).
the cost, the learning curve and the fact pse4, then 5 do what i need so far were the big factors,except still not happy with their bw conversion but i got some other stuff for that and a book on bw conversion that is helping me figure that out .
i am still learning to manipulate the tools in PS5 to get a good looking result so i wont be ready to move on till cs18 or so is available ;)
the 16 bit conversion is also annoying me somewhat...i have just begun shooting RAW since i saw the dramatic difference but now once i do the basic conversion, any filters etc have to be done in 8 bit...i do think i might be able to do a bw conversion via desaturation but not sure i have the color channels i need to tweak it in 16 bit....but i am such a novice still . i think in order to really get the look in bw i want i will have to use a 16 bit friendly program...maybe it's just my shooting i don't know but i'm not really liking those results with ps5..with ps5 color is :goodvibes bw is :headache:

[Master Mason]

I bought the CS2, I had never worked with photo editing software, but know that PS was pretty much the market leader. There is always a learning curve with any software, I just figured I would learn the one that is the "best" right out of the schute.

[DVC Jen]

For Christmas DH got me Photoshop Elements and some books to help me learn how to use my Canon XTi that I got earlier this month.

Well this morning before anyone else was up I was reading through the Photoshop section in the book "Digital Photography" and found so many things I have wanted to do for a long time.

As soon as everyone was up and I was able to get on the PC I started playing around with two pictures I took during our Disney cruise. These two pictures were taken at the Grand Cayman Butterfly Farm.

Here are the pictures I used...

http://www.mousehouseradio.com/FirstLayer.JPG

and
http://www.mousehouseradio.com/2ndLayer.JPG

I changed the color in the butterfly - and flipped it around ... AND... this is what I ended up with.

http://www.mousehouseradio.com/Brandcayman-FlowerandButterfly2.jpg

It took me longer than I had expected - but I was also just learning. Now that I know how to do it, it should go faster.

[Philagoofy]

Nice job. Good luck with it & have fun.

[jann1033]

glad you are having fun with your new toys! nice job:thumbsup2

[Amy]

Nice job! I've had Elements 4 for a couple of months, and I'm getting nowhere with it; maybe I'm just using the wrong pictures for my "experiments"? :confused3 Our community college has a beginner class for Elements that I'm going to sign up for, but it doesn't start until mid-February. I'm going to keep trying on my own, but I don't think I can do what you did as a beginner. I'm having trouble using the extractor tools to pull out a part of a picture. You've given me the inspiration to try again.....

[Beth]

Curious....

To isolate your flower in Elements, do you have to trace around it, or are you able to tell it to isolate it, for you, by looking for common color, etc.?

I don't have Elements, but have considered it... My current program has a way to isolate things by color, etc., differences, but it never does a good job, even when I adjust the tolerance. I end up having to trace around it, by hand. ...Which isn't a huge deal, until I get distracted, and the file somehow gets closed, or something, and I have to start all over!!!:headache: (Can you tell that that has happened to me more than once?!?)

Thanks!
~ Beth

Oh - and great job, by-the-way!!!!!

[DVC Jen]

Curious....

To isolate your flower in Elements, do you have to trace around it, or are you able to tell it to isolate it, for you, by looking for common color, etc.?

I don't have Elements, but have considered it... My current program has a way to isolate things by color, etc., differences, but it never does a good job, even when I adjust the tolerance. I end up having to trace around it, by hand. ...Which isn't a huge deal, until I get distracted, and the file somehow gets closed, or something, and I have to start all over!!!:headache: (Can you tell that that has happened to me more than once?!?)

Thanks!
~ Beth

Oh - and great job, by-the-way!!!!!


I used the lasso tool to completely trace around both the flower and butterfly - it was a bit of a pain and I had to redo it a few times - but that is how I did it.

[Beth]

Thanks for your response.

Then I know exactly what you're talking about... I've done that many times, too....

If you really enjoy that type of shot... something I did one time that was REALLY cool... I had a picture of my DH shaking the hand of a gentleman dressed up as Andrew Jackson. (We were visiting the Hermitage in Tennessee.) ...He was standing next to his horse.

...I isolated Jackson and his horse, then made them black/white. It was as if my DH was shaking the hand of a ghost! Pretty neat..... if you're ever taking a picture of someone dressed as a historical character...

[Olaf]

Isn't it great, Jen? I find myself spending hours messing around with my photos in Elements. Be sure and check out the Photoshop Elements learning center--lots of good stuff there.

http://www.photoshopelementsuser.com/subscriber/

[DueyDooDah]

Make sure you check out the book The Photoshop Elements 4 (or 5) Book for Digital Photographers by Scott Kelby. He is THE authority on Photoshop and the book is excellent (although, he takes too many opportunities to make a joke, which is distracting to me).

[jann1033]

Curious....

To isolate your flower in Elements, do you have to trace around it, or are you able to tell it to isolate it, for you, by looking for common color, etc.?

I don't have Elements, but have considered it... My current program has a way to isolate things by color, etc., differences, but it never does a good job, even when I adjust the tolerance. I end up having to trace around it, by hand. ...Which isn't a huge deal, until I get distracted, and the file somehow gets closed, or something, and I have to start all over!!!:headache: (Can you tell that that has happened to me more than once?!?)

Thanks!
~ Beth

Oh - and great job, by-the-way!!!!!

pse5 does have a magic selection brush that is supposed to work more like what you are talking about. it works better is there is a lot of contrast between what you want and the rest and if the background is plainish. you just make some marks over what you want to select and it selects it out...it works ok, not great imo, depending on the above situation...

there is also another selection brush ( not magic evidently;) )where you paint over what you want and it selects it and you use the same tool as a tool to mask something too

[Amy]

I used the lasso tool to completely trace around both the flower and butterfly - it was a bit of a pain and I had to redo it a few times - but that is how I did it.

pse5 does have a magic selection brush that is supposed to work more like what you are talking about. it works better is there is a lot of contrast between what you want and the rest and if the background is plainish. you just make some marks over what you want to select and it selects it out...it works ok, not great imo, depending on the above situation...

Maybe that's my problem - I had a picture of my mom (with white hair) standing in front of a beige wall and I was trying to cut her out of the picture and put her on another background and the magic selection brush/selector thingy in PSE4 just wouldn't select what I wanted no matter what I tried and I got discouraged and decided I needed time away from PSE4. I guess there wasn't enough contrast between her white hair and the beige wall. I'll have to try the lasso tool. Gee, I was going to clean the house tomorrow, but I think I'll just play with Elements instead ;)

[milkabum]

Wow, that looks great! You took some wonderful pictures! I bet by the end of next month you'll be whipping pctures like that up in no time. ;)

[DVC Jen]

Amy I had more luck with the lasso than the magic brush. For me it wouldn't include all of the picture either. The first thing I did was a rose and parts of the rose went black and white. I couldn't deselect much without losing all of it - so I gave up and used the lasso. You have to go slowly and have a pretty steady hand - but after a few tries you should be able to get it.

One thing I found with the lasso - after you trace around whatever it is you are tracing around - double click the lasso or it will continue to trace and make a mess.

[jann1033]

Amy I had more luck with the lasso than the magic brush. For me it wouldn't include all of the picture either. The first thing I did was a rose and parts of the rose went black and white. I couldn't deselect much without losing all of it - so I gave up and used the lasso. You have to go slowly and have a pretty steady hand - but after a few tries you should be able to get it.

One thing I found with the lasso - after you trace around whatever it is you are tracing around - double click the lasso or it will continue to trace and make a mess.

:) if i had more fingers and toes i could count how many times i've done that :)
one good hint i read somewhere was after you finish with a tool click the hand tool then you won't damage something unintentionally forgetting you have a tool open..i've been trying to cultivate that habit... semi successfully...
i think the magnetic lasso is the easier one also although i did use the magic selector yesterday for something and it worked pretty well but then my program crashed onceagain ( you know that thing adobe swears no one else in the known universe has ever had happen that happens to me at least once every 2 day:mad: :mad: :mad: ) so it wouldn't save... so another hr shot. by the time i can acutally save a picture i will be a master photoshoper:)

[KarenB]

I got this program for Christmas too. I am a novice, but I had fun exploring this afternoon. I am waiting for the mising manuel book that I ordered from Amazon. I want to make note cards as gifts using my own edited photos. I was able to get pretty far by myself, but I know I will need the manual soon.
Karen

[Amy]

Ok, you gave me the incentive to delve into PSE4 once again today. Here's my original picture:
http://i72.photobucket.com/albums/i187/mamagrumpy/IMG_2859.jpg
I tried the magic selector since I had a lot of contrast between the flower and the leaves, made the background black & white and blurred it:
http://i72.photobucket.com/albums/i187/mamagrumpy/IMG_2859copy.jpg

Not too bad! I can't wait until I take the class at our community college and I'll actually know what I'm doing instead of "let's try this and see what happens" which is usually followed by "oops, where's the undo button"! :rolleyes1

I'm still working on that picture of my mom - I DO have to use the lasso because there's not enough contrast between her hair and the wall, but it's tough. I was never good at drawing to begin with, and using a mouse to outline parts of a picture is NOT easy.

[KarenB]

As I posted earlier, DH got me Elements for Christmas. I just went to a blah picture I took. It was a cricket along a sandy trail. I cropped and edited it and WOW-I am so impressed. Of course, I can't get it posted here in a timely manner. I am such a beginner with all of this. I can't wait to try more. Amazon delivered my missing manual today. Good bedtime reading tonight. OMG-do I need a life?

Karen

[DVC Jen]

Amy that is great! It is so much fun isn't it?

Karen - :rotfl: I think you have a completely normal and understandable life. :)

[jann1033]

As I posted earlier, DH got me Elements for Christmas. I just went to a blah picture I took. It was a cricket along a sandy trail. I cropped and edited it and WOW-I am so impressed. Of course, I can't get it posted here in a timely manner. I am such a beginner with all of this. I can't wait to try more. Amazon delivered my missing manual today. Good bedtime reading tonight. OMG-do I need a life?

Karen
my bold:lmao: :lmao: :lmao: after i got to page 300 or so i just put it by my computer and just use it when i do something. you know something i did really learn though is i started shooting in raw and it has helped so much...it gives me so much more latitude in fixing exposure etc...it's worth the step of converting it first...i have a few photos i want to get before adorama 99.1,99 sale is over so i hope i can get them saved and really ought to be doing them now i guess instead of reading this

[jann1033]

Ok, you gave me the incentive to delve into PSE4 once again today. Here's my original picture:
http://i72.photobucket.com/albums/i187/mamagrumpy/IMG_2859.jpg
I tried the magic selector since I had a lot of contrast between the flower and the leaves, made the background black & white and blurred it:
http://i72.photobucket.com/albums/i187/mamagrumpy/IMG_2859copy.jpg

Not too bad! I can't wait until I take the class at our community college and I'll actually know what I'm doing instead of "let's try this and see what happens" which is usually followed by "oops, where's the undo button"! :rolleyes1

I'm still working on that picture of my mom - I DO have to use the lasso because there's not enough contrast between her hair and the wall, but it's tough. I was never good at drawing to begin with, and using a mouse to outline parts of a picture is NOT easy.

nice job Amy..if you have the missing manual book it shows some way to cut out a portion and fill it in where you are missing that little bit of the flower....can't recall how to do it but i know it's there:rotfl:weird... when it tried to post this i just got a "message to short message" huh?????

[Olaf]

Here's my latest creation. Some of the pics are a little blurry, as I wasn't hauling a tripod.

http://www.wdwinfo.com/photopost/data/500/8759IMG_4715.jpg

[Gdad]

if you have the missing manual book it shows some way to cut out a portion and fill it in where you are missing that little bit of the flower....can't recall how to do it but i know it's there:rotfl:

I think it works the same as CS2 - After you lasso your selection and want to add a bit hold the Shift key (you will see a little + sign next to the lasso tool) and anything you select with it will be added to the rest. Likewise holding down the Alt key will bring up a - sign and anything you lasso within the original selection will be removed. :idea:

[Amy]

nice job Amy..if you have the missing manual book it shows some way to cut out a portion and fill it in where you are missing that little bit of the flower....can't recall how to do it but i know it's

Maybe it's that cloning tool thing? I haven't read that part yet. Right now, I'm just playing around with cutting parts of some pictures and adding them to others.

Check this out - it's a little messed up because I took the background picture with my camera set on wide angle by mistake. It was a small Christmas tree in our yard with Christmas lights on it. I used one of the blur filters (don't ask me which one, I just played with a whole bunch until I found what I liked):) , and then I cut out our dogs from another picture.

The beautiful husky mix on the left is Sheba; I miss her so much! :sad1: We had to have her put to sleep back on Dec. 13 - cancer. The handsome guy on the right is Charlie - we adopted him 3 years ago Dec. 27.
http://i72.photobucket.com/albums/i187/mamagrumpy/ShebaCharlie-1.jpg

[jann1033]

i found it on pag 136 and 137 of mm book...you can move a section of the photo to cover over the blank triangle...1)make a selection in the area that matches your empty space.2)press v or click the move tool. that area will be selected. 3)press "alt" and move the selection and it will copy a portion so you can fill in the blank section with out leaving another hole in your photo. the little move handles on the sectionwill destort it resize it etc so it can fit into your section

not perfect for sure but i did this with the duplicate layer of alien skin bw then the magic eraser to erase the part i wanted color, raised the saturation but after i merged it saw i got some smeary junk so couldn't erase the erase :rolleyes1
http://i22.photobucket.com/albums/b332/jann1033/IMG_4757copy.jpg

[KarenB]

i found it on pag 136 and 137 of mm book...you can move a section of the photo to cover over the blank triangle...1)make a selection in the area that matches your empty space.2)press v or click the move tool. that area will be selected. 3)press "alt" and move the selection and it will copy a portion so you can fill in the blank section with out leaving another hole in your photo. the little move handles on the sectionwill destort it resize it etc so it can fit into your section

not perfect for sure but i did this with the duplicate layer of alien skin bw then the magic eraser to erase the part i wanted color, raised the saturation but after i merged it saw i got some smeary junk so couldn't erase the erase :rolleyes1
http://i22.photobucket.com/albums/b332/jann1033/IMG_4757copy.jpg

This is what I am trying to do for my notecards. I want a black and white photo with a "touch" of color. I am already thinking about Chrsitmas card ideas for next year.

Karen

[KarenB]

...I must put the manuel down, I must put the manuel down. I should be working on a social studies I have to teach next week.
Karen

[wdwmom2]

jann1033

That is the kind of pic that I want to create!!!!! The one of the fishing pier, B&W with a touch of color. Still haven't ordered the MM, but I will definately get it. Does the MM explained this technique??

Everyone, keep posting your photos, I am loving them:thumbsup2 !

[jann1033]

jann1033

That is the kind of pic that I want to create!!!!! The one of the fishing pier, B&W with a touch of color. Still haven't ordered the MM, but I will definately get it. Does the MM explained this technique??

Everyone, keep posting your photos, I am loving them:thumbsup2 !

I can give you the instructions from the book, ...option1) you make a duplicate layer( layer/duplicate layer, on the top layer ( active... so the one with the highlight color in the whole box,)change it to bw( i used alienskin but you can use pe5 also) then on the top layer( active layer) use the eraser to erase the part you want to be color so the color from the bottom shows through. or you can reverse it if you want mostly color with like one thing b&w ( in other words, make the bottom layer B&W. erase what you want b&w in the top layer, then only that will show through as B&w and the rest( top layer) will stay color

option 2) or mask out the place you want colored with the selection brush on mask mode(paint over it ) what you paint will keep colored...then remove the color via the b&w conversion of your choice......if you want mostly color, a little b&w, paint over that with the selection brush in selection instead of mask then make the whole thing b&w
option 1 lets you go back and change things as long as the layers are separate, option 2 is permanent once you close it. ( page 172 inMM book)

[jann1033]

this worked shockingly well . i fixed it via the select move thing i posted a few posts back
http://i22.photobucket.com/albums/b332/jann1033/clevelandzoo028originalcopy.jpg
before( basically just converted from raw to jpg)
http://i22.photobucket.com/albums/b332/jann1033/clevelandzoo028copy.jpg
obviously i cropped etc but to remove the group of people was very easy...after doing the selection with the rectangle marquee tool( think it's the same tool button as the magnetic lasso) I used group of trees etc on the right side to select and then moved with alt and movetool , i went to "image" / "distort" to change the size and shape then after I got it to fit fairly well deselected and touched up some with the healing brush...if my hands were steadier i could get rid of the red by hubby's left shoulder

[Terk-1]

Received a gift card to Circuit City for Christmas and was looking at getting some great software for photo & video editing.

How is Photoshop & Premiere Elements? Is it easy to use? What can it do? Will it fix blurry pictures or brighten darker one's?