Adobe Photoshop and CS

[KarenAylwood]

OK, I'm taking a photography class where we are required to learn and use Photoshop CS3. I have fallen in love with it I plan on continuing with the photography hobby past this class and would like some editing software. Photoshop is EXPENSIVE (not like the dSLR I bought wasn't) but I'm just so hesitant to spend THAT much money on computer software.

Do you have photoshop? Do you love it? Is Photoshop Elements that much different (when I mentioned "elements" to my photography teacher you'd have thought I called her children ugly).

Anyone?

 

[Karenj2]

I have Photoshop - I first learned how to use it at work, and fell in love with it. When I got laid off of that job, I had decided to start my own company, and I bought the CS Suite - it has been well worth it (even though I shut down the company after two years.)

I can't compare it to Elements, 'cause I've never used it.

 

[Gdad]

There is nothing wrong with Photoshop Elements at all- I had Version 4 before upgrading. It does 90% of what CS3 can do just fine. I use CS3 but to be honest I do nothing with it that Elements could not do just as good. If I had it to do over again I would get Elements and spend the extra money on a new tripod or something.

 

[ukcatfan]

Paint Shop Pro is pretty decent as well. You might be more comfortable with Elements though since you are learning on PS. I would suggest going for Elements and Lightroom instead. On a side note, you might want to see if you qualify for student pricing.

 

[SharonLowe]

I would possibly wait a bit - CS4 is going to be announced by the end of September. I love Photoshop and have been using it since PS5. But, if you really don't need all it offers, Elements is also a great program at a much better price.

You do get a discount on all Adobe products if you are a member of NAPP. Something to consider too. You get a great monthly magazine too with lots of useful tips. Well worth the price of admission:

http://www.photoshopuser.com/

 

[fhirleighinn]

I do not use photshot, I am more of a "purist" as I see it, the only corrections that I make to my photos are density, color etc. If that is all that you want to do there are other options out there.

Butt if you need to use it for a class, and you like it, then you should just get it. It should not take that much convincing. There is no discount or anything through the class that you are taking?
Adobe does have a student discount for Creative Suite 3 Design Standard for ONLY $400 and that includes illustrator and Indesign
http://www.adobe.com/education/purchasing/index.html

 

[Experiment_626]

I've been using Photoshop for about 13 years; I started with version 2.5.1. There are other good image-editing applications, but none of them are as deep or immensely powerful as Photoshop. Other pieces of software may be better or easier at certain tasks, but as an overall package, there's no real competition.

Is there a learning curve? Sure, and that's a gross understatement. As I said, I've been using it for many years, and I still learn new stuff all the time. Now, part of the reason is that it isn't a static target -- Adobe keeps improving it. But a larger reason is that it is simply so deeeeeeeep! If the software weren't updated ever again, people could still publish books for many years based on new tricks they would discover it could be made to do.

For me, using it has always been fun. I don't play games on my computer; I play Photoshop!

Word to the wise, though: Photoshop CS4 will be released quite soon. IIRC, it will be out in a month or two.

SSB

 

[thomas998]

I would second the suggestion you give paintshop pro a go... frankly I find it to be easier to use than photoshop. While I have both on my machine I generally use Paintshop Pro unless I need a plug-in that is only supported by Photoshop... Paintshop just seems to run faster and open quicker than photoshop and as stand alone software with no aftermarket plugins they are pretty comparable.... but like I mentioned there are some aftermarket plug-ins that only work on photoshop... so decide if you are likely to be buying aftermarket plug-ins (which can be nice but are usually not cheap).

 

[Experiment_626]

You do get a discount on all Adobe products if you are a member of NAPP. Something to consider too. You get a great monthly magazine too with lots of useful tips. Well worth the price of admission:

http://www.photoshopuser.com/

Agreed! I love my Photoshop User magazine, and I look forward each year to going to NAPP's huge Photoshop convention, known as Photoshop World. There are east and west coast versions of Photoshop World. The last one on the east coast was in Orlando ("free" side trips to WDW for me!), and the next one will be in Boston this coming March.

I always learn a ton of new stuff and come home jazzed and re-energized!

SSB

 

[dr_zero]

I have used photoshop but found paintshop pro later and have switched to it for the price it does everything I have wanted. I got Paintshop pro X2 off of amazon new for $31 (box was beat up some) so I cant complain about that one bit
http://www.corel.com/servlet/Satellite/us/en/Product/1184951547051#versionTabview=tab0&tabview=tab0

 

[MICKEY88]

There are other good image-editing applications, but none of them are as deep or immensely powerful as Photoshop. Other pieces of software may be better or easier at certain tasks, but as an overall package, there's no real competition.



Word to the wise, though: Photoshop CS4 will be released quite soon. IIRC, it will be out in a month or two.

SSB

I've read numerous reviews by photographers and magazines, that have stated that PAint shop pro will do everything that photoshop will do{as far as photo post processing}, at a fraction of the cost, and with a much easier learnign curve..

for those in the graphics or publishing business, then photoshop is definitely the way to go

 

[Experiment_626]

I've read numerous reviews by photographers and magazines, that have stated that PAint shop pro will do everything that photoshop will do{as far as photo post processing}, at a fraction of the cost, and with a much easier learnign curve.

For someone taking a class, there's no reason not to learn Photoshop. There are significant academic discounts available. And I've learned that "easier to use" usually translates to "less control." Paint Shop Pro isn't bad, by any means, but it isn't Photoshop's equal. Photoshop runs many processor-intensive tasks more quickly, and its sharpening filters can produce better results, for example. There is far more expertise available and a much larger knowledge base for Photoshop, if only because so many people use it. There are many more books that deal with Photoshop for the same reason. And the OP already said she's going to be taking a class wherein she's going to be learning Photoshop -- might as well stick with it.

SSB

 

[mabas9395]

This is an interesting thread. I wouldn't be surprised if at some point in the future, true photography classes stop using Photoshop and start using Lightroom. Photoshop is still the best at what it does, but I think that despite its flaws, Lightroom will give an average photographer more bang for his buck (I have both and rarely use CS2 anymore). And that way, they can focus on Photoshop in a more "digital imaging" type class where you can really learn to use the powerful functions of Photoshop that aren't available anywhere else.

At least, thats the way I would like to have it structured if I was taking classes.

 

[MICKEY88]

For someone taking a class, there's no reason not to learn Photoshop. There are significant academic discounts available. And I've learned that "easier to use" usually translates to "less control." Paint Shop Pro isn't bad, by any means, but it isn't Photoshop's equal. Photoshop runs many processor-intensive tasks more quickly, and its sharpening filters can produce better results, for example. There is far more expertise available and a much larger knowledge base for Photoshop, if only because so many people use it. There are many more books that deal with Photoshop for the same reason. And the OP already said she's going to be taking a class wherein she's going to be learning Photoshop -- might as well stick with it.

SSB

the first part is moot, since the OP said they are required to learn photo shop, and I never said there was a reason for someone not to learn it.

with PSP, it is easier if you want it to be, since many actions are one click type, but as you learn you can take as much control as you wish..

expertise, knowledge base, and books, don't make a program better...they just make the support better..

the speed part is interesting because I've heard the opposite, that photoshop is a memory hog and slows machines down..

if you've been using photoshop for 13 years, when was the last time you actually used the latest version of paint shop pro, and learned it well enough to make a comparison, to be able to say it's not photoshops equal, when it comes to photo processing.

I'll admit I don't use photoshop, but have read dozens of reviews from people who have thoroughly tested PSP, and have stated that it will do every thing that photo shop does, and for anyone not doing graphics, publishing it's a very good option..

I guess if you look in the right place you'll find support for both beliefs, just as you will find people who will swear that canon is the only dslr to own, and people who will swear by nikon, pentax, etc...

 

[orchjoe]

If you are looking into something for photography purposes I would give lightroom (for RAW processing) and Elements a try. They will cost you $99 LR (education cost) and $69 Elements (education cost).

Elements does a lot of what photoshop can do but it's just not all there. Plus you would only have to spend $169 dollars for the two.

Otherwise If you are going to go with photoshop, It alone costs $299 (education). I would recommend going with the Adobe creative suite design standard which is $399 (education) but you would get Adobe photoshop, Illustrator, Indesign, and Acrobat 9 Pro. For the money (extra $100) it is more programs for your money (if you are willing to also learn Illustrator, Indesign, and acrobat pro).

Adobe illustrator is a very also a very powerful program if you want to get into vector art. (to me it is worth the $400 for illustrator and photoshop together).

Hope I have not hurt your head yet.
Adobe education pricing


Otherwise there are a lot of free programs that can work like elements and photoshop but are NOT AS powerful.

They are Gimp (strong learning curve), Artweaver (looks and works a lot like photoshop)

If anyone is looking to play around with some decent free programs you can usually find them here.

 

[mhutchinson]

I had the free version of elements for a while and when CS3 came out Adobe offered to upgrade me for about $199...so I bought it and still need to figure out how to use it...LOL

 

[Experiment_626]

the first part is moot, since the OP said they are required to learn photo shop, and I never said there was a reason for someone not to learn it.

Okay, but it seems to me that once you learn it, you might as well use it.

expertise, knowledge base, and books, don't make a program better...they just make the support better..

And better support can make the program a better choice.

the speed part is interesting because I've heard the opposite, that photoshop is a memory hog and slows machines down.

I know that, beginning with CS3, Photoshop now launches very quickly -- much, much faster than previous versions. As for processing speed, that was what I read. YMMV, especially depending on the types of processing you perform and the size of the files involved.

if you've been using photoshop for 13 years, when was the last time you actually used the latest version of paint shop pro, and learned it well enough to make a comparison, to be able to say it's not photoshops equal, when it comes to photo processing.

I've never used it. I have no need; Photoshop and ACR leave no gaps I could fill with PSP. Also, I don't have time to learn something new, espcially since I am a graphic designer and I need to use Photoshop anyway.

My conclusions were based on a Google search of comparisons between the two.

I do agree with another comment here about Lightroom being up-and-coming -- I do much of my correction and optimization these days in Adobe Camera Raw. I believe the capabilities of all three (ACR, Lightroom and Photoshop) will evolve in interesting ways in the next few years.

SSB

 

[squee!! disney!!]

i personally swear by photoshop. but i've never used paintshop pro or elements. the thing i like most about photoshop is how easy it is to control just parts of your image through layer masks...

personally, i think if you liked photoshop, its worth the investment!!

 

[dr_zero]

A avg joe or jill and a p&s camera could benefit probably from some type picture software and but who would want to pay more for the software than they did for the camera!

For most people Paint Shop Pro X2 will more than do everything they will want to do as far as photo editing, scrapbooks web pages etc and will use 9/10 of the plugins for photoshop but can be had for less than $50.

For folks wanting more advance options its still the same and with the money you save you can get another lens or a used digital body as a backup.

 

[amandamousebeat]

Most likely the things you will use and need in PS will be in Elements. It is not a bad alternative to PS CS3. Also depending on how much you really will need for photo editing you might consider some of the freebies out there like Picasa (offered by Google).