Adobe Photoshop and CS

[MICKEY88]

I was just thinking Niks also... since I was just playing with it..

 

[RBennett]

I was just thinking Niks also... since I was just playing with it..

I'm not sure what Niks are, but they sound AWESOME!!!! Can they be used with Elements 5.0 or just higher versions of PS??

 

[zackiedawg]

Here's the site...I think they are compatible with different types of Photoshop. I'm actually using it with Paint Shop Pro 8, so I know it's compatible with lots of different versions and software:

http://www.niksoftware.com/colorefexpro/usa/entry.php

I don't work for them, get anything to promote them, or encourage anyone to buy them! Don't want to break any forum rules. I actually got a basic version free with a camera purchase, so I don't even have the full gamut of filters available...but it seems to be a neat program. They've got a free trial on there too.

 

[steery1]

DH here..... the reason I know that Randy shot only in JPEG is because I asked him and he told me. One of the greatest things about that day was not just getting great pictures, but also getting to talk with a great photographer and pick his brain. I asked him point blank, "Do you shoot in RAW or JPEG? What are you shooting today?" And the only reason I that I doubted he kept the CP on there the entire time was because we did quite a bit of shooting outside, then inside, then back outside, etc. But that was just my observation.

Why dont you just ask Randy what technique he used in PP and then there'd be no guesswork?

 

[RBennett]

Why dont you just ask Randy what technique he used in PP and then there'd be no guesswork?

Because that would be too EASY!!! I just didn't know if he would tell me or not; he's a nice guy and all, but do most professional photographers give away their techniques?? Or would I be bothering him by asking this??

 

[steery1]

I'd just ask him.
You've already "picked his brain" and he didn't mind. Then you can share with us what he did.

 

[Chikabowa]

Because that would be too EASY!!! I just didn't know if he would tell me or not; he's a nice guy and all, but do most professional photographers give away their techniques?? Or would I be bothering him by asking this??

It totally depends on the photographer... but I totally will talk shop with people, if they are interested in chatting. What my graphic designer does in photoshop is so far beyond what most people can do anyway, but it's always fun to swap tips!!

I think you'll find a lot of pro-photographers are totally down in chatting with you. I share business tips, photoshop techniques, and shooting advice each and every day. I learn just as much from other people too... it makes it all that much more fun!

Plus, you'll find that a lot of pro-photographers have a workflow that works for them... doesn't mean it works for everyone.

For example... when I shoot client work, I shoot RAW. Why? Because my graphic designer prefers to work with those files. When I shoot personal stuff, I shoot all JPEG. Why? Because I personally hate working with the RAW files (my exposures and white balance are usually so on that I don't need the leeway). So like I said... it really all comes down to workflow and post-production effort.

 

[Pooh_Girl]

Sorry about the picture size guys!!! I hope I fixed it!!!!

 

[happymommy]

Hi, all!

I just found this board here on the Dis!

I currently have a fairly decent camera, a Canon Powershot A620. DH gave it to me a few years ago. It's got 7.1 megapixels and a 3 times zoom. It doesn't seem to take great photos - or it's just me?

I may get a new camera soon, but also just go a new computer (PC running vista). My new computer has plenty of storage (old one didn't), and I think I'd like to get some software to organize all my old photos, as well as do some cute stuff with some photos (mostly family and my kids, of course!).

Can anyone recommend a decent software that is easy to learn?

I live near Baltimore, and think I may need to take a class on either photography or software use. I may check with our local Ritz Camera store about that, or the community college.

Thanks!

 

[alan]

I think you want Picasa. It comes from Google (http://www.google.com/picasa) and it's free. It does lots of good stuff:

1. it scans you computer for every picture that's there, and displays them in one place so that you can see them all together

2. it lets you do some basic edits really simply - straightening the picture up when you weren't holding the camera straight, brightening up someone's face when it's in shadow, that kind of thing (it can do more too, but the basics are really easy)

3. it saves those changes without changing your original picture, so you don't put your pictures at any risk at all

4. you can view your (changed) pictuers in Picasa, or you can send them to friends by email, you can post them on a web site that Google provides to you, or you can send them off to be printed and the prints sent to you in the mail - all from inside the program.

My mother uses it - it must be easy to use!

Of course, it doesn't do everything that Photoshop does, but it does do a heck of a lot. I would recommend starting with Picasa and, if you find you learn more about photo editing and want to progress, THEN you can move on to spending big bucks on Photoshop.

regards,
/alan

 

[tiger95]

I agree with Alan on Picasa, it is a great free tool and does a lot of basic editing functions. If you want to step up your editing abilities I would go with Photoshop Elements, it does a lot of the functions contained in Photoshop with a lot smaller price.

Just my .02.
JD

 

[Chikabowa]

I have to plug Photoshop Elements... I think the latest version is 7? Anyway, it's a really powerful program that allows you not only to organize your photos, but it also allows you to do the 'cute' things you mentioned. It is a VERY powerful program that will give you way more flexibility over the long run (and as your skills and equipment grow). I've seen it at Costco for like $60 before, but I think it runs around the $100 range.

 

[jann1033]

another elements user recommendation here, it has most of the big photoshop tools but some located differently. i really like the barbara brundege book, "the missing manual" for help with it( i think she is also online at about.com under the photoshop elements page which is somewhat helpful as well) you can get lots of free plug ins for the full photoshop that work with elements as well. the canon software is pretty decent as well but if you want more, i'd go with elements. elements is lacking somewhat in the raw conversion batch processing( at least mine is, they may have improved that recently, don't know) but that won't be a problem for what you want it doesn't seem.

 

[jfinke]

If you are a member of Costco, you can currently get PSE for $50.

 

[Daysleeper40]

I have Paint Shop Pro X2 and love it. WAAAAAY easier to learn than Photoshop and it was a lot cheaper here in the UK than any of the PS packages. Can confirm it runs on Vista fine.

 

[alan]

I use both - Photoshop Elements because I get monthly magazines that have great tutorials on what you can do with it; PSP because I can write scripts to do the things I want - great when I am processing lots of pictures, such as I do for http://www.stagepics.co.uk

But I'm a computer geek, and I spend hours reading about how to drive these programs.

For my mum, I recommended Picasa - she can use it without reading all that stuff, and she gets good results without any learning necessary. And of course, the price was right!

regards,
/alan

 

[dizneegirls]

Does anyone here own this program and if so, is it pretty easy to use?

 

[budmonster]

I just downloaded the 30 day trial and so far I like it.

 

[dizneegirls]

Was it the regular Photoshop 7.0 or the new Photoshop Elements 7 that you downloaded?

 

[safetymom]

Photoshop 7 is old. I doubt you could download it anywhere. PSE 7 is new.