Adobe Photoshop and CS

[Phil'sFrontier]

Putting photos together can be difficult if the White Balance isn't a good match, as well as focus, and focal length. Taking out the background is a piece of cake though, just some masking tecniques.

 

[Namsupak]

I was wondering about these two programs for photo editing. I recently purchased an Olympus e-620 dSLR and am trying to learn more about photo editing. I have a few questions I was hoping someone may have experience regarding.

Obviously I am new at this and would like a program I could ease into. I have tried Adobe Photoshop some time ago and remembered it as very daunting. I have access to both a Mac and a PC but I prefer to do media stuff on the Mac and reserve the PC for number crunching.

1. Does anyone have any good experience comparing one of the numerous adobe photoshops, lightroom, etc vs Aperture?

2. Do you generally work in RAW or jpeg? I have been taking my pics in JPEG and was wondering if that puts me at a disadvantage and should start taking RAW from now on.

3. Any beginner tips or websites you may know of to help me get started. I found the ken rockwell website, just wonder if there are others like that. I am looking for tips regarding anything from technique to lenses to software. Believe me anything is going to be helpful.

 

[DueyDooDah]

As your primary purpose is to edit photos, Lightroom is a good choice as compared to Photoshop (I can't compare Aperture as I've never used it). Most common photo editing needs can be met using Lightroom. It's easy, fast, can process batches of photos, and help catalog your work. I've used both and have stopped using PS for my common tasks. In fact, I'm starting to forget how to use PS.

Download the 30-day trial and look at the tutorials on the Adobe sites. You should be able to get the hang of it in short order.

 

[Namsupak]

do you shoot in RAW or in jpeg?

 

[gruZ]

I've been editing photos for a number of years, and use Lightroom for most of my editing and Photoshop CS3 for the rest. I can't comment on Aperture. I do agree that if you are staring out both LR and PS can be overwhelming.

You might want to consider Adobe Photoshop Elements. The most recent version is #8. Elements will do 95% of what you want to do in terms of editing, is much less daunting than the full version of Photoshop, and is about 1/6 of the cost.

 

[jann1033]

right now i'm using lightroom and elements 7( which i of course bought for full price about a week before 8 came out )

i shoot raw so most of my converting is done in lightroom but i really like the clone tools better in elements( i like the rectangular marquee in pse better than the circles in lightroom) and also some programs( ie alien skin ) for more advanced editing as well as things like textures are for elements. you can add some presets for lightroom but not as many as are available for photoshop products. i don't know about aperture but i do like that lightroom will list elements as an editor so i can simply make one click to get to elements from lightroom. that way i keep my lightroom export preferences at 16 bit then just convert those i need at 8 bit in elements.

i like pse better than corel painter x as painter x won't let you load a 16 bit copy for editing from lightroom like pse7 does.

i also agree, most of what photoshop cs does you can do in elements but the tools are differently located so you might want to get a book to get full use out of it( i like the "missing manual" series) also on adobe there is a good forum for elements. the author of some of those books participates there.

 

[oregondaddyof2]

I started shooting JPG when I got my DSLR, but a few months ago switched over to shoot both JPG and RAW files... RAW files gives you so much more room to edit... It is a bigger file, and as long as you have the room on the card to save them, there is no reason not to... I shoot RAW 100% of the time... It may take a little extra time editing them, but i have taken pictures that tunred out really dark and I thought they were garbage, but because they were RAW, I was able to save them and make them look really good... Just my .02 cents...

 

[boBQuincy]

.

Obviously I am new at this and would like a program I could ease into. I have tried Adobe Photoshop some time ago and remembered it as very daunting. I have access to both a Mac and a PC but I prefer to do media stuff on the Mac and reserve the PC for number crunching.

1. Does anyone have any good experience comparing one of the numerous adobe photoshops, lightroom, etc vs Aperture?

2. Do you generally work in RAW or jpeg? I have been taking my pics in JPEG and was wondering if that puts me at a disadvantage and should start taking RAW from now on.

3. Any beginner tips or websites you may know of to help me get started. I found the ken rockwell website, just wonder if there are others like that. I am looking for tips regarding anything from technique to lenses to software. Believe me anything is going to be helpful.

I use Photoshop extensively and of course prefer it over other programs. DW uses Elements, it does what she needs and is much more user-friendly than Photoshop. Photos that are edited in elements may also have a migration path into Photoshop when we need more editing power.
Without getting into PC wars I see little difference between Apple or PC for photo work these days, they all use the same hardware and Photoshop is still Photoshop on either platform.

By using JPG we are greatly limiting the opportunity for processing our photos. JPG makes far too many destructive edits before delivering the file, changes after the fact can be difficult since the data we need may have already been *permanently* discarded.
I recently completed one of the most difficult photo sessions I ever took on, an outdoor play with many dark scenes. Many of the photos required multiple exposures on multiple layers, heavy color correction, noise reduction, and curves to get the final images to look good. The JPGS that I saved along with the RAW looked terrible and had little room for processing, I would have never been pleased with them.

I would take Ken Rockwell with a grain of salt, maybe even the whole box of salt. I greatly prefer a site like Luminous Landscape that prefers real information over controversy for it's own sake.

 

[AlienBrain]

To the OP:

Aperture is great. It is basically the Mac-specific version of Lightroom. It does batch adjustments, etc. It has many add-ons as well. If I had a Mac, I would get Aperture. if I had a PC, I would get LR. I have both a Mac and a PC, hence I have both. I mainly use my Mac though.

Also, if you want more in depth photo editing (a la Photoshop), I would consider Corel Paintshop Pro Photo X2. It's a great software. I was introduced to it a couple of years ago on this board. I am so glad I picked it up. It's easier to use than Photoshop and a HECK of a lot cheaper.

My suggestions:
MAC - RAW processing in Aperture -> Corel X2
PC - RAW processing in LR -> Corel X2

 

[MarkBarbieri]

Anyone going this year? It's in Orlando. It's March 24-26.

 

[saturndb]

I wish I could go. Photoshop World and Disney Are you going Mark?


Dave

 

[Marlton Mom]

Ooohhhhh! What is Photoshop World???

Does it have rides.... perhaps ones that change your levels and hues!

How many layers are involved?.... and are the channels and paths hard to navigate in this theme park? (I heard they WERE!)

Do the characters wear masks and carry lassos?

I'll have to make some adjustments to my budget and see if I can meet the threshold for tickets.


A sassy Marlton Mom

 

[boBQuincy]

Between Bike Week, Amelia Island Concours, and Photoshop World I may be running down to Florida every weekend in March (even if PW is not really on a weekend)!
You forgot to mention it is $600 to register...

 

[mrodgers]

Ooohhhhh! What is Photoshop World???

Does it have rides.... perhaps ones that change your levels and hues!

How many layers are involved?.... and are the channels and paths hard to navigate in this theme park? (I heard they WERE!)

Do the characters wear masks and carry lassos?

I'll have to make some adjustments to my budget and see if I can meet the threshold for tickets.


A sassy Marlton Mom

I think you upload photos and a custom roller coaster ride is developed based on the histogram of the uploaded photos

 

[jann1033]

I think you upload photos and a custom roller coaster ride is developed based on the histogram of the uploaded photos

now that would be an incentive to "get it right" in camera

 

[MarkBarbieri]

I wish I could go. Photoshop World and Disney Are you going Mark?

Dave

I'm not ruling it out, but it is unlikely. I'll be on vacation in Monterey the prior week. Going would mean taking two consecutive weeks of vacation, which can create challenges at the office. I'm also not keen on using much vacation time for trips without my wife and kids (who will be in school). So, as much as I would love to go, I'll probably pass on it. It is definitely the sort of thing I'd like to do a lot of if and when I retire some day.

 

[Suzann]

I should be going! (well, its all planned at least)

 

[Experiment_626]

I've been to several and really enjoyed them. Always come back brimming with fresh knowledge and enthusiasm.

 

[DisFam95]

I have friend who is buying it for someone and asking me ?'s about it. I have yet to get it for myself so I don;t know the answers.

What is the current PS? CS4 if I'm not mistaken.

He showed me the Walmart listing but i think they all say upgrade for like $400. He can't start with the upgrade pack right? he needs to get the primary CS4.

Where is the best/cheapest place to get CS4?

Thanks for any help!!!!

 

[ukcatfan]

Qualifying for the student edition is the cheapest way to get it.