 David B. Spooner |
photoshop what version of photoshop would you recommend for a novice PS user? thanks dave
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chrisbudny.com - Chris Budny Contact Chris Budny Chris Budny's Gallery |
Elements. It is infinitely cheaper than "full" PS, and for many, many photographers, does 99% of everything they'd use in full PS.
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- Dennis Flanagan Contact Dennis Flanagan Dennis Flanagan's Gallery |
I second Elements. Then get a Scoot Kelby book on how to use it's features.
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- Sherry Karr Adkins Contact Sherry Karr Adkins Sherry Karr Adkins's Gallery |
I third Elements. I think you'll get everything you need at a cost much better than Photoshop CS5.
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- Irene Colling Contact Irene Colling Irene Colling's Gallery |
Will one of you come and teach me how to use Elements?? I see many fine photos here on BP that were created or enhanced in that program but I find Elements to be too frustrating to appreciate its ability. I've used the full PS for many years and can easily make edits and apply filters and PS will perform exactly the way I want. Because Elements is so much cheaper, and promoted as being easier to use, I purchased the latest version for my assistants to use at my business. I find the program to be very exasperating. It won't let me perform actions that I normally do. I don't have the control that I have in PS. Normal tasks seems more cumbersom with added steps to achieve some functions. I suppose if you prefer to click "auto" then Elements will be your choice. You won't miss what you have never had.
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- Ken Smith Contact Ken Smith Ken Smith's Gallery |
Irene, I second what Dennis said. Get the Scott Kelby book that matches the version of software you have, then go thru it, page by page.
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Kathryn Wesserling |
I just purchased Elements 9 to augment my use of PSP 13 (Paint Shop Pro). I've used the latter for at least 6 years. It's much more intuitive than PS-Anything, imo. Topaz Filters (mostly Adj4 and DeNoise) are the "icing on both cakes" for my work. They have Presets which are easily adjusted as you need (unlike the 'One Step' tools in the main editing programs. I'll have to check out Scott's book, although I already bought "PE9 Simplied" just for quick reference/notes (I learn better with pictures.) My editing still needs improving - and I haven't even begun to do HDR, which is also producing some of those amazing 'looks', Dave. Also, there are some very generous members here who are willing to provide their original settings along with what programs they used to edit. Just ask - with a reference to a specific image.
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- Carlton Ward Contact Carlton Ward Carlton Ward's Gallery |
I have a question, Is Elements less demanding for processing than Photoshop ? I do 90% of my editing in ACR in CS5 and have found I use layers & other editing tools less & less. I do also use PhotoMatix, Corel Paint & Topaz Adjust at times but these are stand alone programs as well. I have Elements 4 but dont know if the ACR version for this is as robust as ACR 4.6.1 in CS5 - ??? If it is faster to process images in Elements, I may buy PSE9 Love in Light, Carlton
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Kathryn Wesserling |
I'm not familiar with ACR, so am not sure about the answer. The only PS I have is CS2, which I rarely have used. Personally, it's still more awkward for me to use PE9 than PSP. One thing that I really hate is that it doesn't allow for customizing the tool bars, and that it limits file format choices. In PSP, I can work with psd files, not not vice versa. It's critical to retain EXIF data for me, and the format issue is a barrier. I need to figure out how to associate Topaz in PE9, because that is a frequently used filter set for me. Sorry, my answer is not much help, Carlton - but the price for PE9 sure was right! Also, the new quick-select tool is wonderful.
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chrisbudny.com - Chris Budny Contact Chris Budny Chris Budny's Gallery |
When I last used Elements some time ago (I don't recall the version---but it wasn't as high as 8 or 9) Adobe Camera RAW (ACR) was not included, as far as I know. Has that since changed? I love using ACR in CS4; it is powerful! Like Carlton, I find it powerful enough that I get almost all my main editing done in ACR, and find myself doing much less inside Photoshop proper, unless I'm going into filters and such. But back in my Elements days, I had to use Canon's RAW converter first, save that as TIF, then open that TIF in Elements.
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Kathryn Wesserling |
"ou can process camera raw files with the help of preset camera profiles supported by Adobe® Photoshop® Elements 9 and set certain values that are common to all image file formats (such as contrast, tonal range, and sharpness). After you process the raw image files, you can open the file, edit it, and then save it in any format supported by Photoshop Elements. By processing the raw files, which are like digital negatives, and then working on them in Photoshop Elements, you can experiment with your images while keeping the original “raw” file". I'll try to upload the screen shot I took of the workspace.
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Kathryn Wesserling |
Nuts. That isn't too large. I think I have your email, Carlton - and can send it larger if you'd like. You, too, Christopher - just BPMail me. I did open my Canon RAW image (not the best choice for an example!) right in PE9.
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chrisbudny.com - Chris Budny Contact Chris Budny Chris Budny's Gallery |
At a glance, it doesn't appear to be the same toolset of ACR that you get in CS4. (Such as the adjustment brush in ACR.) Interesting!
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Kathryn Wesserling |
In DPP (Canon's RAW editor), I can convert the edited image to formats - jpg and or tif (with EXIF) retained (critical for me.) Then in PSP, I can save as a psp or even a psd format (still retaining the EXIF.) Drives me nutz!!
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David B. Spooner |
Holy cow...I have sooo much to learn but I am eager to do so... Dennis I took your advice and ordered PSE 9 and a Dennis Kelby book. I am amazed at the quality of shared information here. Thank you all so much!!
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Kathryn Wesserling |
As soon as you do, David, you'll have to write a series of tutorials from the standing of a Newbie (maybe, that will help the rest of us.) lolll
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- Carlton Ward Contact Carlton Ward Carlton Ward's Gallery |
Great answers Christopher & Kathy. It does appear there are some missing tools in the PE version of ACR and I do use most of them. The adjustment brush is fantastic in that a persons face is dark under their baseball cap and a little swipe with that brush lightens their face right up with the opacity slider adjusted to match the image. I am editing 1200 pics and have done everything in ACR - the eyedrop tool to click on an 18% gray to adjust the white balance and then brightness/contrast with a couple other slight adjustments and done... I am installing a new (more robust) hard drive in my iMac and this should help with the speed of processing. I am currently using a 6 year old MacBookPro and I dont like editing on a laptop but it does work in a pinch. CS5 is loaded on both - its just slow because it demands more RAM & a faster CPU doesn't hurt either.
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