BetterPhoto Q&A
Category: Digital Photographic Discussions - Imaging Basics

Photography Question 

David B. Spooner
 

photoshop


what version of photoshop would you recommend for a novice PS user?
thanks
dave


To love this question, log in above
July 27, 2011

 
chrisbudny.com - Chris Budny

BetterPhoto Member
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.


To love this comment, log in above
July 27, 2011

 
- Dennis Flanagan

BetterPhoto Member
Contact Dennis Flanagan
Dennis Flanagan's Gallery
  I second Elements. Then get a Scoot Kelby book on how to use it's features.


To love this comment, log in above
July 27, 2011

 
sherry-adkins-photography.com - Sherry Karr Adkins

BetterPhoto Member
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.


To love this comment, log in above
July 27, 2011

 
- Irene Colling

BetterPhoto Member
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.


To love this comment, log in above
July 27, 2011

 
- Ken Smith

BetterPhoto Member
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.


To love this comment, log in above
July 28, 2011

 

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.


To love this comment, log in above
July 28, 2011

 
- Carlton Ward

BetterPhoto Member
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


To love this comment, log in above
July 30, 2011

 

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.


To love this comment, log in above
July 30, 2011

 
chrisbudny.com - Chris Budny

BetterPhoto Member
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.


To love this comment, log in above
July 31, 2011

 

Kathryn Wesserling
 
 
  PE9 ACR Screen Shot
PE9 ACR Screen Shot

Kathryn Wesserling

 
 
This is what their help says...
"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.


To love this comment, log in above
July 31, 2011

 
This old forum is now archived. Use improved Forum here

Report this Thread