 Jennifer H. White |
Arcsoft Camera Suite Vs. Photoshop Elements I recently read Jim Miotke's book, The BetterPhoto Guide to Digital Photography, which is a really great and helpful book. Jim recommended starting with Photoshop Elements, but I currently have Arsoft Camera Suite that came with my Canon Powershot G6. Is there are a major differences between the two? Would it be worth it to upgrade to Photoshop Elements, or should I stick with the one I have for now? I should note that I still consider myself a beginner. I'm really interested in learning how to take great photos without much digital editing, but I'm also very interested in graphic art/design. Thanks in advance for your help. :o)
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Richard Lynch |
Jim may have a somewhat different answer, but my take is this: If there is nothing you are yearning to do with image editing that you can't already do with your image editing package, don't look to upgrade or change it. While it may be easiest to learn a more popular package, learning what you have may prove educational and can give you a broader perspective on editing. All packages are not the same and can't do the exact same things. That said, I don't use ArcSoft, but I hear it is a good package. Elements is generally all you will need ... that I'm sure of, since I've written 3 books about it! I hope that helps!
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Jennifer H. White |
Thanks for your help, Richard. I guess the main reason I asked is that there is a small part of me that feels like I might be missing out on something. I see a lot of courses offered for Photoshop, and it seems like most people use some version of that program. To be honest, I haven't figured out everything that can be done with the program I have.
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Richard Lynch |
"To be honest, I haven't figured out everything that can be done with the program I have." Few people do. It depends on how you like to work with things. Some people get frustrated if there isn't a button that says exactly what they want to do (e.g., they need the "copy Bob's head and put it on Sandra" button). Other people read about their programs, and do some interpretation. You might want to explore what Arcsoft can do to see if you even enjoy image editing before you go ahead and invest more -- and that is my point. But if you feel you are missing something, and have an idea what that might be, you may want to check into the free trials of the Elements and Photoshop programs to give them a test drive. Photoshop free trial I hope that helps! Richard
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Joan Bellinger |
I got Arcsoft with my Canon Rebel. I have found it does most of what I was doing in Photoshop. If I'm doing something I find really simple, I usually use Elements
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anonymous A. |
The biggest advantage with the various Photoshop versions is their huge user base. That means that there are magazines, books, websites and courses everywhere. Free and demos versions of the editors that Serif (PhotoPlus) and Corel (Paintshop Pro)are available on their websites, and both are more intuitive and easier to master than CS, more powerful than the Arcsoft offering, and in the case of Paintshop, at least as capable as Photoshop. I have several versions of Photoshop gathering dust: PSP versionX2 more than meets my needs!
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Pete H |
Jennifer, I may catch some heat for this next statement. Adobe PS IS the defacto image editing software worldwide. Period! The reasons are many and at this stage in the image processing timeline, the reasons are unimportant. You should begin to use Adobe PS; be it Elements, ver 5 ver 6 or CS3. Here are the reasons: 1) It is the single most used image processing software in the world. 2) If your post processing skills are to grow over time, Adobe will be there. 3) As already stated, magazines, user groups etc are dug in deeply. The available help is staggering now. 4) "DNG" "digital negative" is fast becoming the file format that will no doubt be supported and set the standard over the next few yrs. http://www.adobe.com/products/dng/ 5) Adobe maintains consistancy in it's evolution. This or that keystroke will still do this or that in future versions. 6) Lastly; ever notice when a NEW image editing program comes down the pike, how they all compare themselves to Adobe? That alone speaks volumes. None of this is to say that "other" programs don't work or are inferior. They DO work and may be (superior) in some areas. all the best, Pete
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Justine Stevens |
Hi Jennifer, My answer will probably be considered blasephemous but I use arcsoft and Photoshop CS2. I learnt on Arcsoft and upgraded to Photoshop when I could afford to. So it may just come down to affordability. That been said, all of the photos in my gallery have been edited in Arcsoft. I have done a few Photoshop courses for work and while I now mostly use photoshop every now and then I like to use Arcsoft for something particular. Regards Justine
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