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06/02/2005 09:59:37 PM · #1 |
| I need to purchase some editing software to use on everyday shots. I don't want anything too complicated, but want something good enough that I can use as I buy a better camera. What is the consensus? Is Photoshop the best way to go for beginners? Thanks. |
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06/02/2005 10:11:04 PM · #2 |
photoshop is certainly the most talked and reviewed, but it's price is a downside. i have both photoshop cs and paint shop pro 9. i have to say i use psp9 more often than cs. i believe it's also quite a bit cheaper.
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06/02/2005 10:29:16 PM · #3 |
You can get the GIMP for free, and it's more or less completely as functional as PS, plus most of its actions parallel PS in how they are applied. That's what I'd do.
Robt.
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06/02/2005 10:32:35 PM · #4 |
Originally posted by bear_music:
You can get the GIMP for free, and it's more or less completely as functional as PS, plus most of its actions parallel PS in how they are applied. That's what I'd do.
Robt. |
To add to what Bear said, there are free tutorials available for the GIMP as well, Grokking the GIMP is a good guide for starting out.
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06/02/2005 10:36:07 PM · #5 |
I'd look for a older version of PS maybe 7 or so. I saw copies in china for about $1.
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06/02/2005 10:38:13 PM · #6 |
| I bought Photoshop Elements 3 about 4 months ago, and have been really happy with it. Definitely not as powerful as CS, but for everyday photos, I think it is great. And it is much less expensive. |
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06/02/2005 10:45:30 PM · #7 |
| Photo Brush isn't too bad and it's not very expensive |
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06/02/2005 10:45:55 PM · #8 |
Microsoft Digital Image Suite 9 is actually a pretty user-friendly program and not expensive by any means. Not a true graphics program, but has a lot of ways to fix images & do things with them.
Someone gave me the program a while back and had fun with it, but once Photoshop is under your skin, it's hard to go less.
Photoshop is expensive, and the learning curve is rather steep. |
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06/03/2005 12:04:44 AM · #9 |
As you graduate to more advanced editing techniques, you may eventually find that you want/need the power of Photoshop. For that reason, Elements 3.0 would be a good choice, IMO. It will get you used to the Photoshop interface, and you wil have less to learn if/when you decide to make the jump to PS.
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06/03/2005 01:22:32 AM · #10 |
Originally posted by BradP:
Microsoft Digital Image Suite 9 is actually a pretty user-friendly program and not expensive by any means. Not a true graphics program, but has a lot of ways to fix images & do things with them.
Someone gave me the program a while back and had fun with it, but once Photoshop is under your skin, it's hard to go less.
Photoshop is expensive, and the learning curve is rather steep. |
Digital Image Pro 10 is a very good program (10 has added a ton of new features over 9) for Post Processing.
I wouldn't go as far to say that is not a true graphics program as it does everything that Elements 3, Paintshop pro and the likes do but in simple terms. However that is what could confuse someone later on is the terminology.
If you plan on going big time with the Photo Manipulation than I would go down the elements road on to Photoshop.
If you want to immediately post process without any reading DIP is a good way to go. Cropping is easier, Straightening is easier...use the Auto Exposure, Auto Levels and/Auto Contrast and you are 2/3's the way there.
Levels and Curves, Color and Saturation, Unsharp mask, Gaussian Blur, spot/blemish brush, dodge and burn, layers, Magic Wands, Magic Eraser (way cool) is all in DIP. Photoshop Plug-ins work just peachy in DIP but Photoshop Actions do not.
DIP 10 has a Panorama Stitching Mode that works spot on...
And then there are some goofy templates (CDs, Cards, Posters, Calendars and such) in there along with 100s of Cliparts and Photographs.
I thought I was going to move up and start to learn what the big boys use and putElements 3 on my PC but ended up taking it off cause found that it wasn't a upgrade but just something new to learn.
Again, if you are headed down the serious Photo Manipulation path then Photoshop is the direction to go if nothing more than to speak the same language as those who use it.
I dropped Sixty bucks on Digital Image Suite 10 at Cost Co and Haven't had any real reason to upgrade...then again this is a hobby for me and what I don't give to Adobe I can give to Canon (for lenses). :)
ED: Whoops left out a word
Message edited by author 2005-06-03 01:23:57.
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06/03/2005 01:37:43 AM · #11 |
I know that Adobe has trial versions of Photoshop on their website.
Maybe some other companies will have trials too.
You can download and install them to get to know each program better. If you find that you like one of them, then buy it.
There's always that controversial issure of downloading the full version off Kazaa or something. I personally use a burned copy of Photoshop that I got from school. If you decide to download a program it takes a while to find a decent one with a serial number or crack. |
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06/03/2005 05:33:38 AM · #12 |
Originally posted by autobahn123:
There's always that controversial issure of downloading the full version off Kazaa or something. I personally use a burned copy of Photoshop that I got from school. If you decide to download a program it takes a while to find a decent one with a serial number or crack. |
It's not just contraversial, it's illegal, and something we can't condone on DPC. If you do choose do such things, it's at your own risk...
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