Photoshop & Paint Shp Pro

I am brand new to digital and am curious about post processing software. Clearly, Photoshop is the "cadilac" of the choices as well as being the most expensive. I am an IT person and am very familiar with computers and software, etc. However, I would like some feedback on whether as a beginner in post processing, whether a less robust package like Paint Shop Pro would be worth considering as an entry level introduction or is it a waste of $100+ to start with that package? Thanks.

tml said:

I am brand new to digital and am curious about post processing
software. Clearly, Photoshop is the "cadilac" of the choices as
well as being the most expensive. I am an IT person and am very
familiar with computers and software, etc. However, I would like
some feedback on whether as a beginner in post processing, whether
a less robust package like Paint Shop Pro would be worth
considering as an entry level introduction or is it a waste of
$100+ to start with that package? Thanks.

Click to expand...

I use the Gimp (GNU Image Manipulation Program) under Linux, but there is a Windows version too. The interface to it may seem non-intuitive to most Windows users. Lots of right click menus right from the picture. The file selection dialogs probably aren't particuarly Windows friendly either. When I have played with it on Windows, I have seen it crash, whereas I never see it crash on Linux.

Having said all that, it is basically a clone of Phiotoshop, and is extremely powerul. The price (free) can't be beat. It is a good way to get yoru feet wet without any significant investment.

http://gimp.org/

If you plan on "graduating" to Photoshop, you may want to consider purchasing Photoshop Elements 2.0, a scaled back version that is not quite so robust, but more than adequate for most beginning post-processing tasks. Purchasing Richard Lynch's Hidden Power of Photoshop Elements "enables" some of the suppressed features of Photoshop. Here's a link to the book/CD. http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg/detail/-/0782141781/qid=1079718612/sr=8-7/ref=sr_8_7/002-8241768-2494420?v=glance&n=507846

That being said, I've also used Paint Shop Pro and think it is a good program that has quite a bit of credibility. Photoshop, however, is the gold standard and, together with Elements, is what is referred to most often in the forums here.

Dawn

tml said:

I am brand new to digital and am curious about post processing
software. Clearly, Photoshop is the "cadilac" of the choices as
well as being the most expensive. I am an IT person and am very
familiar with computers and software, etc. However, I would like
some feedback on whether as a beginner in post processing, whether
a less robust package like Paint Shop Pro would be worth
considering as an entry level introduction or is it a waste of
$100+ to start with that package? Thanks.

Click to expand...

--
Dawn

With camera in hand, I see what I might otherwise overlook

C P 5 7 0 0
pbase supporter
http://www.pbase.com/dlane/new_camera

haven't used the freebie mentioned just above this, but

long-time user of both Paint Shop Pro and Photo Shop and let me say that PhotoShop Elements 2 is a great place to learn.

Three things it provides that really help when you're starting out:

1) built-in effects that will give you some fun in learning how frames are applied, how to change colors or the look of text, etc.

2) Recipes: easy to follow tutorials on doing various things with your photos (like creating vignettes, or getting rid of red-eye, etc) as a drop down right there beside the photo you're working on.

3) Auto-fix for photos.....again, a nearly pain-free way to learn what adjustments work on fixing, brightening, etc your photo, with a live preview of the results....easier learning curve than PS Pro or PhotoShop.

Best of all, it's $89 !!!!

It won't do every step of "professional" PS or PSP, but the learning curve is much, much less, and the program has a bunch of fun features!
--
scott b.
http://www.countryshots.com
'A good photograph is knowing where to stand.'
--Ansel Adams

...if you do decide to go with PSE 2, the book is fantastic.

Another great one for beginners is Scott Kelby's PhotoShop Elements Book for Digital Photographers. He completes tons of tasks you'll want to do in 4 or 5 easy steps.

--
scott b.
http://www.countryshots.com
'A good photograph is knowing where to stand.'
--Ansel Adams

I have got to tell you, I have both Photoshop Pro and Elements, and unless you get really heavy into it and add in your own drawings and such, you will probably never have to graduate from elements up to pro.

There is a guy name Alex Lidsey who does photoshop/Elements tips on TEch TV all the time. He has a lot of online tutorials and tips for doing anything you want if your new to the programs.
he is at http://www.dvgarage.com/
This is all you need. Good Luck from another IT person

John

tml said:

I am brand new to digital and am curious about post processing
software. Clearly, Photoshop is the "cadilac" of the choices as
well as being the most expensive. I am an IT person and am very
familiar with computers and software, etc. However, I would like
some feedback on whether as a beginner in post processing, whether
a less robust package like Paint Shop Pro would be worth
considering as an entry level introduction or is it a waste of
$100+ to start with that package? Thanks.

Click to expand...

--
Football Photography is my passion

tml wrote:
However, I would like

tml said:

some feedback on whether as a beginner in post processing, whether
a less robust package like Paint Shop Pro would be worth
considering as an entry level introduction or is it a waste of
$100+ to start with that package? Thanks.

Click to expand...

--
CP 9 5 0

I have used PSP for some time and the latest version 8.1 is stunningly powerful. The one-step photo fix button is often capable of turning a poor shot into something to be proud of. Try the evaluation version even if you only try that feature. They also have an excellent forum for help and advice - not as good as this, of course! - but very useful.

Good luck with your decision.

Alastair

C P 9 5 0 and P S P 8.1

I'm sure PSP is great, but money aside, if you're going to invest your time in learning editing and retouching, you'd be best off doing it on an Adobe program, be it Photoshop Elements ($50) or the big Photoshop. They share common principles, and if you learn one, you shorten the learning curve on any other Adobe program. In other words, you'll have a smooth migration path.

Also, you might try spending a little time on the retouching forum. You'll see talented photofinishers from around the world performing miracles of reconstruction/enhancement on a routine basis, and explaining their techniques in terms of the Adobe platform. If you commit to PSP, wonderful though it may be, you'll cut yourself off from this flow of ideas and information.

--
Warm regards, Uncle Frank,
FCAS Charter Member, Hummingbird Hunter
Gallery at http://www.pbase.com/unclefrank/coolpix

Once you're comfortable with Elements, you can jump over to Photoshop and you'll know all the basics as it's the same format for the programs. I'd highly recommend Elements over any other, like PSP.
Cheers, Sandi

--
Sandi http://www.pbase.com/sjackson
FCAS winner
WSSA member
'Too short alive, too long dead - live life!'

Thanks to all who've responded. The consensus is certainly that PSE is the better way to go as a 1st time tool. Uncle Frank - your point about building a fundamental knowledge base with that package to allow "graduation" to the full blown PS and all of the available printed and web resources will carry the day. Thanks to all for starting me out in the right direction!

I wanted the 8700 to take on a vacation next month to California, Monterey, Central coast and Yosemite. Hopefully I'll manage a few photos as a "newbie" that will be worthy of posting when I get back.

I've thoroghly enjoyed this forum not only as a source of input towards the decision to purchase but also as wonderful place to learn about the digital world and enjoy the creations of a lot of extraorindarily talented photographers and artist. I hope to come back often and for a long time to come. Thanks to all!

Uncle Frank said:

I'm sure PSP is great, but money aside, if you're going to invest
your time in learning editing and retouching, you'd be best off
doing it on an Adobe program, be it Photoshop Elements ($50) or the
big Photoshop. They share common principles, and if you learn one,
you shorten the learning curve on any other Adobe program. In
other words, you'll have a smooth migration path.

Also, you might try spending a little time on the retouching forum.
You'll see talented photofinishers from around the world performing
miracles of reconstruction/enhancement on a routine basis, and
explaining their techniques in terms of the Adobe platform. If you
commit to PSP, wonderful though it may be, you'll cut yourself off
from this flow of ideas and information.

--
Warm regards, Uncle Frank,
FCAS Charter Member, Hummingbird Hunter
Gallery at http://www.pbase.com/unclefrank/coolpix

Click to expand...

Sandra Jackson said:

Once you're comfortable with Elements, you can jump over to
Photoshop and you'll know all the basics as it's the same format
for the programs. I'd highly recommend Elements over any other,
like PSP.
Cheers, Sandi

--
Sandi http://www.pbase.com/sjackson
FCAS winner
WSSA member
'Too short alive, too long dead - live life!'

Click to expand...

--

I agree with Sandi. I have PSP 7 and 8 and Elements 1 (which is not near as good as 2, I understand) and Photoshop 7. I would suggest starting with Elements 2 and sometimes Adobe has special offers for registered Elements users to upgrade to the full version of Photoshop for $299. That is how I got mine. To me, Photoshop is just the ultimate photo program. I use the healing brush a lot and I don't think that is in any other program but the full version of Photoshop. I am not knocking PSP. It is a knockout program for the price and certainly its photo tools will work well for you, but I very much prefer the photo tools in Photoshop and Elements over PSP.

Darlene
Nikon CP 4300, 995, 4500, and 5700
Panasonic DMC-FZ10K
http://www.pbase.com/imacatmom