Photoshop

[TNEmily]

It seems a lot of folks here use Photoshop, while I'm just using the photo editing software that came with my Dell last year.

A photographer friend of mine told me that Photoshop costs A LOT. He offered to basically pirate a copy for me but I don't feel comfortable with that for both legal and moral reasons. Is there a more basic Photoshop program? Is Elements the base/inexpensive version? And how much will this cost me (US $$ - if you don't know the US $$ cost just please provide me the correct program name and I can look it up).

Is there another program besides Photoshop that anyone would recommend?

[Nick1946]

I use Microsoft Digital Image Pro 10 and there is a DIP Suite 10, you can get at Best Buy for $89 w/$40 MIR on DIP 10 and $99 w/$30 MIR on DIP Suite 10.
I like the DIP 10 as can make all types of adjustments/cleanups to exposure,WB,histogram,red eye,noise,etc plus add all sorts of filter adjustments,frames,mats etc. It also has a "magic eraser" that will sutomatically clone out unwanted items in the photo with a couple of clicks and the program is affordable and not hard to learn as PS or Paint Pro Shop. Hope this helps and have included the MS link below.





http://www.microsoft.com/PRODUCTS/in...ital+image+pro

[ChronosIII]

You can get Elements 3 for around $70 to $80 US, I would recomend you download the 30 day trial version from adobe first to try and make sure you like it first but is the best program in that price range.

Here is a link for the adobe downloads, you will need a login but is free to register so it's more than worth it.

Windows: http://www.adobe.com/support/downloa...atform=Windows

Macintosh: http://www.adobe.com/support/downloa...form=Macintosh

If you have Elements questions post them here.

Good luck!

Dave

[ponder]

Emily,
I use Adobe Photo Elements 2.0 and I like it a lot, since Photoshop is too expensive for me at $800. You are right not to get a pirated version of Photoshop for both ethical and moral reasons. When people get pirated versions they don't realize that they are stealing from the manufacturer and effectively driving up the price of the software for people who want to do the right thing and purchase it.

Photo Elements is very easy to use and you don't need a degree to get the hang of it either. I recommend it highly. ChronosIII is right that it's about $70 to $80 US.

Ponder

[TNEmily]

Since Elements seems to be overwhelmingly recommended, I am downloading the Elements trial as I write this, so I will check it out - test in editing this week's POTW entries - and if satisfied will make the purchase very soon. If Elements is not right for me I will check out Microsoft's product. I appreciate all the feedback.

And Ponder, you're right that the costs of pirating software just get passed on to us! Plus I don't feel it's fair to the software publisher - they put the time and effort into developing products, and I just don't think it's right to not pay for it.

[Medic1210]

Jasc/Corel's Paint Shop Pro 9 is an excellent program that has a lot of functionality that Elements doesn't have. Also the user interface is much easier to learn than Photoshop IMHO. You can download and try it for 30 days too. Download it here It's a bit more expensive than Elements, but the features it has that Elements doesn't make it worth it IMHO.

Mike

[TNEmily]

Thanks. I had not heard of that program but will check it out. To be honest I am finding Elements to a be a little difficult to learn in the amount of free time I have. Right now I am just doing a trial and error thing, playing around with photos.

[ponder]

Emily,

I had the same problem in the beginning as you, but I found a great series of training videos on CD. The series of 4 CD's are by Total Training and can be found at http://www.totaltraining.com. The lessons are presented by Deke McClelland and he does a good job of getting his lessons across. The good thing about these videos is that you can watch them whenever you have time.

Ponder

[TNEmily]

Thanks for the tip ponder. Right now I am trying to teach myself but if it gets too difficult I will check out those videos. A photographer friend of ours was over last weekend and showed me a few things in the program which cleared up some questions for me. Looks like I'll purchase Elements after the trial is up.