Photoshop help?

[Guest TargetShooter84]

I know, I know, this is a gun forum but I'm doing a little christmas shopping and am in the market for a good photoshop software.

I know all about the deal that you can "download stuff" off the internet without paying for it, but don't wanna do that.

I've seen Adobe Photoshop Element but I see they have the Premier edition too. What's the difference? Or do you know any better photoshop softwares? The CS editions are quite pricey. I'd like to stay between 50-150 dollar range.

I do photography as a side hobby and would like to have a software to do some edits, maybe few goofing around, etc.

Any ideas?

[Sandman]

I have Adobe Lightroom 3. I like it! Very easy to use!

[Kegger]

Most people who buy Elements will never use half of the features that it has.

So if you're just dabbling, it will work very well for you.

[Oh Shoot]

Most people who buy Elements will never use half of the features that it has.

So if you're just dabbling, it will work very well for you.

I did various forms of digital imaging for a living for about a decade, and never used 40% of full Photoshop's potential (any of the versions).

Most folks can get by with a freebie program or two.

Certainly, you should think about going pro if you exceed what Elements allows.

- OS

[Guest mosinon]

If you have to ask... Photoshop elements is fine. It will do more than you can tell it to do.

AS for lightroom, well that is pretty much a whole different kind of program.

[Guest Lester Weevils]

I've seen Adobe Photoshop Element but I see they have the Premier edition too. What's the difference? Or do you know any better photoshop softwares? The CS editions are quite pricey. I'd like to stay between 50-150 dollar range.

I used the full version of photoshop many years, but I only use the feature set pretty lightly with amateur photo editing and programming use, editing graphics for program's graphic user interface.

My version of photoshop had got so old it didn't seem financially sensible to pay for a full photoshop upgrade that I only use part-time. About a year ago I bought Photoshop Elements 8 when buying a new 64 bit Win 7 puter. Elements 8 a scaled-back version of the current Photoshop, is much more powerful than the old full version of Photoshop I'd been using. In the last year have not encountered any simple task I needed to do, that Elements 8 can't handle. Maybe there is an Elements 9 by now, haven't gone looking.

Photoshop Elements 8 is strong, with all the layering and plugins my old photoshop full version had, plus new goodies. The new layout of the program really likes you to have one or more big monitors. The old photoshop versions had more condensed user interface that was friendlier to slightly smaller monitors. I run dual 24" monitors and that is OK. Wouldn't mind more screen real estate. Maybe you can never get enough screen real estate. It could be used on a single 24" monitor, or even smaller. But it is most pleasant to have lots of screen pixels to "spread out" the work.

On the Premier version, maybe you are asking about Premiere Elements, which is an entirely different program that is a stripped down version of Adobe Premiere video editing software. I bought Premier Elements 8 last year too, and don't have any complaints about it. But have only done a small amount of movie editing on Premiere Elements compared to fairly heavy use of Photoshop Elements 8 over the last year.

Premier Elements is for movies. Photoshop Elements is for still pics. Both are nice and not ultra-expensive.

[hammerdrop99]

If you are looking to just experiment try GIMP. It is a free open source program and is very Photoshop like. There is a version for Windows and Mac platforms.

[Guest TargetShooter84]

Thanks for the feedback guys.

I don't do movies, well, my SLR camera does have the ability to do movies but I haven't used that feature so that won't be my main priority.

Sounds like Element 8 is the most preferred software then.

Can anyone tell me what the Lightroom specifically does? Is it for Pros only?

[Oh Shoot]

Thanks for the feedback guys.

I don't do movies, well, my SLR camera does have the ability to do movies but I haven't used that feature so that won't be my main priority.

Sounds like Element 8 is the most preferred software then.

Can anyone tell me what the Lightroom specifically does? Is it for Pros only?

It is more of a database photo management/catalog program. Has various editing functions, but that is not its primary purpose.

Does make slide shows and web based galleries, though.

Here's a review from one of the long time premier digital imaging site:

Adobe Lightroom 3 Review: 1. Introduction: Digital Photography Review

- OS

[Guest TargetShooter84]

Thanks for the link and the helpful, OS.

Looks like Element it is then.

Thanks for all of your inputs, guys.

[S&WForty]

Element 2.0 and 3.0 were the new versions when I got my first SLR cameras. I can only imagine how nice the newest Elements release must be!

I finally got Photoshop CS4 about a year ago. I ordered it from Vio Software after seeing that place mentioned on a photography forum. I paid ~$340 for CS4 Extended. At the time, the cheapest I could find it elsewhere was $450-$500, and I think MSRP at a lot of places was $699. What was odd was that going directly to Vio's page and going through the product menu had a higher price. When doing a search for PS CS4 at Nextag and one other "price grabber" type site (maybe it was price grabber!), the link to Vio was different and had the super low price.

To the OP, Elements seems ideal for you. For anyone looking to get PS as cheaply as possible, try Vio by way of Nextag or price grabber.

[Guest TargetShooter84]

Thanks for the info!

Definitely helped!

[Guest rockbottom12]

elements works well. I use it. There are rare occasions where I would like the whole kit.