how much easier is it? - DPChallenge Forums

Canon RF 24-70mm f/2.8 L IS

03/11/2010 09:58:49 PM · #1

O.k. I am going to be as honest as I can here... I am AWFUL at editing my photos. For some reason I can NEVER get the right look I want. I use paint.net and was wondering if using photoshop makes it that much easier or am I just going to have to deal with the fact that I can't edit to save my life? I have sat there for hours trying to learn how to use each and every tool on paint.net. What I don't understand is how people can do the things they do! Take

Art Roflmao for example... He does things I only wish I could do with his editing skills.

So my question all summed up is... Is it photoshop worth it? Or am I going to still get the poor results I have been getting?

kirbic

Canon EOS R5

03/11/2010 10:11:40 PM · #2

Just getting a new editing program is not going to improve your skills... however, there are *so* many tutorials out there for Photoshop that you should have a much easier time finding relevant material to learn from. There are also some exceptional books around, like this one.

03/11/2010 10:13:11 PM · #3

But then that goes into the cost issue. Will it be worth it? Or should I just spend even more time behind my screen editing and practicing?

MinsoPhoto

Canon EOS-7D

Canon EF 50mm f/1.4 USM

03/11/2010 10:16:28 PM · #4

I think you can download a trial of photoshop just to play with before deciding whether or not to purchase it. Most have like a free 30 day trial.

Canon RF 24-70mm f/2.8 L IS

03/11/2010 10:18:41 PM · #5

REALLY???? *googles that...*

Thanks Ill look into that! :)

kirbic

Canon EOS R5

03/11/2010 10:19:28 PM · #6

Originally posted by mbrutus2009:

But then that goes into the cost issue. Will it be worth it? Or should I just spend even more time behind my screen editing and practicing?

That is a question only you can answer. It's a significant expense, and whether it is worth it *to you* depends on how much use you are going to get out of it. If you will definitely be doing a lot of work with it, and plan to stick with photography, then the investment in the "industry standard" tool will probably be worth it. But don't take my word. You need to figure that end of it out based on your situation.

MinsoPhoto

Canon EOS-7D

Canon EF 50mm f/1.4 USM

03/11/2010 10:20:18 PM · #7

In case you haven't found it yet go here.

eta you can also check out photoshop elements. It is no where near as extensive but it has a lot of great tools and you can get it under $100

Message edited by author 2010-03-11 22:21:29.

Yo_Spiff

Olympus OM-D E-M5 Mark III

Olympus 12-100mm f/4.0 M.Zuiko ED IS PRO

03/11/2010 10:25:00 PM · #8

You don't have to invest in photoshop. I use PaintShop Pro. It has most of the capabilities of Photoshop, and is a lot less money. I know of an online retailer that offers a previous (but perfectly good) version for under $10.

Photoshop elements is also very popular and many use that as well. Costs under $100.

As far as editing technique it comes one little thing at a time. At least for me it works that way. Just like with your camera, more of it is the skill and knowledge of the user than the actual choice of tool you use. Learn the basics first. Stuff like levels, curves, saturation, contrast, sharpening, resizing. Don't even worry about more advances things like cloning, layers, plugins and masking until you are comfortable with the basics.

Panasonic LUMIX DMC-LX100

03/11/2010 10:25:58 PM · #9

That was my next question... What is the "elements"? Is it add ons that you need the main photoshop for it to work?

spiritualspatula

Nikon AF-S NIKKOR 24-70mm f/2.8G ED

03/11/2010 10:31:40 PM · #10

Nah, elements is like a toned down photoshop. It's easy to use and less daunting. I don't mean that in a bad way, either.
Photoshop is a beast, elements is more manageable.
Honestly, I have a copy of it (completely unused) that I may sell. I'd have to check what version it is and I'm at work currently, however, so tomorrow is the earliest I could give you a price since I have no idea what version it would be. It'd be more than reasonable and negotiable.

kleski

Canon EOS-7D

Canon EF 28-135mm f/3.5-5.6 IS USM

03/11/2010 10:34:09 PM · #11

Originally posted by mbrutus2009:

Art Roflmao for example... He does things I only wish I could do with his editing skills.

Ken is very good and has spent a lot of time with PS. Like

Yo_Spiff said, it takes time, reading and experimenting... I personally like PS but I am still learning how to use it. And I have had it for about three years!

03/11/2010 10:34:25 PM · #12

That sounds really nice and all but as of right now I am just a broke college boy! haha! I was thinking for when the summer come round and I get myself a job back home.

Canon EF 17-40mm f/4.0L USM

03/11/2010 10:35:44 PM · #13

Originally posted by kleski:

Originally posted by mbrutus2009:
Art Roflmao for example... He does things I only wish I could do with his editing skills.

Ken is very good and has spent a lot of time with PS. Like Yo_Spiff said, it takes time, reading and experimenting... I personally like PS but I am still learning how to use it. And I have had it for about three years!

From what I hear many people wont ever learn the whole thing entirely. Is it that big?

Nullix

Canon EOS-5D Mark III

03/11/2010 10:57:18 PM · #14

Make sure you check out Donnie Hoyle's Photoshop tutorials. You'll learn a lot (actually just be entertained).

Message edited by author 2010-03-11 22:58:43.

Pug-H

Pentax K10D

Sigma 28-80mm f/3.5-5.6 Aspherical HF for Pentax

03/11/2010 10:58:09 PM · #15

Originally posted by mbrutus2009:

That sounds really nice and all but as of right now I am just a broke college boy! haha! I was thinking for when the summer come round and I get myself a job back home.

Maybe there's a student discount for Photoshop like there is with Microsoft software. (I was just reminded of that yesterday as we were looking at new computers to buy...)

spiritualspatula

Panasonic LUMIX DMC-LX100

Nikon AF-S NIKKOR 24-70mm f/2.8G ED

03/11/2010 10:59:00 PM · #16

Originally posted by mbrutus2009:

From what I hear many people wont ever learn the whole thing entirely. Is it that big?

To me, a lot of the things that you're able to do, you don't realize you have an application for at first, so you never try to figure out how to do it. There are tons of different ways to accomplish the same end result, as well, so finding a way "that works" and finding the more expedient solution are very different things. I learn more about photoshop screwing around with stupid stuff than trying to make a real photo.

I learned a great deal doing this once I had the vision for the end result. It was lots of screwing around and figuring out what did and didn't work indiscriminately.
I also learned a good deal of photoshopping technique by inserting my supervisor's heads onto celebrities and posting them on our photo wall. You can also "learn" how to use a tool, and never realize one of the other ways to apply it. There are giant books you can read too, but reading a photoshop how-to book is on par with shooting yourself in the face, so you tend to use them as a reference tool... which means you're only learning what you think you need to know, not what you SHOULD or COULD know.

Also, no hurry or anything. It's just sitting in a box... I was sorta waiting for an opportunity where somebody could actually use the thing and this seemed like one of them.

Yo_Spiff

Olympus OM-D E-M5 Mark III

Olympus 12-100mm f/4.0 M.Zuiko ED IS PRO

03/11/2010 11:03:23 PM · #17

Try playing in some side challenges. Side challenges are usually "anything goes", so it leaves you free to experiment and get feedback. I really got a good handle on how to use layers and masks last summer when we did a Godzilla side challenge pasting The big G into all those pics was good practice at using many advanced editing techniques.

Canon EF 24-105mm f/4.0L IS

03/11/2010 11:03:33 PM · #18

I will definitely keep it in mind when the summer come around! *adds you to my favorites* I will let you know by message most likely! Thanks!

Oh and because there is obviously more than one element, what is a basic one that has your basic editing things? or is there such a thing?

Melethia

Canon EOS-80D

03/11/2010 11:04:16 PM · #19

Yes, there are student discounts for Adobe products. But as has been recommended, download and try! Photoshop Elements is extremely powerful for the cost and really, for those of us who are amateurs, is all that is needed. Give it a shot!

03/11/2010 11:05:33 PM · #20

Originally posted by Yo_Spiff:

I never would have thought of doing this... Maybe next side challenge I do will only be me learning to edit... thanks for the tip!

03/11/2010 11:09:00 PM · #21

Originally posted by Melethia:

Thanks! I'll look into the online shop from my school to see if they have photoshop and then if not ill just keep looking for a discount on it! Thanks!

NikonJeb

Nikon AF-S Nikkor 28-300mm f3.5-5.6G ED VR

03/11/2010 11:14:03 PM · #22

I have full CS2 in my desktop, and Elements 7 in my laptop. The RAW converter is better, and more comprehensive in Elements 7 than it is in CS2. Elements is very user friendly IMO, and has a lot less additional things to have to learn. It's less than $100, and you can use plug-ins like Topaz just as easily. If this desktop wasn't quite so full, I'd prolly buy Elements 8 and install it just to see if after a while I'd just dump CS2 'cause Elements was easier.

Learning to edit well takes a long time, is painfully slow, it seems, and can be exceedingly frustrating. There is always someplace around running short courses, seminars, and the like, BUT......after taking a half dozen of those, I will tekll you, do NOT waste your money on the ones that you're not hands-on. You simply cannot learn as comprehensively without doing while being taught.

I'm a whole lot better at it than I was three and a half years ago, but honestly, it just takes time and practice.