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09/13/2011 09:52:52 PM · #1 |
Hi all,
I currently do all my post-processing in Lightroom 3 with the help of some modules of Topaz and Nik software. For the most part, this combination has suited me well, but occasionally I run into limitations. The main ones being layers (where I want an effect applied to only part of the image, rather than the whole image), masking and removal of undesirable elements in the photo (ie. power lines etc).
I just discovered that I can get a copy of Photoshop CS5 extended edition through my university for a very good price (< $200). I know it's a incredibly good deal, just not sure whether it's worth the very steep learning curve and amount of time required to figure out a new piece of software?
I know absolutely nothing about how it works, so I'd be starting from square 1.
Do you guys think this is a no-brainer and I should do it? The alternative is to spend the same $$$ on the full Nik suite for LR3.
Not sure what to do, so thought I'd come solicit opinions? |
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09/13/2011 09:57:37 PM · #2 |
Photoshop's not that hard to learn. Harder to master than it is to learn/. Go for it. It gives you much-needed functionality, even if the current LR/Nik setup suffices most of the time.
R.
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09/13/2011 10:17:29 PM · #3 |
| Photoshop has to be one of the best things i have ever bought, it's really not hard to learn either like bear said. I think i have more fun with that program than anything else i have installed. the really cool thing about it is that if you get bored you can just play with a picture and see all the different ways you can change things and it's fun. you will be amazed at what you can make with Photoshop. |
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09/13/2011 10:37:12 PM · #4 |
| For about a month I tried to pull my hair out, but after finding many many really helpful videos on the net and u-tube and from people on here like Bear, I wouldn't be with out it even if I had to pay the Full stinkin price!!!! BTY if you've ever used PS3, Cs5 is soo much easier to learn!! I NEVER did get PS3 figured out! |
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09/13/2011 10:41:08 PM · #5 |
| OMG don't hesitate. I broke down last year and bought the full version (full price). I debated for years because the expense. But I am so glad I did. I would have done it sooner if I could have gotten it at a student price. There is plenty of help out their on this site and books. I have a few of Scot Kelby books which I found easy to read and helpful. Enjoy your copy. You won't regret it. |
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09/13/2011 10:49:32 PM · #6 |
I've been using Photoshop since before...well it was Photoshop. I can't say enough about how powerful the program is especially in the area of layers, masks and blending. That's a great price to grab it at, and I wouldn't hesitate.
With that said. I also own a bunch of plug-ins and stand alone product suites such as the Topaz Bundle (before they came out with Lens Effects and the new B+W program..I have everything else) and also OnOne Software's entire suite of products. They just premiered their new version 6 suite...I have 5.5, and there are some MAJOR changes and additions.
I bring OnOne up because one of the products that they launched this year which was in public preview and free to current suite 5.5 owners in called Perfect Layers. It was recently officially launched as version one, but there is a new and improved version hitting the shelves at the end of October. It will be Perfect Layers version 2 which adds even more features and it can be bought as part of the entire suite or as a stand alone product which also serves as a plug-in or export module for Lightroom. The whole purpose of the program was to bring....for the first time an affordable non-Adobe related product to the market that adds layer support to LR. You can mask and apply blend modes globally or locally to photos and once you are finished bring it back into LR (library and develop module) for further editing or to save/export. It can bring it in as a new .psd file as well that can be opened and edited in Photoshop with all the layers and masks intact.
This sounds like a really nice alternative to the getting Photoshop if you are unsure of committing to that program. Check it out....
OnOne Software Perfect Layers 2
BTW...it's in pre-order right now, but from now until October if you buy Perfect Layers 1 you get the free upgrade to version 2. In fact if you buy the whole suite right now...version 5.5 like I own you also either get the version 6 for free or at the very least a special upgrade price. Check into that. I know I am only eligible for an upgrade price at some point.
ETA: Personally I would spend the extra $100 dollars and get Photoshop, but that's because it's such a powerful program and I've used it for so many years. It just depends on how much money you have and want to spend.
Dave
Message edited by author 2011-09-13 22:50:43. |
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09/13/2011 10:51:35 PM · #7 |
| A no-brainer :-) Bear is absolutely right! |
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09/13/2011 11:46:24 PM · #8 |
I did a trial of the OnOne Perfect Layers (for Aperture) and was not impressed at all. It's very expensive for what it actually does (very limited compared to even Photoshop elements) You could buy Photoshop Elements 9 for the same price as Perfect Layers and get a heck of a lot more bang for your buck.
But the price you can get CS5 for is good, so I'd definitely say it's worth having and taking the time to learn. |
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09/14/2011 12:18:01 AM · #9 |
Originally posted by salmiakki:
I did a trial of the OnOne Perfect Layers (for Aperture) and was not impressed at all. It's very expensive for what it actually does (very limited compared to even Photoshop elements) You could buy Photoshop Elements 9 for the same price as Perfect Layers and get a heck of a lot more bang for your buck.
But the price you can get CS5 for is good, so I'd definitely say it's worth having and taking the time to learn. |
Perfect Layers was designed for LR, and the version for Aperture was almost an afterthought. It did have a lot of issues that weren't found in the LR version, and also didn't have all the features that the LR version had. Basically, since it was requested by some people for Aperture they started taking it more serious. The trial versions for all platforms was pre-release and was for intents a BETA that the final product should not be based on. Version one behaved much better than the pre-release...by far, and from what I've seen demonstrated in version 2 it's leaps and bounds above that.
Obviously, I'm not affiliated with OnOne, but I have attended somewhere between 40 to 50 webinars of theirs and that information comes straight from the developers mouth's.
Perfect Layers in not intended to be a product that gets compared to Photoshop or even PS Elements. It's simply a program that is less expensive than buying Photoshop if you are happy with LR, and only wish to add some layer functionality. Something that LR lack otherwise it's the best solution for many. I was just throwing out another possible solution or alternative.
Dave
Message edited by author 2011-09-14 00:18:39. |
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09/14/2011 12:26:44 AM · #10 |
Levels, Curves, sharp, dodge, burn and working with levels and masks will turn your well captured photos into well captured GREAT photos.
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09/14/2011 12:41:53 AM · #11 |
| I've used GIMP, a freely distributed GNU application for photo editing, for the past 7 years or so. It can do layers, masking, and cloning, and is worth downloading and giving it a test drive. Having said that, I purchased Photoshop CS5 extended a month ago, also at the student & teacher discount, and so far find it to be well worth the cost. |
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09/14/2011 12:44:10 AM · #12 |
I also have used and still use Gimp. I have it on another computer that will not run Photoshop. It is good.
Originally posted by Nordlys:
I've used GIMP, a freely distributed GNU application for photo editing, for the past 7 years or so. It can do layers, masking, and cloning, and is worth downloading and giving it a test drive. Having said that, I purchased Photoshop CS5 extended a month ago, also at the student & teacher discount, and so far find it to be well worth the cost. |
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09/14/2011 07:17:51 AM · #13 |
Another question: in LR3 you have the library module where you can see all your imported images, and from there its one click away from the processing module. No real opening of files needed, and no windows all over the place with all the images you want to edit. How does this work in CS5? Is the file management in PS straightforward and neat, and is easy to make edits to your images without your screen getting cluttered with pictures?
Thanks for all the input guys, appreciate it! |
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09/14/2011 07:50:15 AM · #14 |
Photoshop is one of those program's you could live without, but once you start using it its hard to stop. its a more powerful editing software and gives way more control of editing an image. i use light room 95% of the time, but i constantly go into PS to give eyes some pop, smooth skin, use masks to control exposure of foreground and background.
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09/14/2011 08:36:31 AM · #15 |
Originally posted by gcoulson:
Another question: in LR3 you have the library module where you can see all your imported images, and from there its one click away from the processing module. No real opening of files needed, and no windows all over the place with all the images you want to edit. How does this work in CS5? Is the file management in PS straightforward and neat, and is easy to make edits to your images without your screen getting cluttered with pictures?
Thanks for all the input guys, appreciate it! |
Ps isn't a file manager at all, so yes, it's like working with other traditional applications, where if you have multiple files open, you have multiple windows on screen. Normally, in Ps, you are working on one project. That may involve opening multiple files, but usually the bulk of your work is in one file.
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09/14/2011 08:48:26 AM · #16 |
Originally posted by kirbic:
Ps isn't a file manager at all, so yes, it's like working with other traditional applications, where if you have multiple files open, you have multiple windows on screen. Normally, in Ps, you are working on one project. That may involve opening multiple files, but usually the bulk of your work is in one file. |
Thanks, Kirbic. I was under the impression that Bridge was your file manager interface that you used to bring things into PS?
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09/14/2011 11:13:54 AM · #17 |
Originally posted by gcoulson:
Thanks, Kirbic. I was under the impression that Bridge was your file manager interface that you used to bring things into PS? |
Yes, but honestly I don't know a lot of folks who use Bridge... or perhaps I'm just unaware that they do. For myself, I use Lr as my file manager, and send to Ps from there or simply use the OS to navigate and double-click to open my exported TIFF or JPEG in Ps
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09/14/2011 11:58:08 AM · #18 |
Originally posted by kirbic:
Originally posted by gcoulson:
Thanks, Kirbic. I was under the impression that Bridge was your file manager interface that you used to bring things into PS? |
Yes, but honestly I don't know a lot of folks who use Bridge... or perhaps I'm just unaware that they do. For myself, I use Lr as my file manager, and send to Ps from there or simply use the OS to navigate and double-click to open my exported TIFF or JPEG in Ps |
ditto. |
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09/14/2011 12:52:07 PM · #19 |
Originally posted by kirbic:
Yes, but honestly I don't know a lot of folks who use Bridge... or perhaps I'm just unaware that they do. For myself, I use Lr as my file manager, and send to Ps from there or simply use the OS to navigate and double-click to open my exported TIFF or JPEG in Ps |
Ahhh, that makes sense to me to combine LR3 and Photoshop. When you switch from LR to PS, does it export the RAW file, or does it generate a TIFF first? |
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09/14/2011 01:26:28 PM · #20 |
Originally posted by gcoulson:
Originally posted by kirbic:
Yes, but honestly I don't know a lot of folks who use Bridge... or perhaps I'm just unaware that they do. For myself, I use Lr as my file manager, and send to Ps from there or simply use the OS to navigate and double-click to open my exported TIFF or JPEG in Ps |
Ahhh, that makes sense to me to combine LR3 and Photoshop. When you switch from LR to PS, does it export the RAW file, or does it generate a TIFF first? |
You can't export a RAW file. A RAW file is only data that tells the RAW editor how to construct an image. Even in the converter it's self you're not looking at a RAW photo. It has to be converted to an actual image file...normally a 16 bit Tiff file to maintain the ability to work on the best file possible without compression artifacts. You can export to other formats such as jpeg, but you're degrading the image at that point.
Dave |
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09/14/2011 01:27:42 PM · #21 |
Originally posted by gcoulson:
Originally posted by kirbic:
Yes, but honestly I don't know a lot of folks who use Bridge... or perhaps I'm just unaware that they do. For myself, I use Lr as my file manager, and send to Ps from there or simply use the OS to navigate and double-click to open my exported TIFF or JPEG in Ps |
Ahhh, that makes sense to me to combine LR3 and Photoshop. When you switch from LR to PS, does it export the RAW file, or does it generate a TIFF first? |
By default, it will try to open it in Ps as a RAW file, using the ACR plug-in for Ps. If your version of Ps is not up to date, you will get a dialog box that "informs" you of this. Bottom line, if the version of ACR installed in your Ps installation is not capable of handling the incoming file, there will be an error.
The dialog gives you a choice to "Render using Lr" and if you choose this, then a TIFF is generated and opened in Ps.
So I guess the answer to your question is "either, it's your choice!"
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09/14/2011 01:41:52 PM · #22 |
I just barely bought Photoshop CS5 yesterday (I had version 3 before) and boy is it fun and not at all hard to use.
I figured out most of the new features really fast and without much looking. Content Fill is the best thing ever. I have been amusing myself all day selecting out a good 50% of a photo and seeing how Photoshop chooses to fill it in. |
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09/14/2011 01:43:14 PM · #23 |
Originally posted by kirbic:
Originally posted by gcoulson:
Originally posted by kirbic:
Yes, but honestly I don't know a lot of folks who use Bridge... or perhaps I'm just unaware that they do. For myself, I use Lr as my file manager, and send to Ps from there or simply use the OS to navigate and double-click to open my exported TIFF or JPEG in Ps |
Ahhh, that makes sense to me to combine LR3 and Photoshop. When you switch from LR to PS, does it export the RAW file, or does it generate a TIFF first? |
By default, it will try to open it in Ps as a RAW file, using the ACR plug-in for Ps. If your version of Ps is not up to date, you will get a dialog box that "informs" you of this. Bottom line, if the version of ACR installed in your Ps installation is not capable of handling the incoming file, there will be an error.
The dialog gives you a choice to "Render using Lr" and if you choose this, then a TIFF is generated and opened in Ps.
So I guess the answer to your question is "either, it's your choice!" |
Just to add to this. I find that Lightroom has much nicer controls for RAW than Photoshop does. There are quite a few smaller features that I find much easier to use in Lightroom.
So I edit the Raw in lightroom, and then export into a high quality JPEG, and then open that in Photoshop |
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09/14/2011 02:20:38 PM · #24 |
| I was never comfortable using the trial of Lightroom, so let me put my hand up as the one exception here. I use Bridge and find it quite adequate for my purposes. But as the OP already has Lightroom, I don't suppose he's likely to use it. |
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