Photoshop Selection

[dcsmith40D]

I feel like I am missing out by not having Photoshop. However. I don't know enough about it to know what exactly to buy. Do I need Elements or Lightroom or another version? Is there another starting point that the previously mentioned would build upon? I have been using the DPP program that came with the camera.

[Mike R]

I started with Elements and it's a decent program for the price. If you shoot RAW, you will want a more powerful program. I use Lightroom and the finish up in Elements, when needed.These two programs handle everything that I need them to and combined they are cheaper than PS CS3. Lightroom 2.0 will be out this summer, it's now avaliable as a beta program

[thaking]

if you are only wanting to edit photos and not do graphics, photoshop may be overkill...lightroom has all the tools you'd need from photoshop to do photos...i use photoshop, but that's because i do graphics too....if not, i'd do lightroom...look for books by Scott Kelby, he has some good lightroom books...his humor takes some getting used to, but the content is worth it...

[RPCrowe]

I enrolled in a free three day Photoshop class offered by the San Diego Community College, Adult Education Division. I paid a few bucks for a student ID card nd was eligible to purchase an education version of CS3 at a fraction of the cost of the standard program.

[Shutterbug Doug]

I thought Elements was bundled with the cameras? I got v2 with my Rebel and v4 with my 30D(body only). Have the quit bundling it? Elements is a basic version of PShop.

[dcsmith40D]

Originally Posted by Shutterbug Doug

I thought Elements was bundled with the cameras? I got v2 with my Rebel and v4 with my 30D(body only). Have the quit bundling it? Elements is a basic version of PShop.

My camera didn't come with Elements. It came with Digital Photo Professional.

When I went to a the few classes I attended, the instructor touch on Photoshop. I didn't pay real close attention because I didn't have Photoshop. Now I don't know if he was using Elements or the CS3 version. I remember something about using unsharp mask. When I try to sharpen in DPP, I can't see anything happen to the picture quality. Can you work in layers in Elements or Lightroom or both? I can't spend $600 on an editing program. I want to know if I'm getting anything (with regard to capability) beyond what is available in DPP if I buy Elements and or Lightroom. Can anyone shed some light on that for me.

Thanks,

David

[thaking]

don't know about elements but lightroom has quite a bit of capabilities you'd find in photoshop...it lacks layers and such, but many of the things you'd do with a photo in photoshop you can do in lightroom...check out http://www.lightroomkillertips.com/ that's where i learned most of what i know about lightroom....

[seaside]

Adobe Lightroom was designed for photographers that manage a very large volume of images. Elements 6 comes with "Bridge" which is a file manager to help organize and view images. Elements has many of the most needed functions to make standard adjustments with certain limitations such as adjusting 16 bit images. As mentioned it also has graphics capabilities.

My guess is you'd be happy with Elements. It would be a good start to learn the adobe software programs. Then at some future point you may outgrow it and will be better equiped to make a decision as to what comes next. Elements can handle RAW files with the included Adobe RAW program. Also "layers" and most of the other basics. There are some pros using Elements so that should tell you something.

You might purchase a camera, scanner or something else bundled with elements but typically it will be a "light" version, not the full retail versioin.

I use CS3 and have an older version of elements as well. The above is what I understand to be avaialbe in the new version of elements 6.

[René Damkot]

Originally Posted by dcsmith40D

When I try to sharpen in DPP, I can't see anything happen to the picture quality.

Sorry, but in that case you didn't look well enough, or were looking at the wrong place...
Have a look at these tutorials: Click

Originally Posted by dcsmith40D

Can you work in layers in Elements or Lightroom or both?

Elements: Yes. LR: No.

Originally Posted by dcsmith40D

I want to know if I'm getting anything (with regard to capability) beyond what is available in DPP if I buy Elements and or Lightroom. Can anyone shed some light on that for me.

DPP and LR (1.4) are basically the same: They both can only adjust a raw file globally. (the whole image).
DPP gives better color "out of the box". LR offers (some) DAM capability.

Photoshop (whatever version) allows you to make *local* edits. (think dodge and burn, but there are way more options).

I'd start off with DPP + Elements (or Gimp). Maybe DL a trial of LR, to see if it works for you...

[dcsmith40D]

I don't follow all of the jargon like LR offers some DAM capability. I don't know what dodge and burn means. What is Gimp, another program? "Maybe DL" I don't follow that either.

I do appreciate your help; please pardon my ignorance.

[René Damkot]

DAM = Digital Asset Management: Click.
Dodge and burn: Local adjustments, similair to what you used to do in the darkroom: dodge: lighten an image, burn: darken.
There are actually better ways to do that in PhotoShop...
Gimp is a free program, similair to PS. There is a thread dedicated to it here.
DL = Download

[Go4EVA!]

Great comments all -- Thanks -- I'm learning a lot here as well.

I don't mean to hijack the thread, but can anybody comment on how the aforementioned software packages compare to Aperture 2.0? I've got a Mac, currently using DPP, but was thinking about Aperture.... Regards.

[René Damkot]

Cannot say, since Aperture won't run on my lowly G4

I can say that DPP is better (IQ wise) then LR IMO.
LR offers some features that DPP doesn't which do speed up the workflow however.

I tend to use LR for anything that only goes onto the web.