What Photo Shop?

[Javier]

Photo Shop Question

I have heard the term "Photo Shop" bounced around here in the forum; however, if I go to Amazon and do a search, I get six different flavors to choose from.

I want to get one that is good enough but not more than I'll ever need -- Suggestions -- Please.

And please, band names and complete product name and price if you have the information available.

Thanks in Advance,

[Neillydun]

Hi,

What operating system is your computer? There is a free piece of software which will run on both Linux/windows platforms, called Gimp. This performs many of the functions of Photo Shop.

For more information, try: http://www.gimp.org/

/Neilly

[Tooner]

It also depends on what you want to do with Photo Shop. It's a premier desktop imaging software package; becoming an expert with it is a task in itself and also a career opportunity as a graphic artist.

For me, I just need software that can crop and resize images for my website, and sometimes create simple graphics too for the website. I use Microsoft Photo Editor and Microsoft Image Composer. These are both free, but they're free because they came with other software. My problem is I'm not sure which software package they were bundled with! (I think it came with my MS Office suite).

I assume you're doing fine without a photo editor, you may want to follow the suggestion in the previous post and get free/low cost software. Photo Shop ain't cheap and there is a stiff learning curve in trying to use it.

[Studio224]

Hi Javier,

Gimp has a lot of features, and it has similarities with PhotoShop but although is free is kindof difficult to work with.

Apart from Microsoft Photo Editor and Microsoft Image Composer, you may try also PaintShop Pro (costs about 100 dollars). You can download it and try it for free for 1 month.
PaintShopPro (http://www.jasc.com/product.asp?pf_id=001)

You may also try to find freeware software, for instance if you go to http://www.freewarehome.org/Graphics/Graphics_Editors_t.html , you may find free (really free) softwre to perform simple tasks. You will even find the Gimp there, if you want to try it!

or go to http://www.freewarehome.org/Graphics/Graphics_Manipulation_t.html for Image manipulations software...

Of course, I am assuming you have a PC? If not, I can't be of much help, I don't know nothing about Macs, but I am sure there are Mac people here at WC!

Anne-Claire

[Reye]

I agree....the Paintshop Pro is a very good, user friendly program and you can do nearly everything you want to do. I think that version 7 may be the latest but I am still using version 5 on one computer.
Jerry

[pampe]

Boy, I've had PSP on my puter for about 6 years and all I use it for is cropping and framing..wish someone would give me the Idiots Guide...you mean I can do stuff like people do here on paintning to see how they look with it???


*shaking head*


Pam

[Javier]

Thanks folks for all the good info

Went to Amazon and they have Jasc Paint Shop Pro 7.0 for $85 bucks plus there is a $20 dollar rebate (if you ever get it), making the cost $65 bucks plus shipping and handling, which is usually around $7.00 dollars. Maybe I'll order it tomorrow.

Thanks Again,

[Mary Smith]

I have been using Paint Shop Pro for years and I am totally addicted to it. I had a web business for about a year selling t-shirts and it came in handy for creating logos and a bunch of other things. Now I use it to mess around with my paintings. You will enjoy it, it is so chock full of things to try out and the price can not be beat.
Mary
PS: Javier, make sure you get the book with that deal, you will need it. Jasc Software puts this out, but the are selling version 7 with the book, etc. for $109. so you are getting a great deal as long as you get the operating manual.
Mary

[Rod]

The one I use and like is Photoimpact 5, has loads of effects and functions,
Rod.

[Rosemarie]

Hi Javier!
If you go for PaintShop Pro make sure you use PC and not a Mac. Thera are other cheap programs that works for Mac, i.e. GraphicConverter (shareware), Color It, PhotShop!! and others.
Have a look in the forum Computer & Technology, there you can get help on computerrelated things.

[mclaughlin]

Hi Javier,

try IrfanView. It's a freeware tool, but works great and let you get used to those kind of programs

http://www.irfanview.com/

You can download all sorts of filters and it's very easy to work with.

Check it out.

Dr.Watson

[Javier]

Again, Many Thanks For All The Great Info

Still haven't bought a system -- think I will try some of the free stuff first.

Thanks for all the help.

The games afoot -- have to find that software package. Holmes

Many Thanks,

[JeffG]

Just FYI, this may help clear up some terms:

A Paint Program is the generic term... also known as an image-editing or photo-editing program.



Of all the paint programs, Adobe PhotoShop is the industry standard. It has many, many bells & whistles for typography and image tweaking that most professionals never even get around to mastering. It has a high pricetag too: $700 to start, last I looked. Most of us who have it either rely on it for a living or we have *ahem* borrowed it from work. Version 6 is the latest.

There is a "PhotoShop LE" (light) that is often bundled with scanners. This is also by Adobe and is essentially Photoshop stripped down.

PaintShop Pro (although I've never used it) comes well recommended for those who want a powerful paint program with out the cost or complexity of PhotoShop.

If you use Windows, look under Accessories and there is a very rudimentary Paint program there.

After these, there are other paint programs, some of which may be freeware.