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Adobe Photoshop; Advise?
Topic Started: Jun 24 2011, 07:53 AM (1,269 Views)
Arly
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Hey, guys!

I've been using Gimp so far for all my theming and graphic stuff for years, and I'm now finally looking into buying Photoshop. Is there any advise you guys have? Many of you probably have it, is there any particular version that stands out as a great buy over the others? What sort of things can it do that Gimp can't? (Other than give a more professional appearance to your graphics and themes lol). And what can Gimp do that Photoshop can't?
Edited by Arly, Jun 24 2011, 07:55 AM.
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Zeus00
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All I can tell you is that with each version that releases, they bring something new in that is tremendous. I'd buy the newest version, but if not that, then definitely CS4.
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Helena-ZNR
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I too, used Gimp exclusively until I recently acquired CS3 Extended, which I have been gradually learning.

PS does have advantages in that there are tons of high quality premade resources available (like layer styles that just do the effects for you that you have to struggle through tutorials to accomplish with Gimp.) The transform tool is awesome too. It allows you to resize, reshape and manipulate vector images. PS does have an advantage in that all the filters, layer styles etc have live previews. You can however, have that in Gimp too for some filters (like layer styles/effects) if you use the Python plug in engine for that.

However, Gimp is better at other things....like animation and batch functions. For instance, I can import multiple images from my hard drive as layers in Gimp in one operation. In PS, you have to "place" them one layer at a time.

So I use both now...depending on which is better at what I want to do. Gimp can open and read PS files, so I just use .psd as my saving format now and then use either editor.

CS3 does tend to be a bit buggy. (Gimp is more stable, I think.) I don't know about the later releases. But what I've read is that CS4 and 5 are not huge upgrades in basic functions. CS3 was the version that was the huge leap forward. (But since I haven't used them, I can't really evaluate 4 and 5) I believe you can get a version of CS3 on ebay for around $100 US.

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Arly
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Thanks, Helena!

Does anyone know the difference between an ordinary PS and a Photoshop 'Elements'? I found THIS on Play.com and it's a hell of a lot cheaper than most places I've looked so far.
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Eccentric Feline
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I use Photoshop Elements. Photoshop is much, much better then Photoshop Elements though. There are a ton of limitations, believe me. For example, there is no pen tool, no filters, actions, etc. It's really more for photo editing then it is for designing. If you end up using Elements you'll be doing a lot of "make it up as you go along" sort of designing as you try to figure out how to achieve the same effects that can be very easily achieved in Photoshop.

If you are serious about designing and can afford it, go for Photoshop. (Now I just have to save up myself... XD )
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Helena-ZNR
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Elements is a bit of a stripped down version of the full Photoshop. It's good for most applications, but you will be missing key tools like the Pen Tool. If you are designing themes, that ( and other key tools) is probably something you will want to have. However, if you don't have it, you will find ways around it. Or you can use the Gimp bezier tool to do much of the same things.

Here's an article that compares some of the features:
http://graphicssoft.about.com/cs/photoshop/f/elementscompare.htm

btw... £65 is about $104 US dollars.... I would definitely get CS3 rather than Elements for the same money. Mine was purchased from a reputable Ebay dealer. It was a new, in the wrapper item acquired in a business buyout and a valid version.
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Arly
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Thanks :) Looks like I'll be buying CS4 and using both that and Gimp.
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Louisa
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photoshop is more for image editing, InDesign and Illustrator are the ones for designing :) it depends what you want to use it for because it's quite expensive for the latest version of PS, especially with Illustrator also

if you're using it as a hobby Photoshop alone will probably be fine, but for a career or job you'll be needing at least Illustrator as well and possibly InDesign which is when it starts to get very expensive :(

i've never even heard of the other programs, Photoshop is by far at the top when it comes to this kind of thing
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Moonface-ZNR
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Jun 25 2011, 07:12 PM
I use Photoshop Elements. Photoshop is much, much better then Photoshop Elements though. There are a ton of limitations, believe me. For example, there is no pen tool, no filters, actions, etc. It's really more for photo editing then it is for designing. If you end up using Elements you'll be doing a lot of "make it up as you go along" sort of designing as you try to figure out how to achieve the same effects that can be very easily achieved in Photoshop.
I'm curious what version of PSE you have, since I have PSE5 and it has filters. Actions, not sure what those are exactly to tell if I have those. XD
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Arly
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Plan on using it mostly for theming, graphics, elements for webpages and random graphic requests for friends, also for digital artwork via a graphic tablet :)
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Helena-ZNR
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Illustrator gives you true vector capabilities, and Louisa is right, that it is an adjunct to the CS series and does things that PS alone cannot do.

If you want to famliarize yourself with a vector editor to see if you think you need it alongside PS, you can try InkScape, which is a a free, open-source program.
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Arly
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I'll try that thanks... What is a vector? I've not needed/come across them yet.
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Pando
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Arly
Jun 27 2011, 11:34 AM
I'll try that thanks... What is a vector? I've not needed/come across them yet.
A vector is an image file that is scalable without loosing quality. The universal vector format is SVG, which is coded in XML. An example: http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/c/ce/SVG-logo.svg
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Arly
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Ah! Thanks! That'll be very handy.
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Eccentric Feline
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Moonface
Jun 27 2011, 10:54 AM
Eccentric Feline
Jun 25 2011, 07:12 PM
I use Photoshop Elements. Photoshop is much, much better then Photoshop Elements though. There are a ton of limitations, believe me. For example, there is no pen tool, no filters, actions, etc. It's really more for photo editing then it is for designing. If you end up using Elements you'll be doing a lot of "make it up as you go along" sort of designing as you try to figure out how to achieve the same effects that can be very easily achieved in Photoshop.
I'm curious what version of PSE you have, since I have PSE5 and it has filters. Actions, not sure what those are exactly to tell if I have those. XD
I actually have Photoshop Elements 4.0. Filters was probably the wrong term to use.
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