Photoshop v Corel Photopaint

Luanne · #1 (**permalink**) 11-04-2008, 06:54 PM

Hi everyone,

I am a newbie and just starting to experiment with photo manipulation. I am currently using Corel Photopaint but, by looking at many of your profiles, I see that Photoshop is preferred. I have an old version on my computer at work (CS2) and have taken a look, but it all seems very complicated. Would it be worth my while taking a course in Photoshop or can I do just as well with other, less 'professional' packages?

**Dennyboy** · #2 (**permalink**) 11-04-2008, 07:30 PM

Hi Luanne, i used to use Corel but found any magazine you pick up only deals with Photoshop elements or Photoshop. if you only want to do basic editing like layers, cropping, cloning and general touching up what you have is fine. I moved to Photoshop Elements 6 because it has all the main functionality of Photoshop at 10% of the Photoshop price (about £50) and most magazines and tutorials can be followed with it.

Hope this helps!

Luanne · #3 (**permalink**) 12-04-2008, 08:51 AM

Thanks for that Dennyboy - yes, maybe I will look at buying Photoshop Elements, and it's true - almost every magazine refers to Photoshop. I subscribe to Digital Photography magazine and EVERY month there is a disc with Photoshop tutorials on it - frustrating or what! Maybe its a conspiracy against Corel!

Luanne · #4 (**permalink**) 13-04-2008, 06:15 PM

Well Guys, I downloaded a free trial from Adobe last night and am having fun(?) trying it out. Bit peeved that it has taken over my Fuji Finepix viewer which I usually use to download images into, but hey I am hoping it will be worth it. So far it seems much quicker that Photopaint for cropping, adjusting hue/saturation etc. but I still have to get to grips with something called Layers!

**Dennyboy** · #5 (**permalink**) 13-04-2008, 06:27 PM

Hi Luanne, the catalogue feature is really good if you take the time to assign keywords to your images it is very flexible.

Also there are video tips at the adobe website you got the trial from if not a good book is..

Photoshop elements 6 "the missing manual" by Barbara Brundage

Amazon Photoshop Elements 6 the missing manual

Highly recommend its in plain english!

Dennis

Luanne · #6 (**permalink**) 13-04-2008, 07:34 PM

Thanks Denny Boy - will buy the book if I decide to keep Elements.

xp1 · #7 (**permalink**) 14-04-2008, 10:35 AM

Hi Luanne,
Ask your boss for a copy of PS2 (so you can work at home of course). Just search google for PS2 tutorials and sit back and enjoy. Get the books from your local library, that way you will save a fortune.
Good luck

adamfg · #8 (**permalink**) 19-04-2008, 12:17 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by xp1

Hi Luanne,
Ask your boss for a copy of PS2 (so you can work at home of course). Just search google for PS2 tutorials and sit back and enjoy.

yea, Copy That, I learned most of what I know from tutorials, and they got me to a high enough standard to become a web designer... the best thing is they are always the first resource with new methods, so aslong as your using a recent (ish) copy of Ps you'll be fine, I'm using Photoshop CS3 Extended, it is truly amazing...