Photoshop - To Get - Or Not ?

[AlistairW]

Hello,

Thinking about some post processing imaging software. Photoshop obviously gets mentioned a lot, but the full current version is quite expensive. I do see deals for older versions on ebay, but what should I be on the look out for. Or is Photoshop not everyone's cup of tea for post processing ?

Thanks

Alistair

[Psychobilly]

A two machine license for Photoshop CC and Lightroom5 under the Adobe Photoshop for Photographers scheme cost less than £10 a month...

As I shoot loads of shots a month I reckon it's good VFM for me as i use recently released DSLR's and shoot raw files onky that are not directly supported in earlier versions..

You will need PC running Winows 7 or later or a Mac...

[RichM63]

This may sound like an odd question but what type of images are you taking, AP or Terrestrial? Do you have 32 or 64 bit PC?

I started with the free GIMP software, similar to PS but found it to be too complicated for me.

I now have older versions of 64bit CS4 extended and PS Elements 5, but for daytime Terrestrial use I'm finding DXO Pro Elite to be really handy for bailing me out of trouble. (trial versions of DXO 10 are available, 30 days free fully functional, water mark after 30 days).

Lightroom is another suite.

Best,

Rich

[sooot]

If you are in education teacher/student or know of anyone who is and dont they mind you using there details then you can get a dramatic price reduction on photoshop. Theres always gimp free. Or try out the free trials on pixinsight or astro art .

[AlistairW]

Mainly for AP with a 64 bit PC

[happy-kat]

Could try the free trial version of Photshop, Pixinsight and StarTools and see which you like to use.

[Merlin66]

Have a good look at the latest version of Paint Shop Pro.

Has 99% of the PS features at a fraction of the cost....

[happy-kat]

^ It is what I went for and it runs some of the plugins too. (but my experience does not even fill my little finger)

[Horwig]

You can get Photoshop CS2 free these days I believe

H

[happy-kat]

Just bookmarked a link for that to download tomorrow and give it a whirl as well.

[Merlin66]

Last time we tried that CS2 link - it didn't work.

CS2 doesn't have all the necessary features you now expect for AP processing.

CS3 I believe is a minimum starting point.

Hence the PSP alternative.

[ollypenrice]

I use CS3 and Pixinsight. I couldn't manage without both.

Olly

[wxsatuser]

A two machine license for Photoshop CC and Lightroom5 under the Adobe Photoshop for Photographers scheme cost less than £10 a month...

As I shoot loads of shots a month I reckon it's good VFM for me as i use recently released DSLR's and shoot raw files onky that are not directly supported in earlier versions..

You will need PC running Winows 7 or later or a Mac...

Thats what I did, nice easy payments.......also bought PI........I like both.

[melsky]

Couldn't be without PhotoShop I've been using it since 1993, it was then version 2.5 and I've still got the nine floppy discs it came on somewhere [emoji3]

Mel

[PeterCPC]

You can get Photoshop CS2 free these days I believe

H

It has limited functionality.

Peter

[Macavity]

I think the thing that might drive me towards Photoshop (despite limited budget and resentment)

is the observation that most imagers only seem to develop scripts / document stuff re. Photoshop.  

[carastro]

I believe the free CS2 version is available and you have to use the registration number or something that is on the download page.  

A limited version must surely be better than not having it at all if you can't afford to buy a later version.  

Carole 

[peroni]

I was using an old version of PS in my beginning days of AP (a couple of years). I've recently downloaded the trial of PixInsight and will be purchasing when it expires. PI has a steep learning curve (another one) but it is a great piece of software designed specifically for AP.

That said: PI does have it's lovers and haters. There are other alternatives to PI which may also be worth looking at, namely, AstroArt, Nebulosity, Maxim DL. 

I could be starting to go off topic here as Nebulosity, Maxim DL and PI all do other stuff as well as post processing work. See this link

I found this example of what was achieved using PI compared to PS useful.

[PeterCPC]

You can try out Paintshop here http://www.paintshoppro.com/en/free-trials/default.html

Most Photoshop plug ins like Gradient Exterminator work with Paintshop and you can get Paintshop for about £60.

Peter

[johnrt]

A mix of Pixinsight and CS5, my imaging career would be over without them.

[Merlin66]

As I said, check out PaintShop Pro, it also handles the PS plugins......

[happy-kat]

If you download the Paintshop Pro trail and wait a week or so before buying as they start sending money off offers, I saved £20 on my purchase last month.

Gradient Extrminator works as does HDLV but the former does not retain the registration details so I have to enter those each time I run the plugin but it is not a problem.

@Merlin does your version of PSP retain the registration details for Gradient Extermiantor?

[AlistairW]

Another question about photoshop - what do people actually use as i am not sure i understand all the different versions - there seems to be CS6 or Lightroom or Elements etc- plus many other options. Whats the thing i sholud be looking for for post processing. I am looking for software less than £100 and it does not have to be the most up to date version.

[Merlin66]

Happy K,

I can't answer that. I only use AstroArt and PSP etc. for spectroscopy.

I leave the pretty pictures to experts like Ollie!!!

[swag72]

For me, I could not work without layers - That really is THE most crucial part to my image processing workflow. So I would say anything with layers would do the job!