Which Photoshop do I need?

[locoindhead]

Which version would I need to get in order to do cool backgrounds and stuff without spending 600 bucks.

[Ragingblues]

You can do this sort of thing with several different photo processing programs, though Photoshop offers the greatest level of control. You may never use 99% of the program's capabilities (very few people actually do), so there is no need to spend that much money for something so simple.

Adobe offers a stripped down version that will everything you need and more for about $100, called Adobe Photoshop Elements 6. Or you can buy older versions of the full program for not much more than that. There are other threads regarding this around here, but someone may chime in with the info as well.


Ken

[pitfallharry]

Boy, I think when I started doing all of my stuff I started out with Adobe Photoshop CS........I'm not sure though.

Most of what I use for all of my pics are the standard filters.....it's basically just learning the right combination to use depending on what type of an effect your trying to achieve.

This doesn't happen over night either. It's a constant learning process.

I think the programs RB suggested are a good start. The new versions do have some updated features but a lot of it is the same as the other versions.

[Deleted]

This is where I purchased mine.

stores.ebay.com/PC-Max-store_W0QQssPageNameZstrkQ3amefsQ3amesstQQtZkm


It's a legal upgradeable version.

Cheers,
G-MANN

[locoindhead]

Thanks guys. I've started my research on which to buy, thanks for the info.

[locoindhead]

which version do you have GMann? I found Photoshop elements 4.0 on ebay for 25 bucks. It sounds like it may be able to do what I need. basicly I want to be able to make the posters and make some pics like ragingblues has on his site.

[corellia]

loco, you could also try photoshop 7. it's an older version BUT it isn't reduced in functions like elements, and it's still very very good. I'm working with it for a few years now, also on my job, and haven't found it necessary to upgrade yet, and you can really do everything you want with that

[locoindhead]

Thats what you used on your site then right? The pics look great!

[Ragingblues]

Thanks much for the compliments. G-Mann is using Photoshop 6, which is shown in the link he posted above. You can buy it from that link for $88 at the moment. I'm using 6 as well, and have for years now. The differences in the newer versions like 7, CS, CS2, CS3, etc... don't change the quality of work, just the flexibility with other programs/hardware, additional filters, etc... They affect workflow not the images themselves.

Having tons of extra plugins or filters are nice to play around with and can be creative, but the basic editing tools are by far the most important to learn effectively. PS has a variety of uses for different trades, but it's mainly just an image editor. I have used it to create various print media that might have been better suited for Adobe Illustrator, but since I hadn't taken the time to work with that much... usually just do it in PS itself.

For what you are looking to do, I would think it just comes down to comparing the latest PS Elements for just under $100 to an older, but upgradeable version of the full PS like version 6 G-Mann listed for $88 or version 7 for however much you can find it for. All will do the what you want to do very nicely.


Ken

[locoindhead]

Yeah I think I can do everything with PS 6 and the price is reasonable enough. Are the Indy and Star War images with the program itself or are they just layered pics you pull from anywhere?

[pitfallharry]

Nope, all of the work you've seen done here with PS is basically from scratch. PS does not come with any Star Wars or Indiana Jones backgrounds.

[Ragingblues]

locoindhead said:

Yeah I think I can do everything with PS 6 and the price is reasonable enough. Are the Indy and Star War images with the program itself or are they just layered pics you pull from anywhere?

Like Pitfall said... you will get nothing but the program when you order. It comes with no backgrounds, no image art, or any other kind of consumer based digital scrapbook type stuff. It's a professional photo processing program, not a family friendly, ready art type of thing. There are dozens of those types of programs out there for low dough. Everything will have to be added by you, whether it's from photos you've taken or images you find online (which is illegal, BTW... but usually not an issue unless you try to make money from it in some way).

Even though it's not the hardest thing in the world to pick up, it's not the sort of program you dive right into. Especially the removing objects/multiple layer type of thing. I just wanted you to be prepared for what you'll be getting. I'm sure you do just fine, but if not... there are a number of free online tutorials that can speed things along.


Ken

[pitfallharry]

Yeah, I've been using it for about two years now and I'm still learning something new everyday.

[locoindhead]

The whole idea sounds like a lot of fun. learning all the little tricks and cool things it does sounds entertaining. Not just for Indy stuff but for family photos and things like that would be fun to mess around with also.

[locoindhead]

More pics just posted in the gear section if you wanna see em.Let me know what you think.

[locoindhead]

PS first attempt. Its not great, but it's a start.

[Ragingblues]

Very nice first attempt!

What program/version did you wind up getting?


Ken

[corellia]

yes that's looking good! I know that background btw, I've used it for one of my lara comps once

[locoindhead]

Thanks. I went to Walmart and picked up Elements 6. It took a good couple of hours to figure out how to use and create layers. All I need is some good action shots to throw in. I went into Yahoo images and pulled tons of landscapes and cavern pics to use as backgrounds.

[corellia]

locoindhead said:

I went into Yahoo images and pulled tons of landscapes and cavern pics to use as backgrounds.

if you need free really high resolution pics, I recommend www.sxc.hu

[pitfallharry]

Ohhh, I could use a link like that myself.

[corellia]

yes, I'd be totally lost without free stock databases, they're neat. we use them for stock photography at work too and once I found out about it there was no stopping me.

[locoindhead]

My latest Photoshop. I'm addicted now. Thanks for that link also, I have been using it alot lately.

[locoindhead]

As you can see I'm having trouble getting the edges of the layers blended together. Its mostly noricable around my jacket there. Any suggestions?

[Ragingblues]

Well, here's the short of it:

The edges of the image of you are lighter than the background. You will need to go in and trim into those edges to remove the contrasting look between yourself and the background.

The other big issue at play here is the difference in focus between the photo of you and the rest of the elements in the scene. You need to either use a sharp photo of yourself (one that matches the level of sharpness of the rest of the elements/background you intend to use), or blur everything else in this scene to match your existing image. If you start with all sharp/in focuse images, you can always blur what you want or need to. You can't bring an out of focus image back from the dead in these situations, as the comparison to the rest of the scene will still be noticeable.

Other than that, I would say you are off to a nice start with adding multiple layers and all. Just remember to always try to balance the size/perspective, resolution,brightness, contrast, color, and clarity of the different layers... and your scenes will look much better for it. I'm saying all that about this scene, it's just a general rule for graphics/image work.

One easy work around for many of those issues is to use artistic filters on the entire image, as they tend to hide alot of inconsistencies or sloppy work in some cases. That's certainly not the only reason people use them of course, but many do choose that route because it's much easier.


Ken