Corel Paint Shop Pro X2 - worth persevering with?
Posted 10/03/2012 - 10:34 - Helpful Comment
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You can't future proof, so it's a constant upgrade path, just like it is with digital cameras.
Photoshop is the "industry standard" and Elements will do virtually everything we could hope for. However, CS5 has some nice and sometimes useful things that professionals may require.
Photoshop is the "industry standard" and Elements will do virtually everything we could hope for. However, CS5 has some nice and sometimes useful things that professionals may require.
Best regards, John
Posted 10/03/2012 - 10:47
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Thanks John
I realise that I can't future proof entirely, but assume that if I use a certain program now then even with upgrades, the basic techniques will be the same. I just don't wnat to spend time learning techniques on PSP if the program itself isn't the best to use.
I realise that I can't future proof entirely, but assume that if I use a certain program now then even with upgrades, the basic techniques will be the same. I just don't wnat to spend time learning techniques on PSP if the program itself isn't the best to use.
Posted 10/03/2012 - 11:31
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Fair comment. It's true to say that anyone using Photoshop from P6 onwards would find the basic priciples are still the same in CS5.
No doubt the same is true of Elements.
No doubt the same is true of Elements.
Best regards, John
Posted 10/03/2012 - 14:59 - Helpful Comment
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I don't think it matters too much which package you use to learn the princples of image editing.
I have PS6, and I can think of several ways in which it works just like Elements 7 or 10. But - using PSP X4 (which I bought to replace X) I can resize an image in pixels. I cannot see how to do this in Elements 10, but I can do it in PS6. Any of them will allow me to crop to pixel dimensions, but that is not what I want to do.
I did not like certain features of Elements 7 - but I do use Elements 4 on a Mac.
OK, if you are a pro or semi-pro and have a learned set of keystrokes and shortcut presets, then you might find one or other is better for you. Me, i spend more time looking at the screen image, than I do doing the actual editing. Even so, I do find the older versions of PS to be slow, while PSE 7 or PSE 10 or PSP X4 to be way faster than I can decide what to tweak next.
Geoff
I have PS6, and I can think of several ways in which it works just like Elements 7 or 10. But - using PSP X4 (which I bought to replace X) I can resize an image in pixels. I cannot see how to do this in Elements 10, but I can do it in PS6. Any of them will allow me to crop to pixel dimensions, but that is not what I want to do.
I did not like certain features of Elements 7 - but I do use Elements 4 on a Mac.
OK, if you are a pro or semi-pro and have a learned set of keystrokes and shortcut presets, then you might find one or other is better for you. Me, i spend more time looking at the screen image, than I do doing the actual editing. Even so, I do find the older versions of PS to be slow, while PSE 7 or PSE 10 or PSP X4 to be way faster than I can decide what to tweak next.
Geoff
Water can wear away a stone - but it can't cook lunch
X-5
istDS
K2000
P50.
Lenses Digital: 50-200, 18-55 KAF: 28-80.
Lenses KA & K: SMC-KA f2.0, SMC-K f1.4, SMC-K f1.7 Tokina KA 28-70 , SMC Pentax 70-210 F4, Sigma KA 75-300 , Hanimex 500mm Mirror, and the Tamron Adaptall-2 stuff.
and then there's all the M42 kit, and the accessories ...
X-5
istDS
K2000
P50.
Lenses Digital: 50-200, 18-55 KAF: 28-80.
Lenses KA & K: SMC-KA f2.0, SMC-K f1.4, SMC-K f1.7 Tokina KA 28-70 , SMC Pentax 70-210 F4, Sigma KA 75-300 , Hanimex 500mm Mirror, and the Tamron Adaptall-2 stuff.
and then there's all the M42 kit, and the accessories ...
Posted 10/03/2012 - 15:20
Link
Thanks Geoff
I'll stick with PSP for now if the basic principles are the same - I'm hardly an advanced user! I might get PS Elements or Lightroom next time one of them is on offer.
Appreciate the help
I'll stick with PSP for now if the basic principles are the same - I'm hardly an advanced user! I might get PS Elements or Lightroom next time one of them is on offer.
Appreciate the help
Posted 10/03/2012 - 16:54 - Helpful Comment
Link
A couple of years ago I took a punt on X2 Ultimate when it was on Amazon at a ridiculously low price, the learning curve was quite steep for me - but probably no steeper than it would have been with another package. Everything I've wanted to do has been possible with X2, with the exception of focus-stacking which I believe this is standard in Photoshop, but then again for the difference in price I can't really justify the extra.
A few weeks ago I upgraded to X3 Ultimate (again an Amazon special) and I find this faster and generally better. I suspect I will stay with this "upgrading model", leaving me with cash to feed my LBA
A few weeks ago I upgraded to X3 Ultimate (again an Amazon special) and I find this faster and generally better. I suspect I will stay with this "upgrading model", leaving me with cash to feed my LBA
LennyBloke
Posted 10/03/2012 - 17:02
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I've had mine a couple of years so might have been the same time. I remember the price being stupidly low.
Judging by the comments I'll stick with it for now. I have a lot to learn anyway before needing anything more powerful.
Judging by the comments I'll stick with it for now. I have a lot to learn anyway before needing anything more powerful.
Posted 11/03/2012 - 14:43
Link
Out of interest, and hopefully not to hijack the thread but to expand upon it,how do forum members think GIMP matches up to the likes of lightroom and elements?
I'm a bit of a digital luddite so simply use UFRaw and GIMP to auto-adjust exposure and apply a bit of unsharp mask - I'm therefore no expert but would be interested in whether it's worth stumping up a few quid for a package, and if so what the key advantages are. And whether it's worth investing in a manual or two to figure how to use it!
I'm a bit of a digital luddite so simply use UFRaw and GIMP to auto-adjust exposure and apply a bit of unsharp mask - I'm therefore no expert but would be interested in whether it's worth stumping up a few quid for a package, and if so what the key advantages are. And whether it's worth investing in a manual or two to figure how to use it!
Posted 11/03/2012 - 15:19 - Helpful Comment
Link
For what it's worth ...
I started with a very old version of PS that came as part of a package for an ancient Mac. All I did was to adjust the lighting and crop. I have slowly learned to do more, and acquired more modern packages - usually by keeping an eye on the bargains.
My philosophy is that a package that was good yesterday will still be good today.
Right now, you could stay where you are.
You could spend £33 on Elements 8 (Morgan Computer)
You could spend £58 on Elements 10 (Amazon) and maybe cheaper elsewhere
You could get PSPro X3 for £15 (Morgan again)
Any of these would be a big jump forward. There are books available to help you master the new software. Many are available from your public library.
What you would notice, most probably, is that the modern packages are much faster - if that matters.
On past experience, I would go for a slightly out-of-date package, that was a big advance on what I was used to.
And, if you really want to see if a "more modern" package is right for you, try Studioline. You often get the old version as a covermount on one of the computer mags, but they have made the V3 into Freeware, and "suck it and see" does not come any cheaper than that.
Until you have tried, you will not know just what you can do. Certainly, I would not have had half as much fun entering competitions at my local club without some good software to help me.
Geoff
I started with a very old version of PS that came as part of a package for an ancient Mac. All I did was to adjust the lighting and crop. I have slowly learned to do more, and acquired more modern packages - usually by keeping an eye on the bargains.
My philosophy is that a package that was good yesterday will still be good today.
Right now, you could stay where you are.
You could spend £33 on Elements 8 (Morgan Computer)
You could spend £58 on Elements 10 (Amazon) and maybe cheaper elsewhere
You could get PSPro X3 for £15 (Morgan again)
Any of these would be a big jump forward. There are books available to help you master the new software. Many are available from your public library.
What you would notice, most probably, is that the modern packages are much faster - if that matters.
On past experience, I would go for a slightly out-of-date package, that was a big advance on what I was used to.
And, if you really want to see if a "more modern" package is right for you, try Studioline. You often get the old version as a covermount on one of the computer mags, but they have made the V3 into Freeware, and "suck it and see" does not come any cheaper than that.
Until you have tried, you will not know just what you can do. Certainly, I would not have had half as much fun entering competitions at my local club without some good software to help me.
Geoff
Water can wear away a stone - but it can't cook lunch
X-5
istDS
K2000
P50.
Lenses Digital: 50-200, 18-55 KAF: 28-80.
Lenses KA & K: SMC-KA f2.0, SMC-K f1.4, SMC-K f1.7 Tokina KA 28-70 , SMC Pentax 70-210 F4, Sigma KA 75-300 , Hanimex 500mm Mirror, and the Tamron Adaptall-2 stuff.
and then there's all the M42 kit, and the accessories ...
X-5
istDS
K2000
P50.
Lenses Digital: 50-200, 18-55 KAF: 28-80.
Lenses KA & K: SMC-KA f2.0, SMC-K f1.4, SMC-K f1.7 Tokina KA 28-70 , SMC Pentax 70-210 F4, Sigma KA 75-300 , Hanimex 500mm Mirror, and the Tamron Adaptall-2 stuff.
and then there's all the M42 kit, and the accessories ...
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863 posts
14 years
Norfolk
I have a copy of Corel PSP X2 which I have recently started to get to grips with mostly as a result of joing this forum and entering a few of the competitions.
Before I really start to spend time learning it I'd like opinions on whether it's worthwhile or whether I should get something else and learn that instead.
I don't want to spend hours and hours learning PSP only to find it's too limited in the future.
I've already noticed a few poor areas compared to other programs (I think). There is no vignette option - you can make one, but it's a bit convoluted and not entirely satisfactory (hence my lack of entry in the fortnightly competition so far). There isn't any form of auto background removal - all has to be done by hand and, once again I believe other programs will do the bulk for you.
These are just a couple of examples that have cropped up in the last few weeks, but it just makes me wonder if I'd be better off changing before I spend any more time on it?
If not what's my best bet for future proofing?