Image editing

[GTH]

I am thinking of buying Photoshop CS4 as i really don`t have one top editing programme. I use Picasa3, Photoshop CS, and the Canon DPP, and feel there is so much more to be gained by using Photoshop CS4......(from previous threads on here). I`m looking on ebay and wondering if there are any catches there, and also, if i do buy it, can i load it both on my desk top, and my laptop, which i use when we travel?...or does that mean i have to buy CS4 twice.

I`m a bit of a novice where editing is concerned and would like to improve my images.

Looking forward to advice from those more knowledgeable than I ...and thank you in advance.

[Tringa]

Could be OK, but there is always the risk that it is not a legit copy. May appear OK, but you may find if proper updates are downloaded they don't work.

If there is a website address on the relevant Ebay page then do a WHOIS check on it to see where the registrant is located. Not every website in the Far East is dodgy, but it may raise a few concerns, especially if the price is low.

If it looks to good to be true, it probably is.

[big bill]

Hello GTH you vsay you have Photoshop CS ? for the price of CS4 is it worth it ? OK there have been a few tweeks but its mainly for people that do a lot of Graphic Design .
Just had a look at it on the official site I know I would`nt pay the price that they want for it £610 and as for on the ebay the chance of an original is slim its more likely to be a pirated copy with no redress if anything goes wrong.
As to if you can have it on more than 1 pc or laptop yes you can as long as you have sufficient memory to help it run fast enough,myself I would stick with Photoshop CS its a great program and there is not much init to warrant the layout of the upgrade

[Geoff F]

The full CS4 graphic suite is around £1500 but the commonly used photo editing version can be purchased from genuine suppliers and if you shop around you could save nearly £100 on Bill's price. But be careful of anything cheaper than that.

There is also a student version which is a lot cheaper, around £150, but there are a few conditions on purchase and use. Apparently being a 'student of life' doesn't count; even when, like me, you have been 'studding' for over 60 years!

You may find these customer reviews useful Amazon.co.uk: Customer Reviews: Adobe Photoshop Extended CS4 Student Edition (PC DVD)

I think that which editing software is best for you always depends on exactly what you want to do with your photos.

Sometimes I find people with a £100 point and shoot camera and £500 of editing programme. For my way of thinking, it should be the other way around.

ps. I use Serif Photo Plus X3 which I find perfectly adequate for me and more user friendly than Photoshop but it does have limitations if you want to get into the extreme end of photo editing.

You may also find this recent discussion useful http://www.cambridgeincolour.com/forums/thread2862.htm

[acherontia]

I have CS4 and there have been a few issues - such as why did they remove 'extract'...... although you can either download it free or find it hidden away in the files.
We're about to go 'lightroom' and have just got the instruction DVD from the US of A.
Both being students (me part time) OH and I have collected software a lot, lot cheaper. I'd say it's almost worth paying for a course to get student versions instead of paying silly prices.
I went to CS4 from PS7 but and I must say the Bridge system for RAW is great - although I'm sure the initial 'magnifying glass' will improve when I get the new MAC - my owd PC really does slow things down - especially stacking/HDR. As said -Make sure the running gear is up to doing justice to the software.

Acher

Acher

[GTH]

Thanks for your good advice guys,...very much appreciated.

i`ve been very fortunate to get photoshop CS3...and find it extremely good....

....still a lot to learn i`m sure....but onwards and upwards as they say !!

Again...many thanks to all who gave me good advice

Merry Xmas

Geoff

[dunlin]

Originally Posted by GTH

I am thinking of buying Photoshop CS4 as i really don`t have one top editing programme. I use Picasa3, Photoshop CS, and the Canon DPP, and feel there is so much more to be gained by using Photoshop CS4......(from previous threads on here). I`m looking on ebay and wondering if there are any catches there, and also, if i do buy it, can i load it both on my desk top, and my laptop, which i use when we travel?...or does that mean i have to buy CS4 twice.

I`m a bit of a novice where editing is concerned and would like to improve my images.

Looking forward to advice from those more knowledgeable than I ...and thank you in advance.

I think you can get it on a months free trial if you want to have a look at it.
If your cs is genuine i think you can pay for an up grade which shouldn't be as much as the full version
http://www.ronbigelow.com/articles/articles.htm heres another link posted by geoff f on a previous thread thats well worth reading.
regards mark........

[GTH]

Thanks for that Mark....it looks something that will help me a lot....and CS3 has already shown me a lot that i can do.....just got to learn them over a matter of time.

In Raw i find the options amazing, however having converted a lot of photographs into jpeg with Picasa3 , I`m disappointed that i didn`t save the original raw format. Are there any ways for me to recover those raw files....or is that not possible?

I would be grateful for any further advice on the subject.

Thanks to everyone....and a big "shout" for Big Bill !!

Keeps safe and warm

Geoff

[Jim Ford]

Originally Posted by GTH

In Raw i find the options amazing, however having converted a lot of photographs into jpeg with Picasa3 , I`m disappointed that i didn`t save the original raw format. Are there any ways for me to recover those raw files....or is that not possible?

The raw files should not be altered in any way, unless you actually deleted them.

A raw file is like a film negative. You take a print from the negative to produce a print - which is equivalent to a digital JPEG. In doing so, the negative is not altered in any way. It's the same with a raw file - creating a JPEG from it doesn't affect or alter the raw file. This is a major advantage of raw files - you can always have a go at them later in the light of experience gained.

If you delete a raw file it's like throwing away a film negative. You can't recover a negative from a paper print!

Never ever throw away 'good' raw files.

Jim

[pressld2]

And if you did delete the original raw files then the best thing you can do now is to save the jpegs as DNG (Adobe's Digital Negative format) files. At least then you'll be able to do any further editing on them non-destructively.

Dave P.