Q for you photoshop users...

[TC]

I am doing more and more photogaphy. I have been doing several weddings. I can do some things in photoshop but I am still really new at it. Mostly I do color correction, lighting correction, grayscale, some times remove objects. I would like to do a little more with smoothing out faces.


What is the best version of photoshop? I have Elements and 7, I also have lightroom and can get cs3. I know elements is the scaled down version but what is the progression of the programs. Is CS3 the top of the line? With what I do what would be a good balance of features and ease of use

[DeWayneTN]

TC, here's what I do smooth out faces. Duplicate the layer and then put a blur filter on that copy until it's smooth but still recognizable. Then place it under the original and use the eraser tool only in spots you want smoothness. Keep the detail in the hair, nose, eyes area but smooth out the cheeks or forehead, etc.

[Pastor Gary]

The healing brush is your friend. Find a smooth area of the face and select it as what you seek to achieve; then click the healing brush on a small flawed area and watch the blemish disappear. Use very judiciously and patiently... "too-perfect" skin doesn't look natural.

[TC]

I do about the same thing for the most part. I used to have all of these filters to do these things and I have been doing them more with PS. Like I love soft focus, Not sure if this is how it is supposed to be done but I make a layer and then I take it with Filter/other/max. I usually pic a number between 4-10 and then i use the Gaussian blur and I usually double the number I used before then I use the Opacity to about 20-30

Alot of work but it works well... so far... when I remember how to post I will post a few samples.

OK part of my problem is i have too many programs and they are all about the same but just different in a few smaller ways. I was told that Light room is best for photogs, it does the best for lighting and taken care of pics in raw mode. but I am still too new at it and I have not had the time I want to really learn it and the books are about 10 feet tall and bullet proof.

SO so which should I go with, PS7 or CS3 or Lightroom?

[Sherry]

I have been using this program with my photos lately and love it! It's free and pretty easy to use, maybe not as "advanced" as Photoshop, but it has some really neat features on it. I use it more than my Photoshop Elements now.

Photoscape, Free Photo Editing Program

[TW]

TC,
I probably use my photo editing programs quite differently than most people, as I am basically an artist that uses photos as an adjunct to my art. That is not to say that I don't edit much of my photography to achieve similar goals. Currently I have a half dozen or so photo editing programs on my computer. Of these, the three that I use most often are Adobe PhotoShop Elements. HP Photosmart Esentials, and Picasa 2. PhotoShop carries the lion share of the work, as it is a flexible program that allows me more latitude (generally speaking) than the others. The hardware that I employ is also somewhat different than the average user, who basically uses a mouse. In addition to the mouse, I use a trackball (at times) and a graphics tablet with a hyper pen. Of the three pointing devises I prefer to use the graphics tablet and pen, they allow for more natural hand and arm movements, virtually the same movements used in painting. When used in conjunction with high magnification they provide very precise control.

You might want to look into some of the different hardware options available.

Another option might be to look into one of the Corel Painter programs, I have used them in conjunction with PhotoShop in the past (I did some Beta testing for Painter IX) with excellent results.


TW

p.s. I'm saving my pennies so I can get Painter X, that should allow me to do some awesome things with photos.

[Gerald Creasy]

In addition to the mouse, I use a trackball (at times) and a graphics tablet with a hyper pen. Of the three pointing devises I prefer to use the graphics tablet and pen, they allow for more natural hand and arm movements, virtually the same movements used in painting. When used in conjunction with high magnification they provide very precise control.

I was going to ask if anyone here had experience with a graphics Tablet. I'm looking at a Wacom Intuos...but egads! the price!

[TW]

Gerald,
I just took a look at the Wacom website. Now I want to update my tablet. I've been using an Aiptek for about 15 years now, and love it. However, as with anything electronic or mechanical, eventually it will need replacing. The software package that Wacom includes with the Intuos line makes it a very attractive candidate to be that replacement. While the tablet might seem pricey, they are including about $250.00 worth of software, not too shabby.

What size are you looking at? Currently I am using a 6 x 8, and as I said, it has served me well for the last 15 years. I hope that you can find a way to get your hands on one, you'll never be satisfied with just a mouse again.


TW

[MacUser]

All good tips. Use any version you have and learn the Tricks as Dewayne mentioned. The healing brush maybe above version 7.

Again, learn the tricks... research some tutorials for your version as the web offers many, many already illustrated ones.

Final tip, always work full size. Keep the master PSD as backup with your version edits, layers, text overlays etc.

Happy Editing.

[Gerald Creasy]

Gerald,
I just took a look at the Wacom website. Now I want to update my tablet. I've been using an Aiptek for about 15 years now, and love it. However, as with anything electronic or mechanical, eventually it will need replacing. The software package that Wacom includes with the Intuos line makes it a very attractive candidate to be that replacement. While the tablet might seem pricey, they are including about $250.00 worth of software, not too shabby.

What size are you looking at? Currently I am using a 6 x 8, and as I said, it has served me well for the last 15 years. I hope that you can find a way to get your hands on one, you'll never be satisfied with just a mouse again.


TW

At least a 6x8. Maybe a 6x11. In fact either or. I wouldnt need bigger. I would use it mainly with Zbrush a 3d modeling and illustration program. I'm glad you mentioned the Wacom site...I'd been checking out the cut rate places--THEY didnt have the good software package.

I seriously can not believe you actual got 15 years of use out of a piece of computer equipment.