From PSP to PE, GIMP or something else?

[leesa_perrie]

I'd like some advice from icon-makers and users of photo manipulation software, please!

At present, I'm using Paint Shop Pro 7 - which even hubby agrees is pretty old these days - and so we are thinking of taking the plunge and getting new software! But, there's no way we're paying out for Photoshop - this is a hobby after all, not a career

Comments

[x_varda_x]

I use Photoshop Elements 6. It does everything I need it to do :) I wouldn't know about transitioning, as before PS I was using Paint (yup, the free one with Windows) I mostly self taught on PS, which did take some time.

What sort of different things would you be looking to do? Does your current program not support everything?

[leesa_perrie]

I'm not sure if my current program supports everything or whether it's just that I don't know how to do certain things with PSP - and that whenever I look for tuts, they're either for later versions that don't look like mine, or are too complicated for me to follow!! I'm hoping that changing to something better known and more current might help me track down the tuts I need!

There are two things about PSP7 that definitely annoy me. One is that, so far, the only freehand tool I've found for cutting out images is extremely hard to use, and the other is that the font seems to be pixelated and not sharp, so I often end up using an online site that produces text in a downloadable form!

It would be nice to be able to learn how to cut out and blend images, change backgrounds (and not just colour them in) and do things like colour flood, animations, b/w with shots of colour and such like. Things that PSP probably does, but I can't find appropriate tuts for!!

Hubby seems to be leaning towards Photoshop Elements, so we may end up with that.

[x_varda_x]

Yip, PS Elements can do all that stuff you find tricky and the animations/cutting out/blending/changing backgrounds :)

[leesa_perrie]

Thank you, that's good to know!

[starwatcher307]

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I love Photoshop Elements, though I don't do much more than crop and fix color/lighting. But it does about 90% of what Photoshop does, for one-third the price. They're pretty similar (Dad uses the full deal), although specific actions may be in different menus. :( Personally, I think PE is a lot more intuitive, and easier.
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[leesa_perrie]

Thanks. I'm thinking PE might be the better way to go - it leaves me options should I want to get into Photoshop one day. Though somehow, I think I'll end up sticking with Elements!

[frith_in_thorns]

I use PAINT.NET which is free, and really good imo. All my icons were made in it, and I've not found myself yearning after more features, for certain. Basically, I very highly recommend it.

[leesa_perrie]

Will definitely look that one up, see what it has to offer. Thanks.

[sporangia]

I like Photoshop Elements 8, I also use Photoshop CS2 which isn't all that different from the Elements versions. I went from Photoshop Elements 2 to Photoshop CS2 without any difficulty. It's learning the first program (whatever version) that's difficult, I couldn't make any sense of the manual so I taught myself by playing with the program, it was frustrating and I screamed a lot. Your familiarity with paintshop will help you get photoshop much faster, also you already understand good design, and how to use type. I'm still a beginner with the program, and what I really like about it is each user can discover their own tricks. Its potential is much more fluid then I thought when I started. I think Elements 8 will be perfect for you.

[leesa_perrie]

The free ones sound interesting, but I'm still leaning towards Photoshop Elements at the moment. I think using a well known program might be helpful in finding good tutorials, and might be more useful should I decide to make this more than just a hobby one day!

Thanks.