1. Welcome! Please take a few seconds to create your free account to post threads, make some friends, remove a few ads while surfing and much more. ClutchFans has been bringing fans together to talk Houston Sports since 1996. Join us!

Explain Photoshop products to me like I'm a second-grader

Discussion in 'BBS Hangout' started by JuanValdez, Dec 21, 2007.

Tags:
Page 1 of 2
  1. JuanValdez

    JuanValdez Member

    Joined:
    Feb 14, 1999
    Messages:
    35,066
    Likes Received:
    15,245
    I thought I might use my student discount to get photoshop for someone for Christmas and I'm trying to navigate between what is needed, the cost and the discount. But, not being much of a computer-nut myself, Adobe has me confused on what their various products are meant for. So, please someone help a brother out.

    * There's Photoshop CS3, which seems to be the main product. What the 3 is that the name refers to I'm in the dark about.
    * CS3 Extended seems to be CS3 with video stuff added in.
    * Photoshop Elements is what?
    * Photoshop LightRoom is what?
    * What am I missing?

    The person I'm buying for is into photography and takes tons of pictures and now some video too. I don't think he'd want to do any heavy image manipulation, just tweaks on photos and maybe editing of video.
     
    #1 JuanValdez, Dec 21, 2007
  2. chow_yun_fat

    chow_yun_fat Member

    Joined:
    May 19, 2002
    Messages:
    4,115
    Likes Received:
    47
    be a friend and buy them all
     
    #2 chow_yun_fat, Dec 21, 2007
  3. Yonkers

    Yonkers Member

    Joined:
    Jun 19, 2002
    Messages:
    8,433
    Likes Received:
    480
    CS stands for Creative Suite. It includes Photoshop and other products too like Illustrator, etc. '3' just means it's version 3 of that product line. Back then they sold Photoshop and others as separate products. Now they are bundled.
    Elements is the product that comes bundled with cameras etc. It's their lower-end consumer product. Does very good work but does not have all the features professionals might want.
    Lightroom is a workflow type of product. Helps professionals go through their photos quickly and organize them etc. Not really for regular consumer.
     
    #3 Yonkers, Dec 21, 2007
  4. JuanValdez

    JuanValdez Member

    Joined:
    Feb 14, 1999
    Messages:
    35,066
    Likes Received:
    15,245
    Alright, I think I'm starting to get it straight. One more question: he had mentioned Photoshop and Paint Shop Pro at the same time. I understand that Paint Shop Pro is the less expensive and less sophisticated competitor. Is it decent or a piece of garbage?
     
    #4 JuanValdez, Dec 21, 2007
  5. MR. MEOWGI

    MR. MEOWGI Contributing Member

    Joined:
    Jul 2, 2002
    Messages:
    14,382
    Likes Received:
    13
    If it is for someone who really wants to get into using graphic software professionally etc., then don't even bother with Paint Shop Pro.
     
    #5 MR. MEOWGI, Dec 21, 2007
  6. Yonkers

    Yonkers Member

    Joined:
    Jun 19, 2002
    Messages:
    8,433
    Likes Received:
    480
    If you want cheap you can use GIMP for free. http://www.gimp.org/
    Otherwise, stick with the industry standard Photoshop. I love that application.
     
    #6 Yonkers, Dec 21, 2007
  7. JuanValdez

    JuanValdez Member

    Joined:
    Feb 14, 1999
    Messages:
    35,066
    Likes Received:
    15,245
    Free software is not much of a present. Actually, I think he probably uses Gimp now.

    Meowgi, he isn't someone who is that serious the software. He's an avid amateur photographer. He's too old to take it past that. Do you think Paint Shop Pro is not a good product for someone who would use it regularly but not need deep functionality?
     
    #7 JuanValdez, Dec 21, 2007
  8. JuanValdez

    JuanValdez Member

    Joined:
    Feb 14, 1999
    Messages:
    35,066
    Likes Received:
    15,245
    And why can I only find CS3 Extended for a student discount? I can't get the standard software with a discount. Annoying.
     
    #8 JuanValdez, Dec 21, 2007
  9. Yaozer

    Yaozer Member

    Joined:
    Oct 10, 2006
    Messages:
    5,392
    Likes Received:
    2
    These are grown up toys.. you should go play outside with the rest of the second-graders ;) :D
     
    #9 Yaozer, Dec 21, 2007
  10. MR. MEOWGI

    MR. MEOWGI Contributing Member

    Joined:
    Jul 2, 2002
    Messages:
    14,382
    Likes Received:
    13
    I would think Photoshop has more add-ons for photography. It is the industry standard.

    Here are a bunch of photo plug-ins:
    http://www.photoshoproadmap.com/Photoshop-plugins/Photography-plugins/Most-popular/1/

    I'm sure Jeff would know a bunch about this.
     
    #10 MR. MEOWGI, Dec 21, 2007
  11. Mango

    Mango Member

    Joined:
    Sep 23, 1999
    Messages:
    10,194
    Likes Received:
    5,641

    It is probably the same concept as other selling opportunities in the world:

    clothes
    electronics
    food
    etc

    If they are working on percentage for profits, they want to maximize their sale to you.


    Is the video editing going to remain a minor part of what he is doing or will it eventually become equal or dominant over the still photography work?
     
    #11 Mango, Dec 21, 2007
  12. JuanValdez

    JuanValdez Member

    Joined:
    Feb 14, 1999
    Messages:
    35,066
    Likes Received:
    15,245
    I don't know how much video -- or more specifically video-editing -- he'll do. He just got a new camera for high-res video so I imagine he'll do more video in the future than in the past.

    In any case, I went ahead and dropped the money on CS3 Extended based on this thread and my brother's advice. Now I'll suffer buyer's remorse until it's cleared from the credit card. Thanks for everyone's help.
     
    #12 JuanValdez, Dec 21, 2007
  13. Rockets Red Glare

    Rockets Red Glare Member

    Joined:
    Jul 20, 2001
    Messages:
    1,393
    Likes Received:
    50
    How much of a discount did you get on it?
     
    #13 Rockets Red Glare, Dec 21, 2007
  14. TraJ

    TraJ Member

    Joined:
    Aug 13, 1999
    Messages:
    2,089
    Likes Received:
    2
    I'm glad I read before I posted.
     
    #14 TraJ, Dec 21, 2007
  15. JuanValdez

    JuanValdez Member

    Joined:
    Feb 14, 1999
    Messages:
    35,066
    Likes Received:
    15,245

    It was about $300. Adobe's site lists it at $1,000. Do most (honest) people actually pay that much?
     
    #15 JuanValdez, Dec 21, 2007
  16. Kam

    Kam Member

    Joined:
    Jan 16, 2002
    Messages:
    30,476
    Likes Received:
    1,322
    I think most people download it.
     
    #16 Kam, Dec 21, 2007
  17. JayZ750

    JayZ750 Member

    Joined:
    May 16, 2000
    Messages:
    25,432
    Likes Received:
    13,390
    #17 JayZ750, Mar 5, 2008
    Last edited: Mar 5, 2008
  18. LegendZ3

    LegendZ3 Member

    Joined:
    Nov 6, 2002
    Messages:
    4,196
    Likes Received:
    5
    Be like rest of us and just go download it off a torrent site. I don't know anyone besides the professionals has shell out 1000 bucks for a piece of software.
     
    #18 LegendZ3, Mar 5, 2008
  19. SwoLy-D

    SwoLy-D Member

    Joined:
    Jul 20, 2001
    Messages:
    37,618
    Likes Received:
    1,456
    Revived thread. :)

    Now we're here to enjoy the online image-editing software.

    Those look like they will work had you left your laptop somewhere or were not at home to work on your images, and you had access to the interwebs to download some files online. Thanks, BTW, JayZ750. Nice!
     
    #19 SwoLy-D, Mar 5, 2008
  20. RunninRaven

    RunninRaven Member
    Supporting Member

    Joined:
    Jun 16, 2000
    Messages:
    15,272
    Likes Received:
    3,219
    Well, Meowgi, thanks a lot. You've made me a feel like a douche for owning Paint Shop Pro 9. I'm now going to throw a puppy off a cliff just to spite you.
     
    #20 RunninRaven, Mar 5, 2008
(You must log in or sign up to post here.)
Page 1 of 2

Share This Page