corel vs adobe PSP or photoshop?

[praline3001]

Sorry for those I am driving crazy with all of my questions.


I have corel's paintshop prox3. I have used PSP for several years now. There is a lot I don't do in PSP. I usually just crop, WB or fix light and remove the occasional distraction with the close brush. I also enjoy using filters.

Now that I am a *pro* with my studio flash set up, my T3i with a couple of lenses to my name I am feeling pretty 10 foot tall and bullet proof. I am wondering if I should change over to photoshop. Everything I ever read about photo editing includes *how to* in photoshop. Every filter or ..well anything really.. is done with photoshop directions. I have never looked into photoshop before because for my use, PSP worked fine. Now that I am a *photographer* I might find more I can do with photoshop?

I went to the Best Buy website to try and price and figure out the differences between the 2 programs. WOW there are like a billion add on programs for photoshop! There is only 1 PSP program. I am not sure which programs I would need to get a good start with photoshop?

Here are my questions:
1. What is the same/differences between the 2 programs?
2. What does photoshop have that PSP doesn't?
3. Which program do you use and why?
4. If you have used both which is more user friendly?
5. If I do decide to change software, which photoshop programs make for a good starter kit?

[KurtM]

Whoops, deleted. Misunderstood the question......

[Doug Sundseth]

I haven't used PSP, so I'll leave those to others.

The only program you need is Photoshop CS5 (if you decide to go with PS). The plug-ins are nice (and some photographers swear by several of them), but Photoshop will do nearly anything you can think of.

That said, I'd start with Lightroom (whose full name is Adobe Photoshop Lightroom 3) unless you need to do significant pixel-level edits or compositing. For well over 95% of my photos, I can do everything I want to do in Lightroom, and it's also a very good cataloging program.

If you need to do some pixel-level stuff, start with Photoshop Elements, which is a cut-down version of Photoshop. It does most of the pixel level stuff that most photographers need at a fraction of the price.

[windrider86]

I used Corel for many many years and for 95% of what you need to do with your photos can be done with it. Its a powerful program that truly does give PS a run for its money. All those instructions you see for photoshop can be converted to PSP.
I also have CS5, which has its perks as well. the refine edge is priceless.

[praline3001]

I did some more reading and found the student rates. I knew those rugrats I gave birth to would come in handy
I went ahead and ordered the Cs5 for $199. I had to send them my child's student ID and it will be a couple of days for them to verify everything. The normal rate is $700 so I can wait a few days for them to verify the student version lol

[windrider86]

You do know that with the student version, there are no upgrades?

[praline3001]

Originally Posted by windrider86

You do know that with the student version, there are no upgrades?

Do you mean when a new version comes out or add on/DLC?
I checked the price on the upgrade to CS5 and it was $199, the same price I paid for the student version. I figured if a new version comes out I could get the student version again paying the same price. The regular CS5 version is $700. Even if I reordered the new edition (when it comes out) I would still be better off money wise.

I have 3 kids I did check over the phone and they said the education software is per student not per household.

Maybe I am missing something, what exactly do you mean by upgrade? If you mean a newer version of CS5, my way is still cheaper.

[windrider86]

I found this:
Concerning future upgrades of Adobe academic software, here is a quote from Adobe's website:

"Upgrades don't have special education pricing. However, you can purchase upgrades for educational products at the regular upgrade prices from any Authorized Education Reseller."

So according to Adobe, you can upgrade your academic software for their standard (non-academic) software if or when you no longer have student or teacher status. That is a really good deal! Many software companies won't allow you to upgrade academic software.

Which is cool cause they didnt used to offer upgrades at all!

[praline3001]

That's kind of what I was thinking as well from what I read.

I am not even fudging anything as my daughter (she is 10) got her first real P&S for christmas. She has been really wanting to start learning about photography and has been using her Barbie camera she got when she was 5 lol

We got her the Powershot A3300 IS. For her age and skill this was perfect for her to start with. She has been using my photo editing software to play around with her pictures.

[praline3001]

WOW ~ I just have been introduced to Adobe TV. You guys might never see me again lol

I have just been moving along learning on my own how do edit photos. There are about a billion videos to watch on how to use the program. I might die of old age before I am done watching them