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Microstock Photography Forum - General => Software => Software - General => Topic started by: Jimi King on April 14, 2008, 04:24

Title: If you don't have Photoshop...
Post by: Jimi King on April 14, 2008, 04:24
...somebody pointed me to a program called Deep Paint (http://download.chip.eu/en/Deep-Paint-2.0_132831.html) the other day.

It seems to be a pretty good Photoshop clone.

The downside is that the company who produced it seemed to have stopped any development in it some years back.

The upside is that it's free!

I haven't tested it out but I installed it and had a look through and it looks pretty good, so if you haven't got PS or the budget to buy it, then this might be worth a try.

Title: Re: If you don't have Photoshop...
Post by: rjmiz on April 14, 2008, 04:31
I hear people talk about this PS clone all the time. I hear only good reports.
I think this is the premiere PS clone

http://www.gimp.org (http://www.gimp.org)
Title: Re: If you don't have Photoshop...
Post by: helix7 on April 14, 2008, 08:27

http://www.pixelmator.com (http://www.pixelmator.com)

Title: Re: If you don't have Photoshop...
Post by: leaf on April 14, 2008, 08:33
i agree with rjmiz.

Gimp seems to be the market leader for open source image editing. 

I tried it once, and it lacks a lot but all in all I suppose it is good for free.

If i were someone without photoshop though, I would buy photoshop elements.  it is pretty cheap and you get used to the photoshop layout and have most of the full photoshop tools.  The day you are ready to upgrade to full photoshop you will be ready.

another note... if you buy a DSLR it is often bundeld in the package.

There also must be a ton of photoshop elements programs on ebay for cheap from people who got them with a camera and don't want them.
Title: Re: If you don't have Photoshop...
Post by: leszek on April 14, 2008, 08:45
You could also try PictureWindow. Works in 16bit, and essentially does all that PS can do - although it needs getting used to and some things are just easier in PS. But it is a  good oiece of software, and is pretty cheap. I think evaluation version is also available free.
Have a look here:
http://dl-c.com/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=14&Itemid=28
Title: Re: If you don't have Photoshop...
Post by: sharpshot on April 14, 2008, 09:48
Gimpshop makes the gimp more like photoshop.
http://www.gimpshop.com/
Title: Re: If you don't have Photoshop...
Post by: Pixart on April 14, 2008, 10:25
I learned on PaintShopPro, I noticed that their price just dropped to $79.99 for a full version which means there must be a new release in the near future.   You can do almost everything in it, layers, vector layers, but I think they are known more for their auto-fix features for the average consumer.

I finally do almost all of my strictly photo editing in Capture and PhotoShop.  I'm trying to learn Photo Shop, but it's frustrating at times when everything is second nature in PSP.  Also, I have created hundreds of PSP templates for my business use so I can't see myself ever graduating from PSP entirely. 

In the end, PSP seems more affordable, but they upgrade at least once a year - so if you keep upgrading it is more expensive than at first glance - PhotoShop doesn't seem to major release for 2 or 3 years.
Title: Re: If you don't have Photoshop...
Post by: Jimi King on April 14, 2008, 13:24
With all these alternatives I can't see why I bothered buying Photoshop in the first place. Although I did get a still shrinkwrapped copy of CS2 from eBay. I don't think I'll ever bother with CS3.

I've spent so many years working with Corel Photo Paint that I find it hard getting my head around Photoshop, although the cloning in PS is definitely the best, especially with a tablet.

The most amazing program in the world for Vector illustrations, and the production of web sized graphics is Xara Xtreme (http://stats.xaraonline.com/ID.628350/product.XaraXtremeCD/redirectid.XaraXtremeHome/affiliate.html). Really fast and versatile. Amazing for cutting bits out of images and feathering. I use it more than anything else.
Title: Re: If you don't have Photoshop...
Post by: leaf on April 14, 2008, 13:27
although the cloning in PS is definitely the best, especially with a tablet.


i think you just answered your question there!  Photoshop DOES have tons and tons of features.  if you learn to use 10% of them the program can be very powerful, useful and make for a quick professional work flow.

I think if the alternatives were better, there would be more people using them.
Title: Re: If you don't have Photoshop...
Post by: rjmiz on April 14, 2008, 13:45
I live, eat, and sleep photoshop. Have been for years.
I have PS muscles. I watch photoshop TV, I belong to NAPP, and my hero is Scott Kelby.

I live in a very very expensive house, because I bought a run down shack, and converted
it into a mansion using photoshop. All my enemies are ugly and disgusting, and all my friends
are young and beautiful....cause I made them that way with photoshop.

I got student discounts on the internet using my college ID I made in Photoshop.
I am a professor of Physics at Berkley University. I have the ID to prove it.

Photoshop has changed my life. It can do the same for you too!

The MIZ

 
Title: Re: If you don't have Photoshop...
Post by: vonkara on April 14, 2008, 14:25
I live, eat, and sleep photoshop. Have been for years.
I have PS muscles. I watch photoshop TV, I belong to NAPP, and my hero is Scott Kelby.

I live in a very very expensive house, because I bought a run down shack, and converted
it into a mansion using photoshop. All my enemies are ugly and disgusting, and all my friends
are young and beautiful....cause I made them that way with photoshop.

I got student discounts on the internet using my college ID I made in Photoshop.
I am a professor of Physics at Berkley University. I have the ID to prove it.

Photoshop has changed my life. It can do the same for you too!

The MIZ

 
Oh my... That's poetic :D
Title: Re: If you don't have Photoshop...
Post by: Jimi King on April 14, 2008, 14:40
I got student discounts on the internet using my college ID I made in Photoshop.
I am a professor of Physics at Berkley University. I have the ID to prove it.

Wish I'd thought of that. Mind you the only time I'd need it would be to buy the educational version of Photoshop.
Title: Re: If you don't have Photoshop...
Post by: vphoto on April 14, 2008, 14:57
I live, eat, and sleep photoshop. Have been for years.
I have PS muscles. I watch photoshop TV, I belong to NAPP, and my hero is Scott Kelby.

I live in a very very expensive house, because I bought a run down shack, and converted
it into a mansion using photoshop. All my enemies are ugly and disgusting, and all my friends
are young and beautiful....cause I made them that way with photoshop.

I got student discounts on the internet using my college ID I made in Photoshop.
I am a professor of Physics at Berkley University. I have the ID to prove it.

Photoshop has changed my life. It can do the same for you too!

The MIZ



 

Is there a good PS book ? I bought 3 of them and wanted to trow them all off along with PS.
I too want to make my enemies ugly  :)
Title: Re: If you don't have Photoshop...
Post by: leaf on April 14, 2008, 14:59
not a book, but a few tutorials.  check out
http://www.kelbytraining.com/

you can watch the first few tutorials in all the catagories for free.

also subscribe to photoshop tv for tons o learning tips
Title: Re: If you don't have Photoshop...
Post by: vphoto on April 14, 2008, 15:15
thanks, leaf. I will definitely give those tutorials a try. And, of course, I will be rereading MIZ message for inspiration.

Title: Re: If you don't have Photoshop...
Post by: leaf on April 14, 2008, 15:23
here is the photoshop user tv link

http://www.photoshopusertv.com/
Title: Re: If you don't have Photoshop...
Post by: Jimi King on April 17, 2008, 14:20
Actually it seems that even if you DO have Photoshop all is not cut and dried...

http://www.photoshopdisasters.blogspot.com/