Comments on: Photoshop Alternatives, Part II http://thediscerningphotographer.com/2010/02/18/photoshop-alternatives-part-ii/ Observations, Ideas and Tips from a Life in Photography Mon, 21 May 2012 14:47:51 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.2 By: Phillip Cushman http://thediscerningphotographer.com/2010/02/18/photoshop-alternatives-part-ii/comment-page-1/#comment-5884 Phillip Cushman Tue, 28 Feb 2012 21:58:44 +0000 http://thediscerningphotographer.com/?p=1326#comment-5884 I have used Elements since version 6 and just "upgraded" to version 10. Up until now the only trouble I have had was it being very slow and regularly crashing on my Windows 7 machine. When I would edit and save an image somehow Elements used to discern that I always saved it as a JPEG and brought that up as the default save format. With Elements 10 it absolutely refuses to offer any default other than PSD. In complaining about this to Photoshop they argue that I should save only in PSD format until I am finished editing and then I should save to my preferred format. Unfortunately Photoshop apparently expects me to continue working on the same image for much longer periods than I want. Most often when I have finished editing I am finished with that edit and don't need PSD. I have a separate archive copy of the image that I can call back up if I want to work on the image again. I hate taking the extra step or two involved in changing the save format to JPEG and will probably switch to GIMP or something else and call my recent upgrade expense a lesson well-learned. I have used Elements since version 6 and just “upgraded” to version 10. Up until now the only trouble I have had was it being very slow and regularly crashing on my Windows 7 machine. When I would edit and save an image somehow Elements used to discern that I always saved it as a JPEG and brought that up as the default save format. With Elements 10 it absolutely refuses to offer any default other than PSD. In complaining about this to Photoshop they argue that I should save only in PSD format until I am finished editing and then I should save to my preferred format. Unfortunately Photoshop apparently expects me to continue working on the same image for much longer periods than I want. Most often when I have finished editing I am finished with that edit and don’t need PSD. I have a separate archive copy of the image that I can call back up if I want to work on the image again. I hate taking the extra step or two involved in changing the save format to JPEG and will probably switch to GIMP or something else and call my recent upgrade expense a lesson well-learned.

]]> By: DiscerningPhotog http://thediscerningphotographer.com/2010/02/18/photoshop-alternatives-part-ii/comment-page-1/#comment-5150 DiscerningPhotog Wed, 04 Jan 2012 19:03:17 +0000 http://thediscerningphotographer.com/?p=1326#comment-5150 I'm not familiar with the email issue you describe. Not sure whether that's a PSE issue or an AOL issue. I'm afraid your crashing issues could be Win related. I finally switched back to Macs for video editing because the platform is so much, much more stable for that process than what I was using on the PC side. I’m not familiar with the email issue you describe. Not sure whether that’s a PSE issue or an AOL issue.
I’m afraid your crashing issues could be Win related. I finally switched back to Macs for video
editing because the platform is so much, much more stable for that process than what I was using on the PC side.

]]> By: Don Dunaway http://thediscerningphotographer.com/2010/02/18/photoshop-alternatives-part-ii/comment-page-1/#comment-5147 Don Dunaway Wed, 04 Jan 2012 17:02:57 +0000 http://thediscerningphotographer.com/?p=1326#comment-5147 The reason I'm looking at your post is that I've been using PSE since v.2.0 (I'm now on 8.0 on Win7x84) and though I like the program, I'm tired of wrestling with frustrating problems. - PSE crashes way too often, especially if I leave it open for a couple of hours without input. - It's extremely difficult to email pix via AOL. It 'forgets' email addresses I've entered so I have to re-enter them, and is generally very hard to use for email. - I can't see videos in PSE. Sometimes it will show a few frames and then goes black. This is a new trick since I got 8.0. Are there solutions to these problems, or do I need to change? Is there a PSE version that addresses any of these issues? Free is nice but I don't mind paying for good software, and none of the three other programs you discuss meets my needs. Thanks for your help The reason I’m looking at your post is that I’ve been using PSE since v.2.0 (I’m now on 8.0 on Win7x84) and though I like the program, I’m tired of wrestling with frustrating problems.
- PSE crashes way too often, especially if I leave it open for a couple of hours without input.
- It’s extremely difficult to email pix via AOL. It ‘forgets’ email addresses I’ve entered so I have to re-enter them, and is generally very hard to use for email.
- I can’t see videos in PSE. Sometimes it will show a few frames and then goes black. This is a new trick since I got 8.0.
Are there solutions to these problems, or do I need to change? Is there a PSE version that addresses any of these issues? Free is nice but I don’t mind paying for good software, and none of the three other programs you discuss meets my needs.
Thanks for your help

]]> By: Danny http://thediscerningphotographer.com/2010/02/18/photoshop-alternatives-part-ii/comment-page-1/#comment-3176 Danny Fri, 23 Sep 2011 19:50:44 +0000 http://thediscerningphotographer.com/?p=1326#comment-3176 No matter how many times I try another alternative, I constantly find myself back at Photoshop. I just wish it was more intuitive. Maybe Apple can give them an overhaul. No matter how many times I try another alternative, I constantly find myself back at Photoshop. I just wish it was more intuitive. Maybe Apple can give them an overhaul.

]]> By: Merrill http://thediscerningphotographer.com/2010/02/18/photoshop-alternatives-part-ii/comment-page-1/#comment-2440 Merrill Sun, 07 Aug 2011 21:46:53 +0000 http://thediscerningphotographer.com/?p=1326#comment-2440 I've been using Photoshop Elements for years. It was actually free software included with a scanner I purchased. I was excited at the time because I figured eventually I would move on to Photoshop and Elements would give me a nice head start on what I heard was software with a large learning curve. Turns out, I've never moved to the full Photoshop. Elements does everything I need. It's that good. I'm sure that for the hardcore photo editor that Photoshop is needed. But for the vast majority of us, Elements will provide more than enough options. - M I’ve been using Photoshop Elements for years. It was actually free software included with a scanner I purchased. I was excited at the time because I figured eventually I would move on to Photoshop and Elements would give me a nice head start on what I heard was software with a large learning curve.

Turns out, I’ve never moved to the full Photoshop. Elements does everything I need. It’s that good. I’m sure that for the hardcore photo editor that Photoshop is needed. But for the vast majority of us, Elements will provide more than enough options.

- M

]]> By: Adrian http://thediscerningphotographer.com/2010/02/18/photoshop-alternatives-part-ii/comment-page-1/#comment-1948 Adrian Sat, 18 Jun 2011 03:39:06 +0000 http://thediscerningphotographer.com/?p=1326#comment-1948 Love GIMP but for real easy jobs I also used paint.net. It's super easy to use for banners etc. Love GIMP but for real easy jobs I also used paint.net. It’s super easy to use for banners etc.

]]> By: Dennis http://thediscerningphotographer.com/2010/02/18/photoshop-alternatives-part-ii/comment-page-1/#comment-1717 Dennis Mon, 02 May 2011 16:03:22 +0000 http://thediscerningphotographer.com/?p=1326#comment-1717 I really dig the look of Photoshop Elements. Something about the darker backdrop makes editing pictures (and staring at a computer) more comfortable for the eyes. I really dig the look of Photoshop Elements. Something about the darker backdrop makes editing pictures (and staring at a computer) more comfortable for the eyes.

]]> By: Warren Kimmel http://thediscerningphotographer.com/2010/02/18/photoshop-alternatives-part-ii/comment-page-1/#comment-1710 Warren Kimmel Mon, 02 May 2011 04:19:10 +0000 http://thediscerningphotographer.com/?p=1326#comment-1710 I've been exploring your site for a while, and it's right up my alley. I've recently been bit by the 'shutter bug' and I've been learning lots of techniques, mainly on the fly. You offer a great resource from which to learn. I’ve been exploring your site for a while, and it’s right up my alley. I’ve recently been bit by the ‘shutter bug’ and I’ve been learning lots of techniques, mainly on the fly. You offer a great resource from which to learn.

]]> By: DiscerningPhotog http://thediscerningphotographer.com/2010/02/18/photoshop-alternatives-part-ii/comment-page-1/#comment-1687 DiscerningPhotog Thu, 28 Apr 2011 18:54:04 +0000 http://thediscerningphotographer.com/?p=1326#comment-1687 Good luck with it, Dennis! You certainly can't beat the price. Good luck with it, Dennis! You certainly can’t beat the price.

]]> By: Dennis http://thediscerningphotographer.com/2010/02/18/photoshop-alternatives-part-ii/comment-page-1/#comment-1685 Dennis Thu, 28 Apr 2011 18:27:04 +0000 http://thediscerningphotographer.com/?p=1326#comment-1685 I've recently been looking for something other than Photoshop... Glad I came across your post! I'm off to go try Gimp... I’ve recently been looking for something other than Photoshop… Glad I came across your post! I’m off to go try Gimp…

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