Advice re free Photoshop CS or Elements

[Beth]

Hi - Years ago, I used Photoshop CS2 and LOVED IT!

I installed it on desktop PC, but cannot use it on my laptop as I do not have the registration number.

 

I've recently installed a free trial version of Elements 11 and felt very much at ease with it.  However, that trial has now expired and I'm not sure what to do next.

 

I've got Picasa, but I just cannot get along with it at all.........maybe it's just me, but I don't like it.

I cannot find any free full downloads for the usual Photoshop software, and not sure if it's worth spending the starting prices on Amazon, (From £50) for Elements........unfortunately Photoshop CS6 comes in nearly x6 that amount.

 

I'm on a budget, but quite lost now my trial has expired so was hoping for any advice or suggestions from you all on here please.

 

Thank you.

[Creativesnaps]

Just email PS with your original email address and they will send you the serial to unlock it.  it will also then be a lot cheaper to upgrade.  Also check out lightroom.  its a lot cheaper and you get great results with your photographs. 

[NannyFerret]

There were some free Photoshop downloads advertized on the internet along with free serials.

I downloaded CS 2 and have it running on my netbook. There was a whole list of stuff including Elements.

It wasn't a file sharing site but was advertised freely.

The link may be on here or you may be able to Google it.
 

[NannyFerret]

I have found the ink on here Beth. 

I'm not sure if the PS programs are still available as I haven't checked but it's worth a try.

 

http://www.tipf.co.uk/index.php/topic/1603-for-anyone-who-doesnt-have-photoshop/

Edited August 26, 2013 by NannyFerret

[Guest DaveW]

Does the average professional photographer, let alone the average amateur photographer really need Photoshop, since only a small proportion of it's features will they ever use?  Photoshop was originally aimed at the printing industry in order to manipulate pictures and art work for things like colour separations for publications or advertising. Professional photographers eventually adopted it because they often produced illustrations for magazines etc, therefore wanted to make them "print ready".

 

For the average amateur, or even professional photographer a substantial part of Photoshop you are paying big money for is redundant.  Photoshop Elements and Lightroom were created solely with the photographer in mind rather than graphic artists or the printing trade, therefore will probably do all most will ever need. However owning Photoshop seems to have become a bit of a status symbol with amateurs and part time professionals as somehow branding you a top photographer, though complete overkill for their needs.  See the following for a balanced view:-

 

http://photographylife.com/photoshop-vs-photoshop-elements

 

http://photographylife.com/lightroom-vs-photoshop-elements

 

A quote from the above link:-

 

"With all this capability comes Photoshop’s compromise, a sort of a weakness – it’s not the best software for small, quick adjustments, especially if you’re working with a few hundred RAW images from a recent wedding. It’s too heavy on resources and too complicated with all those tools and filters. Photoshop is best when used professionally for extensive retouching and editing, but there are far more suitable programs for quick, strictly photographic post-processing."

When you decide what you want have a look on EBAY or the Internet as you can often pick up a disk of any of the three much cheaper than at high street outlets, or purchasing and downloading direct from Adobe.  As with many things, the latest version of Elements may have virtually all the desired functions of your old CS2 since they are now up to CS6 I think and usually with all "little brother" upgrades they often just merely add the features that were then only available in older versions of the "big brother" software.

 

A history of what various versions of Photoshop added is here:-

 

http://creativeoverflow.net/history-of-photoshop-journey-from-photoshop-1-0-to-photoshop-cs5/

 

And Elements:-

 

http://www.scandig.eu/en/PhotoshopElementsVersionen.html

[ChrisLumix]

Dave

 

You make some good points. However, Photoshop's advantage is not with photographers alone, but anyone who aspires in any way to be a graphic artist. It can be used in a multiplicity of ways, except vector design (for which Illustrator was created). To give just one example, this was created from a photo but in no way is the final result 'photographic' :

 

 

You're right that Photoshop isn't the only show in town, and there are other editors with art filters, such as Pixelmator or Seashore. But they all aspire to imitate in some way, what Photoshop is, which is something much more than 'mere' photographic work (for which Aperture, Lightroom, etc, are much more suitable alternatives).

 

For anyone with a Mac, on a budget, I would recommend Pixelmator which provides layer-based Photoshop-like processing at a fraction of the cost. For PC users, Picasa is free, but I don't think supports layers?

 

And last time I looked, Adobe were still giving away CS2 with registrations. I use CS2 (Photoshop 9) and Elements 6. What am I missing from later versions? Probably nothing that I can't do already, though  maybe it would take me a little longer for some things.

 

 

[colinb]

Beth this is free so it maybe worth you giving it a go...

 

http://www.serif.com/free-photo-editing-software/

 

 

main difference for me between Lightroom and Photoshop is the ability to use layers which you can't do in Lightroom.  but LR is well worth the price.

 

one thing I love about Adobes software is the bridge function, as I use Photoshop and In-design being able to use both together almost seamlessly is a great help.

[NannyFerret]

Beth this is free so it maybe worth you giving it a go...

 

http://www.serif.com/free-photo-editing-software/

 

 

main difference for me between Lightroom and Photoshop is the ability to use layers which you can't do in Lightroom.  but LR is well worth the price.

 

one thing I love about Adobes software is the bridge function, as I use Photoshop and In-design being able to use both together almost seamlessly is a great help.

Whatever you do, don't give them your phone number or they will be ringing up every so often trying to get you to buy more.

I had to tell them, that I will accept emails and read them to see what's on offer but to stop the phone calls as they rabble on and on.

[Barbara]

Hi - Years ago, I used Photoshop CS2 and LOVED IT!

I installed it on desktop PC, but cannot use it on my laptop as I do not have the registration number.

 

I've recently installed a free trial version of Elements 11 and felt very much at ease with it.  However, that trial has now expired and I'm not sure what to do next.

 

I've got Picasa, but I just cannot get along with it at all.........maybe it's just me, but I don't like it.

I cannot find any free full downloads for the usual Photoshop software, and not sure if it's worth spending the starting prices on Amazon, (From £50) for Elements........unfortunately Photoshop CS6 comes in nearly x6 that amount.

 

I'm on a budget, but quite lost now my trial has expired so was hoping for any advice or suggestions from you all on here please.

 

Thank you.

Just got this in my Email today

http://mail.adobe-direct.com/v?xTnTqJlETcJlJlcq

Always leave it to the last minute before they tell you offer closes tomorrow

Edited August 26, 2013 by blackrox

[ChrisLumix]

I have found the ink on here Beth. 

I'm not sure if the PS programs are still available as I haven't checked but it's worth a try.

 

http://www.tipf.co.uk/index.php/topic/1603-for-anyone-who-doesnt-have-photoshop/

 

Yes, it's still  there (I just Googled "Adobe CS2" and went through a few hoops to get to the relevant page). I guess you've not still got your desktop PC or you could retrieve the registration number from it?

[Beth]

Does the average professional photographer, let alone the average amateur photographer really need Photoshop, since only a small proportion of it's features will they ever use?  Photoshop was originally aimed at the printing industry in order to manipulate pictures and art work for things like colour separations for publications or advertising. Professional photographers eventually adopted it because they often produced illustrations for magazines etc, therefore wanted to make them "print ready".

 

For the average amateur, or even professional photographer a substantial part of Photoshop you are paying big money for is redundant.  Photoshop Elements and Lightroom were created solely with the photographer in mind rather than graphic artists or the printing trade, therefore will probably do all most will ever need. However owning Photoshop seems to have become a bit of a status symbol with amateurs and part time professionals as somehow branding you a top photographer, though complete overkill for their needs.  See the following for a balanced view:-

 

http://photographylife.com/photoshop-vs-photoshop-elements

 

http://photographylife.com/lightroom-vs-photoshop-elements

 

A quote from the above link:-

 

"With all this capability comes Photoshop’s compromise, a sort of a weakness – it’s not the best software for small, quick adjustments, especially if you’re working with a few hundred RAW images from a recent wedding. It’s too heavy on resources and too complicated with all those tools and filters. Photoshop is best when used professionally for extensive retouching and editing, but there are far more suitable programs for quick, strictly photographic post-processing."

When you decide what you want have a look on EBAY or the Internet as you can often pick up a disk of any of the three much cheaper than at high street outlets, or purchasing and downloading direct from Adobe.  As with many things, the latest version of Elements may have virtually all the desired functions of your old CS2 since they are now up to CS6 I think and usually with all "little brother" upgrades they often just merely add the features that were then only available in older versions of the "big brother" software.

 

A history of what various versions of Photoshop added is here:-

 

http://creativeoverflow.net/history-of-photoshop-journey-from-photoshop-1-0-to-photoshop-cs5/

 

And Elements:-

 

http://www.scandig.eu/en/PhotoshopElementsVersionen.html

 

Thank you Dave. Though all the info given on here now has totally mind boggled me lol.  I've heard of Lightroom etc, but never tried.  I don't wish to undertake extensive photo editing, but I rather enjoyed CS2 and this recent Elements 11 and found that it's ample sufficiency for my needs right now.  I need to learn about my camera before editing the pics haha. Thank you and I'm going to read the info you've provided in the links tomorrow. 

 

Dave

 

You make some good points. However, Photoshop's advantage is not with photographers alone, but anyone who aspires in any way to be a graphic artist. It can be used in a multiplicity of ways, except vector design (for which Illustrator was created). To give just one example, this was created from a photo but in no way is the final result 'photographic' :

 

Church Monahan.jpg

 

You're right that Photoshop isn't the only show in town, and there are other editors with art filters, such as Pixelmator or Seashore. But they all aspire to imitate in some way, what Photoshop is, which is something much more than 'mere' photographic work (for which Aperture, Lightroom, etc, are much more suitable alternatives).

 

For anyone with a Mac, on a budget, I would recommend Pixelmator which provides layer-based Photoshop-like processing at a fraction of the cost. For PC users, Picasa is free, but I don't think supports layers?

 

And last time I looked, Adobe were still giving away CS2 with registrations. I use CS2 (Photoshop 9) and Elements 6. What am I missing from later versions? Probably nothing that I can't do already, though  maybe it would take me a little longer for some things.

 

Hi Chris, you make a good point here.............I love 'graphic' type pics, hence why I've made my avatar in the way it is.......(well, not quite graphic, but along the lines).

Yes, I found CS2 more than enough at the time......not sure how much more CS6 offers, but I express Photoshop/CS2 because that's all I know. Thank you Chris!

 

Beth this is free so it maybe worth you giving it a go...

 

http://www.serif.com/free-photo-editing-software/

 

 

main difference for me between Lightroom and Photoshop is the ability to use layers which you can't do in Lightroom.  but LR is well worth the price.

 

one thing I love about Adobes software is the bridge function, as I use Photoshop and In-design being able to use both together almost seamlessly is a great help.

 

Hi Colin, I've tried layers with CS2, but found it complicating.....though I didn't play enough with it. I've heard a lot about LR too, but confused now as to what to do. Thank you for taking the time to give your input.

 

Just got this in my Email today

http://mail.adobe-direct.com/v?xTnTqJlETcJlJlcq

Always leave it to the last minute before they tell you offer closes tomorrow

 

Thank you Blackrox, I will check that link after this post.

Yes, it's still  there (I just Googled "Adobe CS2" and went through a few hoops to get to the relevant page). I guess you've not still got your desktop PC or you could retrieve the registration number from it?

Hi again Chris, Yes I still have my old desktop and CS2 is still on there. I will see if I can find the registration tomorrow. I only have one doubt regarding my copy though...............!

 

Thank you all for your feedback, I am rather overwhelmed to be honest!! 

 

I am however, rather confused now too lol.

[Beth]

In addition.........even though I really got into CS2, I'd have to reunite with it for a short while just to familiarise myself again with it, but after having the above recommendations, I do struggle somewhat to make a decision on things like this.

 

Eg I wouldn't want to miss out on the reduction on Elements (link provided), which expires tomorrow, but I just wonder which would best suit my needs. Can anyone advise this confused little soul please?

[Creativesnaps]

I think Lightroom will be good for you if it's just photography you want to edit. It's very cheap and a used one is even cheaper. I use it all the time when just edit do standard edits.

[colinb]

. Can anyone advise this confused little soul please?

 

Lets narrow it down for you -

 

CS2 if you wish to use layers and create digital imagery out of your pictures (bearing in mind the above links to adobe)

 

Lightroom to get the best out of your pictures/raw files - if I was to purchase any photographic software it would be Lightroom

[Guest DaveW]

You can use layers in Elements Colin, you don't need Photoshop for that:-

 

http://help.adobe.com/en_US/photoshopelements/using/WS287f927bd30d4b1f-f216bde12e28ad1224-7fff.html#WS287f927bd30d4b1f-f216bde12e28ad1224-7ffe

 

Lightroom is good for bulk processing, but a lot of users don't realise it does not have as many photo editing features as the cheaper Elements. Not being a bulk processor I don't need Lightroom since Elements is nearer Photoshop when it comes to image manipulation.

 

http://photo-manager-software-review.toptenreviews.com/adobe-lightroom-vs.-photoshop-elements.html

 

As you say Chris, Photoshop maybe better for graphic art but how many general photographers buying Photodshop as a matter of course actually use those facilities? Also a lot of the type of effects you did can be done with filters in Elements. Most Photoshop users do not use anything that is not available in Elements and as Scott Kelby the Photoshop Guru says, many of the Photoshop facilities are in Elements in a different form with some taking a few more steps to achieve. But who says you can't do graphic art with Elements anyway?:-

 

[ChrisLumix]

 

 

As you say Chris, Photoshop maybe better for graphic art but how many general photographers buying Photodshop as a matter of course actually use those facilities? Also a lot of the type of effects you did can be done with filters in Elements. Most Photoshop users do not use anything that is not available in Elements and as Scott Kelby the Photoshop Guru says, many of the Photoshop facilities are in Elements in a different form with some taking a few more steps to achieve. But who says you can't do graphic art with Elements anyway?:-

 

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Edited August 27, 2013 by ChrisLumix

[NannyFerret]

Beth, Have you loaded the editing program that came with your camera? This might tide you over until you sort out another one which includes more variety.

[Beth]

Tina - No I haven't.  I haven't even looked at the contents of the box properly yet.

[NannyFerret]

Tina - No I haven't.  I haven't even looked at the contents of the box properly yet.

You're not like me then. Lol.

You should really check your contents in case anything is missing.

Another good Freebie id Fastone Image viewer and editor and you can get it at www.download.com 

Edited August 27, 2013 by NannyFerret

[colinb]

You can use layers in Elements Colin, you don't need Photoshop for that:-

 

 

  Thanks Dave and I do know that but I see no point in recommending buying Elements when a free version of CS2 can be obtained from adobe via the links in Nannys thread. 

[Guest DaveW]

How does CS2 compare with Elements version 11 though Colin? Elements 11 like a lot of "cut down" software or "Lite" versions are often virtually the full versions of earlier top of the range software, like the old CS2, with just the few functions only a tiny minority would use removed.  No longer "Lite" as understood in the past, being preferable for older slower operating systems and poorer specified computers?

 

One thing many overlook is Adobe seldom makes things backwards compatible, therefore if you buy the latest camera and want to shoot RAW, unless you want to use another RAW converter then transfer to CS2 the latest Adobe RAW Converter will only work with their latest software and that means Photoshop CS6 or Elements 11, since Adobe encrypt Camera RAW so it only works with the version current when it was introduced, which may or may not include your camera.

 

Here is a discussion off another site:-

 

http://www.fredmiranda.com/forum/topic/1219959

 

How long will Photoshop on your computer be supported by new versions of Camera RAW for new cameras though, since it seems no new editions of Photoshop are to be sold? Maybe stand alone Lightroom and Elements too will eventually disappear into the cloud? :-

 

http://froknowsphoto.com/adobe-creative-cloud/

 

An interesting comment from the above link:-

 

"If I cancel my subscription will I loose all my files. No, you will not loose your files, you may not be able to open them without the software but they are preserved and waiting for you when you are ready. This is one thing most people are upset the most about. Once you no longer pay for the service you no longer can open your files."

 

Latest Photoshop CS6 is still available from dealers with it in stock, but for how long will they be able to obtain it?

 

A good comparison of the latest versions here, but note it is comparing CS6 and not CS2 with Lightroom and Elements 11:-

 

http://prodesigntools.com/difference-between-photoshop-vs-extended-vs-elements-vs-lightroom.html

 

There is still a question of whether the CS2 download is legal if you didn't already have the paid for version on your computer (not that that ever bothered most downloaders, or users of pirated software). If you browse the web you will still find a lot of confusion on this point, including from Adobe themselves:-

 

http://blog.conradchavez.com/2013/01/07/adobe-cs2-free-for-all-not-quite-and-what-it-really-means/

[fuzzyedges]

Quite true dave my cs4 dosnt support raw from my 50d canon

But you can download free adobe dng which converts the raw CR2 images to dng

Its a faff but a cheap faff

Plus dng open in the free download adobe bridge, where a lot can be done, then on to photoshop for a final tweek

Its all time taking but not money taking

[Creativesnaps]

One thing many overlook is Adobe seldom makes things backwards compatible, therefore if you buy the latest camera and want to shoot RAW, unless you want to use another RAW converter then transfer to CS2 the latest Adobe RAW Converter will only work with their latest software and that means Photoshop CS6 or Elements 11, since Adobe encrypt Camera RAW so it only works with the version current when it was introduced, which may or may not include your camera.

 

 

 

I am sure you can get the updated RAW converter from adobe.  You just have to convert the file to dng.  Thats what i do anyway.

Edited August 28, 2013 by Creativesnaps