where there’s smoke there’s forum fire
kanuk - where PSP whups Lightroom is that it is a full-featured graphics editor. Layers, drawing tools, etc. If Lightroom provides all the touch-up tools you need then I don't see a need. A free trial is available, though, so I don't see any harm in trying it.
I, personally, feel that Lightroom's current greatest weakness is its touch-up tools. This is the main reason why I use an external editor.
PS - you can't paste Sarah Palin's head on somebody else's body with Lightroom. ;)
FYI - For anybody interested in purchasing Paint Shop Pro - Do NOT buy it for $99 as its sold in most retail locations. You can download it directly from Corel for $70, or get a boxed version from Amazon for the same price. If your patient, It pops up as a lighting deal every so often. I got PSP X2 Ultimate for about $30. The old version X1 sells for even less. I actually like X1 more than X2 because X2 runs a little more slowly. So far the only new feature I've found a use for in X2 is the HDR (and I like the dark Grey interface more). I haven't had time to fully evaluate it yet, so there could be some extra goodies in there for me.
Wow - and I thought it was a good deal at $70. $30 makes it a must have if you don't have Photoshop.
Pete, yes I am from Canada actually Vancouver^^ I have been teaching English in South Korea for quite some time now. I have loved photography for a long time though and I feel Korea is maybe the 4th best place in the world for camera gear (used or new) after Hong Kong, New York and Japan. Which part of Canada are you from?
Can't go wrong for $30 at Amazon for PSP I guess I'll try it out then. I agree again with you soap, Lightroom just doesn't have the layers option which is an absolute must I find. Lightroom does a nice overall finish to photos, but does not do a good job with specific problems in a photo. For example, a waterfall with too much light falling on rocks in a specific area of the photo. I guess this is why Lightroom is designed to work hand in hand with Photoshop. Nice to know there are alternative programs other than the $900 monster from Adobe.^_~
Kanuck: I am Actually from Red Deer, Alberta. I have a friend from here that have also been teaching in south Korea for a few years. One of these days I should properly go over there and see him. Is it safe to run around with a fancy camera around your neck.
When I get my LR 2 and add the NIK Complete Collection: Dffine 2.0, Viveza, Color Efex Pro 3.0, Silver Efex Pro and Sharpener Pro 3.0 to it I will decides if that will do. Viveza is a tool to repair/change specific areas, anyway I will have to see how it works out. If not I think I will get Adobe Creative Suite 4 for the student pricing $400
Pete
Lightroom + Nik Collection is amazing. It's all I need for most photos. The only thing missing is a way to touch portraits (Whiten teeth, remove blemishes, red eyes-from drinking, not flash) etc.
For Landscape work, its likely all you'll ever need unless you need to remove some element from the picture, like power lines.
Of course, at full retail price you are looking at $300 for lightroom and $200 for the NIK suite. So you aren't saving yourself much money over Photoshop. You have to decide if you want something fast and easy to use, or something highly functional that's difficult to use. For me its a no brainier. Lightroom wins every time. You'd have to be crazy to use Photoshop to adjust 100's of pictures at once.
I'm confused. Are all of you using LR1? Because LR2 has the local adjustment brush that fixes the things that you're mentioning. That's the tool that I said I would spend the price of the upgrade for if that's all they had added in that version.
Teeth whitening is amazing with the automask turned on in LR2--literally a matter of choosing my teeth whitening preset and brushing one stroke across the teeth (appx. 10 seconds). I can't imagine using any other way now. I heard that CS4 has something similar to the automask feature in LR2, but I haven't looked for it since I know where it is in LR2.
Willis the Nik Collection was given to me at work and like before I got a student cost of $130 for LR 2. It pleases me to that you think it is amazing, I should have my LR 2 next week. I might upgrade to Win 7 before installing this new Software
Pete
jonnyapple - I find LR 2.5's touchup tools lacking. Maybe it is me. Perhaps I've stuck with my old habits - I'll look more into it.
Hey Pete its definately safe to walk around with a fancy camera around your neck. Problem is by the time you leave you might have a second fancy camera around your neck^^ Its a buyers market over here.
Hi Kanuck: What kind of stores to do you usually shop in then, Is it a smaller one with camera stuff everywhere and hours spend trying to get a better price from them. I think if I went there I would be looking for used equipment, Nikon Canada is not very willing to work on gear bought outside Canada. It would fun to look for older Nikon lenses, maybe a Film camera etc
You should post some pictures from where you live, incl camera stores
Pete
Similar to Hong Kong or Japan there is a rather large camera district that stretches about 2-3 city blocks. Large picture display windows with every kind of camera you could imagine. All trade ins are usually welcome. Its so convienant that you could try a 70-200mm lens for a week and decide not to like it and trade it in straight up for the similar pro glass 24-70mm if thats your thing. All kinds of used equipment in great shape to. Leica Mp4, M6, M8! M9 already in stock. Classic Nikon bodies F4, F5, even F6. Hasselblads you name it. Used D700 but around $2400 same as Canada or Ebay. They have certified Nikon shops for cleaning and repairs located in the same district! Any Nikon with a Korean warrenty is more expensive than a Japanese or International warrenty. Prices be changed shop owners are reasonable. Think Western style shop keepers not Vietnam or Thailand bartering. Unfortunately filters, are a little weak here, but accessories like bags,straps, tripods are good. Loupes, and other eye gear are Ebay items. We do have B+W filters though if you look hard enough. Ballheads are not good here either. Gitzo, Manfrotto, Markin ballheads but forget Really Right Stuff,acratech for here.
Lens shopping is a real treat. I found lots of goodies like my Nikon 35mm AIS lens or my Zeiss F2 35mm. Difficult to find 11-16mm Tokina wide. They always have items in stock. I guess what I'm trying to say is if you visit bring lots of cash haha I have to control myself, but like I said before I'm just a 14-24mm, teleconverter and FX body away from being complete. Oh and they even have lots of Velvia 50 film!
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