Chaxl

Currently I use Corel Paintshop Pro Photo X5, and for what i do (Traditional photography; no heavy editing) it works great. I never desire to change a photo dramatically, I just brighten, adjust contrast and run color balance to make them more crisper.

Anyway, I also digitally sign each of my photos that I sell, using my pen name. One disadvantage Ive found with Corel Paintshop is after I text-in my signature and save it, the program doesn't allow me to move my signature or edit it if I feel it's too close to the edge. It does let me move it if I don't save it, but once I push save, the signature is frozen.

Is this a standard thing with most photo editing programs? I do not own Photoshop because I do not want to spend the $750 when I don't do heavy editing anyway. However would Photoshop give me more flexibility in the text feature, and make my photos stand out even more? Are there other good photo editing programs on the market that would be an upgrade to Paintshop but not as expensive as photoshop? How often does Photosahop upgrade and how much are they typically?

Thanks,
Chaxl

Wahawk Loc: NE IA

Any program that saves to a JPG, PNG, and many other formats, "freezes" the picture as it is.

If you save it in PaintShop as a PSP file, I believe that it will save the layers, components, etc and allow you to easily re-position, remove, etc.

The final versions that you share would be saved as JPG, etc.

Chaxl

You just really made my day. I experimented with a photo, saving it as a PSP file, then tying to move my signature afterwards, and it worked. Thank you very much. Now in order for me to have a printing company print my work, does my final modifications need to be in JPEG, or can it be PSP, or depends on the company?

Thanks!

Wahawk Loc: NE IA

Would depend on company, but best option is to save as JPG (when saving as JPG go into the Options there and set the compression to minimum), or as a TIFF (much larger than JPG).

Probably best to ask the "printer" what formats they will accept.

ygelman Loc: new -- North of Poughkeepsie!

For goodness sake, get Photoshop Elements. Under $100 and sometimes as low as $50. It's one of the best bargains in the universe (but your milage may vary ;) ).

Armadillo Loc: Ventura, CA

Chaxl,

There are many options for adding a digital signature (Logo) to an existing image. First research Copyright notices on images in your PSP X-5 Help pages.

The secret with PSP is Layers. With Layers you can add, or modify almost anything. When you open an image in PSP you are initially opening a new "background" layer. From there you can add more layers onto the background layer.

One option is to open any .jpg image as a background layer, then click the Text Tool, and create your signature. Once you click the OK button the text displays a moveable box (text layer) around the text. This layer can be moved, re-sized, made more/less transparent, color change, etc. Merge the layers and you have your signature applied to the background image.

Another option is similar to the above, except you open a new image file with a white background. Using the Text Tool create your signature with the text color you desire. Crop and re-size the text image for your general requirements. Save the test file as a .png with the white background transparent. When ever you need a signature on an existing image open the original image (.jpg, .tif, .gif, .png, .bmp, etc.). Paste the signature onto the original image as a new layer, now you can modify the signature any way you need. Once you have created the signature as a file you can use it on as many photos as you want.

Be sure to read the Help File for digital signatures in PSP for more detailed information.

Michael G

Wahawk Loc: NE IA

If you read what the OP was actually asking about, they wanted to know about moving the 'signature' around after it had been saved. The best way for that is to save a 'working' file as a PSP image. Then save as JPG when ready to send it to a printer or someone else for viewing in general.

Armadillo Loc: Ventura, CA

Yes, you can save the original as a .pspimage, but if you use Layers you don't have to make copies of copies.

If you read my reply carefully you would read the same process without making another .pspimage file.

Saving an original camera file as a .pspimage file as you work saves the editing information so you can make edits without destroying work previously performed.

Michael G

DebAnn Loc: Toronto

If you already own the latest version of Paint Shop Pro, you definitely do not need Photoshop or PS Elements, especially if you do little post processing. Get a book on Paint Shop - there are several out there if you look on Amazon. Paint Shop can do everything that PS can - mostly more intuitively. This is coming from someone who has both Paint Shop and Photoshop CS5.

jeep_daddy Loc: Prescott AZ

Have you tried putting it on a blank layer?

Wahawk Loc: NE IA

The OP was putting it on a 'blank layer' but when the file is saved as a JPG it 'merges' or 'flattens' the layers and you can't move the added item around later. That is why it is best to save first as a PSPimage which saves all of the layers and elements as they are so that you can go back later and re-arrange those items.

Then only when ready for final display/printing/etc do you need to save it as a JPG, PNG or something similar that can be viewed/printed by most any system or program.