Will Adobe Photoshop Allow me to do it? (Page 2): The best is Photoshop CC. However it is pricey, and for most amateurs and even a few professionals Photoshop Elements and any of...

mikegreenwald Loc: Illinois

The best is Photoshop CC. However it is pricey, and for most amateurs and even a few professionals Photoshop Elements and any of several other available programs do a fine job!

Mark7829 Loc: Calfornia

mikegreenwald wrote:

The best is Photoshop CC. However it is pricey, and for most amateurs and even a few professionals Photoshop Elements and any of several other available programs do a fine job!

Photoshop and Lightroom can be purchased by subscription for 9.99 a month. You will have all the tools to do what you described and more. Some will point you towards Elements but it is limited. If you really want to delve in post processing, you find more Youtube videos and tutorials with Photoshop and Lightroom than anything else.

garywrite

Hi
I like to play with photographs and have used older versions of photoshop. Recently I have been using Gimp 2.8 which is a free program you can download. Not sure if the pro photogs would find it all that they need, I'd be curious to hear if anyone else uses it.
Gary

Pine1 Loc: Midland & Lakeway

I have LR5, Elements V12 (which I don't use) and Photoshop CS6 which I love. CS6 will do everything but wash the dishes. You might consider the cloud. I know many here don't like it but I do. Good luck.

jln_tc wrote:

GM UHH Friends,

I already have and use Lightroom 5 and love it but I need another software that will allow me to create my own background textures as well as change backgrounds on existing photos and merge two different photos together to create a new look. I've considered Adobe Photo Elements V 12. Question: Is this the best program, or should I look for another one?
Thanks in advance,

Bozsik Loc: Orangevale, California

Gene51 wrote:

Best and easiest software I have seen to do this is OnOne Perfect Photo Suite. Adding textures and backgrounds is effortless. Just a couple of clicks. And you have access to their extensive collection of textures, background and borders, or you can create your own. Much faster than trying to do it in Adobe software.

:thumbup: :thumbup:

Papa Joe Loc: Midwest U.S.

jln_tc wrote:

GM UHH Friends,

I already have and use Lightroom 5 and love it but I need another software that will allow me to create my own background textures as well as change backgrounds on existing photos and merge two different photos together to create a new look. I've considered Adobe Photo Elements V 12. Question: Is this the best program, or should I look for another one?
Thanks in advance,

My suggestion is YES, Elements will do what you mention nicely, and much more. Once you exhaust all that Elements can do, and then want to go further, you may consider Photoshop, but you'll be amazed at how much Elements is capable of. I've used it through the last three versions and am still learning more that it's capable of doing! Good Luck.

russelray Loc: La Mesa CA

Morning Star wrote:

I've done some "background creation" by adding texture or colour, and it workd quite well in PSE. I'm using version 12 now, but could do the same thing in version 11 and 9.
When replacing a background, I find that very often the background is not the problem, but the foreground. Isolating part of an image can be problematic if the edges of that part are not sharp or are close in colour to the background, so patience is a first requirement.

PSE Version 12 has a function called "Refine Edge." Learn how to use it well and you'll never say again that "Isolating part of an image can be problematic if the edges of that part are not sharp or are close in colour to the background, so patience is a first requirement."

I'm basing my recommendation on the Refine Edge function in Photoshop CC, which is what I use. I suspect, though, that it works the same in PSE 12, although I don't know how well.

I used to spend hours cleaning up the edges of things like tree leaves, grasses, hair blowing in the wind, cat fur. Now, after spending a couple of years working with Refine Edge, I spend minutes, sometimes just seconds!

russelray Loc: La Mesa CA

MtnMan wrote:

Also they have extended the $9.95/month offer for Photoshop and Lightroom till the end of March. You do have to sign up for one year.

Although you do have to sign up for one year,

Adobe's website wrote:

Cancellation
We'd hate to see you go, but if you cancel within the first 30 days, we'll give you a full refund. Otherwise, you'll be billed 50% of your remaining contract obligation. If you ever need to cancel, just contact Customer Support.

oldtool2 Loc: South Jersey

jmizera wrote:

Elements is of course, Photoshop "Lite".... (show quote)

Adobe CC is also MUCH more expensive!

Jim D

Mark7829 Loc: Calfornia

oldtool2 wrote:

Adobe CC is also MUCH more expensive!

Jim D

It is available for subscription for $9.99 a month. And you get Lightroom, all updates and other applications.

skiman Loc: Ventura, CA

garywrite wrote:

Hi
I like to play with photographs and have used older versions of photoshop. Recently I have been using Gimp 2.8 which is a free program you can download. Not sure if the pro photogs would find it all that they need, I'd be curious to hear if anyone else uses it.
Gary

I use GIMP 2.8 and it is almost as powerful as Photoshop and is free. There are many YouTube tutorials out there to show how to use it. My favorite is the quick mask to create selections.

jeep_daddy Loc: Prescott AZ

It's the best for the money. But if you want the best get Photoshop CC. It's a monthly subscription.

jln_tc wrote:

GM UHH Friends,

I already have and use Lightroom 5 and love it but I need another software that will allow me to create my own background textures as well as change backgrounds on existing photos and merge two different photos together to create a new look. I've considered Adobe Photo Elements V 12. Question: Is this the best program, or should I look for another one?
Thanks in advance,

Mark7829 Loc: Calfornia

skiman wrote:

I use GIMP 2.8 and it is almost as powerful as Photoshop and is free. There are many YouTube tutorials out there to show how to use it. My favorite is the quick mask to create selections.

When enthusiasts and professionals talk about post processing and what they do to create outstanding images, it is not with GIMP. It is with Photoshop and Lightroom. There are sooo many resources, books, magazines, articles, tutorials, workshops, etc., etc. Why spend any time and effort learning and using any other application? Why not learn and use the one you really should be using?

In addition there are sooooo many wonderful plugins for PS and LR such as Nik, OnOne, and Topaz that I don't think work with GIMP. So why cut yourself short?

Mark7829 Loc: Calfornia

jeep_daddy wrote:

It's the best for the money. But if you want the best get Photoshop CC. It's a monthly subscription.

Great, Lightroom exports and links directly to Photoshop. I think that's enough right there.

RichieC Loc: Adirondacks

The PhotoShop program is like an onion... it has many layers of control, I have used it since 2.0 and I am still a long way from center, some areas deeper then others. YOu never have the sense it is holding you back. It is the professionals choice for many reasons.

At $10 or even $20 month. its about what you would pay if you divided the purchase price by the the number of month's you'd use it till you wanted/needed to upgrade. You could look around for CS6 somewhere like Ebay ...

Cracks me up, people will pay $5 for a stinking cup of Starbucks... that is gone in 5 minutes, and do that every day for years & years...