Photomatix Pro vs. Essentials?
Aug 26, 2014 06:31:50 #
I like the simplicity and results from Photomatix. Is Essentials good enough for the amateur enthusiast?
Aug 26, 2014 06:52:09 #
Greenguy33 wrote:
I like the simplicity and results from Photomatix. Is Essentials good enough for the amateur enthusiast?
I've never used Photomatix for regular processing, just HDR. I think PSE would offer more.
Aug 26, 2014 07:04:52 #
Greenguy33 wrote:
I like the simplicity and results from Photomatix. Is Essentials good enough for the amateur enthusiast?
By 'Essentials', I presume you really mean 'Elements'? If so, yes, it will give you very good results for a realistic looking image. Photomatix gives you a broader range of controls for those times you want to really go over-the-top with HDR. I have Photoshop CS6, Photomatix and NIK HDR Efex Pro and find that I typically use CS6 or Photomatix about equally depending on my mood or results I want to achieve.
Aug 26, 2014 07:05:24 #
I use both. I only use Photomatix for merging and maybe applying a preset to HDR photos. I do 95% of what I do in Lightroom and about 5% in Elements when it's something that Lightroom can't do, like removing a tourist that wandered into my picture. I think Photomatix is the best at what it does, but it's not an editing program or a photo organizer, something the other 2 packages I use excel at.
Aug 26, 2014 08:09:09 #
Picdude wrote:
By 'Essentials', I presume you really mean 'Elements'?
Oooh! I missed that.
Aug 26, 2014 08:11:20 #
I currently have the trial version of Photomatix Essentials (I am not talking about Photoshop Elements).
Should I be using the Pro version?
Should I be using the Pro version?
Aug 26, 2014 09:01:32 #
Greenguy33 wrote:
I currently have the trial version of Photomatix Essentials (I am not talking about Photoshop Elements).
Should I be using the Pro version?
Should I be using the Pro version?
Ah, gotcha! Essentials wasn't available (I think) when I bought the Pro version. I think all they had was Pro.
Aug 26, 2014 09:16:39 #
Greenguy33 wrote:
I currently have the trial version of Photomatix Essentials (I am not talking about Photoshop Elements).
Should I be using the Pro version?
Should I be using the Pro version?
Dho!! :oops: :oops: Sorry, I'm like Jerry. Didn't know there was another option when I got Photomatix. Some of these marketing names get confusing.
Is it possible to do a trial of both? There are so many opinions on what constitutes a good (or proper) HDR image that you may need to operate the controls of each package to find what works best for you. Sorry for the confusion.
Aug 26, 2014 09:29:29 #
I am not too concerned about HDR, but rather getting my sky and foreground to place nice together. :-D
Aug 27, 2014 06:42:55 #
I had Photomatix Essentials and then upgraded to Photomatix Pro for an additional fee. I had deleted Essentials before downloading Pro but then they told me later that I could have kept Essentials also. Photomatix Pro has more features and allows you to merge as many photos as you want. You can only merge up to three photos with Essentials.
Aug 27, 2014 07:14:08 #
[quote=Greenguy33]I currently have the trial version of Photomatix Essentials (I am not talking about Photoshop Elements).
Should I be using the Pro version?[/quo
Yes. The Pro version gives you many more choices and much more control.
Should I be using the Pro version?[/quo
Yes. The Pro version gives you many more choices and much more control.
Aug 27, 2014 07:18:24 #
Greenguy33 wrote:
I am not too concerned about HDR, but rather getting my sky and foreground to place nice together. :-D
That can be done quite nicely in many photo processing apps. My choice to start with would be Elements 12. It's user friendly and fairly easy to learn. Version 13 might be out in September if you want to wait.
Aug 27, 2014 07:29:16 #
Another option would be to check out Adobe's $9.99 a month deal where you get Lightroom and the full Photoshop to see if you like it. Here's the link:
http://creative.adobe.com/plans/offer/photoshop+lightroom?sdid=KKTGB&kw=semgeneric&ttsrccat=sem-ww-di-ps-brand&skwcid=AL!3085!10!4765611904!20654688647&ef_id=U-cn@QAABYrcCRm4:20140827112834:s
http://creative.adobe.com/plans/offer/photoshop+lightroom?sdid=KKTGB&kw=semgeneric&ttsrccat=sem-ww-di-ps-brand&skwcid=AL!3085!10!4765611904!20654688647&ef_id=U-cn@QAABYrcCRm4:20140827112834:s
Aug 27, 2014 07:53:17 #
Yooper 2 wrote:
That can be done quite nicely in many photo processing apps. My choice to start with would be Elements 12. It's user friendly and fairly easy to learn. Version 13 might be out in September if you want to wait.
HI
Could I please ask a similar questions here to the first message. I currently have Photoshop Elements/Premiere V8 and considering upgrading to 12. However, I had thought Photomix was only for HDR but on reading the above it clearly has wider appeal. Do you have any suggestions as to which way to go?
Many thanks for any opinions.
Aug 27, 2014 09:27:23 #
I tried the trial version of Photomatix years ago before buying the Pro version. Don't remember it being called Essentials. With the trial version they plastered their watermark all over the final image. At least, that is what they did back then.
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