Will Adobe Photoshop Allow me to do it? 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...

jln_tc Loc: Texas City, Tx

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,

Morning Star Loc: West coast, North of the 49th N.

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.

jmizera Loc: Austin Texas

Elements is of course, Photoshop "Lite". Fact is, it has quite a bit of power. Like full blown Photoshop, these are image editing apps, where lightroom is more of a digital photo finishing app.

Elements is a great place to start, but Photoshop itself is much more powerful. Particularly in the use of layers, which will play into changing or replacing backgrounds.

I would suggest giving the Adobe CC version a try. It's free for a month.

http://www.adobe.com/products/creativecloud.html

jln_tc Loc: Texas City, Tx

Thanks for responding so quickly, now is it quite easy to learn?

jln_tc Loc: Texas City, Tx

Thanks for your help.

jmizera Loc: Austin Texas

In short, no. But if you managed to learn lightroom, some of what you have learned will be useful in PS.

Fortunately, there are many resources online. Adobe provides some good tutorials as well. There are also paid courses from providers like Lynda.com. Very high quality product from these folks.

jln_tc Loc: Texas City, Tx

Great, thanks

CharlesA Loc: New Jersey

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,

For the needs you describe, I agree that Photoshop Elements would be perfect. It also has a trial download:

http://www.adobe.com/go/tryphotoshop_elements

You'll be able to change backgrounds and create layers to manipulate your images to your hearts content :D . From there you can demo the CC as linked previously. Elements is a great way to introduce yourself to CC and as your skills and desires evolve, you can upgrade more easily.

Good luck,
Charles

jln_tc Loc: Texas City, Tx

Thanks Charles, I think I am convienced, I 'll give photoshop a try, thanks for all the help from UHH family.

Ziza Loc: USA

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,

Elements will do what you want. If you purchase this program, you will be getting a perpetual license to use it. This won't be the case with Photoshop CC. If you get PS CC, you will be subscribing to (renting) this program. You stop making your monthly payment and you will no longer be able to use it. It will still be on your computer but Adobe will have turned its switch off. To get it turned back on, you will have to begin paying again.

Adobe has added so many features to Elements (especially starting with version 11) that this program is looking more and more like Photoshop. Three features are the main ingredients to accomplish what you want: layers, selection tools, and Refine Edge (which allows you to fine-tune your selection). Elements offers all three. And beginning with version 11 Adobe gave this program exactly the same Refine Edge feature as in Photoshop.

Why not download a free 30-day trial of Elements 12 and see for yourself?

warrior Loc: Paso Robles CA

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,

Photo shop elements :thumbup:

MtnMan Loc: ID

jmizera wrote:

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

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.

MtnMan Loc: ID

Ziza wrote:

Why not download a free 30-day trial of Elements 12 and see for yourself?

While I currently use Photoshop and Lightroom I still have high regard for Elements. However I don't think 30 days is enough to learn how to use it. I agonized with it for three months before I got Kelby and Kloskowski's book...which took me out of the wilderness in about three days. So if you go that route I strongly recommend their book.

I'm mostly retired and computer adept so put a lot more effort into it than most could afford. But I didn't know the photography terms nor Adobe speak. I thought Adobe's approach to many controls very non-intuitive. (They don't seem that way any more, but now I'm three years into their products.)

There are many resources for Elements but I didn't find videos helpful because most things in Elements require multiple steps and you need to go over and over the videos to get them. There are many good books that describe each function but they don't tell you what to do in what order to get a result. Kelby and Kloskowski take you through step by step to get results.

tusketwedge Loc: Nova Scotia Canada

jln_tc wrote:

Thanks for responding so quickly, now is it quite easy to learn?

the easiest way and the one that leaves the least (residue) that I have found is done with PS"tutorial can be found at http://www.photoshopessentials.com/sitemap/
search for changing sky but it will replace anything you want.
Also you can get programs from OnOne Software or Nik Software that do a very good job.Most of these programs ,you can download for 30 day trial .I would suggest to just get the plugs in that you need for now , as if you download the entire suite you could get overwhelmed .

Gene51 Loc: Yonkers, NY, now in LSD (LowerSlowerDelaware)

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.