meck68 wrote:
Hello all I am a beginner in the photo world and I am looking to buy my first editing software. I found elements 11 and was wondering if this would be a good place to get my feet wet. I am wanting to do some layering. any advice would be welcome
Thanks
An excellent question which will receive many answers.
What is your long term goal ?
I asked that question 8 years ago. I asked a gentleman that was a professional photographer and had edited for Hollywood for 30 years...
This is what he told me ( I use to write my own programs to do what I wanted them to do on ms-dos and XP operating systems on pc ) :
He said , " you can keep doing what you are doing or you can get the software that is industry standard ... which is Adobe photo shop -- this way you are able to talk to professionals on the "same wavelength and be on the same page ". Stick with it and learn it... as you go... what you need...
He also suggested to get an imac, a wacom tablet & extra monitor.
Well I have no regrets I followed his advice on purchasing Adobe photoshop. Only wish I had followed his other advice on purchasing hardware ( instead of what he suggested I decided to spend more money and purchased the mac pro desk top with 32 GB ram, 3.2 Ghz X 2 Quad core Intel Xeon, etc... although a great powerhouse machine ...)
Things to consider when purchasing software is your operating system and hardware being used.
There is a learning curve on anything new; and, I would choose something long term-- Adobe photoshop CS5 (extended ) or CS6 for photo manipulation, particularly since you are interested in layering... it is very easy once you learn or some one helps you through it; and, that is my next point -- I would join NAPP for $99/ year; and, you have many discounts, including on this software and hardware etc... and professional videos and tutoring etc... ) Adobes lightroom is great, and although I have that program and many others, most of my work is done in Photoshop CS5 extended ( you do not have to purchase the whole suite of software ) .. To learn you can also google and find u-tube videos.. that are really great to also learn from.
Caveate -- layering is very easy as is compositing....
Layers is very "EASY" -- first think of it as a scaffolding up the side of a building... From the top of the scaffolding looking down through the sections (layers) scaffolding you may be able to see or not see the layers below depending on what you want
or have done to the layer above or below....
No man is an island.... unless he chooses to be...