Elements vs PhotoShop

jonsey

Officially coming out of the lurker closet after about a year and really hoping there is a spell check someplace here that I just don't see. I purchased photoshop about 9 months ago and am still using elements because of fear that the learning curve for photoshop will be something I just don't have time for. All was fine until I hit the wall recently with the attached poster (I have about 10 more I need to do with more to come). Using the selection/masking tools takes me forever, which I realize will get better with time, but I'm wondering if using photoshop would give me better results and I just need to jump in. My other option is a program I've been looking into called Fluid mask. I've inserted a link to the hacky poster along with attaching the file so hopefully one of them will work. I've previewed the post but don't see the image.

http://www.bridgetsfotos.com/Custom-Designs/Sports-Posters/Sports-Posters-Examples/10129241_EL2gq#811454943_2XWeZ

Zerodog

Masking in Photoshop is not terrible to do. Unless you have a really cluttered background. Or very similar colors. Have you gotten any photoshop books? If not, get one. It helps a lot. I used to consider my self a photoshop guru back when PS 6.0 was the latest and greatest. I got out of web design and didn't really do anything with it. Since then generations of PS have gone by. I got the demo of CS4 and was blown away. I didn't even know where to start. I could do nothing! Got a book and was off to the races again. In the end I got Elements from work. It pretty much does what I need and you can force it to do things like layer masks. All of the basics applied from PS. They just name them something different in elements.

Your poster didn't show, check you link.

jonsey

Only took me two days to figure out how to get the picture posted. Pathetic. I've finally started to understand the Elements book I have - so that's probably a good idea. Lots to choose from though, can you recommend something? Thanks!!

Macushla

I love your poster design, it's really cool. It looks like a lot of work!!! I had a lot of trouble with the selection / masking tools in elements. I found that I would make a mistake and have to start all over or somehow I just couldn't get it to look right. So I downloaded the free trial of Topaz Remask and it worked perfectly. It took me about 1-2 minutes to mask each photo with Remask. You could give it a try, it's free for 30 days so you have nothing to loose. I know a lot of people don't really like it but for a photoshop noob it is pretty easy to work with. HERE are the tutorial videos and HERE is the download link.

I'd love to hear how the pros handle this much masking. Maybe there is a secret???

I just looked at all your posters - they are fantastic!!! Mine look like a 6 year old made them. : )

jonsey

Thanks so much for the software suggestion - I will go and check it out. I hate to buy something new if just installing and using the photoshop I have will work better than Elements so I'm still kicking that around too. Thanks too for the compliment on the poster...... I just started doing this type of thing for the school about a year ago and have a long way to go to get the professional results I'm looking for. Luckily since it's a fundraiser with all the $$ going to the school, parents are patient and understanding. The posters along with my photography skills have definately evolved over the last year, which is a good thing. I'd love to take a look at your posters if you have them on-line someplace??

Macushla

Mine are posted in the comments of this great sports poster thread.

TangoJuliet

Wow! Those are all very nice. I have a question that's a little OT, but I asked it elsewhere and didn't get a the answer i was looking for. I use PSE 8, and I'm trying to figure out if I can get a template made for the XMP data?

Macushla

TangoJuliet wrote:

Wow! Those are all very nice. I have a question that's a little OT, but I asked it elsewhere and didn't get a the answer i was looking for. I use PSE 8, and I'm trying to figure out if I can get a template made for the XMP data?

I am totally a photoshop noob but I was playing around with it.

1. Open a photo. Go to file> File info. A window will pop up.
2. Input all your metadata
3. At the bottom next to Cancel there is an option for Import. Change this to export. Give the info a name and it will be saved in the Meta Templates folder. Hit Save.
4. Next time you open a photo you go down to Import. There are three options, choose the one you want. Another box will open with the Templates folder, choose the one you created and hit save.

I just kind of figured this out by playing around with it, I'm not even really sure this is what you were asking for. Maybe it will help?

TangoJuliet

That's exactly what I was looking for. Adobe Help is not updated for PSE 8. The Adobe forums finally gave me the same answer today and I was able to save it just as you described. Thank you.

Macushla

Glad it worked!