I used to use Apple's photograph editing and organizing program, Aperture. That worked very well for me for a couple of years. However, last summer I decided that I really needed to at least learn how to use Adobe PhotoShop if I was gong to keep going down this photography trail--I'm not sure where this trail I'm on is leading, but that's material for another thread that I'll save for my personal web log. So, I talked the people at Adobe into giving me a copy of Adobe PhotoShop CS4 Extended. I'm still not sure about the point of the extended part, but that's what they gave me. The results have been a good, and I've stopped using Aperture.
Since I'm a registered user, this week I started receiving emails from Adobe preparing me for what they seem to see as the excitement of the new version of various Adobe components. Oh, boy. Given the copy I have, for two hundred dollars or so, I can upgrade to the new version of whatever I want in a couple of weeks. Now that I will be paying, though, I'm wondering what I want or need. Never mind about 'need'. There's nothing in photography I need, but plenty I want. So, my question to y'all is, what would be good to have of the Adobe components? What do these useful components do? I've been reading the sales material on their web site, but I'm not sure of the point and value of each.
Part of my confusion is that there's plenty of crossover between Adobe components. The first few months I used the package that I have, I only used Adobe Bridge to transfer images from memory cards to my computer and Adobe RAW to tweak the white balance and other factors of RAW images. I was fine with just those two minor components. Only recently have I bothered to do stuff with Adobe PhotoShop. Since I don't do things with videos and would never use any of the drawing programs or web design aspects, I'm not sure why I would upgrade the Extended part. I've heard many people mention Adobe LightRoom 2--that was not in the package I have, but I can add it when I upgrade. It seems to do what PhotoShop and Bridge do satisfactorily. However, I'm wondering if I'm missing out there. So, I was thinking of upgrading to version 5 for PhotoShop (which includes Bridge and Raw) and adding LightRoom 2, but dropping the Extended part and whatever that now includes (DreamWeaver, etc).
I'd appreciate simple explanations of relevant Adobe components, and opinions of what you find useful. Thanks in advance.
-Russell
Since I'm a registered user, this week I started receiving emails from Adobe preparing me for what they seem to see as the excitement of the new version of various Adobe components. Oh, boy. Given the copy I have, for two hundred dollars or so, I can upgrade to the new version of whatever I want in a couple of weeks. Now that I will be paying, though, I'm wondering what I want or need. Never mind about 'need'. There's nothing in photography I need, but plenty I want. So, my question to y'all is, what would be good to have of the Adobe components? What do these useful components do? I've been reading the sales material on their web site, but I'm not sure of the point and value of each.
Part of my confusion is that there's plenty of crossover between Adobe components. The first few months I used the package that I have, I only used Adobe Bridge to transfer images from memory cards to my computer and Adobe RAW to tweak the white balance and other factors of RAW images. I was fine with just those two minor components. Only recently have I bothered to do stuff with Adobe PhotoShop. Since I don't do things with videos and would never use any of the drawing programs or web design aspects, I'm not sure why I would upgrade the Extended part. I've heard many people mention Adobe LightRoom 2--that was not in the package I have, but I can add it when I upgrade. It seems to do what PhotoShop and Bridge do satisfactorily. However, I'm wondering if I'm missing out there. So, I was thinking of upgrading to version 5 for PhotoShop (which includes Bridge and Raw) and adding LightRoom 2, but dropping the Extended part and whatever that now includes (DreamWeaver, etc).
I'd appreciate simple explanations of relevant Adobe components, and opinions of what you find useful. Thanks in advance.
-Russell
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