Photoshop or paint shop pro?

[WIS]

Ugh, it's all so incredibly pricey, isn't it?

From the list of features on that website, it sounds like Elements would be fine The only thing I'm a little bit worried about is the lack of the pen tool. I guess people would probably call it an advanced tool, and not critical... but depending on your drawing style (or aspired drawing style), it can be a really really useful tool.

Have you done much vector drawing before? (or heard of it?) It basically lets you draw nice smooth curved lines, like in Neopets images, or in many cartoons (eg. this lovely background, or this cartoon figure both seem to be vector-drawn). So if you're wanting to draw in a cartoon-style, it might be something to consider. It's hard to create lines that perfect without a pen tool, though it's certainly possible - it just takes a bit more effort. Then again, it takes a bit of effort to learn how to use the tool itself, too.

But... I'm not sure if that one tool is worth the extra money. And if you're into creating more natural-looking art, it probably wouldn't be too much of a concern anyway!

I love vector art! But the pen tool comes in very handy even if you dont do vector.

And unless you've bought it already, I suggest Paint Shop Pro. Just because it bundles vector and most Photoshop's effects anyways. Photoshop may have more filters but Paint Shop Pro has Displacement Map. Kick me in the nuts and call me crazy but I think Paint Shop Pro is better for photo editing. >_>

Plus Paint Shop Pro is cheaper than Photoshop Elements. (On amazon.com anyways). If you're gonna buy something, go for Paint Shop Pro X.

[fructy]

Ugh, it's all so incredibly pricey, isn't it?

From the list of features on that website, it sounds like Elements would be fine The only thing I'm a little bit worried about is the lack of the pen tool. I guess people would probably call it an advanced tool, and not critical... but depending on your drawing style (or aspired drawing style), it can be a really really useful tool.

Have you done much vector drawing before? (or heard of it?) It basically lets you draw nice smooth curved lines, like in Neopets images, or in many cartoons (eg. this lovely background, or this cartoon figure both seem to be vector-drawn). So if you're wanting to draw in a cartoon-style, it might be something to consider. It's hard to create lines that perfect without a pen tool, though it's certainly possible - it just takes a bit more effort. Then again, it takes a bit of effort to learn how to use the tool itself, too.

But... I'm not sure if that one tool is worth the extra money. And if you're into creating more natural-looking art, it probably wouldn't be too much of a concern anyway!

I love vector art! But the pen tool comes in very handy even if you dont do vector.

And unless you've bought it already, I suggest Paint Shop Pro. Just because it bundles vector and most Photoshop's effects anyways. Photoshop may have more filters but Paint Shop Pro has Displacement Map. Kick me in the nuts and call me crazy but I think Paint Shop Pro is better for photo editing. >_>

Plus Paint Shop Pro is cheaper than Photoshop Elements. (On amazon.com anyways). If you're gonna buy something, go for Paint Shop Pro X.

Well, one of the reasons I want to buy a better art program is to do smooth lines. I draw in cartoon style and with paint it's impossible to do smooth lines, so that tool might be very handy for me.

Maybe I should buy photoshop elements AND psp X. PSP has the vector tool, right? Then I would also have vector. Both programs toghether will cost me 100 euro, still alot cheaper that the full version of photoshop.

[Leraje]

You can do nice smooth lines with PSP. Just look at the pic I made, using only PSP8: Click here

I still say that PSPX is a perfectly wonderful program and that I doubt you would be disappointed in it if you got it.

[fructy]

You can do nice smooth lines with PSP. Just look at the pic I made, using only PSP8: Click here

I still say that PSPX is a perfectly wonderful program and that I doubt you would be disappointed in it if you got it.

Wow, that's a really nice drawing! I love the line art!

Ok, so now I know that I'm going to buy them both, does anyone know any good photoshop elements and PSP X tutorials? I'm especially looking for tutorials on how to do smooth (non-pixely) lines and colouring turorials. Thanks for all the help!

[mazil]

Just look at the pic I made, using only PSP8: Click here

Hehe, when I was thinking of vector drawings I could link to as examples, I actually thought of that picture of yours first! I saw it a day or two ago and went "ooooooohhhhhh smooooooth ".

Fructy - I was trying to find a tutorial yesterday for you, but didn't have much luck! Here's one that shows the basics of using the Pen Tool, though: http://www.sketchpad.net/drawing9.htm It takes a bit of practice, but the results make it worth the effort That one's actually a tutorial for Photoshop (edit: Oh, actually, it's for Illustrator ), but I think the Pen Tool tends to work the same in different programs (from what I've seen). Basic tutorials for vector drawing in Illustrator and Flash will probably translate pretty well too.

Hmm, PSP does sound like a good option! If you're thinking of getting both, maybe you might as well get just PSP to start off with and see how that goes

[fructy]

Thanks mazil

Is flash an art program too? I can download Macromedia Studio 8 UK for 15 euro, it contains flash too and has some other programs in it:
- Macromedia Dreamweaver 8
- Macromedia Flash Professional 8
- Macromedia Fireworks 8
- Macromedia Contribute 3
- Macromedia Flash Paper 2

Not sure if I want to buy these too. I don't want an art program overload.

[Leraje]

Aaww, thank you guys!

Unfortunately, I don't know of any good independent tutorials for PSP, but it is supposed to have two hours of video tutorials included in the package. I learned how to use the program the hard way--trial and error. It took me a long time to discover the pen tool that I used to make that picture.

Flash is an art program. In fact, it's what TNT uses to make all of their art for Neo. As for whether or not you should buy it, I have no idea. I don't have any experience with it.

[WIS]

Aaww, thank you guys!

Unfortunately, I don't know of any good independent tutorials for PSP, but it is supposed to have two hours of video tutorials included in the package. I learned how to use the program the hard way--trial and error. It took me a long time to discover the pen tool that I used to make that picture.

Flash is an art program. In fact, it's what TNT uses to make all of their art for Neo. As for whether or not you should buy it, I have no idea. I don't have any experience with it.

There aren't a lot of Paint Shop Pro tutorials, but the pen tool is pretty simular to Photoshop's. Still very confusing though, but once you get the hang of it it's alright.

I agree, you should try to get Paint Shop Pro X and see from there. From what I can see, it's very simular to Photoshop and has most of photoshop's functions, perhaps you wont even need Photoshop Elements.

[mazil]

Flash is an art program. In fact, it's what TNT uses to make all of their art for Neo. As for whether or not you should buy it, I have no idea. I don't have any experience with it.

I've used it a tiny bit... and the vector drawing seems pretty good. There are a couple of extra ways to draw shapes, and options for stroke (the line thickness, colour, etc). I tend to feel a bit more comfortable in Photoshop though, because you have the range of other drawing tools to play with... whereas Flash pretty much only has vector tools (and animation, of course!).

Out of the others, Macromedia Dreamweaver would be useful if you're interested in making websites. It's a very good program! I don't know much about the others though (I think Fireworks is something to do animation as well)

[WIS]

Flash is an art program. In fact, it's what TNT uses to make all of their art for Neo. As for whether or not you should buy it, I have no idea. I don't have any experience with it.

I've used it a tiny bit... and the vector drawing seems pretty good. There are a couple of extra ways to draw shapes, and options for stroke (the line thickness, colour, etc). I tend to feel a bit more comfortable in Photoshop though, because you have the range of other drawing tools to play with... whereas Flash pretty much only has vector tools (and animation, of course!).

Out of the others, Macromedia Dreamweaver would be useful if you're interested in making websites. It's a very good program! I don't know much about the others though (I think Fireworks is something to do animation as well)

Fireworks is a graphic program... albet a bad one.

[fructy]

Flash is an art program. In fact, it's what TNT uses to make all of their art for Neo. As for whether or not you should buy it, I have no idea. I don't have any experience with it.

Well, for 15 euro I can always try it out Maybe I'll buy a Photoshop for dummies book, there are tons of tutorial books you can buy on the internet.

[Eskimo]

Photoshop is great if you know how to use it. I have Photoshop and I dont ever use it cause its so confusing.

And I want PSP but my dad wont let me buy it:

[Xandra]

PSP, as far as I know, doesn't run on Macs. Thus, I use Photoshop, and love it.

[WIS]

PSP, as far as I know, doesn't run on Macs. Thus, I use Photoshop, and love it.

I have a friend who's running PSP on a mac...

[fructy]

I downloaded a trial version of Photoshop and I'm a bit confuzzled. I have absolutely no idea how it works with layers etc.

This is my first attempt to draw something in Photoshop:



Lol, I still have alot to learn ^_^