My second and junior photographic software partner is Photoshop Elements 12 (PSE 12). Junior not in the pejorative sense, just that I find Lightroom is easier & quicker to achieve the non-professional results I seek. This is a cut down version of that grand-daddy of photographic software---Photoshop. I understand that PSE12 has 75% of the tools of the full professional Photoshop version, but at only approx. 15% the price. In 2016/7 Photoshop moved to a subscription only model, currently $US9.95/month for a bundle that includes Lightroom (LR). Adobe, the developers, claim that this is a superior way to use the products as updates and improvements are offered continuously. Personally, I prefer to make a purchase and know that the product is mine, software patches & glitch corrections being available on an on going no cost basis. $9.95 monthly rental over a 60 month ownership period comes to (a profitable for Adobe) $600. Affordable I am sure for the pro, but less interesting to the hobbyist
I took ownership of my PSE 12 in 2014 and have to admit that there was a significant learning curve as I struggled to understand the concept of layers that is intrinsic to the programme. Gradually, over time and with much practice, I have become reasonably proficient, although there are many more lesser used tools embedded in PSE 12 that I have yet to fully build into my work flow.
It is my practice to initially download RAW files into LR and execute the magic of the program on my camera work. I have found that there are some things that PSE 12 does better than LR. An example is cleaning unwanted artifacts that the camera captures. Mostly the artifacts can only be seen when the photo is enlarged and their removal makes the end product shiny and clean. Cleaning artifacts can be arduous and time consuming. The Canadian 25 cent coin above left, was selected as it appeared to this human eye to be totally blemish free. Under the lens and with three electronic flash aimed at it, the surface defects were only too apparent. Several hours on PSE 12 polished the end product nicely.
A technique that I enjoy and believe to be quite creative in PSE 12, is selective colour. I have heard say that some in the photo community frown on selective colouring----sooooo 2010! To my point---imagine a grey street scene of stores depicted on a very rainy grey day. In front of one of the stores are 3 women chatting, each holding up bright red umbrellas. Using PSE, any other colours in the photo can be crushed back to shades of black/white/grey. This use of a single colour enables the slash of red from the umbrellas to jump out dramatically. See a similar example pic of the technique above right of mauve flower on concrete.
As with most things computer and their software related, there are usually several different ways to achieve the same end result---commonly referred to, I believe, as 'work-arounds'.
READERS: To make most sense of this blog, please commence reading entries with the earliest posting date.
I took ownership of my PSE 12 in 2014 and have to admit that there was a significant learning curve as I struggled to understand the concept of layers that is intrinsic to the programme. Gradually, over time and with much practice, I have become reasonably proficient, although there are many more lesser used tools embedded in PSE 12 that I have yet to fully build into my work flow.
It is my practice to initially download RAW files into LR and execute the magic of the program on my camera work. I have found that there are some things that PSE 12 does better than LR. An example is cleaning unwanted artifacts that the camera captures. Mostly the artifacts can only be seen when the photo is enlarged and their removal makes the end product shiny and clean. Cleaning artifacts can be arduous and time consuming. The Canadian 25 cent coin above left, was selected as it appeared to this human eye to be totally blemish free. Under the lens and with three electronic flash aimed at it, the surface defects were only too apparent. Several hours on PSE 12 polished the end product nicely.A technique that I enjoy and believe to be quite creative in PSE 12, is selective colour. I have heard say that some in the photo community frown on selective colouring----sooooo 2010! To my point---imagine a grey street scene of stores depicted on a very rainy grey day. In front of one of the stores are 3 women chatting, each holding up bright red umbrellas. Using PSE, any other colours in the photo can be crushed back to shades of black/white/grey. This use of a single colour enables the slash of red from the umbrellas to jump out dramatically. See a similar example pic of the technique above right of mauve flower on concrete.
As with most things computer and their software related, there are usually several different ways to achieve the same end result---commonly referred to, I believe, as 'work-arounds'.
READERS: To make most sense of this blog, please commence reading entries with the earliest posting date.
No comments:
Post a Comment