Hi all.

I've just gotten a copy of photoshop a number of weeks ago and I've had a chance to play with it extensively for the first time a few days ago.

Oh. My. God.

It makes things much easier. It is an absolute snap to remove wrinkles and creases from facial features. <pity it doesn't do laundry, but if you scan it in, it will do so>

This is definitely the best version yet (and not just a "mild" upgrade)

My only real complaint about the program is it's "Patch" and "Healing" tools. They take a bit too many liberties with what you might want done and it will require a bit of masking.

The option to make a Web based "thumbnails" site is also much easier and looks much better as opposed to the 5.5 or 6.0 versions.

I've read somewhere that there is a program which will allow us to just view thumbnails and import them directly to photoshop. But I will investigate that when I have more time.


I need to get to my coffee..I'm MUCH too productive this morning.

Rick

I voted for 7, but actually I am still using PhotoShop 6. I own 7 and it’s sitting next to my desk; I just haven’t installed it yet. My delay is that I want to organize the files on my computer first in order to back them up and then reformat the hard drives. It’s about time to get rid of all the extra stuff floating around on my computer. However, I am truly looking forward to playing with the new features such as the healing brush.

I do have 7, but still keep version 4, in case I want to use the clone tool in that version (it works differently).

I know what you mean about getting control over the healing brush and patch tool. You might want to check out Katrin Eisman's site, she has a tutorial for the healing brush. It's listed on the left hand menu, under Photoshop 7.
http://www.digitalretouch.org/

I haven't yet used the healing stuff, as Paint Shop Pro does a great job with it's scratch remover, and cloner. I do love the new paint brushes though. Not as good as in Painter, but quite good and better by a mile than Paint Shop Pro's.

I have 7 installed and use it, but I also keep 5.5 available and use it because the layer style menu in it takes up SO MUCH LESS real estate. I can hardly see my image with that giant version that 6 and 7 use. Image Ready has a pallete that is the size of the layers palette that sometimes I will switch to just to appreciate the size of. I don't know why Adobe, who makes both Image Ready and Photoshop, had to make the menu so large in the later versions. I hoped that 7 would have corrected this, but it hasn't.

So I didn't vote, as I use them both.
:wavey:

I have 7 and I love it. I can't see how I ever got along without the healing brush, patch tool and browser. I still keep 6 available but only because I wanted it until I got used to the changes in 7 but lately I haven't used it at all.
DJ

Started with 5.5 May 2001. It was a lot less expensive (then) than PS6. At this point in my Photoshop learning curve, 5.5 does all I need -- except read actions written in PS6 and PS7. :(

Courtesy of her company, my wife has PS7 installed on her work laptop, so I get to poke around a little with 7 + test actions written in PS6, PS7.

I'll probably do a PS8 upgrade when it comes out. By then I'll be ready for it.

Danny

I have Photoshop 7, but I haven't used it enough to be comfortable with all the goodies yet. From what I have seen, I doubt I'll ever wish I hadn't upgraded.

Ed

I like ps7 alright..... the browser needs improvement..

blacknight ... I may be off base here ... but with the pallets .. I just scrunch them up a bit to allow more room . ..
and then there is the "photoshop interface improver"

http://www.interfaceimprovement.com/photoshop.html

but maybe it's something else that you mean that I don't use..

I will attach screenshots (pictures are worth a thousand words, after all!) showing the sizes of the two menus. I am at 1024 x 768 as well in these shots, so imagine it at 800 x 600 or less. If they can do it in ImageReady why can't they do it in Photoshop? Version 5 wasn't huge. Just 6 and above. And not in ImageReady. I guess i was hoping someone would say "Oh - there's a preference for that" or something I hadn't discovered yet.
:depressed

Here's the same thing just switching to ImageReady and selecting the same option. Don't make no sense to me. What were they thinking?
:depressed

I can't quite make out what you have open.... looks like emboss.. mine doesn't have all the extras on the left.... looks interesting ,,, but large for sure

Originally posted by rondon
I can't quite make out what you have open.... looks like emboss.. mine doesn't have all the extras on the left.... looks interesting ,,, but large for sure
Yes, Bevel & Emboss. Or Outer Glow. Or Drop Shadow. Maybe I go about it wrong, somehow. Yours doesn't have all the extras on the left, you say. How exactly do you get to that menu then? Bevel & Emboss, for instance.
:wavey:

I'm finally getting PS7 (the Design collection - Photoshop, InDesign, Illustrator, Acrobat, GoLive and LiveMotion). I ordered it today (from Image Media (http://www.imagemedia.ca/product.asp?strProdID=27590161) ) but now I have to wait for it to ship from Ontario. it's gonna be a looong couple of days waiting for it to come :)

- David

David
That's great. Do you think it will be a big jump from Gimp or are they close in style to each other so that adapting to Photoshop won't seem so difficult? I'm curious to see how fast you adapt to it after becoming so proficient in Gimp. I think there are some features you are going to really like and having experience with Gimp you might have 2 programs that offer so cool features that will compliment each other. You will be busy to say the least with that bundle. :) Keep us informed.
DJ

I've tried out the PS6 demo out a bit and it doesn't seem too hard to adjust to. it'll definitely take some learning though.

- David :)

Well, you always know where you can go for help? :)
DJ

yup, there's no better place then here!!

- David :)

I have two questions.

1) Is there a problem doing an upgrade of Photo Shop and skipping versions. I currently have v5.5 and am thinking of getting 7.x?

2) Has anyone done an upgrade from Win98 to Win2000? I have had the upgrade for some time, but have been putting it off. Am wondering if there is anything I should be aware of. Everyone I have asked about it, has always said they wiped there system clean, and did an install from new.

Thanks for any input.

Keith

1. No problem at all, but you'll need your 5.5 serial number and original CD-ROM

2. Yes, wipe your HD and do a clean install, plus you should consider reformatting to Win2000's NTFS file system, which is better for all purposes unless you need the HD to be visible to any non-Windows machines (Macs or Linux, etc.). If you have further questions about changing your operating system, please start a new thread so this one can remain about PS7

I am still learning photoshop 7 the healing brush and patch tool are out of this world the only complaint i have is that you have to use them on the original layer , youcan't heal or patch to an empty layer like you can with the clone tool . its kind of nice to leave your original layer untouched .

You could always copy that background layer and do your healing on that layer.
DJ

It came, it finally came!!!! I'm very excited, the package arrived this morning. so I now have Photshop 7. Illustrator 10, Livemotion 2, GoLive 6, InDesign 2, Acrobat 5 (plus I have my new graphire 2..) so if you don't hear from me in the next few days.. you can think of my playing with all my new programs / toys :D

- David :)

Wow - I think you're set for a while David!! :D Just remember that we're waiting to see what masterpieces you can create now. :) (No pressure though :tongue: ;) )

Jeanie

Denschneider writes:

"I am still learning photoshop 7 the healing brush and patch tool are out of this world the only complaint i have is that you have to use them on the original layer , youcan't heal or patch to an empty layer like you can with the clone tool . its kind of nice to leave your original layer untouched ."

As DJ suggested, if working on 8bpc data then the background or current layer can be duplicated to heal on, preserving the original data.

Yes, the downside is that the file size is much larger than clone stamping to a transparent correction layer.

The goodnews is:

Isolate Healing Action

Photoshop 7 action to isolate the healing process when performed on the entire image or on larger selected areas. The result of this action is to mimic the effect of clone stamping to a transparent layer (the healing process can't be used to transparency).

http://members.ozemail.com.au/~binaryfx/IsolateHealing.zip

Basically, I use a difference mask to expose the heal/clone and then to make a slightly expanded selection which isolates these edits and removes the unchanged data.

P.S. This action and a few others can be found at my website:

http://members.ozemail.com.au/~binaryfx/PSTV_downloads.html

I have also uploaded actions to the following section of this site, as have many other members - it is worth a look as there are many goodies stored there.

http://www.retouchpro.com/forums/showthread.php?s=&threadid=2767

And a link to further links on the healing tools:

http://members.ozemail.com.au/~binaryfx/PSTV_links.html#H

Regards,

Stephen Marsh.

Originally posted by jeaniesa
Wow - I think you're set for a while David!! :D Just remember that we're waiting to see what masterpieces you can create now. :) (No pressure though :tongue: ;) )

Jeanie

well, you guys are just gonna have to wait to see my "masterpeices" :D before I get to do any of that, I have some REAL work to do. I got an order of 30 snapshots which need to be turned into website worthy photo's from the company that my Dad works for - very definitely a good thing, but darn it, I wanna experiment already!!! I guess I'll just have to be patient, and do what *needs* to be done first (hey, at least I'm getting paid for it :) ).

- David :)

Cool David! No doubt, you'll have your new toys paid for in no time flat. :) Have fun.

Ed

David,
You sure have your priorities in order. Money first and play last. Sounds like a great job though. You'll have to tell us how you do. Hey, I would think this job on the pics would be a good testing ground for you new toys. I suppose you will do them in Gimp being more familiar with it. I just got Corel Paint and Corel Draw so I'm looking at the features they have. I'd say they are closer to Painter than Photoshop so I have a bit to learn on them.
DJ

Hi Ed and DJ,

thanks! it's going quite well, so far. I'm actually just jumping right in and using photoshop instead of GIMP, and that's working out fine, since the tools are mostly the same (and I'm really liking the new tools, especially the healing brush - it's not perfect, but quicker to use than the clone tool) and I'm just learning everything else as I go pretty much. I love photoshop!!!

- David :)