What image editing software should I get?

[Chippy]

I am looking for a good program to do the things I need without a bunch of BS.
Elements doesnt cut it and Full PS is too expensive.
I need basic image editing, plush the ability to restore old photos.
I need layer masks and curves. Also the measure tool and rotate arbitrary. (Some of my pics need to be spot on with each other on the horizontal axis.)
I do not need a bunch of fluff like web pages slide shows and organizers.
What software is out there that will fit the above?
Thanks.
Dave

[Juergen D]

Elements doesnt cut it
You could use the older version of Elements (2), which did not come with the Organizer. Get a few add ons and there you go...
This forum is for and about Elements, where do you expect us to send you?

Juergen

[TonyW]

Hi there and welcome to the forum. I'm not sure why you think Elements won't cut it. With the many free add-ins available you can do all those things and if you don't want the fluff then you don't need to use it. It really doesn't get in the way of the editing tools.

Tony

[Chippy]

OK, could someone point me to the add-ins for layer masks and a measure tool and rotate arbitrary?
I just do not care for software with un-needed stuff, fluff, bloat, whatever you want to call it.

Thanks again,
Dave

[msbrad]

Tony, I am glad you mentioned just what you did in your answer.
I have come upon some god -ugly photos that should have been sent to the shredder, and....if one persists long enough and seeks the answers, it works out pretty darn good.

Chippy, give elements a try. I'm not sure why you think 'elements wouldn't cut it'
This place isn't fluffy, nor is the program. Just a bunch of great folks who help others out to utilize an awesome program.
Most of the time, when I am stuck and I would like to "blame" the program, it is ME, who hasn't reached the next level.
Best of luck.
m

[Ellen]

You could start here,
http://www.google.com/search?sourceid=navclient&aq=t&ie=UTF-8&rls=GGLJ,GGLJ:2006-44,GGLJ:en&q=Elements+addons+site:photoshopelementsuser%2ecom

[TonyW]

Rotate Custom = Rotate Arbitrary
Straighten Tool = Measure + Rotate Arbitrary
Info Palette + Line or Straighten = Measure

Tony

[cats4jan]

What's wrong with fluff and bloat?

It's easily ignored yet available if one day you get a hankering for it.

If it's price, any decent software will cost you at least $50 and I'm betting if you shop carefully, you can buy Elements 5 for that price somewhere.

I've had them all - from your basic software that came with my paper - to the basic software that came with my camera - to my first $9.99 editing software - on and on - through the years - until Spring 2006 - when I found PSE4 and PE2 bundled together at Sam's for $79.

Elements is a perfect fit for anyone from beginner to expert.

[hfgerena]

Well, get Picassa from Google its free. But you would not get a better software than Photoshop Elements 4,5 or wait until 6 for your money. CS3 yes to expensive, but there is a big reality out there, Adobe/Photoshop including Photoshop Elements are the standard in the Digital Editing Softwares World, the rest are just trying to get a pice of the cake. Look at Microsoft with the Digital Image Suites, great product, but the just took it out.

[cats4jan]

The PET Cult

We need a leader.

Wendy?? Where are you, Wendy?

[tootie501]

A cult!?! HAHAHA - very funny, Janice. You just might be right about that. And if we ARE going to have a leader, then I vote for Wendy, too!

[cats4jan]

Been visiting your gallery.

Your "Hunter" page is so very sweet.

[photoshopsusieq]

Hi Dave and welcome to the forum...

It sounds like you have some specific needs when it comes to photo editing(quote - "Some of my pics need to be spot on with each other on the horizontal axis"). With the plug-ins that are available, PSE5 should be a good choice for the money. Why not download the trial version from Adobe and give it a whirl?

[Chippy]

Rotate Custom = Rotate Arbitrary
Straighten Tool = Measure + Rotate Arbitrary
Info Palette + Line or Straighten = Measure

Tony

Close but no cigar. I need to match photos on the horizontal axis +- 1/100 of a degree. Two nearly identical photos are matched up for 3 dimensional viewing. If there is any rotation in between the two, then it makes viewing difficult to the point where head aches evolve. I have used PS6 in the past so I know what I am talking about with this. I currently have Elements 3 and have yet to find a plugin or fix that can do this.

[Chippy]

Thanks for all the replies everyone. You are a friendly and helpful group. :)
For the record, I have used PS6 in the past. I used to have an academic version, but I have misplaced it. I also have Elements 3, so I know its short comings for my needs.
As for not using parts of it, like the Organizer, it just aint so. That darn organizer is always popping up. And even when it doesnt it is still lurking there.
I work on a photo and when I go to save it I always have to uncheck the box to save it to the organizer. :mad:

[Chuck S.]

Close but no cigar. I need to match photos on the horizontal axis +- 1/100 of a degree. Two nearly identical photos are matched up for 3 dimensional viewing. If there is any rotation in between the two, then it makes viewing difficult to the point where head aches evolve. I have used PS6 in the past so I know what I am talking about with this. I currently have Elements 3 and have yet to find a plugin or fix that can do this.

Sounds like you need CS2 or CS3 or some other high-end processing program.

[Rusty]

Chippy, I think Chuck hits the crux of your problem.

It sounds to me that you are searching for the type of mathematical precision that Elements was not designed to provide.

My son designs and sells factory automation equipment and systems. He does not use motors or controls that can be bought in the hardware store. His stuff comes with as much or as little "fluff" as the customer wants and is willing to pay for.

You are not likely to find a "general-market image processing product", like Elements, that is going to do exactly which specific things you want and nothing else. This is a hardware store product, designed to appeal to a mass market.

There are many things Elements will do that I have absolutely no interest in. I simply ignore those features. Elements is very good for what I want -- and I sure do like the hardware store price.

Stick around on the forum - we all learn a lot from each other and I'm sure you will too.

Rusty

[Wendy]

Hi Dave ...

... and welcome to the forum :)

The way Tony suggests to straighten an horizon using the straighten tool actually works in just the same way as Photoshop Measure and Rotate Arbitrary but its one step less. :)

.. and I too don't use fluff ... I prefer to create my own things. Actually you can get rid of the Organiser completely if you want to it won't appear again ... along with all the other things it does.

Umm you mention that you have an Educational Versionof Photoshop that you have misplaced .. as long as you registered it then Adobe may be able to help with a replacement disk. Or why not just get another educational version that would not be much difference in price to Elements

Wendy

[pixlbandit]

The academic price for PSCS3 in the US is actually $289 - $299, which is a bit different than elements still--otherwise I would have it already. :)

Chippy, sorry that I can't help with any information that will solve your specific needs.
Vicki

[Codebreaker]

I'm interested in your requirement to be able to rotate the images to +/- 0.01 degrees.

While you can enter this amount of rotation into Photoshop or maybe any other program the resolution of my screen, at least, prevents any better accuraccy than +/- 1.03

Colin

[TonyW]

Colin: I agree with you. There's no difference between Elements (at least PSE5) and the resolving power of Photoshop (CS2). Both will measure to the nearest pixel and rotate to .01° and both only show angle to the nearest .1°

And the straighten tool which makes it all very easy didn't appear until Version 4 of Elements and has only just found it's way into Photoshop. And that will rotate to a pixel of resolution which is close enough for me :D

Tony

[Juergen D]

I need to match photos on the horizontal axis +- 1/100 of a degree. Two nearly identical photos are matched up for 3 dimensional viewing.
Try Panorama Merge for that.

In Elements 3 you can disable the Organizer. Take a look here (Tip 7):
http://www.oreillynet.com/pub/a/oreilly/digitalmedia/2005/03/30/PE3forWindows.html

Juergen

[Wendy]

Why do I suspect something fishy :twisted::twisted:

Wendy

[nkeevers]

I think you are right Wendy! Bet he doesn't answer again.

[Chippy]

Nothing fishy here. Except fishing for information. :)
The reason I need the rotation is for my hand held shots.
I am shooting stereographic shots and if there is any rotation in between the 2 images it causes retina rivalry. Your eyes will try to correct each other and this will cause discomfort or even headaches. Each of the images may be rotated to different degrees so the same number does not apply to each.
The easiest way I have found so far is to use the measure tool and rotate arbitrary. The closest I can get in Elements is using the grid overlay and using free rotate. But, this is only getting it close, not exact.
Like I said earlier, I have misplaced my old PS6 educational version which had the serial number on the case. So I am a bit lost there. I got it through my wife (now ex-wife) several years ago while she was at university getting her masters. So no chance of getting it again.

[pixlbandit]

I may well not understand enough about the stereoscopic technique to offer an intelligent answer. But I still am not sure why the panorama merge function would not work--one of the options is to leave the 'merged' files in separate layers (at least in PSE3, which is what I have)--you could then manually crop the overlap of successive pairs of shots. The software merge matches the vertical alignment more closely than eyeballing it by any means could ever do, also taking care of problems in degree of rotation. That and maybe a tripod if shooting situations allow?:D

I leave it up to the engineers from here...:)

Vicki

[Juergen D]

But I still am not sure why the panorama merge function would not work--one of the options is to leave the 'merged' files in separate layers (at least in PSE3, which is what I have...
Thank you, Vicky, for posting this. I was looking at Elements 2 when I suggested the Panorama Merge, thinking that later versions, which I do not have access to right now, do let you save the merged layers (PSE2 does not). :)

Juergen

[Richard Lynch]

Elements doesnt cut it and Full PS is too expensive.

Dave,
Why doesn't Elements 'cut it'? I'm a professional and i can use it to do everything I need when it comes to image editing. If you need curves (Frankly, I don't use them as I've discovered better, more predictable techniques), you can get them for every version of the program. Layer Masks too.

if you don't want to spend that much on Photoshop Elements is the next best thing, and likely it is the thing you need...If you learn to use it, you'll get your money's worth.

[Hofy3D]

Sounds like you need Pokescope software. A very specialized program for just what you are trying to do. Get the Pro version.
http://www.pokescope.com/PokeScopeSoftware.html