Bought CS2

[clutchkiller]

I finally bought Photoshop CS2. First I downloaded a free 30 day trial version from Adobe (look on the right of the page where it says "Downloads," you can chose Win or Mac). I had no idea about how to use the program so I bought a book called "The Photoshop CS2 Book For Digital Photographers," by Scott Kelby. The book is awesome with a lot of step by step how~to's, well worth the money. It was after I bought the book that I decided to buy the CS2 program.

Well anyway..... just a Christmas cactus flower, my first image completely processed only using CS2 (I have a ton to learn).

 

[Hideandwatch]

This is a nice looking shot. What exactly did you do in the processing with the CS2?

 

[foulshot]

Even looks good on my laptop Paul.

CS2 is a different beast. I too have the same book, very easy reading.

I'm trying to master layers, I've got a lot to learn.

 

[clutchkiller]

Thanks Hideandwatch, before I bought CS2 I would convert my RAW images to JPEG's without doing any processing, maybe just a white balance correction. Once I had the image converted I would do any p/p that needed to be done. With CS2 you have a lot of options to process RAW images, the first thing I did to this image was to fix the white balance (make it look the way I wanted it) and then I increased the shadows. With CS2 you can adjust things like shadows without 'clipping' any details from the important areas of your image, my old software would darken everything in the image. After correcting the w/b and increasing the shadows a little, I corrected the red colour. I've had three different digitals now and the colour red always looked over-saturated for some reason, being able to do colour corrections with CS2 is worth the price of the program alone! I'll try to post some images with and without colour correction for comparison, it makes a world of difference.

I only spent about 15 to 20 minutes messing around with this image, I was going back and forth from my book to my computer. I'm sure the p/p will become much quicker once I become more familiar with CS2.

And thanks Zach, can you recommend any books on layers? CS2 is an incredible program, I think it would take a lifetime to learn every little trick of the program without any insructions from somewhere.

 

[clutchkiller]

Hey Zach, have you seen this?

http://www.layersmagazine.com/

edit- another one, I can't remember everything I did to this one...

 

[Hideandwatch]

Thanks Paul for your answer, your really developing at a fast rate in photography. Im enjoying seeing your work more and more. I dont think that I can do anything from raw with my Z740, I dont remember, I'll have to check my manual again since I havent read it since the camera was new 2 xmas's ago. I'm running photoshop 7.0 myself and I have barely touched the surface of all the things that can be done with it. Keep the good work coming.

 

[clutchkiller]

Thanks again Hideandwatch, I blame foulshot & lan-lord for my addiction to photography

I don't know how close Photoshop 7.0 is to CS2 but I'm pretty sure a lot of the same features can be found in the two programs. The author Scott Kelby has a few books on the different Photoshop programs, if the other books are anything like his book for CS2 I think buying the appropriate book for your software would be a great investment.

 

[Hideandwatch]

From what I understand now, in comparing Photoshop 7.0 to CS2, it would probably be like comparing Paint to Photoshop 7.0...CS2, I'm hearing is a way far more advanced program than 7.0. I hear people are illegally downloading CS2 through Limeware or some other sites. I wont download it but I would take a downloaded copy of it from someone...LOL...

I havent acquired any books on 7.0 and I probably should pick something up.

 

[clutchkiller]

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (Hideandwatch @ Jan 7 2007, 03:17 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}></div>

I hear people are illegally downloading CS2 through Limeware or some other sites. I wont download it but I would take a downloaded copy of it from someone...LOL...[/b]

Just wait a few days and the price should drop by 80% now that I have it, lol. There might be a chance that the price will go down now that Adobe released CS3 Beta. Also, if you know someone who is a student you can buy the academic version for about half the regular price (I think Adobe doesn't want the academic version used for commercial purposes)... and B&H Photo has a deal going if you buy a certain digital camera(s) you can get $200 off the CS2 software.