Photoshop version and alternatives

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Photoshop version and alternatives

Post by DavidP »

Again, I’m just learning Solar image processing. Full versions of Photoshop are beyond my budget. What are the best alternatives for post processing? Photoshop elements? Pixinsight? Other software?


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Re: Photoshop version and alternatives

Post by JochenM »

Try taking a look at GIMP (https://www.gimp.org/). It's free, open source image processing software and very rich in features.

I personally use it for certain things as well.


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Re: Photoshop version and alternatives

Post by PDB »

+1 for Gimp as well.
Can do everyting you need. Has also a plugin with several extra usefull filters (gmic for gimp)

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Re: Photoshop version and alternatives

Post by Montana »

GIMP


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Re: Photoshop version and alternatives

Post by stef41 »

paint.net (pics 8bits) : https://www.getpaint.net/
darktable : https://www.darktable.org/


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Re: Photoshop version and alternatives

Post by rsfoto »

Montana wrote: Fri Apr 17, 2020 7:08 amGIMP
Hi Alexandra,

Is there also a downloadable PDF instruction manual or is it just available online ?

I looked at the GIMP page but did not find anything :?:


regards Rainer

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Re: Photoshop version and alternatives

Post by Merlin66 »

David,
Another alternative worth checking out is the latest PaintShop Pro. It's come a loooong way in the past few years and certainly gives PS a run for it's money. Layers, masking etc etc. Try before you buy, once of $$$$
https://www.paintshoppro.com/en/product ... /standard/


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Re: Photoshop version and alternatives

Post by Montana »

Rainer, I have no idea. GIMP is very similar to Image J being freeware. Because I know Photoshop quite well I just looked through the tools till I found the ones that looked similar. I managed to do an animation the same as Photoshop in a matter of minutes for a test so it can't be that complicated or different to Photoshop. However, it would be complicated if you had never used a photo manipulation tool in your life before. I find ImageJ much more complicated as you have to add in modules that you need. However, if you do want to buy then Photoshop Elements is basically all you need, the only thing I remember missing from this package is the ability to save processing routines.

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Re: Photoshop version and alternatives

Post by Ronnie_Clayton »

In the past I´ve used PS, but now I bought the Affinity Photo and it´s really a great software, for me it as so good (or better) than PS and much more cheaper...

You can try it per 90 days ;-)

https://affinity.serif.com/pt-br/photo/

Ronnie


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Re: Photoshop version and alternatives

Post by stef41 »

luminar 3 has been free for some time: https://fstoppers.com/software/how-get- ... ree-469628

it's kind of like the Adobe lightroom equivalent

But I'm not sure it's suitable for astro image processing.

Sincerely,
stéphane


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Re: Photoshop version and alternatives

Post by EGRAY_OBSERVATORY »

Hi David and anybody-else who needs a suitable processing program to enhance the results from after using specific Astro imaging programs.

Merlin 66 has correctly stated about "PAINTSHOP PRO" giving the very expensive Photoshop a run for its' money...

In fact independent analysis has shown that for a one-off payment at a much lower-price, than the methods that PhotoShop use to extract your money by annual-subscriptions - is well worth considering.

I have been using various versions of PAINTSHOP PRO over many years and certainly the more recent versions from v.9 and v.2018 do everything that is required for dealing with astro-imaging and of course Solar-imaging too.

Will even now work with my Panasonic DMC-G2 camera's RAW-2 files and numerous other camera-manufacturer's own files - as well.

https://www.paintshoppro.com/static/psp ... n-2020.pdf
is well worth the comparison between the two and unlikely to be lying about the differences.

https://www.paintshoppro.com/en/?link=wm is worth taking a look at all the pages, to get an idea of what Corel have on offer (and reduced -
prices as of July 2020...

https://www.paintshoppro.com/en/free-trials/ is just one possibility of trying for free !!!

You are unlikely to need everything that is included in whichever version is used...

Finally I had used PhotoShop many years ago, but found it far more difficult to understand than "PSP" so "PSP" has been my tool of the trade and not just for Astro & Solar-work - as other subject-matters via "PSP" have been successfully published elsewhere on the web and beyond.

Why buy and use a Rolls Royce for your local-shopping, when a Mini/Lada or whatever - will do the same job ???
To save your dosh and spend it on astro-gear etc., etc., etc., is my idea of making better use of that dosh...

Best Wishes & CLEAR SKIES
Regards
Terry


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Re: Photoshop version and alternatives

Post by SimonM »

Ronnie_Clayton wrote: Thu Apr 23, 2020 2:55 pm In the past, I´ve used PS, but now I bought the Affinity Photo and it´s really great software, for me, it is so good (or better) than PS and much cheaper...
I have recently converted to the program (paid a few £££) and find it both simple and flexible to pick up and use. There are application reference and application guide material for some of the programs and now video tutorials. There are lots of high-quality video tutorials.

Simon
Last edited by SimonM on Mon Feb 22, 2021 1:53 pm, edited 1 time in total.


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Re: Photoshop version and alternatives

Post by DavidP »

rsfoto wrote: Sun Apr 19, 2020 5:37 pm
Montana wrote: Fri Apr 17, 2020 7:08 amGIMP
Hi Alexandra,

Is there also a downloadable PDF instruction manual or is it just available online ?

I looked at the GIMP page but did not find anything :?:
There are tons of online tutorials for every aspect of GIMP


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Re: Photoshop version and alternatives

Post by EGRAY_OBSERVATORY »

Hi David, as said by Ken/Merlin66 said here.
Re: Photoshop version and alternatives
Post by Merlin66 » Mon Apr 20, 2020 12:28 am

David,
Another alternative worth checking out is the latest PaintShop Pro. It's come a loooong way in the past few years and certainly gives PS a run for it's money. Layers, masking etc etc. Try before you buy, once of $$$$
https://www.paintshoppro.com/en/product ... /standard/

For a one of low-price PaintShopPro is recommended now to be as good as Adobe Photoshop and a fraction of the price. Is also much easier to use and I have been using various versions for many years. I tried an old version of Photoshop, but got rid of it as not user-friendly at the time, compared to JASC's PaintShopPro (now Corel PaintShopPro)...

All my imaging (not just astro) uses PSPro.

GIMP and the many other freebies are excellent in their own right, so why pay Adobe for items that are free elsewhere ??

Another comment just from SimonM
"Photoshop - they want your money forever!
For software, I cannot quite bring myself to get a PS subscription and so I look for cheaper alternatives. GIMP is a free alternative but I don't have the patience to get into all the undoubted good complex features. "

Is absolutely an accurate comment...

Terry


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Re: Photoshop version and alternatives

Post by DeepSolar64 »

I use GIMP. It's open source and free. I use a Linux build ( Ubuntu ) on my home computer and GIMP is available in it's download store. GIMP was developed first for the Linux OS before being made available for MacOS and Windows.


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