MicroGrafx Picture Publisher 8.0 VS. Photo Shop

[z06nut]

I love this program. I've been using it for the last 4 years. I've never used PhotoShop but from what I hear you have to buy a lot of plug ins. Has any body tried both programs?

[ilanphoto]

just a small correction. You do not HAVE TO buy any plug-ins for photoshop, I know I have not. There are a lot of free plug-ins as well
Basically, the best program is the one you know how to use

[road_runner]

I have used Micrographix Picture Publisher from 1996 till Dec. 2004. Though I have not worked with Photoshop Elements 2 more than a couple of months, I like how it operates - a lot better. It took a little getting used to, but the available plug-ins make life interesting. B+W filter plug-in which I ordered from Adorama for $65 enabled me to give my beach, water and scenic shots a Polarizer efect. The warming filter also is good. The thing I like best is the ability to use Photoshop Actions which makes thing go quickly and smoothly. You can get some plug-ins free, some for $10 or $20, and some for an arm and a leg.

Read ths article http://www.graphic-design.com/Photoshop ... index.html ; it was written by Richard Lynch - the Master. You can order the book The Hidden Power of Photoshop Elements 2 which is a must if you want to do some great work. Unless you are a professional grafix specialist or a professional photographer earning big bucks from your work, Elements 2 or 3 will do fine. I'm sticking with PS Wlements 2.

Note: A great free gift from Rich on his website is the Functionality Installer tool which enables you to use the free Actions that come with it. This is his latest release and you will get free Matting and Framing effects with a host of Batch actions for making a fix to an entire folder at once (i.e levels, contrast etc.). Go to his website at http://www.hiddenelements.com then click on Power Tools.

You can get Inteli-Sharpin from http://www.fredmiranda.com/ for $29. That works great; be sure to read the Read Me file and you will do just fine. Another great plug in for aabout $29 is Virtual Photographer - also produced by Fred Miranda. Virtual Photographer enables you to convert images to B&W with great control, soften images, add hollywood effects etc. with the greatest of ease.

BTW - Photographix no longer has its Picture Publisher available, and if there are plug-ins, I couldn't locate them. Elements does a much better job. I never thought it could get me away from Picture Publisher, but Elements is the clear winner. I stuck with Pictur Publisher 4.0.

Hope this helps!