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Trial version unusable in Windows.

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pj...@adobeforums.com

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Jan 12, 2009, 7:16:20 AM1/12/09
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7.0 (7.0 (20080916.r.508356)). Windows XP Pro SP2.
I tried Elements because of general dissatisfaction with the later versions of Paint Shop Pro.
1. Akamai needed 2 (two!) hours to download the trial version exe (PSE7_WIN_TB_WWE.exe) from the Adobe site and then I needed the best part of another hour to install. My first install attempt crashed PowerDesk which is no mean feat.
2. The black and grey window with its tiny text is very hard on the eyes. What it must be like on cheap monitors! Maybe there is an option to display a white screen as in Paint Shop Pro 12 (see 3 below)?
3. No useful in-line or on-line Help.
4. If I am to continue with Elements I will need to have a proper Windows version, not what seems to be a bodged up Mac one.

In the meantime I will continue with Paint Shop Pro 9.02 though the 8 bit only colour is a handicap.

Jim_Jütte@adobeforums.com

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Jan 12, 2009, 12:59:47 PM1/12/09
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You have posted in the feature request area. I would suggest posting in
the technical support area where you are more likely to find an end-user
that can help you through this.

pj...@adobeforums.com

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Jan 12, 2009, 1:46:48 PM1/12/09
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Jim,
I tried to straighten a photo which started as Sony RAW (.SR2)and which I had converted to .PSD in Camera Raw. Elements told me that it had only limited capability to process 16 bit files so I have uninstalled it. Looks like I will have to tackle Photoshop CS2 again with that appalling interface and terrible Help.

Jim_Jütte@adobeforums.com

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Jan 13, 2009, 5:02:57 AM1/13/09
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I will move this thread to the technical area tomorrow if you still post
here so that you don't lose your conversation. Otherwise, you can start
a new subject there, but again... this is NOT the right area for your
question. You will rarely get any responses here.

In any regard, from your post, it appears that PSE cannot do what you
need? Have you concluded that?

Cheers

pj...@adobeforums.com

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Jan 13, 2009, 7:19:42 AM1/13/09
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Yes Jim, I have decided that, for my requirements PSE 7 will not be any improvement on my PSP 9.02.
9.02 does everything I want with 8bit colours and has some features which would improve PSE and PS eg: the superb two-pane before and after adjustment dialogs which can be expanded full-screen on my second monitor and the little scroll boxes for setting numeric values ['numeric edit controls' in PSP speak] which reduce the amount of guesswork involved in dragging markers along bars. There are others: proper in-line Help and a 501 page 9" x 6" User Guide.

For the record PSP 9 was the last JASC version and had a nasty bug whereby dragging a selection marquee on a layer left an unremovable 'shadow' of the marquee behind. This was fixed in Corel's 9.02.

Jim_Jütte@adobeforums.com

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Jan 13, 2009, 5:55:09 PM1/13/09
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Just looking through some other options for you. Not sure what it is
about CS2 you don't care for and since I have CS4 now, I can't go back
to check. Have you look at the Gimp? It's free so there is no harm in
looking at it and from what I can tell (just tried it) it handles 16 bit
files.

I assume that you needed PSE to leave the image in 16 bit format? I just
tried it and it wants to convert it to 8. I got no such message with
Gimp... but obviously there is power that you will not have in CS2.

Cheers

pj...@adobeforums.com

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Jan 14, 2009, 4:48:27 PM1/14/09
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Jim,
Thank you for your suggestions.
It is very nice to load CS2 and get a standard Windows window but I am afraid I just do not have the time to dedicate myself to its undoubtedly enormous potential. The same with PSE. I do not have the time to wade through masses of tutorials, lots of books and that Help (which does not exist in my trial PSE version) to learn how to do simple photo adjustments. From the 'media' I get the impression that PS users (you?) spend all their working hours in it. This also seems to be the case with reviewers of PSE. I get the feeling that these reviewers are dedicated PS users and have never tried anything else.
PS is presumably now so huge that it would not be possible to rewrite the interface and Help files for part-time users like me. It reminds me of another dinosaur: AutoCAD.
My problem with GIMP (and a bonus with PSP) is that it won't run PS plugins. I take a lot of architectural photos and the Altostorm plugin is a godsend.
So, I am stuck between a rock and a hard place! My 16bit landscape photos do look better than the 8bit ones. PSP 12 does have limited 16bit support but it has lost some of the best features of PSP 9, notably the superb Adjust Histogram. This has been crippled in PSP 12 (too technical for the red-eye removal punters, I suppose). Adjust Histogram is like Curves with dragging and also numeric input and live histogram display; try it, if you work for Adobe there is bound to be a PSP 9 in the office somewhere (I got my 9.02 as a freebie CD with a Lexar memory card).
Peter

Jim_Jütte@adobeforums.com

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Jan 16, 2009, 9:47:55 AM1/16/09
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LOL... Actually Peter, I just finished an MA in German... so, I'm not
the typical Photoshop user. Ironically, I couldn't figure out how to
install Photoshop 3 on my computers. I went into a forum like this one
and found it so handy. People answered my questions so quickly. Then I
started to KNOW the answers and started helping out... haven't looked
back since. It is true, there are some VERY advanced amateurs and likely
some professionals that use PSE... but the market seems to demand the
product that Adobe is currently producing... so they move towards what
their customer base is telling them to do.

If you're using histograms and curves... I wouldn't consider you all the
INexperienced either ;) Nevertheless, I think this is a bit of a case
where you can definitely say one size does NOT fit all.

Cheers

pj...@adobeforums.com

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Jan 16, 2009, 10:56:37 AM1/16/09
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Jim,
Congratulations on your MA in German; such a difficult language!

"but the market seems to demand the product that Adobe is currently producing..."
This is my problem. PS is the only product that does everything I want with 16 bit colours. I suppose I will just have to find the time to learn it if I am to continue with digital photography. I have got Scott Kelby's book 'The Photoshop CS2 book for Digital Photographers' which will be a start. Thank heaven I have got what I am realising is a superb camera and two superb monitors to view the photos on.
Thank you Jim for bearing with me through this most interesting topic.
Peter
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