Software Question from Newbie

[mrskelly2u]

Greetings. I have been surfing the site and am so overwhelmingly pleased with the amount of information available. This is my first post, and I am an avid traditional scrapbooker who is (obviously!) looking to start with digital. I am pretty tech savvy, so I have no problem learning new software programs if necessary. However, I don't want to overspend on new stuff if it's not necessary.

So here's my questions: I have Photoshop already (not Elements, just plain Photoshop, which is their flagship photo product). Does anyone use that for scrapbooking, and if yes, is it enough? Or do you need a layout program as well? Does HPCSA support transparent PNGs? Is HPCSA powerful enough to do all of your scrapbooking work except for photo editing?

I really appreciate any info I can get. I want to know from the experts so I don't waste money by buying the wrong product(s).

Thanks so much!

Allison Kelly :D

[4guysandme]

Photoshop is great. Which version do you have? I have version 7 and CS2. Version 7 is definitely ample to digital scrapbook with. I got CS2 as I needed it for a digital imaging class I was taking. I use 7 on my laptop and have to remind myself that until I can afford to upgrade the RAM in it that 7 is all that will run on it. I use CS2 on my desktop. If you've got PS, use it!

[Lauren]

You cant do any better than Photoshop - If you already understand and know how to use it then you have all you will ever need - but it does have a very steep learning curve
HPCSA is really good for doing quick layouts and yes it supports transparent pngs but if you are savvy with Photoshop you wont need it

[mrskelly2u]

Thanks to both of you for your responses. I don't know what version I have, but DH told me it was an older one. Is there a minimum version I should have, or will they all work just as well?

I was thinking of getting HPCSA just for "power scrapping" and doing quick layouts. But it sounds like maybe I should just stick with PS and spend the time learning that program instead of using two? Right now, I just use it for basic photo editing, so I do have a lot to learn.

Allison

[kompressor]

Thanks to both of you for your responses. I don't know what version I have, but DH told me it was an older one. Is there a minimum version I should have, or will they all work just as well?

I was thinking of getting HPCSA just for "power scrapping" and doing quick layouts. But it sounds like maybe I should just stick with PS and spend the time learning that program instead of using two? Right now, I just use it for basic photo editing, so I do have a lot to learn.

Allison
hi and welcome!

as far as what version of photoshop you have, it must at least support layers (I think version 5 and over does)
I would think about at least version 7, and the best is of course CS2.
I am not sure about the earlier versions, but CS2 has a very handy program with it called bridge that is great for tagging, etc. it is resource hungry, though.
I run CS2 and have PSE4 just for its great organiser

hope this helps

cheers

[Ted]

I have to second Kompressor's post... I use CS2 for editing and PSE4 for its wonderful Organizer...

I wish PS had an organizer like that rather than Bridge.

Perhaps I can pray for CS3 to have it! ;)

Best of luck!

[Lauren]

I would suggest that V7 would be the earliest - I know there are some people who use V6 - so that might work - the earlier versions and the lite version ( which I believe was 5.5) wont be useable due to the fact that they dont support transparent pngs.

[Meryl]

I used 6 for a long time very successfully - Two things I can think of that I'd miss should I have to go back to it are the brushes - 6 has brushes but are far smaller, far more basic, and text on a path, otherwise, it will do everything you'd want.