david_barts1 Posted May 10, 2007 Share Posted May 10, 2007 Hello I'm considering getting an iMac (I've only ever used PCs); one of the main uses would be photo editing. I have Photoshop CS2 although most of the work is done in CameraRaw - I don't use most Photoshop features. Having googled for a bit I see that Elements 4 is not natively supported and it seems that Photoshop itself is in beta (I assume it refers to CS3). Well how good/bad is it in Rosetta, is it stable/fast? Will it be any better on 2Ghz Core Duo iMac than on my current 1.1GHz PC? Finally, perhaps I don't have need Photoshop at all at the moment. What I do is basically: 1. Open a raw file from my Canon DSLR in 16-bit mode 2. Crop, sometimes with rotation. 3. I really like WB presets in CameraRaw so I need something similar. 4. Adjust highlights and shadows. 5. Do selective lighening/darkening (I've been using select/levels) 6. Usharp mask. 7. Send to Epson Picturemate and save in some lossless format. Is GIMP OK? Or anything else that works on iMac and doesn't necessarily cost a fortune? Thanks! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bill_clark___minnetonka_mi Posted May 10, 2007 Share Posted May 10, 2007 You can purchase Elements 4.0 for Mac. Here is a link to Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/Adobe-Photoshop-Elements-4-0-Mac/dp/B000EJ9W0Q/ ref=pd_bbs_sr_1/104-5309128-7483138? ie=UTF8&s=software&qid=1178466714&sr=8-1 For what you describe this should work for you. You could also consider Adobe Lightroom or Apples Aperture but both run more moola than Elements 4.0. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
richam Posted May 10, 2007 Share Posted May 10, 2007 If I'm not mistaken, you can get a cross-platform upgrade for CS2 at a reasonable price. I've been using CS2 on the 20 inch iMac G5 for a couple of years, and it works remarkably well. The new Intel iMacs should be even better. You may be able to run your current windoze CS2 on them. I'm glad I got the 20 inch iMac since the screen area is useful for various PS functions. Sorry I can't comment on the PC comparison, as I don't have one. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
yeung-seu yoon Posted May 10, 2007 Share Posted May 10, 2007 Adobe Photoshop CS3 has been released, and now runs natively on Intel iMacs. I ran the CS3 beta on a Mac Mini with 2GB of RAM, and quite frankly was not blown away by the difference in speed, (at the file sizes I was using, around 60MB) between it and the CS2 I already have. For me, an upgrade is a waste of money. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
david_barts1 Posted May 10, 2007 Author Share Posted May 10, 2007 Thanks Michael, I'm thinking 20-inch as well. I didn't realize the emulator could run windoze apps although I'd heard Tiger is Linux-based and there's been talk of emulators running within Linux for years. The question is, is it just a proof-of concept kind of thing or something useable every day hassle-free. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ellis_vener_photography Posted May 10, 2007 Share Posted May 10, 2007 I have both PsCS3 extended and Adobe Lightroomon my imAc (Bibble Pro, Capture One, Canon and Nikon's software and RawDeveloperare instaleldas well. Lightroom does 95% of the work I need to do. What I use PsCS3 for is for the the Noise Ninja nad Photokit Sharpener plug-ins, for PC33's"photomerge function, and sometimes I'll use Russell Brown's 1-2-3 script as well. I am using a 20" 2.16Ghz Intel Core 2 Duo with 3Gb RM installed and two scratch disks on external (via FireWire) HDDs. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
patricklavoie Posted May 10, 2007 Share Posted May 10, 2007 Good choice, Imac 20inch add some RAM to at least 2gig and you are good to go. Maybe you will benefit in your workflow working with Ligthroom? Im surprise by Yeung Seu Yoon comment about the non blown away speed performance between CS2 vs CS3, because for me i will have pay 2x what i pay to upgrade knowing of the major speed i got with mine. I have a MacPro Dual 2.66 with 4gig RAM, 4 RAID hard drive, so maybe the speed come from there also. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
david_barts1 Posted May 10, 2007 Author Share Posted May 10, 2007 Thanks, Lightroom seems a good idea. What's a good book about it (like Barry Haynes's Artistry) or is it mostly similar to Photoshop? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
patricklavoie Posted May 10, 2007 Share Posted May 10, 2007 i suggest you go to www.lynda.com and watch there tutorial, for Lr, CS3 and pretty much all the software i know. It cost 25$ a month, but worth it. I learn Lr with there 7 hours well done step by step tutorial and dont regret it. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ellis_vener_photography Posted May 10, 2007 Share Posted May 10, 2007 Book recommendation "The Adobe Photoshop Lightroom Book" by Martin Evening. On line source to check out: http://www.lightroom-news.com Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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