PatrickT
New Rangefinder User
I love lightroom and do 90% of my processing in it, but damn if the content-aware feature in CS5 isn't amazing!
kuzano
Veteran
Academic Version CS5.0.... Full Featured...$299
Academic Version CS5.0.... Full Featured...$299
I teach community education classes at a Community College. Interpretation of qualification to buy Academic Version software at our bookstore, includes attendance at Community Ed classes. Some of those classes can be registered for as little as $30 a class.
With that, you can buy CS5 Academic. Many think there are some limitations on the Academic version...
True, the Academic Version does not qualify for upgrade in the future. That's very close to a NON issue, since most are not likely to upgrade to full version with every version that comes out.
The product, however, is FULL FEATURED. There are no function limits. It has the full capability of the Full Version CS5.
I agree with most of the posts here. CS5 is overkill for almost everybody. Elements is wide ranging. Light Room is advanced for most.
But if you are one of those who simply must have the Cadillac product, academic version is the way to go. Check with your local college and university bookstores for minimum participation in the school to buy.
Better yet, outline a community ed course for your local college and submit it for you to be the instructor. Look through the community ed catalog.
I've been teaching community ed classes... 7 of them... since 1993. They pay hourly wages, once your class is set up, the work involved is the hours of the class and some time for updating and creating handouts. Furthermore, they can be quite enlightening. I learn something new in every class I present. I make about $1000 side income per quarter. The Community Ed program where I teach pays $20 per class hour, and no certification required, no degrees, etc. Community Ed programs are usually black ink for most colleges and not endangered by funding.
Teaching those classes qualifies me also for academic software.
There are also software companies on the internet who sell academic software in all the popular programs and versions. Look one of those up (search academic software), and find out their requirements for qualification. Usually just a class or two work.
Ie. take a photoshop class, buy the software, or something like that.
Academic Version CS5.0.... Full Featured...$299
I teach community education classes at a Community College. Interpretation of qualification to buy Academic Version software at our bookstore, includes attendance at Community Ed classes. Some of those classes can be registered for as little as $30 a class.
With that, you can buy CS5 Academic. Many think there are some limitations on the Academic version...
True, the Academic Version does not qualify for upgrade in the future. That's very close to a NON issue, since most are not likely to upgrade to full version with every version that comes out.
The product, however, is FULL FEATURED. There are no function limits. It has the full capability of the Full Version CS5.
I agree with most of the posts here. CS5 is overkill for almost everybody. Elements is wide ranging. Light Room is advanced for most.
But if you are one of those who simply must have the Cadillac product, academic version is the way to go. Check with your local college and university bookstores for minimum participation in the school to buy.
Better yet, outline a community ed course for your local college and submit it for you to be the instructor. Look through the community ed catalog.
I've been teaching community ed classes... 7 of them... since 1993. They pay hourly wages, once your class is set up, the work involved is the hours of the class and some time for updating and creating handouts. Furthermore, they can be quite enlightening. I learn something new in every class I present. I make about $1000 side income per quarter. The Community Ed program where I teach pays $20 per class hour, and no certification required, no degrees, etc. Community Ed programs are usually black ink for most colleges and not endangered by funding.
Teaching those classes qualifies me also for academic software.
There are also software companies on the internet who sell academic software in all the popular programs and versions. Look one of those up (search academic software), and find out their requirements for qualification. Usually just a class or two work.
Ie. take a photoshop class, buy the software, or something like that.
Last edited:
lilmsmaggie
Established
I agree. I took a PS class at a Community College, then bought CS3 Web Premium Suite for about $299 directly from Adobe as it was cheaper than at the CC Bookstore. I've taken beginning and advanced photoshop classes and don't use anywhere near what PS is capable of perforning.
If you're just a photog, Lightroom is the way to go, unless you just gotta have layers but bottom line, sign-up for a class at your local CC - take anything, basket weaving or something.
With Adobe, all you have to do is send them a Fax copy of your current school registration -- as verification -- PERIOD!
That will qualify you for the academic discount. If I was buying, I'd just get PS CS5 and Lightroom 3.
I hated Lightroom 3.3 for a few hours last weekend. Apparently, if it creates a corrupt "Catalog" file, it crashes immediately on startup. Uninstalling and reinstalling the software does not fix it. Tried things at random, and finally changing the Folder name of the directory that contained the hidden/corrupt file allowed the software to recover enough to ask me if I wanted to create a new catalog. It's hard to imagine modern software that cannot be bothered with an "ERR=" to get out of a read before crashing.
So- get Lightroom, and set the defaults to ASK you what catalog you want to open instead of just assuming the last one that it worked on.
I use Photoshop 7.0. Lightroom was free with the M9, does a decent job when it works.
So- get Lightroom, and set the defaults to ASK you what catalog you want to open instead of just assuming the last one that it worked on.
I use Photoshop 7.0. Lightroom was free with the M9, does a decent job when it works.
Thardy
Veteran
Not sure what you mean, but typing on the iPad can be challenging.
Can you please elaborate?
Dan
Let's Sway
Kuzano is spot on with that recommendation. Another major perk as a teacher is free desk copy textbooks! My library is overflowing with handpicked books on Photoshop, Lightroom, Nikon guides, digital printing, digital-this-and-magic-that. There is so much more productivity gained from well written LR and PS textbooks that I always feel compelled to read more -- especially while on the throne because that fits my attention span for reading.
Leigh Youdale
Well-known
I think I just read in MacWorld that the new v9 PSE has content aware - but maybe it's only in the Mac OS version? It's not a feature I warm to, but since someone mentioned it ........
Bob Michaels
nobody special
You said that you have only bought Elements but have Lightroom. The question would be how do you have Lightroom if you did not buy it? I am sure there is a logical explanation.
P
Peter S
Guest
Most software gives the option of trying before buying. Just download the latest versions of Photoshop & Lightroom and also give Silverefex a try. Then give The Gimp a chance, it might be all you need and is donationware.
I have Lightroom and CS3 and still prefer Photoshop as I find it easier to control local contrast with masks and selections then with Lightroom controls. Once you have a workflow in place and know your way around it is actually not that difficult (most of the possibilities are more for designers than photographers anyway).
For B+W scans I go straight to Photoshop, for colour work I use Lightroom and then either keep the file in LR ( in case the print will be colour) or I optimize the file for a B+W conversion in Photoshop and then hand it over from LR to CS3 at a certain stage.
Had a look at The Gimp and I think it should be very suitable for most of work, but as I already have gone the Adobe way I see no reason to switch.
I have Lightroom and CS3 and still prefer Photoshop as I find it easier to control local contrast with masks and selections then with Lightroom controls. Once you have a workflow in place and know your way around it is actually not that difficult (most of the possibilities are more for designers than photographers anyway).
For B+W scans I go straight to Photoshop, for colour work I use Lightroom and then either keep the file in LR ( in case the print will be colour) or I optimize the file for a B+W conversion in Photoshop and then hand it over from LR to CS3 at a certain stage.
Had a look at The Gimp and I think it should be very suitable for most of work, but as I already have gone the Adobe way I see no reason to switch.
Last edited by a moderator:
Voe
Member
Thardy
Veteran
Beta, and see post 34.
dsymes
Established
Thank you again to all who posted. Kuzano and the education crowd rang a bell for me and I wound up registering for a couple of Machining Technology classes at the local community college. And a good thing, too, since Washington state's budget cuts to community colleges will result in no evening classes next fall.
The requirements for buying educational versions of Adobe software don't specify that one's classes need to be in photography or other art classes, so I was able to purchase Photoshop and Loghtroom at the educational prices.
dsymes
The requirements for buying educational versions of Adobe software don't specify that one's classes need to be in photography or other art classes, so I was able to purchase Photoshop and Loghtroom at the educational prices.
dsymes