About Photoshop and Painter Classic

[Brium]

I'm going to buy a Wacom tablet--most likely the 9x12 Intuos2--but I had a couple questions about the software that comes (or doesn't come) with it. I'm, of course, looking at spending as little money as possible.

The Intuos2 comes with Corel Painter Classic, penPalette, and Wacom brushes 1.0 for Photoshop. I already can see that penPalette and Wacom Brushes will only work for Photoshop. They (the Wacom website) say that Painter Classic is a limted version of Painter 7 and has 40 pressure sensitive settings, and so on. Is Photoshop X (x being whatever number) better than Painter Classic?

If I do decide to buy Photoshop is CS a whole lot better than 7 or will PS7 have what I need? I know a lot of this depends on personal preference, but I want to know more before I jump in.

Last of all, I see that Amazon.com has some listings for Photoshop 7 for $220 and up. Some don't have manuals, others do), and Photoshop CS for around $450. Are these good deals (I know CS is cheaper here)? Do you think it's wise to buy from Amazon.com?

Thanks to anyone who makes it through all these questions, and an even bigger thanks to anyone who answers them. I really appreciate it.

[Jin]

Originally posted by Brium
I'm going to buy a Wacom tablet--most likely the 9x12 Intuos2--but I had a couple questions about the software that comes (or doesn't come) with it. I'm, of course, looking at spending as little money as possible.

The Intuos2 comes with Corel Painter Classic, penPalette, and Wacom brushes 1.0 for Photoshop. I already can see that penPalette and Wacom Brushes will only work for Photoshop. They (the Wacom website) say that Painter Classic is a limted version of Painter 7 and has 40 pressure sensitive settings, and so on. Is Photoshop X (x being whatever number) better than Painter Classic?


If you buy a Wacom tablet now, you'll get Painter Classic 2 bundled with it. Painter Classic 2 is, as Wacom says, a limited software based on the full Painter version 7.

Though, in Painter 7 we can make many brush variant setting adjustments, the only setting adjustments available in Painter Classic 2 are:

Size
Opacity
Grain (for some brush variants)
Freehand painting
Straight Line painting

As opposed to Painter Classic 1 which was based on the full Painter version 5, we can't add extra brushes or art materials in Painter Classic 2.

Comparing Painter Classic 2 to Photoshop is a waste of time. Even in the limited software, Painter Classic 2, you'll find brushes not available in any Photoshop version.

Painter is a drawing and painting program for creating art. We can do image editing in both Painter Classic and full Painter versions and both have other features as well, though the number and extend of these other features is greatly limited in Painter Classic versions 1 and 2.

Photoshop is an image editing program with far better color management than any full Painter version.

Most serious Painter artists use both Painter and Photoshop. Since you'll get Painter Classic 2 free with your Wacom tablet and it makes you eligible for upgrade pricing to the current full Painter version (now Painter 8), there's not much to decide about using it. It'll give you a fair idea of what Painter's all about and you can also download a free 30 day trial version of Painter 8 if you want to see the vast number of brush variants, brush controls, and other features available in the full Painter 8 version.


If I do decide to buy Photoshop is CS a whole lot better than 7 or will PS7 have what I need? I know a lot of this depends on personal preference, but I want to know more before I jump in.

Last of all, I see that Amazon.com has some listings for Photoshop 7 for $220 and up. Some don't have manuals, others do), and Photoshop CS for around $450. Are these good deals (I know CS is cheaper here)? Do you think it's wise to buy from Amazon.com?

Thanks to anyone who makes it through all these questions, and an even bigger thanks to anyone who answers them. I really appreciate it.

I can't tell you more about Photoshop 7 vs. Photoshop CS since I don't have the latest Photoshop version (CS) and am mainly a Painter user.

Good luck,

[Brium]

Thanks for your help, Jin! You clarified some of the questions I had with Painter. My Wacom should be here by the end of the week so I'll get some good hands-on with it and the software. Thanks again!

[guns1inger]

From a tablet perspective, I don't think there is much difference between PS7 and PS CS. There are some new colour matching features in CS that are great for photographic work, and a few other refinements that are of most benefit if you have the entire CS suite. If you can get a cheap copy of PS7, either as stock runout or from someone who has upgraded, I think you will get the better deal.

[Brium]

Excellent! Thanks, guns1inger. That will save me some money. I spotted some low priced ps 7 software on amazon.com, and they claim that it's new with a manual... I guess we'll see.

Thanks again!

okay, no manuals, but it's cheap. Do/would you trust the software bought on sites such as amazon.com or ebay?

[dudeman]

i can suggest you photoshop 7 as well, ive tried CS, but the difference is extremely small and some things even got worse in my opinion.

you dont need any manuals, i can suggest you browsing the internet for some tutorials, its all you need, i learned all of photoshop in just half a year (however, technically knowing every option in it doesnt mean you can make nice art with it, those are 2 different things)

indeed painter has alot of brushes that isnt in any photoshop version, thats why its called painter.. but this doesnt mean photoshop isnt good, in fact for most stuff its much better than painter, just not painting :P

i use photoshop for all touch up stuff like when i made something in 3d studio max, i add extra lighting and shadow effects that arent possible in 3dsm, i also do typography and lineart with photoshop, and much more.