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  #21  
Old 01-03-2013, 01:47 AM
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rogerco (Roger)
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Look I am no expert with the use of post processing software. But I have been in IT for decades. Back in the eighties, when software like it took a lot to develop, it was maybe worth it but since then it has become bloatware, they spend a fortune on advertorials (yes all those tutorials in the photomags are paid for by Adobe) and everyone pirates it. As a result CS5/6 are over $1000 in Aus. That low price sight is definitely suspicious and I doubt that it is legal, at best they are flogging the one year educational version.

Yes all the plug ins are enticing but what about PixInsight, its about $200, its cross platform, its written specifically with astro in mind.

I have always use Gimp, its good, has always done anything I needed, and I have a clear mind. Now that I am looking for specific astro software I think I would definitely be buying PixInsight after looking at their free trial, especial seeing that for the one license fee I can put it on all my computer platforms .

Roger
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  #22  
Old 01-03-2013, 10:50 AM
sgazer (Lee)
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what is theiving is when you have a version of Photoshop, eg CS5 and you buy a new camera with RAW eg. FZ200. So you download the free Adobe Camera RAW (ACR) only to find they've written it not to work with CS5 so you have to buy CS6 for $1k+ for it to work. Now that is really sneaky.
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  #23  
Old 01-03-2013, 11:12 AM
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Octane (Humayun)
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Use the native software that came with your camera to export the RAW to TIFF and then send that to Photoshop. Thousand dollars saved.

Native software gives superior (base) results to the generic ACR. In my opinion.

H
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  #24  
Old 01-03-2013, 11:20 PM
EddieT (Eddie)
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Upgrade from CS5 to CS6 cost me $307.
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  #25  
Old 03-03-2013, 02:20 PM
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Solar (Ralph Smith)
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If you have a student in the family you can get it(CS6) FOR $194.00.
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  #26  
Old 03-03-2013, 03:18 PM
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Merlin66 (Ken)
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Ralph,
No, no students left in the house....just me.
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  #27  
Old 03-03-2013, 03:43 PM
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multiweb (Marc)
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If you're going to go the Photoshop way I'd recommend getting it legit and from the Adobe shop. Pay for it once and get the upgade price from there on. From year to year you won't spend much.

If you get OEM or from any other source it will ultimately be dead money for you because you may have activation issues and from Adobe point of view and your reseller that will be your problem. If you can get yourself a version of CS2 then you won't be bound to any online activation.

But CS2 is far behind in term of features and functionality. Although the changes between CS4 to CS6 are not that dramatic a big jump happened in CS3. You'll miss out on a lot of things with CS2.
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  #28  
Old 03-03-2013, 05:01 PM
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Merlin66 (Ken)
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Marc,
Understood.
I'm just thinking about the real cost of entry to astrophotography nowadays...if you consider the total hardware package (mount/scope/ correctors/ filters/ camera) and then the software (aquisition/ guiding/ processing etc)
I don't know how your "average" novice - with the current financial pressures of family etc. can afford to get into the hobby.....
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  #29  
Old 03-03-2013, 05:08 PM
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multiweb (Marc)
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Merlin66 View Post
Marc,
Understood.
I'm just thinking about the real cost of entry to astrophotography nowadays...if you consider the total hardware package (mount/scope/ correctors/ filters/ camera) and then the software (aquisition/ guiding/ processing etc)
I don't know how your "average" novice - with the current financial pressures of family etc. can afford to get into the hobby.....
I realise that. Unfortunately Photoshop is the standard in image editing software. Another way to get in is to buy it second hand as licences are transferable. It's just a phone call to Adobe. From there you will get a discount upgrade price to a version of your choice if ypur version is eligible. If Photoshop cost is too steep other recommended the gimp which is still open source I believe. Pixinsight will do a lot of what you're after for a fraction of the price as well.
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  #30  
Old 03-03-2013, 08:16 PM
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Merlin66 (Ken)
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There are plenty of alternatives - I use AstroArt.
The question was - if PhotoShop is the "defacto standard" then how the devil can you afford to buy it!
I think the answer is " if you have to ask the price - you can't afford it!"
Thanks for all the inputs.
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  #31  
Old 03-03-2013, 09:57 PM
Poita (Peter)
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Merlin66 View Post
Marc,
Understood.
I'm just thinking about the real cost of entry to astrophotography nowadays...if you consider the total hardware package (mount/scope/ correctors/ filters/ camera) and then the software (aquisition/ guiding/ processing etc)
I don't know how your "average" novice - with the current financial pressures of family etc. can afford to get into the hobby.....
It's a lot cheaper than it used to be.

You can get a 2nd hand 8" scope, CCD camera, mount, guide-camera, OAG and a copy of photoshop for less than my C8 alone cost me in 1987.

It isn't a cheap hobby, but there are ways to do it. I choose to drive a cheap but reliable car (i.e. it would sell for less than $2000). Other people buy a brand new car for $30,000 - $90,000, I could get a lot of gear for that price differential.

An ED80 on an iOptron ZEQ25 or HEQ5Pro, a ZWO camera, maybe a cheap DSLR, and $80 for Nebulosity and $200 for pixinsight and you will be producing pictures better than the stuff that was published by professionals only a few decades ago.

I pay for Photoshop, it is pricey, but it is a high end professional tool. For amatuer use, there are free alternatives or other cheaper tools. But it isn't that outrageous a price for the best tool available.

The best costs money, I want a 20" RC scope, and one of those RH fast scopes, but can't afford either one...

They are still cheaper than a new car though.
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  #32  
Old 04-03-2013, 02:00 PM
Poita (Peter)
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I've also heard rumblings that Autodesk is about to purchase Adobe, so who knows, a price change might be in the wind
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  #33  
Old 04-03-2013, 05:21 PM
DJT (David)
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Merlin66 View Post
Seriously...how does your "average" amateur with three kids and a mortage ever afford something like that??????
Hi ken
Your question is about start up costs for someone getting into astro.

I would say the most reasonable option is to go
subscription. If astro is not for you., you are not stuck with a license you don't need. It also is a good way to keep up to date?

At $20 per month I would say its an affordable and legal way in.
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  #34  
Old 08-03-2013, 07:19 PM
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absolut (Rob)
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Ahh Photoshop! (I just wrote and deleted a 3pg essay )

Here is a few thoughts for the image manipulators considering photoshop:

If it is your "must have" tool, a couple things to bear in mind:
* Initial purchase sucks
* upgrades are relatively cheap BUT
* don't feel like you HAVE to upgrade with every version, you can skip one or two versions and save money!
* If your computer at work is licensed for Photoshop (Adobe CS in general) you are entitled to run the same version at home for free(!)

If photoshop still seems expensive, look at it like you would that amazing astrophotography dream rig you are working towards... $20k, $50k?... what's $1000 or less for photoshop?

If all of the above arguments still leave you thinking it is too expensive... go free... embrace you new (open source) friend - Gimp!!

For the forseeable future I'll be a photoshop guy: It's been part of my Job for 20 years... habits are hard to break!

Whatever your choice, enjoy that marvellous cosmos out there!!

Clear skies to you all!

Rob
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