Recommendations on importing photos??

[dkoostra]

We've had our machine for a while, but hadn't done much with it. I've been focusing on finishing college (after 20 some years) and now is the time to turn back to the fun stuff! We're very interested in importing pictures and carving lithopanes. For a short while, I still can buy software with a student discount. We don't currently use photo software and need to get some. What do you recommend?

We can get Adobe Photoshop CS4 Extended which seems to have elements of CAD for $200 as a student. For that matter, we could probably get some CAD programs for a lot cheaper. No matter what we get, we'll have to learn it, but what programs have worked for any of you?

Browsing through the forums, I'm not sure if we should just have a basic Photoshop, a CAD program, or both.

Hoping for some direction,

Kathy

[Hesstx]

Originally Posted by dkoostra

We've had our machine for a while, but hadn't done much with it. I've been focusing on finishing college (after 20 some years) and now is the time to turn back to the fun stuff! We're very interested in importing pictures and carving lithopanes. For a short while, I still can buy software with a student discount. We don't currently use photo software and need to get some. What do you recommend?

We can get Adobe Photoshop CS4 Extended which seems to have elements of CAD for $200 as a student. For that matter, we could probably get some CAD programs for a lot cheaper. No matter what we get, we'll have to learn it, but what programs have worked for any of you?

Browsing through the forums, I'm not sure if we should just have a basic Photoshop, a CAD program, or both.

Hoping for some direction,

Kathy

this is kind od high but very easy to do pic for litho he well give 30 day + another 30 for a trial just turn all you can into pats while you have it


http://www.grzsoftware.com/

[sewpeck]

Definately go for the photoshop package at this price. You will never regret it. Even if you don't use it for the Carvewright.

[nu2carvin]

Photoshop is a very good program to buy. There are tons of free tutorials and information on the web.

[dkoostra]

Originally Posted by Hesstx

this is kind od high but very easy to do pic for litho he well give 30 day + another 30 for a trial just turn all you can into pats while you have it


http://www.grzsoftware.com/

Which software, the regular or the Art, do you think would be better? We are going to order the Photoshop, but after we learn that, we may give this one a try, too.

[Woodhacker]

Hey there dkoosta. I have used PS for years..and NEVER regretted the money spent on it, including the newer versions. I just d/l the Mashcam today after reading hesstx's post. It appears to have a LOT of capability that can be used to turn 2D stuff into heightmaps which can be imported into
Designer as patterns. I played with it a little bit, and was pretty impressed with it. I am gonna take advantage of the two 30=day trial periods to learn more about it, but I will probably order it. Hope this helps.

[Hesstx]

Originally Posted by dkoostra

Which software, the regular or the Art, do you think would be better? We are going to order the Photoshop, but after we learn that, we may give this one a try, too.

The Can Art has them both I think the Art one is more for pics

All I do is open it pick a pic and let it smooth it 50% or less they come out fine
dont know a thing about the other things it does. there is a forum on it somewhere