Paint Shop Pro 8
by Jeff Beougher · in Technical Issues · 11/11/2003 (4:15 pm) · 12 replies
I'm thinking of buying PSP8 for textures and 2d sprite but everything I have looked at seams to talk about digital images. Is it worth buying or is there something better out there? For its price.
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#2
11/11/2003 (4:47 pm)
I have v7 and I think it's a great lower cost alternative to Photoshop...
#4
I still prefer PSP 8.10, but you can't beat the GIMP price!
11/11/2003 (6:43 pm)
Yes. GIMP is very good, too, and even better supports alpha channels in .png. I still prefer PSP 8.10, but you can't beat the GIMP price!
#5
Here we give all our Artists Photoshop 7, but programmers usually have PSP 7 or 8. PSP has great programmer-friendly features (like solid vector graphics libraries for making placeholder HUD elements of any size). Programmers use PSP's animation editor for all sorts of minor stuff -- animated textures, etc. You can take 2+ bitmaps and use their blend effects to easily create a cool set of animated textures.
The last PSP 8 we got cost less than $40 (new! not upgrade). So, if that fits your budget (and your time has any value to you) then I think PSP's improved learning curve means it is more cost-effective than Gimp. Again, PSP rules for occasionally creating game artwork (much cheaper than photoshop, easier to get into than Gimp).
Photoshop still rules for doing heavy 2D production though, and at some point becomes more cost-effective than even PSP/Gimp/etc. If you want to learn a marketable skill, I'd stick with Photoshop -- and not PSP/Gimp.
- Steve
11/12/2003 (10:53 am)
PSP is a great low-cost alternative for Photoshop -- but definitely not a universal replacement for Photoshop.Here we give all our Artists Photoshop 7, but programmers usually have PSP 7 or 8. PSP has great programmer-friendly features (like solid vector graphics libraries for making placeholder HUD elements of any size). Programmers use PSP's animation editor for all sorts of minor stuff -- animated textures, etc. You can take 2+ bitmaps and use their blend effects to easily create a cool set of animated textures.
The last PSP 8 we got cost less than $40 (new! not upgrade). So, if that fits your budget (and your time has any value to you) then I think PSP's improved learning curve means it is more cost-effective than Gimp. Again, PSP rules for occasionally creating game artwork (much cheaper than photoshop, easier to get into than Gimp).
Photoshop still rules for doing heavy 2D production though, and at some point becomes more cost-effective than even PSP/Gimp/etc. If you want to learn a marketable skill, I'd stick with Photoshop -- and not PSP/Gimp.
- Steve
#6
The Gimp is a great alternative. Quality wise, it is definently better than PSP, but still not on par with Photoshop.
Just my opinion, though.
11/12/2003 (11:17 am)
I started doing graphics on PSP7 (haven't tried 8), then switched to Photoshop. When I formatted my computer earlier this year I didn't even bother loading PSP7 back on because I just feel stifled by the quality difference. Yes, it is cheaper, but I think there is a reason for that.The Gimp is a great alternative. Quality wise, it is definently better than PSP, but still not on par with Photoshop.
Just my opinion, though.
#7
Yeah - GIMP has better alpha support, but once you get used to the way PSP handles alpha channels as masks, well, it kinda starts to fit like an old shoe - roomy and comfortable. =P
Quality wise, PSP requires alot more "elbow grease" than Photoshop in many ways, but alot less menu memorization. Quality is, after all, in the hands of the creator is it not?
11/12/2003 (11:38 am)
Heck - I still use version 6 for all my stuff (too cheap to upgrade.)Yeah - GIMP has better alpha support, but once you get used to the way PSP handles alpha channels as masks, well, it kinda starts to fit like an old shoe - roomy and comfortable. =P
Quality wise, PSP requires alot more "elbow grease" than Photoshop in many ways, but alot less menu memorization. Quality is, after all, in the hands of the creator is it not?
#8
As a general opinion i think you get what you pay for, and it depends on your requirements, Photoshop is obviously more powerfull and therefore more expensive, but i doubt that a texture artist's could produce a texture on Photoshop that couldnt be done by an artist with similar ability and skills on Psp.
Horse for Courses
11/12/2003 (11:41 am)
I love the PSP series im currently getting familiar with psp8, but still have psp7 installed as i am so familiar with it, and move between the 2 until i get more familiar with 8, im afraid i took one look at Gimp after installing it and cringed, ill possibly take another look after the comment about alpha's on png files, but didnt like the interface at all.As a general opinion i think you get what you pay for, and it depends on your requirements, Photoshop is obviously more powerfull and therefore more expensive, but i doubt that a texture artist's could produce a texture on Photoshop that couldnt be done by an artist with similar ability and skills on Psp.
Horse for Courses
#9
11/12/2003 (12:44 pm)
Thank you for your thoughts. I think for right now I'm going to go with PSP 8. Sounds like what I need it to do but nothing fancy. Gimp looks like a good alt but don't have the ability to download it right now. Adobe photo shop is way out of my budget at the moment. Though I Might buy it any ways later on. Thanks again
#10
Kirby, are you using PSP 8.x? Are you able to load any PNG with an alpha channel intact?
I previously used SuperPNG for this, but it appears to be broken with 8.x. =/
11/12/2003 (12:51 pm)
A bit off-topic:Kirby, are you using PSP 8.x? Are you able to load any PNG with an alpha channel intact?
I previously used SuperPNG for this, but it appears to be broken with 8.x. =/
#11
What's strange is that alpha channels in 6.x seem to be, hmm, more, reliable (lack of better term) than seven.
I'd check the JASC site foe updates - there were some issues that were addressed with 7, maybe they have something for 8 as well? =\
Sorry I couldn't be of more help there man.
11/12/2003 (2:31 pm)
No - I've been using version6.x and have had extensive experience with version 7.What's strange is that alpha channels in 6.x seem to be, hmm, more, reliable (lack of better term) than seven.
I'd check the JASC site foe updates - there were some issues that were addressed with 7, maybe they have something for 8 as well? =\
Sorry I couldn't be of more help there man.
#12
It definately won't load it--at least not in any way that I know of. :-)
-Eric
11/12/2003 (4:41 pm)
7 worked fine for me with SuperPNG. I'm not completely sure that 8.0 even is saving the alpha channel, even though it claims to be.It definately won't load it--at least not in any way that I know of. :-)
-Eric
Torque 3D Owner Eric Forhan