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Brian

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Everything posted by Brian

  1. The Creative Cloud "Mothership" App is required if you want to use Photoshop CC, Lightroom CC, etc. You will install the App, then use it to install PS, Bridge, ACR, etc. The App keeps track of what is installed, what your current license situation is, (basically if your subscription is current,) and you will get updates / patches to Adobe's products via the CC App. (The program that I often refer to as the Adobe Mothership App.)
  2. Yeah, sorry. That was me making a change behind the scenes. It’s supposed to be the only two people that can comment on a thread is the person creating the Post (You) and myself. Lately other people are jumping in threads and I was trying to figure out why. I will fix it when I get home tonight.
  3. Now before you ask, a current Intel i7 CPU is WAY faster than your i5 from 2017. A i9, while nice, is a bit unnecessary for Photoshop. The reason? Current versions of Adobe Photoshop rely heavily on the Graphics Card (GPU) more than the CPU in 2024. That's right, it's not just having a lot of RAM, a large HD and fast CPU...that thinking was 20 years ago! Now Photoshop REQUIRES a big and powerful GPU and dedicated Video RAM for all of it's bloatware and add-on crap. Ahem!! I mean AI Features and enhanced Modules, like ACR, Liquify Tool, Lens Corrections, etc. I like the NVIDIA RTX 4070 with 8GB - 12GB of dedicated Video RAM. The next one up is the RTX 4080. Either is fine. I'd avoid getting the 4060 for long-term use; spend the extra and get at least a 4070 going forward.
  4. Believe it or not, THAT'S FINE. Seriously. Photoshop at its core, isn't THAT much different than CS6. I just posted this in another thread!! I usually recommend going with a Dell XPS Computer, paired with a decent display. Here is one that I have been recommending lately: Dell XPS Desktop - $1998.99 Here are the particulars: The only change I would make is to upgrade the Warranty to the 3 Year Plan in the middle column, which is going for the price of the two-year plan: You can pair it with this Dell Ultrasharp Display: Dell 27 Monitor - P2723D - $343.99 So for a combined price of $2342.98, plus applicable Taxes and Shipping Fees, puts it around the $2500-$2600 price-point.
  5. Apple makes things very easy to switch from a Windows Computer to a Mac. By default, a Mac Computer/Laptop will READ a Windows EHD without issue, it just WILL NOT WRITE TO A WINDOWS DRIVE. This is done on purpose. So copying all of your files to a External HD, formatted with a NTFS Partition, will read perfectly fine. So when you purchase that SanDisk 1TB EHD, I have that same model...well it's about a year or so old by now, so hit me up when you get it in your hands. I want to make sure the Partition is setup properly, and it's formatted correctly BEFORE you do things with your new Mac. "Meh." I will bet you are looking to save money, by thinking you can get away with a Non-Macintosh Display and purchasing a low-cost MacBook Air. Sorry to be the one to break the news to you, it's not going to happen. Apple is expensive, and they always have been. Since the release of the M1 line of Macs, and now the M2 & M3...Apple decided to change the video signal coming out of the HDMI port, which makes any Non-Mac Display look like crap. Yes, this is done on purpose. So if you were thinking about buying a Macbook Air, then buying a $500-ish IPS Display...SAVE YOUR MONEY, because your are going to waste it. Seriously...send it to me and I will put it to good use if you like throwing money away. The only display that looks good on a Mac computer, is the stupidly over-priced Apple Studio Display at $1600...and that's just for the friggin' display!! IF you want to switch to a Mac for Photo Editing, start saving because your budget should be around $4600 for a Mac, Desktop OR Laptop. Yep, more than four-thousand dollars!! Give this article a read for the particulars, and read it the whole way down: Buying a Mac in 2024 Oh Yeah!!! I'm surprised Photoshop is functioning at all, you must be on a older version. Pick a format, MAC --> OR <-- WINDOWS! When you go-back-and-forth between the two worlds, it just makes things messy. Apple wants you to switch and leave Windows behind. If you do decide to work between the MacOS and Windows, you will need translation software installed on one of the computers, and I can tell you while it works, most of the time, it is by no means bullet-proof. It is also a software that will need to be updated on a normal basis; it's not the type of software that you buy once and then run it. Each time your Operating System has an update, make sure that this "Translation Software" is up-to-date. As soon as the program gets out of sync with the macOS, bad things happen and data gets garbled or lost. But as I stated above, you can easily switch to a Mac without worry. It's just when you want to take a file from a Mac and then use it on a Windows machine is when you need to be on top of things and have the right software installed to act as a translator. OK, now for the next part... So at this point, you are probably wondering what the heck are you going to do? I can say this, I agree...the first step is buying that 1TB EHD. It will make transferring your images to a new computer MUCH easier. Now, if you want to go with a Mac, that's fine. I have a iMac, though mine's days are numbered too; I just have a lot better things to spend my money on first, rather than forking out $4600 for a new Mac. If you want to stick with Windows and really want to get something nice, I'd recommend a realistic budget of $2500 for a computer and IPS 27" Display. Sure, there are deals and coupon codes out there to lower the cost, but ideally...you should set your sights on a $2500 price-point. Which is the "$999 Special" back in 1990. I usually recommend going with a Dell XPS Computer, paired with a decent display. Here is one that I have been recommending lately: Dell XPS Desktop - $1998.99 Here are the particulars: The only change I would make is to upgrade the Warranty to the 3 Year Plan in the middle column, which is going for the price of the two-year plan: You can pair it with this Dell Ultrasharp Display: Dell 27 Monitor - P2723D - $343.99 So for a combined price of $2342.98, plus applicable Taxes and Shipping Fees, puts it around the $2500-$2600 price-point.
  6. Adobe is constantly releasing new versions these days; we aren't on the 2-3 year cycle of software, it's more like every 6-8 months and they come out with a huge upgrade. We are at Version 25.5 as I type this...I'm sure we will be on version 27 or 28 come next year. I'm in no mood to fork out money for a new damn computer every 18-24 months to support a bunch of AI Crap that I don't want. If you think about it, PS CC 25.5 isn't THAT much different than CS6! Photoshop, at its core...is still Photoshop. It's all the other crap they keep adding that forces us to upgrade.
  7. All displays, even the (CRT) "Tube" Displays from years ago are measured diagonally. So 27" isn't as "Big" as one would think. Now, don't get me wrong...a 24" display is also perfectly fine, but after working on a 27" Mac for years, there is no going back. That said, I find 32 Inch Displays and Larger to be "Too Big." For me, 27" is the place to be. 2560 x 1440 resolution. Yep, I don't want a 4K Display. (Well, I have a 5K Display on my 27" iMac, but Apple has scaling down to an Art-form and you don't "Notice" the 5K, it feels like a regular 27" at a lower resolution.) What happens when you get a 4K 27" screen without adjusting the scaling? Everything is SUPER TINY! Like you can't read the menu choices tiny. LOL!! That's what you need to tell Windows to present your screen at +125% or even +150% so you can read a 3840 x 2160 resolution.
  8. Nope. An IPS Display, which stands for In-Plane Switching, is a type of Display Panel. Some features of a IPS Display include: A wider viewing angle (around 178º or so) Better color accuracy & consistency from corner to corner Better contrast I also have found them to be a bit sharper, but this could be a personal experience thing; with the better accuracy of colors and all that. So as you can see, if you are editing Photos & Video, you want an IPS Based Display. These displays cost more, so if you are buying a cheap laptop, it's not going to have one. If the manufacturer or reseller doesn't talk about it having a IPS Panel, there is a 99.999999999999999999% chance it doesn't have one. The majority of laptops have display panels called TN Displays, which stand for Twisted Nematic. These screens are better suited to a variety of environments, are better suited for video games, and general computing. Basically, everything BUT editing photos. Honestly? You have no idea of what you are missing out on. The problem being, it is VERY difficult to find a laptop that has one of these type of panels. The reason being: cost. It's just cheaper to install a low-end TN Display Panel, that get's the job done for the majority...meaning people that sit in Airports, Coffee Shops, a Hotel, Home Office, etc. Often they are glossy and bright and look "Good Enough," except when you start editing photos and get really serious. I mean, if you are doing nothing but slapping a Filter on a Photo and posting to Social Media, or running some Action from Cutesy Name Photography and uploading to Facebook, you really aren't truly editing. KWIM? Then get whatever. But if you do give a shit about quality and color accuracy, you will need to step up your game a little. Honestly? Yes. Unfortunately, people have a love-affair with laptops, and I got tired of fighting. In fact, here is something that I wrote in another thread a day or so ago: (To present things in context, this member was wondering why I was recommending a laptop over a desktop. I wasn't and thought she was on a laptop.) Here is my response... OK, so I went off the Deep End a little in my response. The point being, people have a love-affair with laptops who want to edit all over the place and I think they should be editing in a dedicated space, with neutral color on the walls, in a window-less room, working on a calibrated display that has a physical set of test prints next to it to verify things. Plus, I want light-bulbs in the 4100K-4200K color temp range. Yes, Damien and I are quite particular in this regard. Things like the color of the floor and furniture, along with the color of your lamp shades all play a role in your editing. Why? Due to Color Casts that will mess with your edits. Think of it like a "Darkroom" that you would develop Film and Prints from a bygone Era. In fact, when I got a Mac for the first time, I thought I was fine because, "I have a Mac, it's fancy and expensive, and it should be "Good" for editing Photos!" Umm...nope. Mac screens are really cool (blueish) out of the box, which made me edit my photos on the WARM side to compensate. Then I was told that my colors were "Nuclear" and people often wondered why they were so warm and yellow looking. Then I calibrated and verified things against a set of physical prints. I had NO IDEA on just how "Off" my Mac's Display was until I got Calibrated. You are in a similar position; you have no idea of how much better your edits can be, because you are working on a cheap Dell Screen. You are blissfully un-aware, and that's OK...since we can guide you for the future so you make better choices. So for now...what's the next step? That's pretty straightforward...start saving money and a healthy budget of $2500 for a Desktop & Display that is "Good for Photo Editing." If you were going to go with a laptop, I'm still going to tell you to save up about $2500. Sure, there are deals out there and it's very possible to get something for less money (like around $2000 or so,) but I'd rather have you save up MORE so you can click "Buy" without thinking; rather than buying something which ultimately wastes money and I hate-hate-hate wasting money on this shit. Today's Modern Photoshop...you need to purchase the Desktop or Laptop that you NEED and not the one you can afford. Those are two completely different things. Adobe is updating PS so often now, it's not in the 2-3 year lifespan as it was once was for a particular version, now it seems like every six months they come out with a huge upgrade. We are at Photoshop 25 now, I'm sure we will be at Photoshop CC 27 sometime next year! So while the computer that you can "Afford" will run the current version of PS, what about the proverbial version 27 or 28 that's released within the next 2 years? Do you plan on buying a computer every 18-24 months? I certainly don't. When I configure things, I have a 7+ year time-frame in mind, that's why my builds and recommendations are a bit on the high side in terms of price. You get what you pay for. Adobe is adding all sorts of crap and bloatware to keep people hooked on the Software Subscription Model; people are convinced that they NEED all the AI Stuff. Unfortunately, in order for your computer to support those features, requires more horsepower. Gone are the days of the $999 computer being "Good Enough." It just doesn't work that way anymore. In fact, the $999 Package Deal that you would get in 1990, adjusted for inflation would be $2499 in Today's money. So the band members might change (the prices) but the song remains the same...
  9. Get the 4070. Do not get the 4060. I was telling folks to hold off to a certain degree since the early releases of the 4000 series of NVIDIA Cards where having issues with melting power connectors, but I think those bugs have been worked out. In fact, I tell people now to get a NVIDIA RTX 4070 8GB Video RAM or NVIDIA RTX 4080 8GB Video RAM at a minimum. Since both of those computers have 12GB of VRAM, even better!
  10. A 27” Screen IPS Display Panel 2560 x 1440 Resolution Non-Glossy / Matte Display 95% sRGB Coverage or greater. Here is one: Dell UltraSharp U2722DE Do NOT buy a display that’s 27” or larger if it has a 1920 x 1080 resolution. It will look like garbage. That resolution is fine for 24" screens and smaller. 4K displays are all the rage, but they aren’t required. You must also increase the scaling to 125% or 150% to make things look right in Windows.
  11. You have that backwards... I HATE-HATE-HATE LAPTOPS BEING USED FOR PHOTO EDITING!!! But people have a love-affair with laptops, and wouldn't stop bugging me about it. They can't be chained to a desk! They must be free!! They need to edit in the Living Room, the Dining Room, the Kitchen, with crappy ambient/florescent light and all, because they "...need to keep an eye on their kiddos." They NEED to edit by the Pool, and edit in the Car/Mini Van, while sitting in the passenger seat, headed to vacation/holiday. They have Fall Minis to edit!! Spring Minis!! Minis! Minis! Minis!! Senior Sessions!! Newborns!! Family Sessions!!! WEDDINGS THAT BRIDES ARE BUGGING THEM ABOUT!!! (Yes, the editing by the Pool & in the Car were actual statements/requests by former members.) People don't edit. They run Actions and puke all over their photos. My wife can now spot White Balance issues with images that she sees, due to me, and she's an Accountant! "What's a good laptop for photo editing? I need a laptop. I want a laptop! I hate a desktop, and want a laptop. I want to buy a Laptop..." BAH! HUMBUG!! So no, I'm sorry you misunderstood. I only recommend laptops for photo editing because I'm tired of fighting. People have worn me down, and I just don't care anymore. I want people to edit in a color controlled environment, a room without windows with a neutral paint color on the walls. Editing on a 27" IPS Matte / Non-Glossy Screen with a resolution of 2560 x 1440 that's easy to Calibrate. With a Desktop Computer that's powerful enough to handle all the AI Bullshit that Adobe is adding to keep people hooked on the Subscription Software Model. Otherwise, Photoshop CC isn't THAT much different than CS6. Essentially, the equivalent to a Dark Room in yesterday's era. Edit: I thought you were on a Laptop, not a Desktop. My Bad.
  12. @Janice Smith - For your reading pleasure on the "why" I'm recommending to start saving. You can no longer blindly upgrade PS CC as Adobe is adding more-and-more AI Crap and depending on a beefy video card in order to function. You must purchase a laptop that you need and not one you can afford. Those are two completely two different things. I recommend at least saving up $2500 or more. Today's Modern Photoshop
  13. Dell screens have been our "Go To's" for years. They seem to calibrate well, which is a plus. Inflation though, has jacked up the costs across the board. Yesterday's $350 Dell is closer to $500 these days. Of course, you are in NZ like our Admin Kim...so your prices are even more jacked up.
  14. I found one, and you’d be advised to click buy, like now: https://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/1745682-REG Laptops are “En Vogue” for about 90 days or so, and the days of saving up and drooling over a certain model for months are over. A healthy budget for either a Desktop or Laptop should be at least $2500. (US Dollars.) The days of the $999 computer that’s “Good enough…” are over. In fact, a computer package that would retail for $999 in 1990 would retail for about $2499 today, after adjusting for inflation. I’ve recommended that Lenovo Line because it has a IPS screen for awhile, but the “limited stock” on all versions concerns me; looks like they are being discontinued / replaced and now I have to find another stupid laptop to recommend. It’s getting harder and harder to find laptops for your situation. Otherwise, I’d say come back and talk to me when you are willing to spend $2500-$3000.
  15. The DisplayPlus HL has more features than the basic one, is on par with your old calibration device, but isn’t way overkill like the Calibrite HD model. These round of calibration devices are current, not like the nearly 8 year old tech of your old Calibrator when you bought it.
  16. The amount of features and the amount of colors it sees. While a lower cost model, (and I get why you’d want to save money,) would work fine for your current 2019 display, it may not work well, if at all, with a future display panel type. Here is a video explaining the differences:
  17. Everything with computers is logical; input —> output. “Garbage In, Garbage Out.” I often hear the phrase, “I don’t know much about computers…” or “I’m technologically stupid,” and the “I never went to school…” You know who else didn’t go to school for this stuff? ME. Home Computers have been around since the early 1980’s. Some would argue and say earlier, and they would technically be correct, but I remember 1981-1983 is when a lot of homes got them. I was exposed to them in that era. That’s where I started to learn, and that’s the trick…you need to be open to learning. Fiddling around, screwing something up and then figuring out how to undo what you did. The trick is to remember what you did. So start learning and stop making excuses.
  18. Yep, Damien is right. No new Photoshop for you! The latest version does not like your video card and/or its drivers. Stay on PS CC 23, and start saving for a new laptop.
  19. Eventually both you and i will be purchasing new Macs within the next 2 years. I'd be more worried about saving up for a new one than installing a new macOS...as tempting as it sounds. Believe me, I get it. The new macOS are really meant for the M1 / M2 / M3 Line of Macs, not the Intel-Based ones like we have. In my humble opinion...if we upgrade we are asking for weird problems to happen.
  20. This is the part where Damien's eyes start to roll when he sees the Year / Month / Project Name file structure method. It is so subjective and depends on how your Brain works. I have a Main External HD, whose top file folders are broken down into this: From there I go into years Then break things down into projects. The goal is to be able to find something within 30 seconds, AT MOST. It should be second nature on how to find things. You could go one step further and have even better main folders, such as Business| Personal | Charity | Projects | Misc, then go from there. Treat each category as a single drawer in a file cabinet. From there you have to make the decision on the labeling and how your brain works. Most importantly... STICK WITH IT!!! The worst thing you can do is get sloppy and have "Junk Drawer" folders, where everything seems to get dumped into. That's fine if you are in a rush, but those files can't stay there; just like clutter around your Front Door (or wherever,) sooner or later you will need to put your coats & shoes away and to kill that junk mail that's piling up. Same difference.
  21. That's done on purpose. Unless you fork out the money to get a high-end laptop, you are replacing them every 18-24 months, at most. Even then you are on a 36 - 48 Month Lifespan. Yes...there are always exceptions, but laptops today are built cheap-cheap-cheap, all are "Made in China." They want you in the market sooner rather than later. Hell, if they could get you to buy one every year, even better.
  22. I usually recommend the Dell XPS Series as a starting point. For example: Dell XPS Desktop That one basically checks all the boxes and gives you a really good starting point. The budget for a "Computer that's good for Photo Editing" will run you about $2500-ish. Here is a decent Monitor to go with it: Dell UltraSharp U2722DE 27" LCD Monitor. You will also have to budget for a Calibrator as well if you don't already have one or if it's about 5+ years old technology-wise, it's time for an upgrade.
  23. Only a few years? Bummer. Keep in mind, whenever you see a Calibrator "On Sale," it means it's being discontinued, or a newer model is about to be released and they are clearing out stock. Lots of folks have developed a habit of buying things "On Sale," I am one of them, but when it comes to Calibrators, it's often the worst time to buy that particular model.
  24. The i1Display Pro is from the Spyder 3 & Spyder 4 era, two other Calibrators that are no longer in use (or supported) with today's screens. I think that Calibrator was originally released around 2011? 2010? Something like that. It was "current" up until around 2014...and that's 10 years ago. I'd say you have had a good run.
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