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Opening photoshop files in other programs...

Is it possible?

         

Nick_W

11:13 am on Oct 10, 2002 (gmt 0)

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Hi all, is it possible to open Photoshop files in other programs?

I have acces to Gimp and Fireworks but if there is something free that can do this?

Thanks

Nick

DaveN

11:26 am on Oct 10, 2002 (gmt 0)

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you can import PSD into Fireworks you don't get the layers unfortunately

Never seen a freebie which you can edit the layers in.

DaveN

Nick_W

11:33 am on Oct 10, 2002 (gmt 0)

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Thanks Dave, looks like I'll end up buying the damn thing then :(

Nick

Sinner_G

11:41 am on Oct 10, 2002 (gmt 0)

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Nick, if you are going to buy, think about Photoshop Elements instead of the full version. If you are not going to be a full web designer, it has got all you need.

DaveN

11:45 am on Oct 10, 2002 (gmt 0)

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nick buy a second hand copy of 5.5 off ebay and then upgrade to 7 for just over £100

thats want i did saved me £350

DaveN

Nick_W

12:07 pm on Oct 10, 2002 (gmt 0)

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Hmmm... good sugestions!

2 questions:

1. with the ebay thing: Any problems with product keys etc?

2. With 'elements': Can I export layers to jpg files etc? I need to open 'web designs' from a graphics agency that I can then build into sites...

Thanks guys..

Nick

DaveN

12:14 pm on Oct 10, 2002 (gmt 0)

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answers

buy orignal copies with serial number you will be ok

yes but why don't you get the graphics agency to export has jpeg for you.

DaveN

Nick_W

12:19 pm on Oct 10, 2002 (gmt 0)

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why don't you get the graphics agency to export has jpeg for you

I tried, he just thinks it's a lot of extra hassle. Problem is that this guy has become my No.1 source of income. (steady income anyway)

I don't really mind buying it, I just need to do it cheaply ;)

Nick

korkus2000

12:27 pm on Oct 10, 2002 (gmt 0)

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ctr+alt+shift+s is a hassel? I know it takes four fingers but it really is not that hard. ;) He must have a problem. Tell him he needs to save it as a jpeg. Graphic artists know that they need to give their client, you, the right file type. There are hundreds of file types.

Nick_W

12:44 pm on Oct 10, 2002 (gmt 0)

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I think his main gripe is that he needs to show me how the page is layed out...

Nick

korkus2000

12:48 pm on Oct 10, 2002 (gmt 0)

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I think his main gripe is that he needs to show me how the page is layed out...

And he can't just save it as a jpeg. Whats the difference between a PSD and a jpeg. You can view a jpeg. Is it really worth buying photoshop to be able to view a graphic; NO. Your graphics guy is going to have a problem with anyone he works with. Do you pay him or barter for services? I would not pay unless I got something usable. Think of it like you are doing him a favor. If I did what you are talking about I would be fired.

I really don't think there is any excuse. I may sound hard but I am a graphic designer. Changing formats is part of our job.

After rereading the thread I am not sure he knows there is a save for the web feature. Ask him to use that function in photoshop. It takes less than 10 seconds.

Nick_W

12:59 pm on Oct 10, 2002 (gmt 0)

WebmasterWorld Senior Member 10+ Year Member



Ah, you're under a little misconception here korkus ;) He pays me!

He does all the gfx stuff and gets the clients etc, I do the coding... just the way I like it ;)

Nick

korkus2000

1:14 pm on Oct 10, 2002 (gmt 0)

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It sounds like the beginning of a bad working relationship. He expects you to invest 400+ in photoshop. If you feel that this is a reasonable request then go ahead. It just seems to me that he is making you bend over backwards.

Adobe photo deluxe will open PSDs but they discontinued it. You may be able to find a copy on ebay. It was about $99. I am not sure if the new product Photo Elements [adobe.com] will open PSDs, looks like Sinner_G says it will. It is $149. <shakes head>If you must see PSDs</shakes head> I would look into that.

DaveN

1:15 pm on Oct 10, 2002 (gmt 0)

WebmasterWorld Senior Member 10+ Year Member



korkus he may only have three fingers ;)

The main advantage of buying photoshop is yuo get to use the psd files.

the graphics guy sends you one big psd layout which you can use your expertise in chopping and hacking into small bitesize chunks

gifs for buttons
jpegs for pictures
you can remove the whitespace yourself.

just purchase a copy i use Fireworks MX, but I also own photoshop and corel draw/photopaint.

DaveN

photoshop 5.5 on ebay £87
photoshop 7 upgrade on jungle £123 how much work does he have to send your way before you recoup a couple of hundred quid.

[edited by: DaveN at 1:18 pm (utc) on Oct. 10, 2002]

korkus2000

1:18 pm on Oct 10, 2002 (gmt 0)

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the graphics guy sends you one big psd layout which you can use your expertise in chopping and hacking into small bitesize chunks

I would expect the graphics guy to do this. Nick_W is a programmer and his expertise is programming not graphics.

DaveN

1:23 pm on Oct 10, 2002 (gmt 0)

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Korkus i have worked with some design agencies that give you the artwork in one large PSD.

Layout of the home
product pages

all very arty and nice but I still have create a website from it and would prefer to make my own decision on whether to use gif or jpeg, these guys are used to working in the printing media not internet.

DaveN

Sinner_G

1:23 pm on Oct 10, 2002 (gmt 0)

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Photoshop Elements costs $99, not 149. That would be an upgrade from an old version to photoshop 7.

And Elements does allow you to open psd files.

As for the rest of the discussion, I'm with Korkus. Chopping layouts into buttons and images and all is definitely a designer job. All the more so because he will now how to make smaller files, which a programmer probably won't.

Nick_W

1:26 pm on Oct 10, 2002 (gmt 0)

WebmasterWorld Senior Member 10+ Year Member



how much work does he have to send your way before you recoup a couple of hundred quid.

He's already sent me quite a bit... and there's a fair bit more in the pipeline, including ongoing maintenance deals and hosting and optimization etc. It's a relationship I need to keep.

Korkus: I agree. 100% with you, but if I can't make him see it that way then I'll live with it. He's a good guy, gives me plenty of work and 'let's me get on with it'... we get on rather well, but he's from a print background.... you should see the designs! Sheesh, anyone would have thought we'd entered the 1996 timewarp! Chunky buttons rule ;)

But like I said, he gives me the layout, graphics, site plan, text and a overview of the functionality and leaves the rest to me. Perfect.

Nick

korkus2000

1:32 pm on Oct 10, 2002 (gmt 0)

WebmasterWorld Senior Member 10+ Year Member



Photoshop Elements costs $99, not 149. That would be an upgrade from an old version to photoshop 7.

Your right. That catchy graphic caught my eye ;)

Well it will be good for you to get up to speed with photoshop. That way in the future cut out the middleman.

I still think you need to mention "save for the web". A lot of print guys don't know it exists. Its really quick and you don't have to flatten layers.

Nick_W

1:34 pm on Oct 10, 2002 (gmt 0)

WebmasterWorld Senior Member 10+ Year Member



Well, I can knock out a logo in Fireworks but the one on my profile took me an hour and a half... (red triangle), I'm just not an artist ;)

Nick

DaveN

1:41 pm on Oct 10, 2002 (gmt 0)

WebmasterWorld Senior Member 10+ Year Member



and a fine logo it is to nick ;)

Daven

Sinner_G

1:58 pm on Oct 10, 2002 (gmt 0)

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took me an hour and a half

Only because you didn't have the right tools. With Photoshop, it would take max 2 minutes. And in 5 minutes, you could make it move with ImageReady ;).

tbear

4:40 pm on Oct 10, 2002 (gmt 0)

WebmasterWorld Senior Member 10+ Year Member Top Contributors Of The Month



Hey Nick_W,
Paint shop pro will do just about all Ps does and maybe other things, it's much cheaper and maybe easier to use.
Of course, you can also open ps files.....
:+)
PS
I use them both, but psp is for fast work

idiotgirl

1:05 pm on Nov 5, 2002 (gmt 0)

10+ Year Member Top Contributors Of The Month



Ulead PhotoImpact also handles .psd files, including layers and transparencies, animation effects, and supports a lot of vector features, as well. Like Paint Shop Pro, the price tag comes in under $100 and it will let you comp out a page layout super quick. I think it's a bit more versatile (for web work) and even more user-friendly than PSP.

john316

2:09 pm on Nov 5, 2002 (gmt 0)

WebmasterWorld Senior Member 10+ Year Member



Free solution

linux/the gimp

for the price of PS...you can buy a linux box at walmart and get the goodies for free..check out the mandrake stuff.

dingman

8:45 pm on Nov 5, 2002 (gmt 0)

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I have acces to Gimp and Fireworks

Gimp is offering to open PSD files, both in my Win2k installation at work and on my linux box at home. (VNC so useful) I don't have any PSD files around to check with, but I'm not used to running into false claims of funtionality in Gimp.

john316

8:50 pm on Nov 5, 2002 (gmt 0)

WebmasterWorld Senior Member 10+ Year Member



gimp opens psd files. fer sure

bateman_ap

8:56 pm on Nov 5, 2002 (gmt 0)

WebmasterWorld Senior Member 10+ Year Member



Be careful though buying off e-bay, not only if you get a old version you won't be able to open the latest version files but we have all heard of getting gold disks!

Anyway, I would bite the bullet and get photoshop, and upgrade every other version, for example at work i haven't upgraded everyone to 7 as we are not running osx and as great as it is the new clone tool isn't worth the upgrade cost for 30 odd machines!

It really is the best graphics tool, and also the most widely used, which is very important if you are receiving files from elsewhere. Plus it doesn't do the CV much harm! Also i wouldn't let creatives provide you with what they feel is web ready artwork! You would have a mare!

piskie

9:07 pm on Nov 5, 2002 (gmt 0)

10+ Year Member



Elements is now in version 2 and is just what you need.
90% the functionality of Photoshop 7 and a fraction of the price.

I have Photoshop 7 and Elements 2. Most of the time I prefer Elements to PS7 and its easier to use.

That said, I do prefer Fireworks MX for the web and either Elements 2 or PS7 for large print images.

cyberfish

7:10 am on Nov 30, 2002 (gmt 0)

10+ Year Member



Fireworks can read Layers in PSD documents. Text layers are not editable, and the layer effects do not render though.
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