Software Research and Analysis - Progress Challenge 1

Okay peeps, this is it!!!  Software research and analysis.

Not everyone can use Photoshop (or anything else of the Adobe CS) on their computer, so sometimes you need some alternative, like Gimp, Inkscape or (in my case) Photosuite.  When I handed this assignment in, I had no access to Adobe so I had to make do with Photosuite.

30533a - Progress Challenge 01

Software research and analysis

By Colleen Sedgwick

This progress challenge requires you to research and investigate three different software technologies that would allow you to create and manipulate digital imagery and designs. This report should include the following:

1. An analysis describing the features and capabilities of each of the three different technologies you chose to investigate.

2. An analysis detailing the latest features and benefits used by each of the software technologies you chose and what this may potentially mean to any designer using it.

3. An analysis describing at least three effects and capabilities that can only be achieved by using one of the technologies you chose to investigate.

4. An analysis describing how each of the software technologies you chose can be acquired or purchased and what method of acquisition would work best for a freelance digital designer.

TIP: Navigate to the student forum to engage in the discussion with your peers.

Answer

I chose the following for photo imaging technology:

1.      Adobe Photoshop

2.      Roxio Photosuite

3.      Olympus Master 2

Features and capabilities:

1. For Photoshop, these include: Rendering to many different formats e.g. jpg, png, bmp; Interactive with other programs in CC; Many different effects

2.      Photosuite: Also has many different effects and able to edit photos, e.g., simple shapes, photo cut-outs, drop shadows.

3.  Olympus Master 2: simple photo editing, such as cropping, sharpening, hue/saturation, brightness/contrast; features similar to light room (another photo editing application in the Adobe CC suite)

Benefits:

1.      For Photoshop: A comprehensive array of effects; highly versatile (able to use with the other programs in Creative Suite); Upgrades and latest information available

2.      Photosuite: simple and easy to use – not a lot of training is required; cost-effective, as long as you are happy with the range of effects.

3. Olympus Master 2: simple and easy to use; no prior knowledge of digital technology necessary.

Features exclusive to this program:

1.      Photoshop: Puppet Warp; liquefy; lasso tool and many other effects which are not available on other programs.

2.      Photosuite: easy to use Cut-out function; scroll-down to preview effects

3.  Olympus Master 2: Functions similar to Lightroom (so not entirely exclusive), but not available to Photosuite.

Acquisition

1.  Photoshop: Via monthly subscription to Adobe Creative Cloud; Student discount c/o Open Colleges.

2.      Photosuite: Came with computer; upgrades available as download;

3.   Olympus Master 2: Available as a CD-ROM, which I can load onto the computer, and came with the purchase of my Olympus camera

Below - 3 pictures of a character I invented: 1st two are MS Paint, the next is c/o Google Draw