Digital BW, The Print

Hello Randy,

I have used Picture Window Pro quite a bit, Photoshop extensively since
version 5, and, also, Elements. Therefore, I offer the following:

1. The biggest difference between the standard version and "Pro" version is
that Pro has built in color management; based on Windows ICM. However, IMO,
the integration is not well conceived and not nearly as useful as ACE in
Photoshop. IOW, PW Pro does color management...sort of. Additionally, a
couple of transformation tools--like Color Correction (very useful,
BTW)--are available only in the Pro version.

2. Every change made in either version of PW creates a new window. Unless
you save each and every window, then, there's no way to revert back to some
prior state; like layers and history in PS. Personally, this aspect of the
program drives me absolutely nuts!

3. The preview window associated with any transformation tool is nice, but
of limited use since it's 8-bit only. Sometimes, it's very hard to properly
judge a change based on the preview. Many times, my workflow is to go ahead
and complete the transformation, then, delete the new window if something
unexpected happens.

4. On a positive note, I absolutely LOVE the masking capability of this
program. It's waaaaay more useful than the standard masking tools as
implemented in PS. IMO, you would have to have something like the Extensis
Mask Pro plugin to match the capability of PW. Occasionally, I'll create and
save a mask in PW to be used in PS.

5. Don't know if I'm doing something wrong, but I've never been able to
obtain a print out of PW that matches what I see on the screen. I run a
fully calibrated system and I'm not stranger to color management. I've never
had an issue in this regard with PS.

6. PW (at least, the Pro version) offers more interpolation options than PS.
If you need to "invent pixels", PW does a very nice job of it.

Overall, PW is a very nice program and certainly worth the cost of entry. If
you go it, I would not consider anything other than the Pro version. If you
have PS CS, you may find that you don't use PW that often.

Hope this helps.

Alan Huntley

P.S. BTW, I would select PW over Elements any day of the week; especially
give the fact that Elements is 8-bit only!

----- Original Message ----- 
From: "randy_rancier2004" <rrancier@...>
To: <DigitalBlackandWhiteThePrint@yahoogroups.com>
Sent: Saturday, May 15, 2004 7:19 AM
Subject: [Digital BW] Picture Windows opinion


Please, only comment on the Picture Window Program if you have at
least downloaded it and used it on more than one occasion.

I want some opinions on "Picutre Window" from those of you that have
used the professional version of PhotoShop (not Elements) for a
while and understand its controls relatively well and have
given "Picture Windows" a fair shot.  Hint: If you only used it on
one occasion or on someone elses compture; please don't comment. I
realize that this may tie many of your hands, but, I have found that
most that continually blast products, other than their favorite
products are usually narrow minded and don't know what the "H..."
their talking about.

Also, if you know, please explain the difference between Picture
Window and Picture Window Pro; they don't explain on their website.

From what I have read and have heard from some is that it sounds
like a good program that can be a lot simplier than the full blown
version of PhotoShop, but with a lot of control that you lose in
Photoshop Elements.

Thanks
Randy



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