02-03-2012, 08:46 AM
I've previously used the standard version but upgraded so I could improve my workflow. Photoshop (and lightroom) allow outside programs that do not depend on any Photoshop function for their opperation to be started from within Photoshop. Many developers refer to such applications as plugins but in reality can run with or without photoshop so in my opinion are not plugins but companion applications.
If I use Alienskin's plugin to clear facial damage or smooth skin (similar to PP), it works on the image using Photoshop functions. When finished it doesn't "exit" the Alienskin plugin because it is only a photoshop function, not an external program. I can just mask an area of another image and hit the last used choice at the top of filter menu to achieve identical skin repair.
Not so with PP or some of On-one software's "plugins". They are stand alone applications that can be started from within Photoshop. It is when you "save as" from one of these applications (something you cant do from a plugin) that the saved as file is not the one you are returned to. You are returned to the original file. It's no big deal, just needs me to be careful not to save the worked on image from PP, do it from Photoshop. If PS crashed on the return, the image would lost.
If I use Alienskin's plugin to clear facial damage or smooth skin (similar to PP), it works on the image using Photoshop functions. When finished it doesn't "exit" the Alienskin plugin because it is only a photoshop function, not an external program. I can just mask an area of another image and hit the last used choice at the top of filter menu to achieve identical skin repair.
Not so with PP or some of On-one software's "plugins". They are stand alone applications that can be started from within Photoshop. It is when you "save as" from one of these applications (something you cant do from a plugin) that the saved as file is not the one you are returned to. You are returned to the original file. It's no big deal, just needs me to be careful not to save the worked on image from PP, do it from Photoshop. If PS crashed on the return, the image would lost.