Photoline - views please re capability, ease of use, support/help

[Elines]

I have stumbled across some software called Photoline which works completely (I think) in 8, 16 and 32 bits - not crucial to me at this stage but might become so.


It has some very good reviews, eg:

http://www.dpreview.com/forums/post/52277891


It is said to be equivalent to 'full' Photoshop at a Photoshop elements price:

- initial cost 59 euros - about £47

- with periodic point updates - free

- annual(?) upgrades 29 euros - about £23



Does anyone have any experience of this especially:

- how easy to use, especially for an Elements user

- how good is the help, dedicated forum, helplines etc - I have an uncanny knack of not being able to work out how to do things with software

 

[ancient_mariner]

It might be good, but it also looks scruffy and designed by a programmer - rather like GIMP used to before 2.8.

Interesting to read down that thread and see that some people struggled to use it at all. If you have a knack of not being able to work things out then you'll probably find this has quite a steep learning curve.

 

[Elines]

Thanks Toni - I tried Gimp when it was 2.6 and gave up after about 6 months as I was struggling.

I have got on much better with Photoshop Elements (11) and at a reasonable price too. So I won't move on to yet another product unless I really have to.

I aspire to move into printing more of my images and so want to be able to work fully in 16 bit (or more) and you can't do that with PSE. So although I don't need the16 bit capability at the moment I may need it in the future and want to have some idea of what to move to. And CS just seems OTT and too expensive.

I was hoping photoline would be the answer and hopefully by the time I want to move it will have improved its user friendliness

Any further views welcomed

 

[ancient_mariner]

FWIW the printer I'm currently using only accepts 8bit TIFF files for canvas printes. I've not noticed a drop in quality, so be sure you need 16bit before re-learning your workflow.

 

[Elines]

FWIW the printer I'm currently using only accepts 8bit TIFF files for canvas printes. I've not noticed a drop in quality, so be sure you need 16bit before re-learning your workflow.

Yes - that is the crucial thing for me - print quality. I'm happy with the quality of images on a PC and when projected at the local photography club but it is printing that I want to move into (and not even printing my own)