Portrait Professional August Sale

[GB1]

Just a reminder - I mentioned in another post that Portrait Professional has a sale going until the end of August (which happens to be less than two days from now). Their main product is only $49.

I've been using it for about 3 weeks now and it's certainly worth it, if you're into portraiture.

G

[JETA]

Does this program run within ps or is it separate? If separate can you explain your work flow a bit using this?

I use niksoftware and the skin softening tool. I then add a glow to some portraits erase pimples and sharpen eyes thru ps. What is the advantage to Portrait Professional over what I'm doing?

Love to hear your thoughts GB1!

[GB1]

Does this program run within ps or is it separate? If separate can you explain your work flow a bit using this?

I use niksoftware and the skin softening tool. I then add a glow to some portraits erase pimples and sharpen eyes thru ps. What is the advantage to Portrait Professional over what I'm doing?

Love to hear your thoughts GB1!

The $49 version (more after today) doesn't run within PS. For that you need the $79 version which I think also gives you RAW editing capability. The cheaper version runs as a separate app but I find it OK to open the image in it, edit, then save it as a new file (it automatically names it
I haven't used the NIKON software so can't compare, but this one works as a Wizard which I am normally against, but it's OK here. They've done a nice job. IMO the software definitely seems worth the August price.

[Medley]

JETA, I tried to figure out a way to explain Portrait Professional's graphic user interface to you, and decided the best way was to let you see it for yourself. I have toyed with Nik Softwares Control Point Technology, and it's a rather unique system. But PP has a GUI that's designed specifically for the portrait software, and I think the end result is a but better. So, on to the explanation:

The first step of course, is to upload an image. I'm using the senior portrait of a second cousin I did a few years back:



The software then asks for a series of inputs. Each is a one-click process:











It ask for the right corner too, but you get the idea. Next, PP refines the areas:





The last inout is an overall view, and framing of the face:



Next the software does it's thing. After a wait of about 15 seconds, you get the after image, with moderate effects already applied. If I have a gripe about this software, that would be it, but it's easy to rectify. Now, your presented with a series of slider controls. Altering the sliders shows you the effects in real time. Here are the sliders:



The sliders are separated by sections, show by the heading at the top. See the box marked "on"? Clicking that turns off all sliders. So it takes six or seven clicks, but you can undo all edits the software applied, then go back and change the controls you want.

Here's the rest of the sliders:





I didn't open the slider triangles here, because mist simply show sliders that alow you to control the left and right eye separately. However, you mentioned that you sharpen the eyes. Check it out:



nice, huh? Onward:









The finished product, side by side with the original:



Notice the face sculpting around the cheeks and chin. This is one aspect I really like about the software. It improves the image, but unless you're looking at a side by side comparison, it's generally not noticed.

I played with the haircolor some, and probably shouldn't have. I'd have to back the saturation off in a few spots in PS. Keep in mind also that I reduced the files to post here, and did so in one big jump. It lost something in the translation, but you get the idea.

There's nothing that Portrait Professional does that I couldn't do in Photoshop. The difference is that with PP, upload to finished product is about 2 to 3 minutes. Only you can decide what that's worth to you.

- Joe U.

[JETA]

Joe, you are amazing and so kind to put forth such great information! This goes way above and beyond niksoftware. Now I want to purchase this and bummed I missed the sale.

Can't say thank you enough!!!!

[Ray Dockrey]

As of yesterday it was still on sale because I bought it last night. I bought the studio version for $79 but the regular version was still showing $49.95. I just checked and it is still on sale.

[GB1]

Looks like they converted it from an August sale to a "Summer Sale."

It's worth $49 folks, that's for sure. The results are good.

[JETA]

I run windows 7 and it's 64 bit. However, I don't run my 64 bit version of CS4. I have no clue which version to buy. Anyone? I'm definitely going for it.

[GB1]

I run windows 7 and it's 64 bit. However, I don't run my 64 bit version of CS4. I have no clue which version to buy. Anyone? I'm definitely going for it.

There's three versions: the basic one that runs as a standalone program ($49), the mid level one that also runs as a PS plug-in and I believe can process RAW files too ($79), and the upper level one that I believe is optimized for 64 bit (in the low 100s, I think). Why they want to charge more for the 64 bit version, I don't know.

One thing - I bought the 32 bit basic version but run it on Win 7 64-bit. It's a new, fast computer and when I get to the last step that requires processing, it takes about 3-4 seconds to process. So what advantage would the 64 bit version provide, 1-2 seconds instead of the 3-4? Definitely not a big deal for me.

G

[Medley]

The only other advantage to the 64-bit version is that there's no limit on image size. However, I have the Standard edition, and it runs 18mp images fine. So unless you have a need to run absolutely HUGE images..........

edit: I just ran a 12000x9600 pixel image (40x32 @ 300dpi) through to final save on the standard edition. It ran very S...L...O...W, but it ran. If this thing has an upper limit, I don't think I'll ever see it.

- Joe U.

[JETA]

Gosh Guys, thanks again. I think I'll go for the middle version then. I want to run it within CS4 and it sure would be nice if it handled raw. I think my 5d is 21+ mps.

[Medley]

Yeah, I'm upgrading today, though running it outside of PS doesn't bother me. I want the color profile and 16 bit support.

[Medley]

OK, I was just at the site, and the sale is still going, but they've added a "Sale ends soon" graphic to the main page.

JETA, just out of curiosity, how are you getting on with it?

- Joe U.

[JETA]

OK, I was just at the site, and the sale is still going, but they've added a "Sale ends soon" graphic to the main page.

JETA, just out of curiosity, how are you getting on with it?

- Joe U.

Hi Joe,

Sorry I missed this post. I actually logged on here to update on this software. All I have to say is PP is the best software purchase I've made to date. It made my last senior portrait job so easy. I simply could not be happier. It conquers so many things for me that I have to do in cs4 and not as well as I'd like. PP is easy and the results are outstanding. I'm not sure how I've lived without it! (can you tell I'm beyond ecstatic?)