PixelPol

Also... are you in the US ? I'm from EU, but I've heard companies can write off a lot of the cost of hardware later on, in taxes. That could be a point. But yep, time is money. I guarantee you that if u had just my pc (3900X + 32GB + 1650), which ain't great either, you would fly with photoshop. 30 minutes wait for such basic operations means A TON of time lost per day (for you and the company). Not only he would get a lot more work done and ready to go, you would have it all safer so to get things done quicker to have more time to review stuff before publishing (to check typos, graphic errors, etc), time to make more attempts (ie, versions of a logo... bosses do love that, lol). And... in case worker development is a thing in the company (it should be...) ... a graphic artist/designer with more time and better hardware, tends to evolve a lot faster (this is amazing also for the company), as can do a lot more things in less time, use more efficient and modern apps, etc. The cost we are talking about here is not significant even for a very small business (in the first world). Indeed, as sth I experienced myself using for all my graphic work at home an i7 860 8gb 1050 2gb till 2019, you have had a special "training". You are used to optimize the machine/software till crazy levels. So, you'll go faster than most people with a new PC. I think that is all a very good point, but I would add to it that with 4GB of RAM, practically eaten by the OS, TSRs and Photoshop itself (and if opening chrome for one reference/doc, then that's it, kaput), compared to having 32 GB, a proper CPU (not sth a bit better than an old phenom), and lowest end GPU (for certain graphic operations/avoid lag) which can be a 1050, 1650, RX570.... the lost money due to time used is a lot more than an hour per weak... it was a lot more with my 8GB i7.

Illustrator/game artist/comic/web & print designer for many years, here (have handled PS quite). Photoshop (except some special blur filters and other stuff using many cores more) is for a lot of stuff relying yet (old code base) on single core top clock and best IPC. IE, a 5600X performs a little bit better according to tests than a 10900K (which was the cpu that a lot of people in the field had been purchasing for PS), for example, despite being in another tier, due to the IPC thing. Almost any Alder Lake is as well a great option. So, IMO a cpu with quite a lot of punch (IPC, clock, etc) in single core is the target. Also, PS eats RAM for breakfast. Lots of RAM is a HUGE factor with it, it IS the main factor with just average CPU and other pretty normal parts, more than with other apps. And a SSD disk for the OS (ie, fast load of fonts (../windows/fonts) with PS start up, fast Windows boot, etc)...and Photoshop installation made also in the SSD (might be ok with a 500 / 480 GB drive). But the work files in a 1TB *7200 RPM* HD. I say just 1tb 'cause am trying to picture your boss a cheap but efficient machine for this purpose. CPUs that would do quite better than what you have: intel 12400, 12600k (ideally!!), 5600X (5800X is much better, but still too expensive). I'd see like a total must to work big raster files, brochures, etc, to get 32GB 3200 hz cl 16 in dual (2x16) for Ryzen. Because you will need "some" 3D functions for some features in Photoshop and Illustrator (current ones, that is), VERY specially for the brush and similar, but also for all vector operations (pen tool). Mostly to stop having lag in a lot of graphic editing, you need some kind of GPU or good APU (IMO, not intel iGPU). Get you something as low as a 1650, or at the very least a 1050 ti 4GB for this reason. For video apps like After Effects or Davinci Resolve Studio (the pro version, as the free one is mostly cpu) you'd want better GPUs (at least the 1660), but I understood is surely not among your needs. All this... much better in a box than an all-in-one (also surely at better price). You typically get better airflow, bigger parts, etc. Some of of these all-in-ones are (bad) laptop-like in performance. Now, if budget is super tight and the boss doesn't want to move from that (maybe they can't)... Then perhaps then forget (for now! can easily add one later) about the dedicated GPU for now, get a 5700G, it is worse than even a 1050 2Gb, but it has been tested to be able to activate the 3D functions in Photoshop, this APU is stronger than your current machine for quite, even although is way slower and capable than a 12600k. But this 5700G is not far (the same in many tests) from a 5600X in Photoshop, from what I could check in a bunch of benchmarks. And that's quite good news. A 5600G IMO is a bit of a stretch for your work, imo; a bit too low, according to results. And yet... better again than your current setup. With these APUs, though, is super recommended to get at least 32GB, as the RAM is being shared for graphic operations, and tests indicate that these with too little RAM don't do well with these apps. Also, they benefit from some slight overclocking (nothing extreme) of the RAM. More noticeable than with other setups But I think any of these configurations will serve you perfectly even without touching a single setting. I believe a 12600K + 1650 is a perfect match for your budget and situation, personally, to work with zero lag/wait. Or toning it down in performance (blazing fast compared to yours tho), but great in price and power consumption, a 5600x + 1650. But really, get 32GB RAM (and 3000 / 3200 cl16). If your boss gives a very low and fixed number, a 12400 + 1050 (2GB) + 32 GB is yet a lot better than your current machine. But IMO try to go for one of the other two options. Or, depending on the prices u get, only a 5700G + 32GB (no card). With all and every option, a small 500GB SSD for Windows and PS, and 1tb HD for everything else . If wanting ensured work speed, you could set an extra SSD just for the work file of the moment, with the idea of storing the usual finished work in the HD (and once is less relevant due to time, etc, to an external HD backup. they're 40 bucks now 1tb). While I believe the unbearable slowness in file operations is due to terribly low RAM ( I had a 1st gen i7 8gb not long ago and was a pain) and very poor CPU, this would help a lot, too. It might brick pretty fast of a lot of writing, but as the OS (system) is installed on the boot SSD, well, so be it, u'd be left with the OS SSD and the 1TB HD, no problem (people don't understand that folks working with huge print files and video write a lot more to disk than gamers). Your waits are surely due to a very slow CPU and the 4GB, as PS is dumping all to disk, and surely the HD. That's a a heck slow. Of course, most people don't configure (many pros do) a SSD alone only for scratch disk (in preferences) in Photoshop (but it is super ideal, even if so you brick-ruin it fast... for ppl where money is not a prob, that's the fastest way to work) , so, having enough ram even with an HD for your big work files (that's my config and I don't get waits) is quite a good solution, even if saving on HDD and no ssd scratch disk. You have no dedicated GPU at work (neither APU). SO...maybe many editing operations lag graphically in the latest (since PS CC 2018, I believe) PS versions, they'd do even with a lot of RAM, if no GPU is present. I have not been able to test my self this with an APU, but I am told it detects it fine in PS... Now, if the standard brush goes fluid with it, is something I cannot confirm (yet). But from certain reviewer, apparently both PS/illustrator can use their 3D feats with these APUs. Edit: Oooops. Did not notice that the last post was 2 weeks old. Sorry. Hopefully helps, somehow.

As a game artist, loved this video quite specially. And yeah, also an old timer... heck, now it is so much easier... much better software tools and hardware. And a lot more learning material. Although the fact is that there's now a lot of more competition, for indies, medium and big companies. Even so, with more access come more opportunities. Before it was not even an option, for most people.

Aha... well, I was suspecting that (that's what I meant with 'maybe for the laughs'). Was just curious.

You people have seen this ? I mean for the laughs (maybe). I just was checking if corel painter 2022 has already reached there as humble bundle (not yet, but 2021 is there), and found this https://www.humblebundle.com/games/pc-building-simulator-bundle

ZX Spectrum 48K (from Sinclair Research, 1982) is the first which I owned. Learned BASIC programming there, made my first "graphics" (1985 or so, I was a lad) and created some small games. But really, first thing I gamed on, before all that, were the arcade machines, in pubs, etc. Really low pixels tho. At friends' homes, besides Amstrads and C64s, the previous to the AT (286, 386, etc), the XT computers. Those with green-only or orange-only screens and 5.25 floppy disks. By then we were using a bit all that at a time: the arcade machines, and all those different "computers" at friends/family homes. My father did use the punched cards for data, at his job, back then. Someone who used to earn some bucks by adapting (weirdly, but worked, tons of silicon) arcade machines joysticks and buttons (the whole panel) made it for my spectrum, so kind of had an amazing system if wasn't the fact that the Amiga 500 and 2000 were the real thing, ahead of its time with multiple cores, and being quite a station for graphics (and music) creation (sigh) ; that was what I had really dreamed to have. Deluxe Paint II and Deluxe Paint Animator were absolute jewels for pixel art. Then the AT became a reality at homes, and I got my 286. Expanding the RAM and optimizing I made it last so many years (till '91 lol, my father used it even longer with Wordperfect). I was not able to get a 386 (not even SX) neither 486, I jumped directly to a Pentium, then Celeron, then Pentium 4, and so on. :D :D. Time flies.

Wait a minute... Excuse my supreme ignorance ...artist, not so versed in hardware, only in what I see my tasks do better (ie, lots of RAM for heavy load in photoshop, fast single core in that one, many cores in Blender, good 8GB VRAM card in Davinci, etc). But is 4x8 still dual channel ? I have read everywhere that for Ryzen is gotta be dual channel. I am going (planning a rig) for a 3900X, 3200mhz CL16 memory, 2060 S 8Gb or 1660 S (the latter for replacing and selling in October... The former to keep it. Depending on final budget and/or getting or not certain set of gigs for Davinci). And dunno why I thought it HAD to be 2x16 , not 4x8, to be dual channel. That quad channel would make it perform worse or not supported well. Another idea to stick to budget is 3700X, 2060 super (ideally Radeon VII - a beast in benchmarks in my stuff- if getting some crazy ebay offer..700+ eu is too much for me), but still 32 GB, as my workflows do see the best bang for the buck in more memory. A pity that 64 GB (ZB, AE and PS heavy print stuff eat lots of ram) would make me lower too much other components to stay on budget. Also, I 'd love to leave room for another 2x16, for a total 64gb (but that globally wouldn't be dual channel?). And there's there the thing of Autumn with a ton of new stuff released... I know am gonna get mad then, but current machine is not cutting it, and gotta work faster...

Is rare that I fully agree with 2 consecutive posts of two different people... but is the case. @Cebrano Yes, the Affinity suite (3 apps) for a lot of people does the deal of Photoshop, Illustrator and InDesign. It is true that does not have (yet) all the features, that has corners to polish, and that being the company staff and money & resources of Serif, what, like 20 or 1000 times smaller than Adobe's, the progress is very slow (some features addition can take years since the moment of considering the possibility of adding them..like happens in open source (low, money, small teams)), as an INCREDIBLY SMALL for endeavors like those, is actually producing 3 HUGE apps in functionality for no less than 3 platforms (Windows, iOS, Mac OS) , and noope, is not "copy-pasting code" as some like to insinuate and oversimplify. There are things you can't do, like in Designer, auto-trace (which can be done in Inkscape quite well), or wrap-deform, which is more of a serious lack. There are some issues also when converting lines to shapes/contours, there are some issues there. The auto -trace is not that much of a show stopper, at least for real pros in design. The other two are more of a prob, but what people do is mixed workflows with Inkscape. Why not do all in inkscape then, which is free ? Well, because a) some can't stand the UI, has happens with a bunch of open source software, and more importantly b) because for stuff as important and complex as all the print business, are severely lacking compared to Serif's Affinity Designer. Inkscape does not even have a proper CMYK system and CMYK color profiles handling. That's even today a huge portion of commercial projects made impossible. In Photo, well, is quite a complex app, in which most can do all what they'll ever need...There are some lacks (imo, less than in designer compared to Illustrator) for a pro use, like color separation, which is kind of an old way of preparing stuff for print (some resort to use Corel Draw instead, among those not willing to use the Adobe cloud) , that is still used for very specific workflows, although not a majority of what is printed today, not even close to that. Most of the market today is PDF/X based workflows, in both CMYK or RGB. The other important lack is for digital painters, and in general, for all, their precision for input devices like tablets. Is not as good as it should be, and you need to activate certain experimental feature in preferences in orden to get a more standard level of accuracy. Reason why most people don't use it yet for painting as many digital painters do with Photoshop. And reason why I recommend to draw and paint with the cheap Clip Studio Paint, Paint Tool SAI, the free version of Autodesk SketchBook Pro, or Art Rage, all in affordable prices, and then import the art in Affinity Photo (or PhotoLine, which is very good, and from another company, another Photoshop-like tool) to prepare the file or fine tune it in many ways. This all does not really affects video. Although for retouch (ie, retouching stills, title screens, etc), I highly recommended to activate the "high precision for tablets" feature in "preferences", as it does not only affect painting. Publisher is yet very young. It still needs to "grow", but I'm hearing really good things from people that are much more into publishing than I am. Still, quite far from InDesign and QuarkXPress, but lets not forget the huge price difference, and how cool and functional is the app already. @bmichaels556 I agree... I have indeed edited videos at a company, the oficial profesional demos, interviews, making effects, etc, only using virtualdub ...which, back then, it'd allow doing little more than cutting and moving parts of the movie (even a cross fade was a form of art, as it did only had ONE track and no filter for that... ), and things like that all linear workflow... and Photoshop + a batch editor/converter of ranges of frames, with occasional help of transcoding and encoding tools, among many other utilities. Video stuff can always be done, no matter what.... I still remember the times we handled physical scrubbing and mixer devices, those huge things, with those two disks, and all was a about traditional magnetic tapes, no "digital" handling. But I was never a video pro, just someone that had to deal with it. Is up to how you put names to things, anyway...

never ever cleaned one of those until only vertical or horizontal movement would happen...

At blender.org are very good ones. Is where I'd start if I was beginning at it now. (and of course, the download of the app is there, too) But IMO, is great for 3D (is my tool for work, for all my 3D), and while has a video editor inside, quite capable, my (2c) recommendations would be (of course, you can use Blender video editor/composer if you find that you prefer it to the below, but please try everything at start, to decide. Davinci seems to me very professional in everything) : Davinci Resolve as a video editor. And Davinci Fusion as an app that makes stuff of the kind that After Effects produces (FX and motion graphics). Resolve comes with a kind of Fusion inside, but more limited. I believe is 300$ each, but the FREE version is quite powerful, you can start with it and be some time getting used to it, and when you have more budget, finally purchase it. Is VERY good. It works better with an at least average-low GPU, a gamer card would be enough, and a game PC, too, without meaning an enthusiast machine, nor enthusiast card, just a regular average will do. Is not like Premiere, where the GPU affects (specially some stuff in the playback), but is mostly all CPU based. Premiere gets great benefit with powerful CPUs and fast clocks. Davinci wouldn't do with a weak CPU either, but an ok machine + nice card is a great combination for it (that is... an average gamer machine). Of course, non of this for super pro level (I'd be saying a 2080) , but you specified is not your case... yet. The Davinci solution is not based on subscriptions. So, that's a huge advantage (in my book). If you want something simple to handle, yet kind of powerful (imo Davinci is more advanced) you could get Sony Vegas. For this one there's no free version, but I used it during 7 years at my last company. Is very easy and solid. I recommend Davinci better, tho, is better for the long run. Mostly if you end up pairing it with their "Fusion", for effects and motion graphics. if you only have an intel old integrated gpu (like those office low machines, or an old laptop), then I'd say, don't get Davinci, get Sony vegas. But if y you have at least a 1050 or 1060, I'd totally go for Davinci. (scroll a lot in the pages linked below (well, in your shoes, I'd read all that info and stuff...) till the bottom to find the download of the free version besides the purchase link for teh day you will decide to buy it). https://www.blackmagicdesign.com/products/davinciresolve/ https://www.blackmagicdesign.com/products/davinciresolve/fusion https://www.vegascreativesoftware.com/us/vegas-movie-studio/product-comparison/#productMenu Edit: Sony Vegas is called now Vegas Movie Studio. it's been like 6 years since last time I used it, lol. They have now a Vegas Pro solution, seems an NLE editor in a more professional line. The vegas movie studio starts at 50$ in the more limited version, then a 60& and a 100$ version. I just hope you know what is really important, and what "features" or packs are very irrelevant, as so you will save money purchasing the version that you really need. The vegas Pro starts at 200, then 300$ (this is the price of Davinci, be it resolve or fusion), and has one of 400. It also has a subscription option of 11 or 12$ per month, but I can't stand subscriptions. IMO, for 300$, or even 200$ is worth it for me to go instead for Davinci Resolve, better. But wont harm (even having BOTH! ) to get the vega Movie Studio at 50 or bit higher depending on your needs (I have not checked what they streamed currently from the cheap versions , in the features comparison lists). But you don't seem to know what features you'll need for editing. So, in that way, maybe Davinci is better for you, not only better per se, as it has it all, it has no 3 different versions, no premium or LTE. The freeware version of Davinci is limited, but not so much for the work to do when you are starting. All that said, you can use more tools. I've edited things with Blender NLE, VirtualDub, made weird things with ffmpeg, several transcoders, etc. I found that having one big main editing tool, but also several utilities around always is super helpful. Blender can be great also to generate all sort of FX (particles, physics,etc) and well, 3D media. At some time I've been asked to make 3D logo intros for Youtube channels. A lot of people just using 2D for that, motion graphics (what you do in Davinci Fusion, or After Effects, or even just in Adobe Animate CC (Flash) and export. There's a free 2D vector animation tool, called Synfig ( synfig.org ) is totally free, open source and cross platform. Handling all this gives a ton of freedom (trust me). Anyway, as you are starting, I'd take one app, after testing all trials, the one seeming a better bet , so to not get saturated, and learn video editing with it. before that, download several trials and put a lot of patient to each one, as you need to guess which fits you better. Remember some of the best ones (like Blender) can be hard in its UI and complexity at start, but often are really worth the effort later, and even more, years later. blender.org synfig.org And to me, for doing content, you DO need some image/graphics editor at least (you might end up even needing a vector editor, like Illustrator or Affinity Designer). I recommend Affinity Photo or Photoline for that (again, am not fan of subscriptions, would have said "Adobe suite" and be done with it...and I know that one deeply). If you got short of money at this point, as you are not really printing stuff (in Gimp is not as strong as in Photoshop or Affinity photo for that) ,... then Gimp, if can stand the UI, will do well. Affinity Photo : https://www.serif.com Photoline : https://www.pl32.com Gimp : https://www.gimp.org If you are left with no money after purchasing the camara, hardware, etc... IMO you could do for some time as you are starting with : Davinci Resolve and Fusion FREE versions. Gimp for some image manipulation for images for the video, the thumbnails, etc. Blender in case you need something 3D, or FX , even if using effectively Fusion for that. I'd have too XnView Mp (also as image browser... or irfanview) and their Konvert, for batch converting frames in case you need it one day. You can go purchasing apps as you go needing higher level of stuff.

I like simplicity , I just use the following (it doesn't fail me) : https://freealarmclocksoftware.com I believe the volume in the app overrides Windows volume value, meaning you should probably only handle the volume for what is the alarm in the app. I have detected that if it notices other audio is playing in the machine, it will fade out to silence until you stop that music or whatever, so to not make the alarm sound over the music, movie or whatever.

Also, if you love command line, probably imagemagik. In Photoshop, you can make "Actions" (kindda macros) and apply that action to entire folders through the batch processing utility. You have also batch converters which can apply modifications (haven't tried that task you mention, tho) , and my favorite ones in that are irfanview and XnView MP or their standalone converter. This is, in case you want to do it in batch mode, for a bunch of files. If you need a server app doing it or to pipe it to an app working locally to make certain workflow, without user interaction, then the way to go is imagemagik , by command line, is super flexible, and cross platform (windows, linux, mac). Free and open source. Is used both by regular users but also integrated in a server so that whatever PHP code or whatever uses it in an automated way. You can do virtually any sort of image edit or combination with it. Is not easy to learn, but very fast to execute (one you handle it, you know the commands and parameters, is all done in a single command line, even super complex operations). For just one random case, I'd just open one image in anything like gimp, Photoshop, Affinity Photo, Paint.net, Clip Studio, and make "canvas size" (not image size!!) as bigger as what is adding the width in pixels of the other image, but setting the pivot center of the canvas size operation on one of the side margins, so that it adds all new pixels to the left, or the right.. Open that image apart, select all (ctrl +a, ususally) and ctrl + c . And in the enlarged canvas file, paste this second image, and move it to fill the white empty space. Setting snapping on, and to snap to document bounds and layers would make it way easier and faster, and the work more accurate.

-- Removed by me -- Stuff is changing at speed of light, and was certain yesterday, is not so much today.

-- Removed by me -- Stuff is changing at speed of light, and was certain yesterday, is not so much today.

-- Removed by me -- Stuff is changing at speed of light, and was certain yesterday, is not so much today.