Totally Rad - help me decide

[adrianka]

So. I love actions. So far I've tried My4Hens (that I don't like) and Paint the Moon (that I love). I'm kinda feeling I'd like to try something different, and Totally Rad actions seem quite nice. However, they are quite pricey.

With their regular Black Friday discount + a 15% coupon code I find by googling I managed to reduce the price of both TRA1 and TRA 2 from 298 USD to 168 USD. Now that seems tempting, but still it's a lot of money.

Is there anybody here who uses their stuff? How happy are you with them, also when compared to others?

I downloaded the demo ones and I like them a lot.

[mrshobbes]

I have TRA2: Revenge and they are my go-to actions for a vintagey look, a slight haze, or if I want texture. LOVE LOVE LOVE it

[adrianka]

Thanks. I'm still undecided, but slightly leaning towards purchase.

[Traci Reed]

I use TRA2 way more than 1, if I only picked one, that would be the one I'd get.

[adrianka]

Thanks, that helps. TRA2 seem to be more interesting, true enough.

Right now I'm trying to convince myself that since I actually saved 1000 EUR on Fuji X100 that I decided not to buy, nothing will happen if I spend 120 EUR on actions. Quite a twisted logic, I admit, and I have to laugh at myself. I don't need to justify this, when we come to it, so I find it amusing that I try to.

[Shawna]

I just bought their RadLab, my free 30 day free trial just ended a few days ago so I was happy to see it on sale today! I was able to save an additional 15% with a discount code I got online. RadLab has 78 stylets (kind of like presets) included that are based on actions from TRA1 and TRA2 so it's kind of like the best of both worlds to me!

[Nettio]

I have both sets of actions and I LOVE them. So worth the money and IMO so much easier to use than a lot of actions out there. I use actions from both sets regularly but I really love the ones in set 2.

Have you looked at their new Radlab at all? That's what I'd actually recommend getting since its much more visual and easy to use and it includes the actions I use the most from both sets in it.

[adrianka]

Now you got me thinking. I just watched a video on RadLab and I admit it looks quite impressive (and is also cheaper). Decisions, decisions. :-)

You are right about the "easier to use" part of their actions. I've been playing with the demos today and I've noticed it, too.

[nanienamou]

I,m such a sucker for actions. That RadLab demo totally sucked me in. Guess it's a good thing I didn't spend alot on scrapping supplies this week!

[ColleenSwerb]

I was just about to head over there and take a look at things. I bought TRA1 2 years ago, I think, and now that I'm starting this business I want TRA2. I love love love my TRA1. I have a bunch of sets from Sarah, but I have found they don't really mesh with my style the best. I use them more when I want to play than in my every day workflow. But TRA is right up my alley.

[adrianka]

Same here. When I see other people using Sara's actions, I mostly love the result. But they don't work for me. RAD seems very, very intriguing from the demos I've tried (and now I have an additional headache about Radlab, because it's pretty cool, too).

Glad to hear that everybody is happy with their products. I never considered them before because of the price, but today I suddenly changed my mind. :-)

[misfitinmn]

I should never have opened this thread. I have spent WAYYY too much today (and haven't even gotten anything scrap related...yet!) so I know my hubby would never approve. Maybe next Black Friday! Because I am trying the demo of RadLab and I am LOVING IT!

[adrianka]

Ha! At least I'm not the only one with a dilemma.

Right now I'm pretty sure I'm either going to buy the two sets of actions or RadLab, and I'm about 80% leaning towards RadLab. A joy to work with.

Thanks, Lynnette, for pointing it out! See, I thought it was a programme of sorts, and I love everything centralised in Photoshop. Now that I know it's a PS filter I'm totally considering it. :-)

[ColleenSwerb]

I've purposely avoided looking at radlab because I want TRA2. I know I can't have both, so I figure if I don't look into it I won't know what I'm missing, LOL!

[nanienamou]

I really like that you can see the instant results with it and tweak as you go along. When I use my actions, I never know the end result and sometimes wish for the best. Sometimes, I have to run like 10 to find one that suits my page, but with RadlLab, it seems much more easier and I've only been playing with it for an hour or so. Totally worth it.

With the additionnal 15 % coupon, RadLab comes to 96 $ US.

[adrianka]

Originally Posted by ColleenSwerb

I've purposely avoided looking at radlab because I want TRA2. I know I can't have both, so I figure if I don't look into it I won't know what I'm missing, LOL!

It has an easy interface but on the other hand, all actions that can tweak masked areas etc. are missing. So I think you'll be pretty happy with TRA2. :-)

[*Celeste*]

i have been avoiding this decision all day! i'm leaning towards rad lab. it's in my cart. what to do??

[adrianka]

Originally Posted by *Celeste*

i have been avoiding this decision all day! i'm leaning towards rad lab. it's in my cart. what to do??

*shakes hand*

[Julie Billingsley]

LOL... maybe he'll give a group discount

[adrianka]

Originally Posted by Julie Billingsley

LOL... maybe he'll give a group discount

*snorts* If only!

Problem solved. I'm tired and need to go to bed. I bought RadLab. The deed is done.

[ColleenSwerb]

Enjoy it hon! I'm sure you won't be disappointed
I def end up doing a lot of masking, so you're probably right. TRA2 is the way to go for me.

[Nettio]

Originally Posted by ColleenSwerb

Enjoy it hon! I'm sure you won't be disappointed
I def end up doing a lot of masking, so you're probably right. TRA2 is the way to go for me.

This may or may not help in your decision making, haha, but they have said they plan to bring localized adjustments to a future version of Radlab. And you do have the option to run the filter as a Smart Object or on a separate layer so you can mask out the effects that way as well. Not that you can go wrong with TRA2 either.

[ColleenSwerb]

That's interesting Lynnette, good to know. I think I'll be better served with TRA2 and sitting down and spending some time figuring out my own mixes though. Only because I already have TRA1. If I didn't have 1 I'd probably get RadLab.

[Ginger_79]

Bought RadLab just now. I love the preview feature and the slider based tweaking. Masking isn't really a problem for me, as I would simply choose to add the edited image as a new layer and then mask away in PS. I'm used to doing that anyway. I hate "painting" around in action layers. LOL
Also, one thing to consider about those very tweaking and masking dependent actions: They often only work in English PS versions, as they require to find layers with a certain name, like "dropshwdow of XYZ". As my German version obviously names them differently, I have to manually re-do every action. It's annoying and therefore MUCH better for me to use RadLab, do all my tweaking there and then apply the final recipe.

[*Celeste*]

bought radlab. now to play!