I get my photos ready in
ps and then paint in painter and then go back and forth. I haven't figured out how to paint in photoshop but that is due more to the lack of time. Being new to all computer programs painter didn't intimidate me as much and I got success quickly without knowing much. There are things in both programs that still totally confuse me though and at the time I bought painter I didnt have photoshop so it was a nice starting point and was cheaper for me.