Photoshop - to buy or not to buy, or what else to buy?!

[Pappa Lurve]

Not used photo editing stuff for years and not really looking to do anything much more impresive than maybe change backgrounds and merge photos etc occasionaly, or just say replace the background with a flat, single colour. Photo shop at £500ish seems a bit OTT for what I need. What else is out there and any good?

Cheers

[dxg]

If you are a student / have access to a student you can get the full CS3 Design Professional suite for about £250.

However, Adobe seem to be happily accepting orders for CS3 and not shipping anything.

I'm not a happy bunny as I actually have deadlines.

[Blukoo]

I'm a bit biased as I love photoshop and i've not really used anything else.
But as far as i'm aware, when it comes to image editing, there isn't anything you can't do in Photoshop.

Obviously it does have quite a hefty price tag, but i'd say its worth it if you're going to use it a lot.

Remember there is always the option of getting a 'trial version'. Although its not something i condone

[Famous Graham]

Does Photoshop Elements still exist?

[flat-planedCrank]

Pappa Lurve said:

Not used photo editing stuff for years and not really looking to do anything much more impresive than maybe change backgrounds and merge photos etc occasionaly, or just say replace the background with a flat, single colour. Photo shop at £500ish seems a bit OTT for what I need. What else is out there and any good?

Cheers

I've been using photoshop (albeit an old version now) for years, so you can imagine i'm a little biased when i say that i've never found another bitmap editor that comes close


£500 is a fair amount of cash, but :

Famous Graham said:

Does Photoshop Elements still exist?

Yes, it does
Photoshop Elements 6 is the latest version, looks like its about £70.
I'm not completely sure what features its missing in comparison to photoshop CS3, but from memory i think its things like CMYK support.

Either way you can download free trials of Photoshop Elements and Photoshop CS3 from http://www.adobe.com/uk/ 



Cheers.

Edited by flat-planedCrank on Monday 11th February 05:55

[CivicMan]

Photoshop Elements 6 will do all and more than you need probably - most camera magazines and internet tutorials will give you loads of help and advice on usage as well. It's quite user friendly
too! There are several other imaging software programs available, eg Paintshop Pro, but Elements seems to be the front runner of the serious amateur.

The full blown Photoshop CS can be left to the hardcore pros in my opinion!

[sidaorb]

Adode are currently offering CS3 at half price until the end of Feb, contact there sales department and they will give you the code, or if you go for the 30 day trial you should get a link to the reduced deal.

[flat-planedCrank]

sidaorb said:

Adode are currently offering CS3 at half price until the end of Feb, contact there sales department and they will give you the code, or if you go for the 30 day trial you should get a link to the reduced deal.

Really ? Might have to look into that

Thanks.

[toothlessjim]

Wow is that how much photoshop is? I knew it was abit pricey but wasnt thinking quite that much lol Im quite lucky to get stuff free then.

[kybo]

GIMP and PAINT.NET are 'free' alternatives. Not used them so I have no idea what they are like.

Adobe bought a freeware program out (called something essentials) and crafted it into Adobe elements. It's free if you can get hold of it.

I, like the masses, play with photoshop.

If I can remember its name, I'll post it.

[sgrimshaw]

Not tried it, but there is a program you download to modify the GIMP interface so that it more closely resembles Photoshop.

www.gimpshop.com