What photoshop do I need?

[clashctyrokr]

I would like to take up design, not necessarily for profit but more so I can design my own sites and have some fun with it.

Photoshop is fucking expensive! But anyways, what version do you think is necessary? I have never used photoshop, so I guess a basic version would work, but then again I learn quick so I don't want to be limited.

Also, where would be a good place to buy it? - btw, don't tell me to torrent it... I try to stay away from software torrents.. A buddy of mine got in a load of shit for it. Just movies and music for the torrentz :updown:

Thanks

 

[jryan21]

If you can find someone who likes CS4 better than CS3, you may be able to buy their old copy for cheap. Not too many of those people around though...

Perhaps you can find a retailer that still carries CS3 and is trying to clear it out. You could also post to places like ebay's "Want it now" and see if anyone offers you a good deal.

 

[HarveyJ]

You're actually more likely to get caught torrenting music and movies than software.

Either way, if you're using it for professional work, you'll need a professional edition of it. The actual difference between Photoshop editions is generally what the license lets you do with it.

As it is, whilst CS4 is filled with a whole heap of whizbangery, CS3, is a hell of a lot cheaper now, and if you don't already know how to use it like a pro offers no difference other than user interface.
There are still a couple of places online that you can buy a legit boxed copy of CS3 as they're trying to dump old stock.

 

[dschus]

PS7 - all you need.

 

[WildGunner]

PS7 - all you need.

Pretty much. but CS is fine, then CS2 or the newest version. Whatever that is. If you are in school, get an educational version or just take a class and use the one from school.

You can use bittbox, smashingmagazine and psdtuts for learning if you are new.

 

[monkeyman]

You could try Gimp too. It's free and good enough for web graphic designs.

 

[knowledge26]

PS CS or CS2 if your PC is kinda old, CS3 if you have a decent PC.

 

[Fatbat]

CS3 is fine. I have a licensed version of the full Adobe suite. I'd upgrade to CS4 but there's so many complaints about it I'm giving it a pass for now.

I would recommend that you find the whole designer's CS3 package on discount at a retailer (or *cough*, download the corporate version listed on PB) as Illustrator is essential for logo work and having Flash, In Design and the other Adobe apps is beneficial if you want to learn them and become a well rounded designer.

I might also suggest taking a few classes at your local community college or design school (Photoshop basics, typography, identity design perhaps), or in places already listed online. This is another decent tutorials site... Photoshop Lady: Best Photoshop Tutorials Around the WorldPhotoshop Tutorial:

Good luck!

 

[zeanxseo]

why not try you hand in Gimp , its free,

 

[DewChugr]

You could also try paint.net

 

[Jizzlobber]

+1 for PS7 - runs like notepad. If you use anything above that, the splash screen will burn into you monitor and your hard drive will sound like a rock crusher.

 

[Uzzz]

Yah i have CS4 ...but still end up using CS2/3 just cause use to it.

 

[Protestant]

I suggest at a minimum...Photoshop CS2.


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[Fatbat]

+1 for PS7 - runs like notepad. If you use anything above that, the splash screen will burn into you monitor and your hard drive will sound like a rock crusher.

LoL, what kind of computer do you have? Time to upgrade bud. There are so many great features in the CS series that you're missing out on.

Two recommendations, for any version of Photoshop, lots of ram and a dedicated scratch disk or partition. You really should not use your main OS disk as a scratch disk as it slows things down and will get heavily fragmented much faster. You can set this in Preferences under the Edit menu.