Photoshop or something else?

Question

I'm not familiar with photoshop, but am familiar with Microsoft Picture It which I heard is similar. I'm going to buy one of these programs for someone who is not familiar with either of them. But can't decide which one. Should I just stick with what I know & try to explain to them how to use it or should I get Photoshop, I think I may like to learn it myself. I'm not sure... any thoughts? Any comparisons?

Answer 1

Microsoft Picture It has been discontinued, but you can still find on "Ebay" or "Amazon", Adobe Photoshop is still available, as well older versions can still be found on ebay or amazon,

http://www.amazon.com/s/ref=nb_ss_gw?url...

also note what version of OS on computer you are using(mac/ xp/ vista), and match the program system requirements,

Photoshop has another version called Elements that may be as useful if you are only enhance photos,

Adobe - Photoshop CS3 & Elements

http://www.adobe.com/products/photoshop/...

http://www.adobe.com/products/photoshope...



(before you buy anything, if you have cameras of printers or planning to buy those, there may be software for editing images with hardware, consider those options)

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there are other programs as good to use for home use, and you can use trial versions to compare,

Corel Paint Shop Pro Photo X2

http://www.corel.com/servlet/Satellite/u...

ArcSoft PhotoStudio

http://www.arcsoft.com/products/photostu...

PhotoImpact Pro

http://www.novadevelopment.com/products/...

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and various freeware programs you can use, also several online tools for web use,

Photoscape : Photo Manipulating Suite,

http://www.photoscape.org/ps/main/index....

Picasa album viewer

http://picasa.google.com/

Photofiltre

http://photofiltre.free.fr/frames_en.htm

Gimp ~image editor,

http://gimp-win.sourceforge.net/stable.h...

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Answer 2

Photoshop is a professional standard. If you are going to get into any business i would recommend it. If you are just trying to yourself familiar with a photo software get a cheap one and learn the tools. Then jump to photoshop when the cheaper programs become limited on what you want to do.

Answer 3

The choice of software apps HAS to depend on what you intend to do with it.

Is it that you think you have outgrown Microsoft Picture?  Is there something you want to do that the software won't let you do?

You really should have a good reason to spend money to upgrade your applications.  If your use of Picture is to adjust colors, make photo collages, distort images, clean up photos and such, then don't spend any more money.

Photoshop is a POWERFUL graphics tool with a LOT of tools and functions that professionals are trained to use.  Spending money on a full version Photoshop is like purchasing a high end, hundred thousand dollar sports car, only to go grocery shopping.  You end up with a lot of expensive flash that sits unused.

If you want to explore the possibilites and EXPLORE the tools that the pros use, I suggest you look into Adobe Photoshop Elements.  It is an EXCELLENT entry level application that offers most of the more popular features of the full version Photoshop, but, at only a fraction of the cost.  It does all of the functions I described above and much much more.  And, Elements has the advantage of using the same kind of tools and "language" that is used in the full version of Photoshop, so, if you ever thought you needed to upgrade to the professional version, you won't have to go through an entire new learning curve.

Elements retails for under $100 (compared to over $700 for the full version)  Plus, upgrades to the full version will cost less than purchasing the full version by itself.  The thing is, MOST people never NEED to upgrade.  Many who do find themselves lost in the myriad of features and arcane functions, and, they end up only using those features available in Elements.

As a professional designer, I use ALL of Photoshop's features because I NEED them.  But, I know a lot of pros that have never found the need to upgrade from Elements.

Do yourself a favor.  Don't change apps until you think you really need to.  And then, do a LOT of research into new products before you make an expensive mistake.

Answer 4

Photoshop or Paint Shop Pro are industry best, but there are a lot of choices out there. Photoshop Elements sounds perfect if you are looking for a cheaper option and are starting out, but theres a freeware program called 'Gimp' that is just as good and you can download it for free from reputable sites like twocows etc...