Software Advice

[Serenity]

I've heard great things about adobe photoshop, especially vs. the GIMP I've been using for years. I know a lot of that is just brand power ("Because it's adobe and not free ware it MUST be better!"), but I had heard the same arguments about MS Office versus Open Office. However, I just purchased Office 2010 and deleted Open Office, and man am I glad I did that! So, I figure, Adobe might actually be worth the money! My question is this: I want a photo-editor (Photoshop) and a video editor. I was thinking of buying JUST photoshop, and going to get Vegas because that might be cheaper. However, I found out I have a student discount on programs. So, Photoshop would run me $199, and the entire Adobe CS5 package would cost $448.

Now, in all honesty, I wouldn't use these programs all that frequently. I would use Photoshop for skinning, and I might dust off the video editing program once, maybe twice a year at best. I just feel like they might be great tools to have so those one or two videos really come out great. So, personal opinions, should I buy the full CS5? Or just photoshop.

(I am a college student. I pay $0 in tuition, $0 on dorm fees, $0 on food if I eat on campus [Thank you, Dept. of the Navy!] and I put about $500 every month straight into savings. I'm not rolling in cash, but I'm not broke either.)

[RTHolmes]

the entire Adobe CS5 package would cost $448.

that is a massive bargain

[Serenity]

that is a massive bargain

My thoughts exactly...

[TilDeath]

x3

[Jayhawk]

Is $448 worth spare time skinning? I mean if you enjoy it enough, then maybe you can justify the cost.  Maybe find someone or a school computer with the full photoshop and see if it's that much better before you commit.

[The Fugitive]

It is a great deal. Like all the others said, it's totally up to you to decide if the limited time you spend is worth the money.

I did the trial with Photo Shop and love it. Unfortunately I'm not in the position to buy it even at the price you can get....tho I might try to squeeze the money out of something if I had the chance. On the other hand, I founs a program called ArtWeaver. It's a free program, and so far I havn't had an issue with NOT having a tool I used in PhotoShop. Some are a bit tuff to find, but I have found them. You might want to give it a try.

[Chalenge]

Corel Paint Shop Photo x3 has everything Photoshop has as far as what you need for skinning and its under $100.

[Serenity]

Is $448 worth spare time skinning? I mean if you enjoy it enough, then maybe you can justify the cost.  Maybe find someone or a school computer with the full photoshop and see if it's that much better before you commit.

$448 for spare time? No. But I also don't know what my requirements down the road will be and I was thinking this price alone might be enough incentive.

For those who use Adobe, whats the retail CS5 going for?

[Jayhawk]

$448 for spare time? No. But I also don't know what my requirements down the road will be and I was thinking this price alone might be enough incentive.

Good point, but what are you thinking would require you to have photoshop in the future?  Will your version be out of date by then?

[KTM520guy]

Just Photoshop is about $600 on Amazon. The full suite runs $1500 to $2500 depending on the version. I still use CS2.

[BaldEagl]

I used to have Photoshop on my machine.  It was a duel install (shhh...) that a graphics guy in one of the companies I used to be with let me install.  I loved it and miss it but, I also had and still have an old version of Paintshop Pro 7.  For (at the time) $99 there was little PSP couldn't do the Photoshop ($700) could.  Unfortunately someone bought Jasc Software and hosed PSP.  At that price I'd buy Photoshop in a second.  If PSP were still it's old self I'd go that route instead but it's not.

[Serenity]

Good point, but what are you thinking would require you to have photoshop in the future?  Will your version be out of date by then?

True.

As far as what my requirements might be, I'm my platoon Public Affairs Officer, while I'm still a 4/C, perhaps if I got the battalion job I might need something like that? I think what I'll do is, next month, when I get my next large chunk of money, if I still really want it, I'll get it.

[BaldEagl]

True.

As far as what my requirements might be, I'm my platoon Public Affairs Officer, while I'm still a 4/C, perhaps if I got the battalion job I might need something like that? I think what I'll do is, next month, when I get my next large chunk of money, if I still really want it, I'll get it.

Photoshop hasn't changed much over time.  I spent over 20 years in marketing and advertising and it's the staple of graphic designers.  It's been a robust graphics program from the beginning.  Even an old version isn't much different than the newest version... kind of like the MS Office Suite... how out of date is an older version of Word or Excel?

[Chalenge]

There is nothing wrong with PSP after Corel got a hold of it... but I wouldnt be running Word 97 these days even if it would run on Vista or 7.

With PSPx3 I have made skins for FSX and it works as well as Photoshop for that. Photoshop is very much overkill for skin making.

[capdavis]

I was a production manager at a media agency doing newspaper and video projects. And for print projects. Photoshop, Illustrator, and InDesign were the staple software. As much as I hate Adobes' business practices, they're software is still top notch for the professional environment. I've tried taking the open source route. I used Scribus, Gimpshop, and Inkscape. They worked fine for a few small projects, but the workflow is just not there like it is with adobe software. They also had many drawbacks. I think it all depends on your needs and preferences. And to be honest, you shouldn't skimp out on something different just because it's cheaper.

As for the video projects I did. I used Avid, FCP and After Effects. Vegas is great too. The open source alternatives just did not compare for me. But they are out there! There are entire linux distros devoted to media creation, with all the tools dedicated to video, image and sound editing and creation, like ArtistX or Ubuntu Hardy.

http://www.osalt.com/ is a great site with open-source alternatives for everything you can think of if you want to try something free.