Cheapest way to get Photoshop

indioli · Jul 29, 2011

Hi.

I'm havign problems with photoshop. my friend gave me a copy but it doesn't seem to work properly (not sure where she got it from)
I can't afford the full version so was wondering if PS Elements is any good?

Any advice would be greatly appreciated!!
Thanks!!

2WheelPhoto · Jul 29, 2011

indioli said:
Hi.

I'm havign problems with photoshop. my friend gave me a copy but it doesn't seem to work properly (not sure where she got it from)
I can't afford the full version so was wondering if PS Elements is any good?

Any advice would be greatly appreciated!!
Thanks!!

One thing for sure, the uTorrent/Newsgroup "jacked software strategy" doesn't make much sense anymore.

Overread · Jul 29, 2011

The cheapest legal way to get Photoshop is if you are in some form of education system since students get discounts on the Photoshop software - otherwise its a case of saving for the software.

There are a few alternatives however which won't break the bank:

1) Elements - elements is a stripped down photoshop, but has more than enough for most photography editing needs. There are also a range of cheap/free upgrades/addons online by 3rd parties which can greatly extend the functionality of elements.

2) Gimp - this is totally free and more powerful than elements (its freeware developed) however its interface is somewhat more cumbersome than Photoshop's own.

3) Lightroom - this is not quite as cheap, nor powerful with regard to direct editing power, however its a more refined version of Adobes RAW processing tech combined with a few light editing options and also a cataloguing and library feature. This makes it a good program for streamlining a photographers workflow and organising and is often used along with other editing options as listed above (since they offer more extensive and selective editing options)

indioli · Jul 29, 2011

Thanks, I'll try downloading gimp and see how I get on with that.
The disk my friend gave me looks life the real photoshop, but then I can't open RAW images in it and things don't seem to be working as they should, which makes me more reluctant to use it because if it's not the real version then I don't want it to affect the images in a negative way

I'll also look into lightroom... sounds like it could be useful. I currently use PMB, which I downloaded when I get my Sony A55, but I've read before that the software that comes with camera's isn't usually much cop.

elifant · Jul 29, 2011

2WheelPhoto said:
indioli said:

Hi.

I'm havign problems with photoshop. my friend gave me a copy but it doesn't seem to work properly (not sure where she got it from)
I can't afford the full version so was wondering if PS Elements is any good?

Any advice would be greatly appreciated!!
Thanks!!

Click to expand...

One thing for sure, the uTorrent/Newsgroup "jacked software strategy" doesn't make much sense anymore.

Not that I'm jacking software, but I'm wondering why it doesn't make sense? I'm to technostupid to be able to figure out uTorrent...not that I haven't tried.

480sparky · Jul 29, 2011

Perhaps it doesn't work because you haven't registered it, and it won't work because you can't register it

The_Traveler · Jul 29, 2011

elifant said:
Not that I'm jacking software, but I'm wondering why it doesn't make sense?

Well, it makes sense but it is stealing.

c.cloudwalker · Jul 29, 2011

480sparky said:
Perhaps it doesn't work because you haven't registered it,

That is just too funny. I don't waste any time registering anything. Software, hardware warranties, nothing, and they all seem to work just fine.

Actually, trying to register a copy that is already registered on too many computers could be the problem... :lol:

Dao · Jul 29, 2011

indioli said:
...The disk my friend gave me looks life the real photoshop, but then I can't open RAW images in it...

I believe by default Photoshop cannot open RAW file. You need Adobe Camera RAW. Also, RAW files from newer camera need a newer version Camera RAW. If the Photoshop version you have is old, you may not be able to use the newer Camera RAW.

indioli · Jul 29, 2011

Is there a limit to how many computers can use it? I was given a code to go with it and initially downloaded the trial version but then when it ran out i tried the code and some of it seems to still work but the rest doesn't?
I.e. Bridge worked before but now doesn't.
Thanks again Overread for you actual response to my question

The_Traveler · Jul 29, 2011

indioli said:
Is there a limit to how many computers can use it?

Two

ghache · Jul 29, 2011

480sparky said:
Perhaps it doesn't work because you haven't registered it, and it won't work because you can't register it

why would you register software LOL? installing a cracked version of photoshop is pretty straight forward.

usayit · Jul 29, 2011

Overread said:
2) Gimp - this is totally free and more powerful than elements (its freeware developed) however its interface is somewhat more cumbersome than Photoshop's own.

Ever since Lightroom, I've been using photoshop less and less which translates to my hesitation to upgrade my obsolete photoshop CS (which was also built for PowerPC Macs). I loaded Gimp recently (been a long time since I used it on Linux Slackware) and I was pleasantly surprised at the improvements they've made over the years. It came with the UFraw plugin which supports RAW files including DNG. Definitely would recommend trying it out...