what to buy?

Corel is quite a different product – not targetted the same as PS.

I would suggest you look initially at Photoshop Elements. It is cheap and very capable. If, later, you have a need for one of the more advanced features of PS CS [the full product], you will immediately be able to apply your skills.

BTW, PS comes with a valuable free gift: this forum. This is where you’ll find some great info and helpful experts.

Just a ditto to Colin. One of the greatest aspects of any type of software or hardware is the support. These forums are an absolutely wonderful format to answer any question ranging from software glitches to designers own capability issues. I tuned in months ago for a look see and now read them every day. It’s great, and it’s amazing how much you can learn.

Gordon

Good advice about the Elements. I’ve just downloaded a trial version. Do you or anyone happen to know the differences between Photoshop CS and Photoshop Elements?

I agree abouut the forums/newsgroups. I use them intensely with my architectural design software.

wrote in message

Just a ditto to Colin. One of the greatest aspects of any type of software

or hardware is the support. These forums are an absolutely wonderful format to answer any question ranging from software glitches to designers own capability issues. I tuned in months ago for a look see and now read them every day. It’s great, and it’s amazing how much you can learn.

Gordon

Do you or anyone happen to know the differences between Photoshop CS and Photoshop Elements?

There is probably chapter and verse on this on adobe.com somewhere.

Here are some things that CS has, but Elements doesn’t:

1) Colour management – vital for a pro, but can be a PITA if you’re not super-picky [IMHO].

2) Paths – I wouldn’t miss them.

3) Masks – I would miss these; this is probably the feature I regard as vital in PS [over PSE].

4) Actions – Being able to automate stuff may be vital, useful or just interesting; depends what you want to do. PSE has quite a few built-in automated processes.

5) CMYK – If you need it, you need it. Unless you prepare stuff for external print, you probably don’t.

In many cases, PS has 3-4 ways to do something; in PSE, you may only have 2-3 ways …

That’s a flavour, at least.

thanks Colin!
I was trying to find something on the website but was unsuccessful.

wrote in message

Do you or anyone happen to know the differences between Photoshop CS

and

Photoshop Elements?

There is probably chapter and verse on this on adobe.com somewhere.
Here are some things that CS has, but Elements doesn’t:

1) Colour management – vital for a pro, but can be a PITA if you’re not

super-picky [IMHO].

2) Paths – I wouldn’t miss them.

3) Masks – I would miss these; this is probably the feature I regard as

vital in PS [over PSE].

4) Actions – Being able to automate stuff may be vital, useful or just

interesting; depends what you want to do. PSE has quite a few built-in automated processes.

5) CMYK – If you need it, you need it. Unless you prepare stuff for

external print, you probably don’t.

In many cases, PS has 3-4 ways to do something; in PSE, you may only have

2-3 ways …

That’s a flavour, at least.