Adobe doesn’t sell more than one version. Right now that version is CS2. If you’re just a hobbiest and want to save some money check out Photoshop Elements which has most Photoshop features without the big price tag.
Bob
Thanx Bob… really appreciate the info
If you’re asking about the LE edition or the full version… LE will probably work for most casual use things, which is what it’s optimized for.
But it depends a lot on what kind of work you’re doing at home… I want to be able to do everything no matter where I am, so I have the full version everywhere.
Then again, if you’re asking if the CS2 version is OK for home use, sure it is, although you may be able to get older versions cheaper on eBay.
Art
Its ok to get it on E-bay… it will come with all the serial numbers and what not? (forgive my ignorance.. lol)
My guess is that over 90% of the software sold on Ebay is illegal.
Bob
There is no LE version anymore. The current version of the consumer edition is Photoshop Elements 3.0.
Bob
There’s also the option of the educational version. If you are currently a student, you can get this. It has all the functionality of CS but just a lower price tag.
However, if you’re not a student you can rightfully use it, and should therefore do as Bob Levine says, and go with Elements.
My 2 cents worth is:
But first a bit of background detail:
The home user may avail themself of
a desktop computer
a laptop computer
a personal computer
a tablet computer
And increasingly these days, a wifi or wi-free home network.
Anyone think that it’s about time a sector/industry wide review of home user EULAs is due?
Keila, go with Photoshop Elements 3. You’ll get the quality of Photoshop for image editing, plus an organizer to help you keep track of all your photos — without all the professional stuff you do NOT need for home use. You can find it at a reduced rate for under $100 at many online shops, like amazon.com or buy.com.
There is a very friendly forum for Elements as well. Check it out:
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http://www.adobeforums.com/cgi-bin/webx?14@@.eeb4f8b>
Patti
If ‘home/private use’ means that you do not intend to professionally print your work on a 4 color printing printing press but you still want the power of Photoshop, consider free software <
http://www.gimp.org>.
If you want a basic/automated tool that anyone could probably use, spend money on Photoshop Elements.
However, if you’re not a student you can rightfully use it,
I just want to clarify this. You have to be a student to acquire/buy the educational version. You can continue to use it long after you cease to be a student, including upgrading to a non-educational upgrade.
Keila,
If "home/private use" means you want to turn out the best possible pictures with a reasonably decent camera and print the best possible prints on a good photo-printer like an Epson Photo Printer and are willing to face a major learning curve. Photoshop CS or CS-2 may be exactly what you need.
You do NOT need to plan to professionally print your work on a 4 color press to take advantage of Photoshop full blown edition. It may be over-kill in some ways (perhaps many) for what you need. There are parts of CS I never use because I have no use for them. I could care less that I don’t know what SWOP-COATED etc means.
What I DO care about is getting art museum grade prints out of my Epson 2200 that look the way I want them to look. I want to be able to examine each and every print myself. I want to handle the full process from camera click through taking the mailer to the Post Office. I hope to eventually be able to afford a larger carriage printer. I don’t care if the picture originated in my Nikon 990, my Nikon N-90, or my Fuji-S2. It is the FINAL PRINT that counts. For that, I use and need Photoshop. Elements, including the current one, simply will not let me do what I do. I made the mistake of hopeing the ACR/Elements 3 combination would meet my desire of staying current in ACR without having to upgrade from CS. I think I will give it to someone who can use it.
I am not a professional artist. I do not work in graphic arts. I am not a professional photographer. So just what the heck gives me the "right" to type this OR say "What I DO care about is getting art museum grade prints out of my Epson 2200"? And how the heck do I define "museum grade"?
First, that IS what I care about.
As for my doing it or not; lets just leave it with my state’s rep. to the regional art’s council having asked me to display (a one person show complete with multi-page contract and lots of clauses as to what would happen to me if I failed to bring my work in) at her museum where my pictures hung, in their own room, for about 5 weeks. Some sold.
I have never had either an art or graphics art course. I am 100% self-taught, with the aid of a couple of books & lots of time and effort, in Photoshop. The people in this forum certainly have given me very useful advice once I learned enough to have a good idea as to what questions to ask. I do check the FAQs and take the time to search to see if the question has been answered before I ask. That is simple politeness. I see things differently from a lot of them.
If you are doing your work, and it is work, for yourself, it is YOU you have to please. You have to meet your own goals. You have a freedom the commercial graphics art people simply do not and can not have, at work at least. Use your freedom to fly the way YOU want to fly, not the way another flys.
What software you need to get to your destination depends upon both you and your desired destination. Only you can really answer the question "What do I need?" All we can do is try to give you unbiased factual information to assist you in answering your question.
Good luck deciding.
Bill
With the academic versions you must be a full time student (and you must be able to verify it with a printed class schedule, etc. However, you do not have to be a full time major in a program like Multimedia or Graphic Design…(Quark has some really funky restrictions on it’s licenses which many people think apply to Adobe)
Also if you are faculty you can receive the same price!!!
As long as you buy in legal, you can use the software commercially and follow the commercial upgrade path.
Adobe is the only major software company who supports this wonderful policy!!! Quark doesn’t nor does Macromedia (and hopefully this will change once Adobe starts shipping Dreamweaver and Flash!!!)
This is why I only teach Adobe products!
That is why I only use authentic Adobe products
Thanks Don and Christine for expanding on my comment.
The educational version is offered to ANY one in any academic class, and to faculty. Its use may be continued indefinitely even if the purchaser is no longer a student or faculty member. However, new version must be purchased at the going "average consumer" price.
Think this clear it up.
