Photo Shop CS5 or CS6

[jerryicf]

Looking for a copy to start learning Photo Shop and was just wondering if any of you guys had a copy lying around that you didn't use anymore...I have been using Corel X6 but find out I need to try to start learning another package...thanks so much for any help.  I don't mind purchasing a copy but it would be nice to see if this is the direction I need to go.

[Sbrem]

When someone pays $600 for Photoshop, I doubt they keep it laying about. When it's upgraded, the original has to be on the computer. But try Craigslist or eBay. Also, look for an older version which can be had fairly cheaply by comparison. However, when you go to buy CS6, you will pay full price if you weren't already in possession of CS5 by 12/31/11. I didn't care much for that rule, I had to buy 2 upgrades last December...

Steve

[ebscreen]

They have 30 day trials. Not really enough time to see if it's what you need in my opinion, unless
you spend all day every day on it.

[GraphicDisorder]

When someone pays $600 for Photoshop, I doubt they keep it laying about. When it's upgraded, the original has to be on the computer. But try Craigslist or eBay. Also, look for an older version which can be had fairly cheaply by comparison. However, when you go to buy CS6, you will pay full price if you weren't already in possession of CS5 by 12/31/11. I didn't care much for that rule, I had to buy 2 upgrades last December...

Steve

This...

[royster13]

What do you hope to accomplish in Photoshop that you can not do in Corel X6?....I have seen some very impressive work in Corel X6....For example www.diazsignart.com

[3Deep]

 Some upgrade are just a waste of money

[Catnhat]

Check out the CS Subscription editions of Photoshop.  Pay month to month.  Or for a year for around $240.  Which is around what the upgrades cost.

[ZooCity]

if this is exclusively for screen printing, find ps 7.  probably stupid cheap and has everything you need.

[Frog]

Still running 7 here, and it, surprisingly keeps opening newer files as well.

[IntegrityShirts]

Still running 7 here, and it, surprisingly keeps opening newer files as well.

Yeah, some of the newer effects will come in uneditable, but at least they open.  Funny how photoshop files are backward AND forward compatible while Illustrator files BARF if it isn't the exact version.  Which is why I tell clients to send PDF's if they use illustrator.

[Gabe]

i got CS2 version and still serving my purpose
Gabe

[blue moon]

Still running 7 here, and it, surprisingly keeps opening newer files as well.

Yeah, some of the newer effects will come in uneditable, but at least they open.  Funny how photoshop files are backward AND forward compatible while Illustrator files BARF if it isn't the exact version.  Which is why I tell clients to send PDF's if they use illustrator.

the reason why PS is working and Illy is not, has to with the vector vs raster image format. In raster, 100% of the image is defined by pixels (what color are they) and all of that information is tracked on 1:1 bases. So there is information on every single dot in your art (that's where HSB comes from. You need Hue, Saturation and Brightness  for every pixel. If you are working in 3200x3200 space, that's 10+ million dots to keep track of!). PS is just a tool to manipulate the dots that are there already. When you save the file (as long as it consist of raster elements only) the result can be opened in any version as no calculation/manipulation is needed to interpret the result.

In Illy, the curves are described by mathematic formulas (vectors, which are elements that have directions and magnitude that can be added, subtracted or have other mathematical operations conducted on them). So the actual art has to be created from the information saved in file. For example, the information might contain where to start, what color to use, how far to go and at what angle. Did you ever notice how a large Illy design is several orders of magnitude smaller than the PS files? That's because only formulas are saved, rather than info on each individual pixel. (If there are 100 different elements in the design, Illy will create 100 formulas to describe the elements rather than millions needs to do the same in PS) As Illy is updated, new types of vectors are introduced and some of the older ones are updated to allow for the new operations to be executed (for example, introducing gradients on curves). The end result is that when you open a new file it has formulas that are unknown to the version you are using so it is baffled and can't figure out what to do.

thus the incompatibility . . .

pierre

 

[ZooCity]

Still running 7 here, and it, surprisingly keeps opening newer files as well.

Yeah, some of the newer effects will come in uneditable, but at least they open.  Funny how photoshop files are backward AND forward compatible while Illustrator files BARF if it isn't the exact version.  Which is why I tell clients to send PDF's if they use illustrator.

I notice this problem extends to .eps files as well. 

That's great that PS7 still opens newer files.  I find I have roughly zero need for 99% of what they added to PS past 7, it's just not relevant to me as I don't often design in PS, just image manipulation and separations.

Good design software lesson Pierre!  Funny how PS just zips along even on more complicated manipulations on big files but Illy freaks out if you put an outer glow on a basic 8 node shape.