I want to get Photoshop, but no way can I handle the $600 or so. I see these places that offer the CD without a manual or tech support for $80-$100. Is this a bad idea? Is there enough tutorial info on the web to get by without a manual?
Yes, never had the manual on my copy. There's a guy online who has a site called photoshop junkie, he explains how to do specfic car related photoshoping. Learn the basics and the rest will come with time. -The Catholic
The best way to get it would be through an education discount. Search google for education discount software retailers. The critera for being able to take advantage of it is usually pretty lax: teacher/educator, student in any grade, some places even let PTA or parents order it. The discount on Adobe stuff is insane and you get the tech support, too.
I have a friend *WINK WINK* who has a pirated copy of photoshop 6. Then he got on Ebay and bought the book, uh just a second...... oh there it is.. Mastering Photoshop 6. 800 and some pages of all sorts of photoshopping stuff.....
If you can get it for that much then go for it. There are lots of good books out there. Try the "Photoshop: Classroom in a Book" or Peach Pit Press also has good books. Or you can do like I did and just dive in. Hands on to me is the best way. Check out some more of my work at http://www.zumografx.com/hotrod
Cheaper alternatives are Paint Shop Pro (http://www.jasc.com) at $95 or so, or GIMP (http://www.gimp.org/) for free.
I started out using Paint Shop Pro 4 about 5 years ago and swore by it. I was deathly afraid of Photoshop and thought it was to hard. Once I really sat down and used it i fell in love. But Paint Shop Pro is a good alternative.
A real cheap alternative is Adobe "Elements", kind of a stripped down version of Photoshop, but has more then enough for most. It can be had for under $80 and is for both the Mac and PC.
Elements, that's what I was trying to think of earlier. Yes I hear that is pretty good. I am using PS7 right now.
I just finished a free PS7 on-line instruction course at www.hplearningcenter.com. It helped with the basics, but it will take (at least for me) quite a bit of experimenting to become proficient.
I work in a Junior high and teach kids how to use both Photoshop and Elements and for what we need to do Elements work great, but if you are used to using Photoshop Elements takes a little bit to get used to, it does alot of what Photoshop does, but things are in different places and some stuff is named a little differently, but it does a lot of great stuff.
I have actually never used Elements but have heard a lot about it. I would like to check it out some day.
The Jalopy Journal
