Windows 7: Photoshop Deals

I am seriously thinking of buying photoshop soon, and would like to know what the best deals are out there, and the deals you got.

I am aware of the student and teacher edition for cs5, but even 200 dollars is a bit pricy for me. I am fine with a little older version like cs4, but what I'm generally looking for is the photoshop software - for a low price. I earlier remembered someone showing me a link for as low as 40 dollars. If I could get it that low it would be a miracle!

Any links or info is appreciated.

And if anyone is going to suggest other software to me - please don't. I've used PSP and just don't like it, GIMP is good but its really advanced, and its missing the straight forwardness of PS, gimpshop doesn't work on 64 bit, and other stuff like Lightroom and Elements is not what I'm looking for.

So photoshop, nothing else please. =)



Thanks in advance, hopefully I can get this.

~Joshua~

Do you believe that you can buy a legal copy of a recent version of Photoshop for $40?

I purchased a copy of CS4 Enhanced (full, not upgrade) last year for $200. It was quite a professional package, but it turned out to be counterfeit. It automatically installed a hack (widely published on the Web) that avoided activation. After I filed a complaint with Paypal, the seller refunded the purchase. (I was still out some international exchange fees - the seller was in Canada. I'm in the US.) He claimed to have no idea that the Photoshop packages were bogus, but I doubt that: some attempts at resolving it over the telephone were, shall we say, unsuccessful. (I may be bigoted - the Russian accent made me suspicious.)

I ended up buying the standard upgrade version directly from Adobe (download).

If you want a bogus copy, you may be able to steal it yourself for free.

Sorry, I looked back at the post - and they were talking about Elements for forty bucks.

Urgh, well at lease I know that I'm going to have to be careful.

~Joshua~

Honestly, why not look at a competing product if you cannot afford to use Photoshop? I mean why support a company who doesn't make a product at a price point you can afford?

Have you considered Paint.NET?

I have been at my friends the last few weeks and learned so much with photoshop, the software's interface would have to match up, or at least have all the same important features for me to want to get it.

   Quote: Originally Posted by bug67

Have you considered Paint.NET?

I have it, but unless there is a photoshop plugin or something, I don't want to stick with it. =/

~Joshua~

Well, looks like you are going to have to buy it. And yes, for an academic version, if you qualify for it, is still like $200. Photoshop isn't cheap.

If you have ever used Photoshop CS5, you will realise what a whole lot more powerful and brilliant it is than the free programs other companies offer. Also a lot easier to use, and how many features there are included. I'd rather pay a grand and produce way better stuff than get something for free that will get you nowhere.

My 2 pence worth

The only reason I would differ on this opinion would be for those who simply feel that a tool like Photoshop would turn them into a graphic artist. Honestly, I think you need those skills up front and the software just enables that creativity.

However, I think there are a ton of people who blindly pirate photoshop and have it on their computer for their graphics needs...while the freebie applications and such could probably handle their workload easily.

Photoshop elemets is actually quite feature packed. For the price it's a great deal.

You should look at the feature list or a comparison to the full photoshop and see if there is really anything you would be missing or not.

I used elements for quite a while before getting the "real thing". There was even a small reduction in proce for upgrading that may make the cost of elements $0 in the end if you do update in a couple years after you get a job

[Edit] Though $200 for PS CS5 is an AMAZING deal. If that gives you full future upgrade rites, getting in now rather than later will save you $450 in the long run![/edit]