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Gear / Technical Help => Photo / Video Recording => Topic started by: §†∑∫åµÞ≥¥ on September 20, 2008, 03:39:59 PM

Title: Alternative to Photoshop?
Post by: §†∑∫åµÞ≥¥ on September 20, 2008, 03:39:59 PM

Does anyone know of a slightly lower-priced alternative to Photoshop? I don't do a lot with photo editing, but am starting to get into it a bit more and clearly MSPaint is not going to cut it. That said, I don't know if I'm ready to dole out the big money for Photoshop. Any other suggestions? Shareware? Or, reasonably priced software (< $150). I'm running Vista, if that makes a difference.

Thanks,
-Steve

Title: Re: Alternative to Photoshop?
Post by: J.T.L on September 20, 2008, 05:23:44 PM

http://gimp-win.sourceforge.net/index.html ...and it's free.

Title: Re: Alternative to Photoshop?
Post by: gearscout on September 21, 2008, 04:31:38 AM

Photoshop Lightroom is a feature-rich, powerful editor specifically designed for photographers.  Full price is $300 but there are versions available for students, etc. that go for around $100.  It has replaced Photoshop for 95% of what I do.  It will not do layers.

Gimp, as noted above is certainly functional.

You can download a 30-day trial of Lightroom.

http://www.adobe.com/products/photoshoplightroom/ (http://www.adobe.com/products/photoshoplightroom/)

Title: Re: Alternative to Photoshop?
Post by: phanophish on September 21, 2008, 03:59:29 PM

As suggested already, GIMP - It's free and works.  Every time I have used it though I'm constantly thinking it's just not Photoshop.

Lightroom is also very useful but is different from Photoshop, it handles the basics very well and has some great cataloging and work flow features.

I'd also suggest Picasa it's free and is sort of a Lightroom lite. 

Also take a look at Photoshop Elements.  The new version coming out is becoming much more powerful and is much more like Photoshop. 

You might also have some luck picking up an old version of Photoshop somewhere like amazon or ebay. 

Title: Re: Alternative to Photoshop?
Post by: §†∑∫åµÞ≥¥ on September 22, 2008, 12:49:09 PM

Thanks all. +T's around.