need advice on software purchase

uccemebug · 07-12-2009, 02:02 AM

I've been working with a trial license of Photoshop CS4 that's about to end. In pricing the package, I'm dismayed to see that it's ¥100,000 in Japan (more than $1000US) even for the English version.

Can anyone recommend a PS-like product for the Mac? I've been looking at "Pixelator" but I'm not sure it does 'paths' which I need for our product photos. Any comments, suggestions?

davemdsn · 07-12-2009, 10:15 AM

Bummer about the price. I have Ps CS4 on my Mac and don't know how I'd live without it. There are a couple things to look at when the full price of Photoshop is that high.

One would be to see if you can find someone selling a copy of CS2 or 3, or even giving it away. The upgrade price for CS4 is much cheaper. Adobe does allow registration of their software to be transfered to a new owner so if you got a used copy of an older version and got the registration in your name you could upgrade to CS4 for cheap.

Another option is looking at Gimp. I've been using Photoshop since v7 so I haven't had an occasion to try Gimp out, but I hear from others that it is very much like Photoshop, doing most of what the original does.

Paths are one of the most powerful tools in Photoshop and sadly it is left out in most would be Photoshop competitors.

Jim Royal · 07-12-2009, 10:23 AM

I agree that finding an old copy on a store shelf, or even a secondhand copy of Photoshop might be best. Check secondhand computer book stores for older versions, or online classified ads for people selling software secondhand.

uccemebug · 07-12-2009, 05:00 PM

Originally Posted by Jim Royal

I agree that finding an old copy on a store shelf, or even a secondhand copy of Photoshop might be best. Check secondhand computer book stores for older versions, or online classified ads for people selling software secondhand.

An intriguing idea! Thanks for the tip gents, I'll check it out. Looks like I'll be shopping the US listings as I can't imagine finding an English version here. Hmmm, maybe Akihabara. It's been more than 20 years since I shopped for used software (and that was for the Commodore 64).

Gimp's another good suggestion. I tried gimp several years ago and got nowhere with it but expect that it would have improved since then.

As for Adobe's pricing:

I note that Adobe's putting its staff on occasional unpaid leave due to falling revenues. I hope they take notice that their insane pricing is preventing people from buying their software. I'm doing this for a start-up business but we simply can't plunk that kind of money down at this time. According to the Japanese-language professional accounting package we use, Adobe wants three times more than we spent on .. the professional accounting package.

*graphicgr8s* · 07-12-2009, 06:26 PM

Originally Posted by uccemebug

I've been working with a trial license of Photoshop CS4 that's about to end. In pricing the package, I'm dismayed to see that it's ¥100,000 in Japan (more than $1000US) even for the English version.

Can anyone recommend a PS-like product for the Mac? I've been looking at "Pixelator" but I'm not sure it does 'paths' which I need for our product photos. Any comments, suggestions?

I am not sure which other professions this holds true for but as a printer I can buy CS4 Premium for $600 US. It's Adobe's Partner's program. I think web designers, graphic artist can do it also. It gets you, indesign, Photoshop, illustrator, dreamweaver, acrobat pro, and a couple others. You do have to jump thru a couple of hoops but it's worth it. And you get all the updates for 1 year. We renew every year since my customers generally force it if I want their business.

*Canada_Rockies* · 07-13-2009, 04:37 PM

Originally Posted by uccemebug

I've been working with a trial license of Photoshop CS4 that's about to end. In pricing the package, I'm dismayed to see that it's ¥100,000 in Japan (more than $1000US) even for the English version.

Can anyone recommend a PS-like product for the Mac? I've been looking at "Pixelator" but I'm not sure it does 'paths' which I need for our product photos. Any comments, suggestions?

Adobe usually offers large discounts to student purchases. If you can find a student to buy it for you, you can save 2/3 of the price. If you don't need the graphic design portions of CS4, just the photo side of it, Elements + Lightroom will only run you $400 US for both at full price, and 2/3 of that through a student.

uccemebug · 07-13-2009, 07:48 PM

Originally Posted by Canada_Rockies

Adobe usually offers large discounts to student purchases. If you can find a student to buy it for you, you can save 2/3 of the price. If you don't need the graphic design portions of CS4, just the photo side of it, Elements + Lightroom will only run you $400 US for both at full price, and 2/3 of that through a student.

Students. The go-to people for all manner of things!

Thanks for the tip.

jstevewhite · 07-17-2009, 12:29 AM

Originally Posted by uccemebug

I've been working with a trial license of Photoshop CS4 that's about to end. In pricing the package, I'm dismayed to see that it's ¥100,000 in Japan (more than $1000US) even for the English version.

Can anyone recommend a PS-like product for the Mac? I've been looking at "Pixelator" but I'm not sure it does 'paths' which I need for our product photos. Any comments, suggestions?

I happen to have Pixelmator also. I recommend you download the trial version and check it out. (I have photoshop too). I fired up Pixelmator to check some things, and I think it might be worth a look for lots of things. First, it loaded the PEF from my K20D. (surprise). Second, it has Unsharp Mask, Clipping layers, masking layers, etc. I mean, it's NOT Photoshop, but for $59, it's pretty amazing. I don't know if it does paths, so check out the free trial and see. For the stuff it can do, it's much faster to use ( in lightroom, I right click, edit with Pixelmator, and it's up within seconds. Photoshop is much slower to come up). Also, lots of the stuff it does is GPU accelerated Core Graphics stuff. Sweet!

Like I said, it's not Photoshop, but you should take a look at it, for sure.

creampuff · 07-17-2009, 04:01 AM

You should come down to Singapore. Adobe sells Creative Suite 4 and Lightroom at pretty reasonable prices, and for students, they can buy Adobe CS4 Extended as low as US$70.