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03/01/2011 11:27:10 PM · #1 |
Okay here's my deal. I really want to purchase CS5 but simply can't afford the 700$ price tag. Now, I'm not looking to get the program illegally because that's not my style. So I guess my question is does Adobe ever run any sales on this and is there any way to get it any cheaper. I simply can't afford 700$
Lastly, what is the difference between lightroom and CS5? Pardon my ignorance but I've been using GIMP since I started with photography, but recently inherited some books on CS5 and would really like to explore it. So with that said, I was wondering if Lightroom is close enough to be able to use the same tutorial books for CS5? Anyway thanks in advance :) |
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03/01/2011 11:33:16 PM · #2 |
Lightroom is a completely different animal. It has very little in common with CS5. bear in mind that Photoshop was developed as a graphic designer's tool. Lightroom was developed purely for photographers. Personally, I don't find Lightroom anywhere near as useful as Photoshop, but I have been using Photoshop since it first came out, and I don't feel like making the switch to a new way of thinking about editing.
GIMP is pretty much built along the same lines as Photoshop. If money's such an issue, why not stick with GIMP? What do you expect to do with CS5 that you can't do with GIMP? Alternatively, look into buying a heavily discounted CS3 or CS4; I'm still using 3, and I feel no compelling need to change at this time.
R.
Message edited by author 2011-03-01 23:36:40. |
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03/01/2011 11:37:51 PM · #3 |
| The easiest (and cheapest) way to get CS5 is to upgrade from Elements. I hand Elements 5 and the difference is ENORMOUS. CS5 is such an vast program, that I barely know maybe 3% of it. |
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03/01/2011 11:50:02 PM · #4 |
I don't suppose this is "illegal" but it's not really fair either. I believe you can pose as a student and get a major discount.
See this page:
//www.adobe.com/education/students/
There's a 25% discount on Design premium, containing photoshop, lightroom and a variety of other useful programs in app design web design photography, icon design, digital art, etc. Great package, by far adobe's best. |
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03/01/2011 11:57:18 PM · #5 |
| students get the discount not from online purchase. it's the school that gets accredited for the retail price. students then buy it from the school. so you can either be a legit student from that school or you can approach a legit student to buy it for you. At least that's the way it works where I'm from. US$ 169 for PS CS5. |
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03/02/2011 06:12:46 AM · #6 |
| I second Tanguera, I started with Elements for <$100 and used it for about 3 years. Then Adobe had a special offer to upgrade to CS5 last fall for about $200 if I remember correctly. I suspect that they will run something similar again. |
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03/02/2011 10:07:36 AM · #7 |
If upgrade from Elements offer doesn't come around again soon, another option is to buy a full version from someone selling it (careful that you are buying something that can be legally registered) and upgrade from there. Look at Adobe's site to determine what is the oldest version you can upgrade from.
This is actually what i did, many years ago. Bought v 4.0, upgraded to 7.0 which was current at the time. Since, I've upgraded if/when it makes sense, not necessarily every version. |
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03/02/2011 10:19:24 AM · #8 |
| Full retail CS5 for $464 shipped and no rebates, upgrades or student credentials to worry about. |
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03/02/2011 10:46:23 AM · #9 |
Originally posted by Cyberlandz:
students get the discount not from online purchase. it's the school that gets accredited for the retail price. students then buy it from the school. so you can either be a legit student from that school or you can approach a legit student to buy it for you. At least that's the way it works where I'm from. US$ 169 for PS CS5. |
Not true. You can buy software at student discounts from many online stores. HOWEVER, although you can buy it at the discount, and they will ship you your item, you will have to provide proof of being a student (student ID, tuition bill, grade report etc) to the vendor before they will send you the activation/license code. |
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03/02/2011 10:48:20 AM · #10 |
Lightroom works fine for my purposes, and I find it VERY easy to work with...not as complicated was Photoshop to learn upfront.
The only thing it cant do that I would occasionally need is masking/layers to get rid of elements in my photo that are unwanted. |
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03/02/2011 04:38:13 PM · #11 |
Speaking of ... this week I got a new PC (w/ 4 GB RAM) and Photoshop CS5 at my office. My old Paint Shop Pro 9 is gone, so I'll need to learn CS5 quickly. I'm excited about exploring it, unfortunately I'm busy at work, need to prepare for a move, and I've also got to get used to a new operating system, new version of MS Office, and new version of Lotus Notes. Productivity has stalled!
On the positive side, it seems there are lots of CS5 training videos available on the web. :-)
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03/02/2011 05:01:59 PM · #12 |
| You may find that elements will do almost all you need it to. You may have troubles with addons such as topaz not being available. You can also look at paintshop, where addons are available. Also look at buying an older version. I have lightroom and find that I use it more than cs5, but you raw editing software such as dpp will most likely do what lightroom can do. |
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03/02/2011 05:21:03 PM · #13 |
Topaz (and others) work beautifully with PS Elements 8.0 and up... and don't be fooled by the docs saying you can't use masking layers in 8 - it's two extra clicks, but any adjustment layer can be made into a layer mask...
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03/02/2011 06:31:44 PM · #14 |
Originally posted by NeVeRyn:
Topaz (and others) work beautifully with PS Elements 8.0 and up... and don't be fooled by the docs saying you can't use masking layers in 8 - it's two extra clicks, but any adjustment layer can be made into a layer mask... |
in that case, if price is an issue go with elements. you most likely don't need full blown photoshop. Elements is pretty powerful for the non-graphic artist |
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03/02/2011 06:43:25 PM · #15 |
Hey guys, I'm downloading a trail version of Element 9 now and I'm going to see how that works out. I can get it from where I work for 79.99 so if it fits the bill I may just buy it and learn it, then if the deal comes around for the upgrade to CS5, go that route. Thanks to everyone who responded to this thread, I really appreciate the info. I'm sure I'm going to have plenty of questions about PS cause my editing skills are sorely lacking. I'm very primitive with layers, and masks, well, I don't even know how a mask works... So this could get interesting... Anyway, again, thanks to all who replied and all the info.
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03/02/2011 07:09:41 PM · #16 |
You could also take an evening class at a local college, you pay say $100 for the course (which you will learn something anyway) and then you will qualify for the student discount for CS5 ... you do have to prove you are a student to get the license key .... I just needed the enrollment confirmation letter from my evening course which is just 2hrs per week, I faxed it to Adobe and got my key shortly after that :)
eta I use lightroom as much as I can as it is faster to process a batch of images, I switch to cs5 when I need layer masks and the clone tool sucks in lightroom (unless I am using it wrong!!)
Message edited by author 2011-03-02 19:11:59. |
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03/02/2011 07:18:50 PM · #17 |
Originally posted by bobonacus:
eta I use lightroom as much as I can as it is faster to process a batch of images, I switch to cs5 when I need layer masks and the clone tool sucks in lightroom (unless I am using it wrong!!) |
no, spot edit sucks in LR |
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