Hi,

 

I'm a beginner in webdesign and had a slow start to a part-time freelance venture last year due to incompatibility issues with software and companies I've made websites for going bust with the recession! I want to make a fresh start with as much free software I can get hold of to create a foundation of tools for future work into 2010. I dont need dreamweaver and have found a better, free sub in notepad ++. there are other good tools I've found but one thing there is no subtitute for is Photoshop. Now I'm starting out so CS4 isnt important to me at this stage so I'm asking where I can find a copy of Photoshop cs2 or preferably cs3 for around £200 from a reliable source?

 

any ideas guys. I've had a couple of people asking me for quotes/work etc after a quiet period so I could really do with getting my house in order before I start.

 

Cheers,

Lee

have you looked at the gimp?? http://www.gimp.org/

 

or why not buy (after you've trialled it maybe) fireworks cs4?

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Adobe-Systems-Inc-Fireworks-CS4/dp/B001G8Y7CC/ref=sr_1_5?ie=UTF8&s=software&qid=1266070080&sr=8-5

Definitely go with the gimp if you're on a budget, or take a look on ebay...

Thanks... GIMP may well be the one then as ££ is key in these times. I've tried it before but I found it difficult to adapt, I think i need more patience!! I've not tried fireworks yet, I'll definately look at the trial at adobe's website. how does it differ from photoshop though? can you still create/manipulate imgs with it like photoshop? I've seen some people say they prefer it to PS on here.

 

Thanks again guys

fireworks does everything you need for web graphics - be it vector or bitmap. PS might be more powerful than FW for bitmap work but not by a lot. i too find gimp a little difficult to use though it is otherwise a good prog.

I've been trying to use GIMP and Paint.NET instead of Photoshop for a long time but they just dont cut it. They are both missing some simple and crucial features used often like drop shadows on text, and all the other layer effcts. You can add scripts to GIMP to make this work, but not very good. The preview does not work for me and it takes ages to render.

 

So I decided to invest in Photoshop, there is no alternative. I bought a new CS4 on ebay for £150.

Yes. Well I've almost decided that I'm going to stay with industry Adobe and purchase either FW or PS on ebay for my graphic editing package. FW CS4 is £280 brand new which may be an optiono in the near future. I think I will use the GIMP to put me on while I raise the necessary funds.

 

I've found this link very useful when comparing FW and PS for web graphic creation/editing. Apart from FW costing half as less it appears PS may be overkill and unnecessary for the tasks I want to do.

 

www.digital-web.com/articles/photoshop_versus_fireworks