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PC utilities: Whats a good cheap alternative to photoshop
PSP- The best
by Shutterbug - 6/18/05 5:30 AM In reply to: PSP- The best by amlanceYou are 100% correct. I've had both PSP AND Photoshop on computer. They are so alike it's silly to pay so much for Photoshop (I love it too, but the price tag is too much for me...I had an older OEM version of it for a while). I have been getting PSP since version 6 I believe. I use it to work with my photos. The animation software in it is awesome too!
Another great little program for a very little money (if it's still around) is Adobe Photo Deluxe. I use it most of all as I usually only need to work with color and contrast/brightness, and it's SO fast. It can do a LOT. It has tools and effects that are plenty enough for anyone. I believe I paid about $30 for it. Maybe one can find a copy on Adobe's website or on eBay! Can't tell you how great it is!
PSP X
by Hodgelett - 10/14/05 4:25 AM In reply to: Paintshop Pro 9 by silesiaThere's no point getting 9. X is already at 10.1 stage. However, on a side note mine caused a fault when it auto updated from x to .1 so I'm going to totally reinstall, the 'install to fix mistakes' function did not work. So my reccommendation is that if they do show the screen to say updates available go to the Corel website and download the patch from there.
PSP is not entirely all that PS is, but there's not much it can't do.
I also suggest looking at the topic in Graphics and Media. <_<
Another Alternative
by chaserblue - 6/17/05 5:36 AM In reply to: Whats a good cheap alternative to photoshop by scmac316There is always Paint Shop Pro 9---the new version has many advanced features and is comparable to Photoshop. I mainly use Photoshop but have both applications since there are things that Paint Shop Pro just does easier. It also supports multiple layers and scripts---has a wide range of photo editing options such as noise reduction, red eye removal, scratch remover, lighting options and even Automatic Photo Fix. The boxed version is right there in your price range, the download version even cheaper. If you are upgrading the price is only 59.00 IMO one of the best alternatives to Photoshop available and I am a graphic and 3D artist so I use them on a daily basis.
PhotoImpact 10
by Asiated - 6/17/05 5:59 AM In reply to: Another Alternative by chaserblueGreetings, here is a little secret from the graphics world. PhotoImpact is an excellent program that can do 95% of what Photoshop / Illustrator can do, only much quicker and I hate to say it with allot more common sense at how things work. We do packaging design and graphics for products that I am sure most people have in their homes. We design in PhotoImpact and then save it in an Illustrator or Photoshop format and our printer is none the wiser. You would be amazed how many "Professional" graphic firms do the same.
Best of luck with your decision.
PI 10 is a winner!
by Magicquest - 6/27/05 9:23 AM In reply to: PhotoImpact 10 by AsiatedPhotoImpact is an easy to learn program that is so indepth yet simple it will keep you interested for many years! There are even lessons you can take online via Yahoo. I first purchased PI XL last summer and enrolled in the PIRC egroup. The support you get with this group is awesome! The course consists of 96 lessons and includes a mentor. I highly recommend it.
PhotoImpact 5 - Magazine freebie
by Martin - 10/14/05 3:46 AM In reply to: PhotoImpact 10 by AsiatedI'm still using PhotoImpact 5 which came free with a magazine a few years ago!
It does all the basics and is fine for an average user.
PhotoImpact 10
by reidbird - 10/14/05 8:23 PM In reply to: PhotoImpact 10 by AsiatedI too use PhotoImpact 10 and it is a great program. It is amazing the capability built into the program, and I believe it can do almost everything the outrageously expensive PhotoShop can do. I have been using PhotoImpact (earlier versions) for about 5 years, I use it almost every day, and I find it to be very powerful, user friendly, and reasonably priced.
GIMP should fit the bill
by pints - 6/17/05 6:13 AM In reply to: Whats a good cheap alternative to photoshop by scmac316I used to play with Photoshop on a shared computer, so when I bought my laptop I wanted to install something similar (but cheaper).
I found out about GIMP on CNET and gave it a try - if someone gave me a free copy of Photoshop now I probably wouldn't bother to install it.
The way GIMP works takes a little getting used to, but it has an impressive array of features. My favourite - saving a print size to an image without making any changes to the image itself.
It's free, no strings attached, so it's definitely worth trying.
Another nice thing about GIMP
by seanfarnum - 6/17/05 6:22 AM In reply to: GIMP should fit the bill by pintsYou can download a user's manual for free at http://gug.sunsite.dk/, and they also have tutorials for the program.
Can't find users manual at that link
by Computer Teacher - 6/17/05 1:05 PM In reply to: Another nice thing about GIMP by seanfarnumI tried your suggestion for the manual. I have downloaded GIMP but haven't had time to play with it yet so the manual sounded very helpful. I couldn't find it although the link still looks very helpful.
Users Manual for Gimp
by ursahoribl - 10/14/05 7:12 AM In reply to: Can't find users manual at that link by Computer TeacherThe Gimp users manual can be downloaded from the Gimp site - http://www.gimp.org.
Another good source if info is a book called "Grokking the Gimp" available in electronic format at http://gimp-savvy.com/BOOK/.
I was able to complete both the beginner and advanced Photoshop courses offered by CNET's online classes using the Gimp with very few problems. The newer version of Photoshop may have a few applications not YET found in the Gimp but it probably won't be long before something similar will be available for the Gimp.
A chaeap and very good alternative to Adobe Photoshop
by joerog55 - 6/17/05 6:13 AM In reply to: Whats a good cheap alternative to photoshop by scmac316I had the same question about 8 years ago when I started photo editing. I tried a few and like U-lead products the best. I started out with U-lead Photoimpact SE, then 3.2 and now use Photoimpact 8. I am getting ready to upgrade again. It is very reasonable at about $70 for the software and about $50 for the upgrade. The Photoimpact series is easy to use, has all the basic photo editing features but yet has some very advanced photo editing and graphics capabilities that really make it worth the money. I have some issues with U-lead's shipping policies (they have a pathologic aversion to the U.S. mail), but they have a pretty good download service.
recommended U-lead product
by sewnsew - 6/17/05 8:42 AM In reply to: A chaeap and very good alternative to Adobe Photoshop by joerog55You mentioned their shipping policy as being bad, their products are good but oh boy, just try to communicate or get a rebate from the company! In the 6-8 week time frame. I was submitting a rebate for $10.00 which took over 4 months to receive. The amount was small. The principle was huge. I tried every means to communicate to jerk them up to no avail. When I finally gave up as a lost cause... the rebate appeared in my mailbox. Too long to get to me but at least it didn't make a non-believer outa me.
Ulead Products
by jpbrowser1 - 10/14/05 7:44 PM In reply to: A chaeap and very good alternative to Adobe Photoshop by joerog55Am in total agreement with last post. Ulead products are great until you have to deal with Ulead. My experience was with ill mannered c.s.
Ulead
by mercamp - 10/16/05 11:41 AM In reply to: Ulead Products by jpbrowser1I had a bad experience with Ulead also.....I bought DVD Movie Factory directly from them for $99......then when I tried to install it, the program crashed my computer. (Not the same program or the same computer as in another post). Anyway, when I asked for help, the emailed me back and forth, and I gave them a report from my computer that I REALLY wish I hadn't (it told a person anything they wanted to know about what is on and in my computer). They finally told me the program was incompatible with my computer and there was nothing they could do. Of course, they said they would "keep trying." I asked them for a refund at that point and haven't heard anything since (this was several months ago). I don't plan to ever buy anything from Ulead again. I don't have the money in my bank account that I can afford to throw $99 away!!
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