i only have the super basic photo editing tools. i can do a lot with them, but i want to do that thing where one layer is transparent over the other layer(masking?), and also distort/stretch images without blurring them. what versions of photoshop do you guys have? which do you think are best/the best deal?
thanks,
~skifree~

I have Adobe CS2 and it has the features and commands that you require. I have only used Adobe CS and CS2, so I can't make any other comparison. But both CS and CS2 are super image editing programs and are magnificent for most of the manipulation work I do for the contests here at PSC. However, there are graphic designers here, who might be able to offer professional advice based on their use of Adobe Illustrator and other programs.

Is CS2 out there allready Pat? Wish it was here now. Has a lot of cool new features i saw

Patim..
CS 2 is out. I just bought it off of the Adobe site( on the internet) a few days ago. There are some new features especially related to file organization. There are also new warp and vanishing point tools, which I haven't used, so I can't comment on how workable they are.
Since I had the earlier version of CS,this one cost me about $164.00 U.S dollars, and was
recieved at my house about 4 days after I ordered it on the net.
So far, so good..
I don't know if it will do that much more than CS 1, but I thought it was worth a try..
You might even be able to get a trial version off of the Adobe site.

I'm happy with 7 .

I'm happy with 7 as well. But if I was starting out with nothing, I might consider getting the newest. (as long as I had the $)

the program is as good as the chopper behind it ... so don't expect to do better by upgrading to a newer version ... you will have to upgrade yourself ... so 2 answer your question ... for your puspose any editing tool will do just fine ... just my 2 cents ...

That's right desh. But you can't expect an artist to make a stone sculpture with a wooden knive!

I just downloaded the trial of CS2 an it has some awesome features in it. Even if it was only for Adobe Bridge. I always search for hands and never find them. In the stock photo section of bridge I got 1288 perfect samples

I say CS2 ( and an Anfa-mind, H2H winner skills, no offense Anfa, and a lot of practice)

i'm trying right now to get this trial too...i'm actually working with the 7.0...
and i keep using it even after i saw the cs1.
in the upgrade you'll find some shortcut for things
you already trying to do with previews version.
...thats it.

i hade CS before but 7 is alot quicker

i prefer 7...altough is a few less options

I've been using PS7 and for learning it has been pretty good. If I wouldn't have gone to the Adobe site to look at the new features of CS2 I would be perfectly happy.

excatly--very much exaactly-- use whatever program you got and if you find yourself willing to put in the work to get a good chop- then upgrade-
and chances are you have Adobe "ELEMENTS" on your scanner-printer-
or even a cheap digital camera's cd --just open the cd as a file and look
for it--you can do a LOT LOT LOT with elements.

The CHOP is in your HEAD, not your COMPUTER!

Iz true!



(7,8,9 PS all rock though )