Photoshop CS3
The Ultimate Graphics Program
I'm new to Adobe Photoshop. Like many programs it can be whatever you want it to be. You can jump right in with
basic photo editing or you can explore layers of complexity which give breathtaking capacity for graphics creation and
manipulation.
Although I'm near the start of the learning curve, I'm hooked. Photoshop is the tool of choice for most photography and graphics professionals. I suppose that's why the nice folks at Adobe can jack up the price. As with many computer programs I often wonder whether or not if they slashed the price they'd make a lot more profit. It's all about turnover.
A creased and yellowed mouldy old photo can be restored to almost as new with surprising ease. Files can be transformed with a huge array of tools and plug-ins. Many of those tools are little short of legerdemain.
"Any sufficiently advanced technology is indistinguishable from magic"
Arthur C. Clarke
It comes at a price
Unfortunately, it's fabulously expensive. There's a much cheaper version, Photoshop Elements, which often comes free with some computer consumer products such as digital cameras. Although Photoshop Elements has a reduced array of capabilities, it's still pretty darn good.
The free alternative
There's also an open source (i.e. free to use) equivalent to Photoshop called The GIMP. It's a Linux program and installing it under Windows is not a simple process. But the price is right. Contrary to the claims of some Linux enthusiasts, it's not Photoshop, but for most users' requirements it comes very close.
Otherwise...
For more modest graphics tasks, have a look at the free and easy IrfanView.
