Photoshop -CS5/CS6??

[Merlin66]

Just a question....
What's the best street price (legal!) for PhotoShop????
No, I'm not a student etc.....

[Octane]

I think you'll find that all the pricing is the same. Much like Microsoft or Apple products.

You are best off purchasing directly through the Adobe web site.

H

[Merlin66]

Heavy $$$$$
The cheapest legit copy of CS5 I could find was $266!!!
http://www.inviksolutions.com.au/adobe-photoshop/114-adobe-photoshop-cs5-full-commercial-win-2-pc-download.html
Hmmmm certainly not cheap.......

[Colin_Fraser]

For that money you get a link to the download site and a serial number.
Risky business.

[Merlin66]

Yeah but....
Look at the alternatives!!!
http://www.adobe.com/au/products/photoshop/buying-guide.html

( I'm just glad I don't need LP filters, Maxim DL, and Photoshop to be able to record and analyse spectra!!! I'd be even poorer than I am today!)

[Octane]

You are not buying a proper copy of Photoshop from that mob.

Photoshop is an incredible piece of software and worth every single cent they ask for it.

An alternative is PixInsight for astrophotographic processing, or, you can download The GIMP (www.gimp.org (http://www.gimp.org)) for open source free software which should do most of the things Photoshop does. It's not the same, but, it's free.

H

[Merlin66]

Not looking for alternatives....just looking for the minimum cost of entry to amateurs who feel the need to use Photoshop.....

[Starblazer99]

You can get a free trial for a month or you can pay a monthly subscription around $30 or yearly for $24 a month or outright $1000 CS6

[Merlin66]

Seriously...how does your "average" amateur with three kids and a mortage ever afford something like that??????

[rmuhlack]

Photoshop CS2 for FREE - http://www.iceinspace.com.au/forum/showthread.php?t=101593

[Merlin66]

Richard,
Good try......but that link doesn't work anymore......

[rmuhlack]

really? i didn't realise it was a limited offer.

I'm on a linux system here anyway, so i use Gimp (free), Darktable (an alternative to Adobe Lightroom, also free) and Pixinsight, all of which run natively on this OS.

[Merlin66]

That's fine....but what about the guys who are seduced by CS5/6....what do they do?

[JB80]

They get it for free and not very legally.

Not that I would advocate it but unfortunately that is the answer.

I suppose some could find a reason to get some of the cost claimed back through tax or if you were lucky work may offer a copy.

[BPO]

As Octane said, The GIMP will do 99%+ of the things most people seek from Photoshop... And it's 100% free.

But then, as Octane also said, there's a reason Photoshop is the 800lb gorilla of the Imaging world.

And again, as per Octane, there's PixInsight for astrophotographers. Many of those only shooting for astronomy don't waste their time with anything else once they get PI; It's an incredible app.

[Colin_Fraser]

No, we are not thieves, we actually buy it and have done so since 1995.

[JB80]

That's fine, I wasn't accusing anybody here of illegally obtaining a copy but I would imagine more pirate copies exist than actual copies.
I'm not going to argue about it as I agree with you, all I'm saying is in reality a lot of people do not pay for things anymore if it can be downloaded.

[Merlin66]

Guys,guys....
It would appear if you want the benefits of Photoshop that the amateurs (around the world) are paying over $500 for the benefits......
I only wish I could afford it.
Thanks.....

[Larryp]

Just tried the link-still works for me!

[EddieT]

Just to put in here. Adobe released a statement to go with the apparently free CS2. It's intended only for registered CS2 owners. The reason they are also giving away a registration key, is because they have decommissioned the activation servers for CS2, therefore original CS2 installers requiring activation, will no longer work. The *free* version online is therefore not intended for everyone. The statement I read was a bit cagey about whether they would pursue non-registered downloaders (they have no real way of knowing), however. I think the download site was never intended to become publicly known, but I got the impression that they will not be doing anything about it.

Just so you know!

[rogerco]

Look I am no expert with the use of post processing software. But I have been in IT for decades. Back in the eighties, when software like it took a lot to develop, it was maybe worth it but since then it has become bloatware, they spend a fortune on advertorials (yes all those tutorials in the photomags are paid for by Adobe) and everyone pirates it. As a result CS5/6 are over $1000 in Aus. That low price sight is definitely suspicious and I doubt that it is legal, at best they are flogging the one year educational version.

Yes all the plug ins are enticing but what about PixInsight, its about $200, its cross platform, its written specifically with astro in mind.

I have always use Gimp, its good, has always done anything I needed, and I have a clear mind. Now that I am looking for specific astro software I think I would definitely be buying PixInsight after looking at their free trial, especial seeing that for the one license fee I can put it on all my computer platforms :).

Roger

[sgazer]

what is theiving is when you have a version of Photoshop, eg CS5 and you buy a new camera with RAW eg. FZ200. So you download the free Adobe Camera RAW (ACR) only to find they've written it not to work with CS5 so you have to buy CS6 for $1k+ for it to work. Now that is really sneaky.

[Octane]

Use the native software that came with your camera to export the RAW to TIFF and then send that to Photoshop. Thousand dollars saved.

Native software gives superior (base) results to the generic ACR. In my opinion.

H

[EddieT]

Upgrade from CS5 to CS6 cost me $307.

[Solar]

If you have a student in the family you can get it(CS6) FOR $194.00.

[Merlin66]

Ralph,
No, no students left in the house....just me.

[multiweb]

If you're going to go the Photoshop way I'd recommend getting it legit and from the Adobe shop. Pay for it once and get the upgade price from there on. From year to year you won't spend much.

If you get OEM or from any other source it will ultimately be dead money for you because you may have activation issues and from Adobe point of view and your reseller that will be your problem. If you can get yourself a version of CS2 then you won't be bound to any online activation.

But CS2 is far behind in term of features and functionality. Although the changes between CS4 to CS6 are not that dramatic a big jump happened in CS3. You'll miss out on a lot of things with CS2.

[Merlin66]

Marc,
Understood.
I'm just thinking about the real cost of entry to astrophotography nowadays...if you consider the total hardware package (mount/scope/ correctors/ filters/ camera) and then the software (aquisition/ guiding/ processing etc)
I don't know how your "average" novice - with the current financial pressures of family etc. can afford to get into the hobby.....

[multiweb]

I realise that. Unfortunately Photoshop is the standard in image editing software. Another way to get in is to buy it second hand as licences are transferable. It's just a phone call to Adobe. From there you will get a discount upgrade price to a version of your choice if ypur version is eligible. If Photoshop cost is too steep other recommended the gimp which is still open source I believe. Pixinsight will do a lot of what you're after for a fraction of the price as well.

[Merlin66]

There are plenty of alternatives - I use AstroArt.
The question was - if PhotoShop is the "defacto standard" then how the devil can you afford to buy it!
I think the answer is " if you have to ask the price - you can't afford it!"
Thanks for all the inputs.

[Poita]

It's a lot cheaper than it used to be.

You can get a 2nd hand 8" scope, CCD camera, mount, guide-camera, OAG and a copy of photoshop for less than my C8 alone cost me in 1987.

It isn't a cheap hobby, but there are ways to do it. I choose to drive a cheap but reliable car (i.e. it would sell for less than $2000). Other people buy a brand new car for $30,000 - $90,000, I could get a lot of gear for that price differential.

An ED80 on an iOptron ZEQ25 or HEQ5Pro, a ZWO camera, maybe a cheap DSLR, and $80 for Nebulosity and $200 for pixinsight and you will be producing pictures better than the stuff that was published by professionals only a few decades ago.

I pay for Photoshop, it is pricey, but it is a high end professional tool. For amatuer use, there are free alternatives or other cheaper tools. But it isn't that outrageous a price for the best tool available.

The best costs money, I want a 20" RC scope, and one of those RH fast scopes, but can't afford either one...

They are still cheaper than a new car though.

[Poita]

I've also heard rumblings that Autodesk is about to purchase Adobe, so who knows, a price change might be in the wind :)

[DJT]

Hi ken
Your question is about start up costs for someone getting into astro.

I would say the most reasonable option is to go
subscription. If astro is not for you., you are not stuck with a license you don't need. It also is a good way to keep up to date?

At $20 per month I would say its an affordable and legal way in.

[absolut]

Ahh Photoshop! (I just wrote and deleted a 3pg essay :lol:)

Here is a few thoughts for the image manipulators considering photoshop:

If it is your "must have" tool, a couple things to bear in mind:
* Initial purchase sucks
* upgrades are relatively cheap BUT
* don't feel like you HAVE to upgrade with every version, you can skip one or two versions and save money!
* If your computer at work is licensed for Photoshop (Adobe CS in general) you are entitled to run the same version at home for free(!)

If photoshop still seems expensive, look at it like you would that amazing astrophotography dream rig you are working towards... $20k, $50k?... what's $1000 or less for photoshop?

If all of the above arguments still leave you thinking it is too expensive... go free... embrace you new (open source) friend - Gimp!! :D

For the forseeable future I'll be a photoshop guy: It's been part of my Job for 20 years... habits are hard to break!

Whatever your choice, enjoy that marvellous cosmos out there!!

Clear skies to you all!

Rob