Photoshop/Illustrator too expensive... any alternatives?

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Level 1

0 points

Photoshop/Illustrator too expensive... any alternatives?

Hey all. I need help. I'm a journalism student and I need to do a lot of layout and graphics work on my computer. iPhoto just isn't what I need. I've looked into getting CS2, but it was ungodly expensive. The individual Photoshop and Illustrator prices aren't much better, even for older and different versions like Photoshop Elements. I'm a student and honestly can't afford to fork over hundreds of dollars for software. Are there any good equivalent programs out there for these sorts of things that aren't so expensive?! Honestly, at this point, any sort of suitable alternative would do. Thanks guys!!

MacBook Pro, Mac OS X (10.4.8), 2 GHz Intel Core Duo, 512 MB, 667 MHz DDR2 SDRAM

Posted on Mar 3, 2007 2:49 PM

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Answer 1

iVmichael

Level 6

13,740 points

Mar 3, 2007 2:54 PM in response to MorganRocks

GimpShop is free, open source and does much the same as PhotoShop

http://www.apple.com/downloads/macosx/unixopensource/gimpshop.html

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Answer 2

Mar 3, 2007 6:06 PM in response to MorganRocks

he individual Photoshop and Illustrator prices aren't much better, even for older and different versions like Photoshop Elements.

$70 for PE vs $600 for PS and you say not much different? Sorry, don't see that.

As a student you should be able to get either one for significantly less than those prices through your university bookstore or one of the academic online superstores, too.

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Answer 3

Mar 3, 2007 6:09 PM in response to MorganRocks

Also try Seashore:
http://seashore.sourceforge.net/

The preview version is at:
http://seashore.sourceforge.net/preview.php

Also check out online alternatives like:
http://www.picnik.com
http://www.fauxto.com

17" MacBook Pro Mac OS X (10.4.8) Mac mini

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Answer 4

MorganRocks Author

Level 1

0 points

Mar 4, 2007 6:32 AM in response to MorganRocks

What I meant was that both prices, whether it's $70 or $600 for Photoshop, are out of my price range. When you're trying to make rent and buy groceries, every penny counts. Anyway, thank you all for your replies. I'll try your suggestions!!

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Answer 5

Mar 4, 2007 11:31 AM in response to MorganRocks

Yes, I realize it is difficult, but that is one of the problems of training for a career--you need the necessary tools, and getting them is not easy (as a harpist I can state this from major experience).

Adobe has announced they will be making a free online version of PS in the near future, but if you need to do pro-level work, you unfortunately may need the full versions of both PS and Illy. PE is a very competent program, but not for preparing work for commercial printing.

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