If you are set up at as a nonprofit you may want to look at some of Adobe’s nonprofit pricing for software. I have made a couple of purchases through a website http://www.creationengine.com and would recommend them. The price for a new full version of Photoshop CS3 extended is about $300...less for an upgrade version.

You may want to look into the GIMP 2, which is a free download and a pretty amazing photo editing program, especially considering the price tag.

What’s a legal copy of Photoshop?  I’ve never heard of such a thing!

I second Dean on GIMP.  Freeware is a beautiful thing.

Here that in the distance, Sarah?  That’s the siren of justice headed to your front door.  Run, girl!  Run!

Upstanding Citizens Recommending Gimp, does it allow me to use Photoshop brushes and actions?  Does it work with a Pantone color palette?

http://www.trustprice.com has the best price on all Adobe software hands down.  I bought my Master Collection from them for super cheap.  If you’re looking for free GIMP is a good way to go, but Photoshop is much better.

Here’s a tutorial on converting PS brushes to GIMP.

And I guess Pantone might not be an option.

Brant Hansen would be jealous of this picture.

Gimp gets thirded by me

You might look around at educational stores if you qualify. We do as homeschoolers. Usually save hundreds.

I don’t get the picture.

I may be able to get a “student” price of CS… a babysitter that we share is in photography school and may be able to get the “student” price as well.  I’m back in town and I’ll see what I information I can find for you.

http://www.academicsuperstore.com because Becky Homeschools and your children are taught ART you qualify for the student discount!!  It’s still $295 though....

This is my all-time favorite photoshop…

If you can’t find a cheapy PS copy, a good (Mac-only) alternative is a program called Pixelmator. Minus the goofy name, it’s a pretty sleek photo editor… not sure about Pantone compatibility, but you can Google the name for some good reviews as well.

Adobe recently released a free, online “Express” version of Photoshop: https://www.photoshop.com/express/landing.html

GIMP does NOT do pantone colors.  Other than that it is pretty much just as powerful as photoshop.  Personally, I think photoshop makes some things easier to do. <-- My 2 Cents (No Pun Intended)

Anybody know how significant a difference there is between Photoshop 7, which I have now, and CS3? I’ve been wondering about updating. Thanks!

Paint Shop Pro works great and is cheaper than Photo shop. I’ve used both and they work about the same. The express version of photoshop mentioned above is also good when you are on a budget--- and like they said,it’s free!

Ebay also has these paint programs for sale…

There are brushes and actions I must have CS3 in order to use.  But I can get by on Photoshop 7.  Like I said, it’s not a need.

As a homeschooler, you should be able to get an educational discount. When I was in school I was able to purchase an entire creative suite for ~$500 which included GoLive, Photoshop 7, Illustrator, Adobe Acrobat 6.0, and InDesign.

The nice thing is, once you can upgrade the version for the upgrade price and you drop the educational license in doing so.

I like my copy of Photoshop even though it doesn’t get used too much anymore, otherwise, we’d talk.