Best Adobe Photoshop For Beginners ??

[Ramblin']

What is the best older version of Adobe Photoshop to get as a beginner? I certainly don't wanna pay $20 a month for the new version or what I am assuming is several hundred dollars for a new version. I think I would be fine with a 5 years ago version like the Sony Movie Studio HD 11 I am using for video edit.

I am tired of paying others for very basic graphics stuff and maybe I can even learn enough to do more in the future on my own!
Thanks for the help y'all!

 

[F4celess]

Adobe went to a cloud version after CS6, so with CC you subscribe rather than buy (I know, lame, but understandable).

I started out with CS3, I recommend CS4, as its more compatible with newer stuff, but at the same time doesn't have all the functions of the newer variants. Functions you don't need for your uses.
That said, Photoshops interface and usage doesn't change dramatically between versions. So in that sense every CS variant above CS3 is a good option.
If you were considering PS Elements, thats more beginner friendly, but also limited, as its made with photo adjustments and retouching in mind. The full versions isn't for beginners who don't aspire to learn a lot, I think you can handle it if you are proficient with the Sony software by now.

Feel free to contact me any time if you get in trouble. My main tip is to experiment and see what happens when you click something, its rather hard to mess up Photoshop permanently, almost impossible actually. So click everything. it can be undone. And remember that you don't need to know all the tools to get what you want done. There is always a tutorial out there.

 

[Ramblin']

Adobe went to a cloud version after CS6, so with CC you subscribe rather than buy (I know, lame, but understandable).

I started out with CS3, I recommend CS4, as its more compatible with newer stuff, but at the same time doesn't have all the functions of the newer variants. Functions you don't need for your uses.
That said, Photoshops interface and usage doesn't change dramatically between versions. So in that sense every CS variant above CS3 is a good option.
If you were considering PS Elements, thats more beginner friendly, but also limited, as its made with photo adjustments and retouching in mind. The full versions isn't for beginners who don't aspire to learn a lot, I think you can handle it if you are proficient with the Sony software by now.

Feel free to contact me any time if you get in trouble. My main tip is to experiment and see what happens when you click something, its rather hard to mess up Photoshop permanently, almost impossible actually. So click everything. it can be undone. And remember that you don't need to know all the tools to get what you want done. There is always a tutorial out there.

Thanks dude, much appreciated!! Even Cs3 makes the subscription look cheap! Haha - do you know if it's set up so I can sub for a month and learn and then unsub until I have graphic work to do?

Thanks again!

 

[Lurch]

Normally a month's free trial isn't there?

 

[F4celess]

Thanks dude, much appreciated!! Even Cs3 makes the subscription look cheap! Haha - do you know if it's set up so I can sub for a month and learn and then unsub until I have graphic work to do?

Thanks again!

Wouldn't be worth it IMO, 20 bucks a month for simple editing.

I just remembered GIMP, a popular free alternative to PS, you might be better off with that. I can't offer any help on that software though.
Photoshop CS2 is also "free" due to license server stuff they can't maintain anymore, so an universal CS2 key is now public.

Normally a month's free trial isn't there?

Correct. there is a "try" button on the Adobe pages for each software.

 

[Dark Rider]

Was just about to say that you should try GIMP. Free and easy enough to use.

 

[RoadSprock]

I'm using Photoshop CS6, but to be fair if you're a beginner you might want to give the free trial ago first to see how you get along with it before committing.