Is Adobe Photoshop worth the price? If not, what is?

[SouthernShark]

I run a small store and need a graphics program to desing T-shirts and to help build my website. I have heard that Adobe produces some of the best programs for quality graphics, but the price is a bit steep (600 for photoshop, and another 400 hundred for all the add ons).
Can anyone who has experience in this area offer me some advice.
Basically, is it worth the 1000 bucks? If not tell me what is.

Thanks-

-SouthernShark

 

[Janus]

I've used Photoshop for years in my work as a web designer, but be warned that it has quite a steep learning curve. In truth, I hardly can make the software "sing" to the extent that many of my graphic artist friends can. You can simplify the process a bit by using some commerical filter products. Three of my favorites are Alien Skin's Eye Candy, Alien Skin's Xenoflex, and Kai's Power Tools. Still for graphics design and image manipulation, it tends to be the standard among many professionals.

You're right though, it is *very* expensive and may be more than you need (or willing to learn). You might find a competing product called Paint Shop Pro by Jasc more to your liking and budget. Plus I think it can use many of the Photoshop commerical filter programs like those I mentioned above.

 

[Mday]

you want to design tshirts, well, photoshop is a professional photo editing and manipulation software.

i am doubting photoshop is what you should be looking for... but it depends on how you want your tshirts...

have you used photoshop before?

 

[Crayon]

Try JASC's Paint Shop Pro. Adobe Photoshop is too difficult to learn and master for beginner. Furthermore, unless you're really serious about using it for serious web designing works, why pay for those features that you'll hardly use? Try JASC's Paint Shop Pro (download a trial version). This program is easier to use, and can do most of the jobs that Photoshop can offer.

 

[gerbz]

I think photoshop would be overkill; it's designed for print art.

I've used and recommend CorelDraw for t-shirt graphics.
The scalability of CorelDraw's vector graphics is a big plus.

The CorelDraw 9 Graphics Suite includes the bitmapped graphics editor CorelPhotoPaint which is similar to Photoshop, easier to use, yet has all the features you'll need.

It also includes CorelTexture which can produce some amazing web-site wallpaper.

The upgrade version ($185 at Amazon) doesn't really require you to upgrade from anything, it's identical to the full version (except for the box.)

http://www.corel.com/draw9/inside.htm

 

[IvoryGrail]

For what you need, I agree with gerbz in that the Corel PP will handle your jobs fine(but even that is overkill for you....Paintshop Pro sounds better).