I'm completely new as you can tell by me asking this question. Is it Adobe Photoshop 7 the latest one out now, and how much is it to buy? I'm in the U.K.? And does anyone in here use the MacG5, I'm thinking of buying one? One more question about the Wacom tablets or anyother make, how much do they cost, and which one would you recommend for a complete beginner? Thanks, James.

Hi James, welcome to the forum. There is another version of PS out called CS (Creative Suite). Adobe is following Macromedia's marketing method with their "MX" programs.

You can possible still find version 7 available, still use it myself (i've not made up my mind on the "CS" upgrade...)

as fer the cost, it's somewhere around $650(USD) (not quick on the coversion to UK pound, so "you'll" have to do the math ;))

as fer MAC's, there's quite a few users around here... i used to use one but had to switch when i got into software developing, never made it back...

Tablet of choice is definitely WACOM! cost isn't to bad and the support and service is well worth the peace-of-mind that comes with it...

as fer size for a "complete biginner", you can go with a Graphire3 (4"x5") for less than a hundred (again this is all US measurements...) or you can go with the Intuos2 models and get a 4"x5" for around two hundred... the dif is the pressure levels and the resolution. so it breaksdown to "What do you want to be able to do"... answer that and you'd get a better idea as to what would be the better investment.

enough of my sales pitchen' maybe others will share opinions...

:)
retrocity

Thanks for the responce Retro. James.

If you can find a good deal for version 7 go for it. However, the CS version has some really nice new features in the save as PDF options, shadow/highlight filters and healing brushes as well as the browser & export to html options. Nice thing about the Mac version is that you don't have to "phone home" to activate.

I have just added CS, like it much, several new toys to learn/play with. I got it bundled, recommend it if u have $ to throw out. Expensive.... but worth every penny. Harry

• waves Mac flag * I am still on PS7 and happy with it. But as soon as there is budget I will upgrade to CS, I am a bit of a creature of habbit with stuff like that. The Wacom pad I am using now is the A5 size. A nice size to fit on your desk (the size of a large mouse mat), and large enough to paint in details without getting too much strain on the muscles in your hand. Zooming in helps for that too. I hardly ever use my mouse anymore, for anything, only for some 3D app's that take the pen a bit too seriously and catapult me into space with every small move. The alternatives are probably 'just' alternatives because Wacom is bit better than the rest. I never tried anything else since I started using one. I have a purple-ish Intuos 2, but I think they have a new line out now. It is better for your hands and I could not use Photoshop (or a lot of other software) without a pen pad. Welcome to the community! * makes a sercret sign *

I have a Wacom 4x5 Intuos, and it really does make a lot of things easier, once you get the hang of it. At first I felt like a brain-damaged person going through rehab trying to use the bloody thing, but shortly it got to be second nature. I wish I'd have gotten the bigger one, (6x8, I think), but I couldn't quite convince myself to pay the extra bucks for it(plus, my girlfriend would have killed me if she knew what I paid for it) Good luck, 'Wolf