I want to take the plunge, and purchase a 'full' version of PS for postworking my renders. I am currently using Elements 5, it just does'nt seem to fit the bill anymore. I've found some good prices on e-bay and other places. About the only thing I'd use it on is my D|S renders. Which Photoshop do you kind folks recommend? Chuck

Get the current, as I'm told you can actually import 3D objects into it...tweak the textures and export it back to from where it came with the new textures intact...sounds useful in the extreme and if I can talk my boss into it I'll have it at work soon...I almost always look to the bleading edge a bit after the bloom is off the rose so to speak.. ...

For postworking you will need drawing tools, layers, layermasks and layermodes. All of these are available in PS Elements. It is only with clipping groups that PS E does not handle - but you do not need those. And you need the big brother for CMYK: if you bring your work to a quality printer and printing multiple copies. But that is not needed for you, I guess

If you have the money, go buy Photoshop. But I doubt it that you really gain that much from using the big one, since all you need is in Elements. You also migh get frustrated because the menus and other things are in different places in Photoshop.

Take the time to get a Photoshop demo. You will have 30 days to decide whether or not it is worth the money. (Or use that money to buy a Wacom tablet....?)
Remember that students can get PS legally for a lower price. All rules can be found on the Adobe website.

Jacqueline

Thanks for the quick replies. I'm looking to be able to paint fabrics, tattoos and other sfx. chuck

Or you could buy Paint SHop Pro, which does 98% of what Photoshop does for 1/10th the price! ;)
I have both, and while full photoshop does have some nice abilities and a certian "smoothness" or ease on some tools, it lacks in a few others and the price hurts, ouch!

PS liquify tool rocks...PSP ability to alter vector items easily is superb (great for decals/tattoos)...
PS has Clouds (very damned handy IMHO for texturing)...PSP ability have full image review just seems much more logicla than PS way of doing it.

Also a matter of taste. I preffer PSP, but I use PS for somethings.

Try demos of both? :)

If you're going to be full-blown Photoshop - for what you want to do I'd suggest just CS3 ($600), and NOT CS3 Extended ($1000). You don't sound like you need the extra tools for 3D and video editing and FX, so don't spend the money until you need it some day.

Hope this helps - good luck-
-Lew ;-)

Going as old as version 7 does all the important stuff 2D manipulation-wise. You get more perks and toys to play with on the newer versions. Depends on what you want to do with it.

I always try a demo version and then decide to buy or not.

As an Elements owner, you might be able to get an upgrade for $299. There is currently a promotional email offering a huge discount direct from Adobe. It doesn't seem to work for online purchase, but just call the phone number and use the code in the link below along with your Elements serial to get the special offer price.

http://direct.adobe.com/v?xJlqHqlEJTqTJvP

I'm a professional, and I still use Photoshop 7. First of all, I can't afford to upgrade, and secondly, I don't need to. 7 does everything I need to do. If you can afford to upgrade to CS, go for it.

I second Bonestructure, I actually have been using CS2 at work for the last year and found all the new things great additions but not really a necessity. But if you are going the photoshop way, make sure you don't go for anything less than version 7, as that has some very useful features.