Erm, first hi i suppose, and if there was like a welcome forum i did do seach but must have missed it.

Anyway i spent a few hours looking around and everyone here seems really experienced at everything so i may well be well out of my depth as all i have ever done before was play about in photoshop a little and also make some super simple animations in Jasc's free animation shop, but its been over a year since i even looked at photoshop and i wanna get back on the horse as i remember it was alot of fun, but before i try and get back into it can anyone let me know which is the best version to use as the latest i believe was CS2?
but as i have learnt before the latest version isnt always the best to use.

Thanks in advance

Rogers.

use whatever version you currently have, until you are re-familliarized with it.  After that then considering the upgrades.

Hi,
The latest version is now CS3.Nice prog but I suppose what you use depends on what you want to achieve.It is suprising how much you can improve an image with even the most tools in photoshop.
Tell us what your interests are and remeber if it is photography then there are a lot of clever guys and girls in the photography forum.
Eddie

Thanks to both of you, as tiari mentioned about re-familiarizing i have a copy of CS2 knocking about somewhere so i'll install that and begin to play about a bit then if i continue with it i'll see about getting CS3 or at least look-up the elements it offers.

thanks again

Rogers.

Yeah, ditto the above - use what you've got just to get to know the interface and the main tools.

Check out www.photoshopuser.com and I highly reccommend getting a subscription - don;t let the NAPP meaning (National Association of Photoshop Professionals) scare you - it's a membership fee, not a qualifying test or anything.

There are TONS of tutorials, resources, discounts on all events that come to your area - seminars, etc., which are fantastic.

I know - I'm talking like I own stock or something, but it really is a big help.

Probably the best book I can think of (if this is your best learning method - I'm big on DVD tutorials myself) is Scott Kelby's Photoshop CS(version here...) for Photographers. It's not only an intro, but goes into more advanced stuff, but in a very fun way - not like reading stereo instructions where you'll be bored to tears 2 pages in.

Good luck, and most of all, HAVE FUN! If it's not fun, what's the point?
-Lew ;-)

I use CS2 all the time I don't think theres a need to upgrade unless you specifically need the 3d integration, I think CS2 can do virtually anything you would require and save you the cost of upgrading.
Linda