Sticky situation

Because I'm a poor ol' bum, I've been using GIMP for a year or so and have now found myself half decent at it. I can do most things and make some pretty cool looking signatures.

Now I can afford Photoshop CS3. So is it worth ditching GIMP and practicing up on CS3 or staying with a free program?

Thanks in advance

 

Photoshop CS3 is free... if you know how to get it =D. And YES I'd advise switching to photoshop. It pwns all other gfx programs.

 

Yarr matey?

Alright, shall invest my time into CS3.

 

I'd personally highly recommend using CS2 and not CS3. CS3 is kind of overwhelming.

I've been using PS for about 4-5 years now and you can view my portfolio here http://metal-cx.deviantart.com/

So with that said, I'm not some graphics newbie with a random opinion. And I think CS2 is better.

 

Gimp is pretty good! i've started trying it out these last couple of days and i'm impressed!

 

If you can afford PS, go for it-- or if there's a trial, try it out first. Gimp does most things PS does, and the tools look practically the same, but for instance if you have a bunch of other Adobe things, or want to print in color, it's nice to have.

If you were going to steal it, you would have already, yaar? : )

Metal-CX, great gallery @ DA... someone asks you if the Oh Balls ( http://www.deviantart.com/deviation/46336491/ ) was made in 3ds Max... but it's also in PS??

 

There is a nice Range Rover down the road from me. I will nick the guys keys through his letterbox and it's mine.

Don't steal the software. It just makes it more expensive for us who pay for it. If you are serious about business and you decide to have your own design studio later on you will be very frustrated at the high price of the software.

 

I personally have been involved with Adobe Photoshop since CS2, never tried GIMP though, and all I can say is that PS is the ultimate tool if you're serious about gettin' some real work done.
Photoshop CS3 is pure GOLD, it works much faster than CS2 and it is much more stable, and while feature-wise it may not be too different from its predecessor, it's definitely easier to work with CS3 than CS2. So if you're thinking of buying Photoshop, go for the latest release - you won't regret it. The regular version (not Extended one) costs about $650, so it's a lot of money, yeah, but in the end, you won't have spent them in vain.

 

I would go for CS2. There is so much help referenced already for this program. You will not find much literature related to CS3 just yet.

 

As I've said, CS3 is not that different from CS2 feature-wise, it's main strong points would be much-improved stability, faster loading times, bug-free text tool, refine-edge function... Duh, a lot things XD Anyway, the way I see it, it wouldn't be wise to buy CS2 and then later purchase CS3, 'cause you'd be just wasting your money on CS2. Go ahead and get CS3, period, there's plenty of shared features you can get tons of learning material about.

 

I Would also Recommend Photoshop. If you have the money, then you should get it, and it will be worth it.

Man your portfolio is great, did u make them all in GIMP?? or did u use a 3d rendering?

 

Why would you pay for Photoshop if the Gimp does what you need? If you feel the need for something that the Gimp can't do, then by all means look at alternatives, but don't go out and buy something just because everybody else uses it. Disclaimer: I've used both, and can't get anything done in either...

 

Like what?

 

Like anything. I'm just not cut out for that type of stuff, no matter how great the tools.