Adobe Photoshop 6.0 [OLD VERSION]

One main intent here is aimed at the home imaging crowd. Adobe Photoshop is a "household name" in photo imaging software, and for that reason, people run out and buy Photoshop to take home and "have fun" with their pictures. Unless you have a considerable amount of disposable income, a lot of time on your hands for learning purposes, and do a lot of image editing and web work, this probably isn't the program for you. I know a few people that bought Photoshop because they always heard "Adobe Photoshop is the best", and though it very well may be the best, these people were heartsick when their frustration level peaked and the buyers remorse set in. And once it's opened, you know as well as I do that you probably can't return it. This is a program with a Jekyll-Hyde personality and one that can promote a love/hate relationship. I don't think it's a fair statement to say that "nothing compares with Photoshop". There really isn't any other image editing program out there that costs $..., so comparing is a bit difficult. Photoshop truly does stand alone. So for you weekend editors, get a fuctional program that allows you to do what you want and need to do and has a straightforward user interface that won't take an eon to learn to use. Use the extra money for a better digital camera or a vacation to take more pictures. At least if I decide I really don't want to use Photoshop 6.0 as much as I should to make it worth the investment, I can write it off my taxes....can you?

With the release of Photoshop 6, Adobe has made a number of interface changes and/or enhancements. Most notably is the context-sensitive toolbar at the top of the screen. It might take some time to get used to but I feel it's one of those things that most users won't want to get rid of once they've experienced it. Other features include new selection tools, more color palettes and choices, better layer management and the ostensibly useless Liquify effect. I'm sure someone out there will find a way to abuse this feature.

One overlooked feature that seems to have gone unnoticed by most previous beta reviews is the annotation tool. In my work, this will come in handy for jotting down design notes such as what typefaces and colors were used to create an image, etc. It's similiar to a little Post-It™ Note that you can attach to your images. Overall, Photoshop 6 is a great product and worth upgrading to.

Photoshop is undeniably the number one tool for photographic and other image maniputlation. If you are looking to get into professional design this is the tool to learn. It is highly appropriate for both print and electronic design. There is little you can imagine that it cannot do. If however you are a beginner who simply wants to use a graphics package to make images for a personal website or edit family photographs, then buy something else. (I suggest Photoshop Elements or Jasc's Paint Shop Pro.)

Photoshop is overkill for the non-professional user. Some might argue that buying a toolbox that contains every imaginable tool is best. I'd argue that you may break from the weight of all that it requires you to learn. If you buy this software realize it can take months and years to master. While the effort is truly worth it, decide first if you really want to invest not just the considerable purchase price, but also the personal cost of time to learn and master it.