Question about buying a "used" copy of Photoshop

[LeeH]

My 12 year old is quite the artist and has a lot of interest in Photoshop. I'd like to have a full copy for her to learn, but obviously don't want to pay retail.

I see people selling "used" copies on Craigslist, but wonder if there are any issues with installing/registering them. I know if I install QuickBooks I will be forced to register the copy. If I gave you the discs to my copy, Intuit is not going to give you the secret code to make it work. Will it be the same with Photoshop?

[jpk]

While it's not quite the same thing, you might look at a comparable product like paint shop pro. It has the same "layer" concept as photoshop, and once you figure that out, going between the two is not that difficult. Of course, I'm basing this on 4-5 year old versions of each; I'm sure the latest versions of photoshop is much more powerful than V7 that I have.
sorry, but I don't know the answer to your licensing question. There are cracked versions of Adobe products out there, I'd suspect that's what you'd be buying off craigslist.

[id10t]

GIMP - The GNU Image Manipulation Program

[Don Plumley]

The Student/Teacher edition is $249
Sign up for a course/class at the local JC - The instruction would be invaluable and you can purchase a copy of the Creative Suite at the bookstore at favorable prices.

If you are testing the waters, you can get a full-featured trial online for 30 days. Beyond that you can pay for it monthly or yearly.

Yes, it's possible get a keygen and do it for free - but that seems like a bad lesson for a 12 year old...

[stomachmonkey]

Originally Posted by Don Plumley

The Student/Teacher edition is $249
Sign up for a course/class at the local JC - The instruction would be invaluable and you can purchase a copy of the Creative Suite at the bookstore at favorable prices.

If you are testing the waters, you can get a full-featured trial online for 30 days. Beyond that you can pay for it monthly or yearly.

Yes, it's possible get a keygen and do it for free - but that seems like a bad lesson for a 12 year old...

Can't add to that.

There are alternatives like GIMP but end of day if you can figure out a way to afford it then buy PhotoChop.

If you buy a used copy you want to ensure that you get the documentation that contains the printed serial number.

Basically if you have that then you are the legal owner of the software.

FWIW this is nothing to fool around with.

Penalties for software infringement are expensive.

Adobe products are like ET on steroids. Each one of them phones multiple homes.

"Cloud" acces to the Adobe suite is $49 a month, IIRC the student edition is $29. Bonus is you get access to it all.

[911pcars]

Photoshop Elements is available for less. Doesn't have all the bells and whistles but has the basics for learning the program. If your 12 yo has any inclination to progress, I'd stick with this software path as opposed to other "equivalent" programs.

ebay example (no affiliation):
Adobe Photoshop Elements 8 #1 Selling Consumer Photo-Editing Software- For Mac | eBay

MHO,
Sherwood

[Rufblackbird]

I don't know if it applies to the latest version, but I know some of the older ones require that you "unregister" the serial from the computer if you want to install the program on a different one.

[LeeH]

Originally Posted by Rufblackbird

I don't know if it applies to the latest version, but I know some of the older ones require that you "unregister" the serial from the computer if you want to install the program on a different one.

And that's what worries me. I have no interest in bootleg copies, but not sure how to get a legal/functioning used copy.

For now, Gimp has her fairly occupied. Still rather her be using Photoshop since it's the industry standard.

[stomachmonkey]

Originally Posted by LeeH

And that's what worries me. I have no interest in bootleg copies, but not sure how to get a legal/functioning used copy.

For now, Gimp has her fairly occupied. Still rather her be using Photoshop since it's the industry standard.

Transfer an Adobe product license

Seems far more onerous than I remembered.

[911pcars]

Originally Posted by LeeH

And that's what worries me. I have no interest in bootleg copies, but not sure how to get a legal/functioning used copy.

For now, Gimp has her fairly occupied. Still rather her be using Photoshop since it's the industry standard.

Buy a new older version through the usual sources (ebay, Amazon, Craigslist, etc.). After you register the serial number, you can upgrade to subsequent versions at your leisure.

Sherwood

[Shaun @ Tru6]

the CL adobe product ads are scams I believe Lee. I thought they were real until I started contacting them years ago. Ugly. We ended up buying the full CS series, a great investment. it would be nice to have a vetted website for older software though, where you were 99% guaranteed you were buying the real deal.

[911pcars]

Originally Posted by Shaun 84 Targa

the CL adobe product ads are scams I believe Lee. I thought they were real until I started contacting them years ago. Ugly. We ended up buying the full CS series, a great investment. it would be nice to have a vetted website for older software though, where you were 99% guaranteed you were buying the real deal.

Craigslist would be further down the search. There are probably more scammers there.

A google search nets these links:
https://www.google.com/search?q=old+versions+of+photoshop&ie=utf-8&oe=utf-8&aq=t&rls=org.mozilla:en-USfficial&client=firefox-a

Several suggest a student version at a discounted price (new/older versions). However, some can't and some can be upgraded.

S

[LeeH]

Originally Posted by stomachmonkey

Transfer an Adobe product license

Seems far more onerous than I remembered.

Wow! That's a lot of hoops to jump through! Don't think I'll even bother with used. Older new would probably be best, if I can find one.

[patssle]

If you do pay for it - keep in mind it will last you a very long time. While new versions come out, it's usually with features you probably won't use (not being a professional). The core experience of Photoshop has been unchanged for quite a while now - you can probably go back 10 years and it will be familiar.

You could probably get a full version of CS3 for a cheap price.

[jcommin]

Couple of options:

Photoshop Elements - I own this and it works great. I use it for photo editing.

or go on Piratebay and download it for free.

[spuggy]

Originally Posted by stomachmonkey

If you buy a used copy you want to ensure that you get the documentation that contains the printed serial number.

Basically if you have that then you are the legal owner of the software.

Danger Will Robinson... It's been a long time since anyone "owned" software; the money you pay is a license to use it these days.

Does anyone actually read those multi-page license agreements? Heck no, of course they don't - and multiple judges have ruled that it's unreasonable/unrealistic to expect people to do so. But that doesn't stop the land sharks.

Adobe product license agreements
Legal notice:

Adobe products are not sold; rather, copies of Adobe products, including Macromedia branded products, are licensed all the way through the distribution channel to the end user.

Went through this with a friend who wanted a copy of CS for use with a business; short of paying full retail, it was difficult to find "real" versions which were licensed for business use; most of Ebay is full of folks selling Academic versions (whether they tell you that or not) - which aren't legal for that.

Great advice about signing up for a course and getting the academic version though; I'm sure the instruction would be useful (if the kid hasn't already got further than the course material ) - either that or use an older version of CS.

Personally, I don't see anything wrong with using GIMP; not only is it free - but most concepts are directly transferable between any editing software with similar functionality, and I think it's the skills/concepts that are important, rather than expertise with any specific implementation.

If someone has Office 2007 on their resume, I'd certainly expect them to be able to drive Office 2010, for example - every Office release has a different interface and/or menus - but apart from the twiddly bits, a word processor is a word processor, spreadsheets still basically do all the same things as VisiCalc (oops, just dated myself) etc...

[targa911S]

Originally Posted by LeeH

Still rather her be using Photoshop since it's the industry standard.

As a retired newspaper guy.......+1 on that.

[dafischer]

I'm surprised that no one has mentioned ...be sure to get a PPI.

[Eric Coffey]

Originally Posted by 911pcars

Photoshop Elements is available for less. Doesn't have all the bells and whistles but has the basics for learning the program. If your 12 yo has any inclination to progress, I'd stick with this software path as opposed to other "equivalent" programs.

+1

Elements (PSE) is an excellent program and probably more than adequate for her needs/uses. If she is shooting RAW I would go with Lightroom, or the PSE/Lightroom combo.

If you are going to consider older versions of PS, then I would only buy a copy that is still sealed in the factory shrink-wrap (verify part #, hologram, etc.). You can find a few folks out there legitimately selling just their license keys, but as above, the TOL process is a PITA.

Also, if you are looking for a bundled suite, be sure of which part #'s you are after. There are different suites (Design Premium, Web Premium, Master Collection, etc.) and several versions of each (full retail, student/teacher, upgrade only, Non-US versions, etc.).

[stomachmonkey]

Originally Posted by spuggy

Danger Will Robinson... It's been a long time since anyone "owned" software; the money you pay is a license to use it these days.

It's always been a license. Ownership was, and still is with a lot of commercial software, determined by who has the documentation containing the serial number, license key.

Adobe has insane pirating issues. And they will do just about anything to generate a new sale. Making license transfers onerous solves multiple problems for them.

Originally Posted by spuggy

Personally, I don't see anything wrong with using GIMP; not only is it free - but most concepts are directly transferable between any editing software with similar functionality, and I think it's the skills/concepts that are important, rather than expertise with any specific implementation.

If someone has Office 2007 on their resume, I'd certainly expect them to be able to drive Office 2010, for example - every Office release has a different interface and/or menus - but apart from the twiddly bits, a word processor is a word processor, spreadsheets still basically do all the same things as VisiCalc (oops, just dated myself) etc...

It's not only whether or not you understand the basic workings of the software, it's also how proficient you are in terms of efficiency.

I've been using Adobe products since day one and every time they come out with a new version they change key commands/shortcuts. Takes a while to unlearn years of habit and learn new ones. It hurts productivity and I hire people based on their ability to produce.

Think of it as having to learn to drive on the other side of the road. Doable but old habits die hard.

Kind of like being in Bermuda and having a nice seaside lunch with a cocktail then hopping on your moped with your GF on the back and pulling onto the "right" side of the road right into the path of an oncoming delivery truck. Ask me how I know.