I'm about ready to start learning a graphics program in depth, so I was wondering which one I should invest the time to master. I've read before that unless you're working in print, then the Gimp is just as good as PhotoShop. Is this true, or should I start learning Photoshop instead?

I'm already used to The Gimp so unless photoshop has anything extra to offer then I'll just learn The Gimp more indepth.

I'm not that familiar with Gimp, however, if you are doing graphics for professionaly, I would at least advice you to learn how to use Photoshop aswell - that's the tool that most people and businesses use.

Originally Posted by SillyWilly

I'm about ready to start learning a graphics program in depth, so I was wondering which one I should invest the time to master. I've read before that unless you're working in print, then the Gimp is just as good as PhotoShop. Is this true, or should I start learning Photoshop instead?

I'm already used to The Gimp so unless photoshop has anything extra to offer then I'll just learn The Gimp more indepth.

Do photoshop for better responses to job applications.

I use Gimp and it does everything I need it to do and does it well. The concepts between the two are very similar, so if you become proficient in one, you should not have too hard of a time figuring the other out.

Only The GIMP is open source. Do you really want to spend $1,000 for a piece of software to learn?

Very rarely do you need a '$1000' piece of software. Student deals (such as if you are taking a course or something like that, or something unrelated) discounts on old(er) versions.... I'd use PS. It's more flexible, and has more behind it.

Photoshop is a fairly industry specific program, so knowing it at least in general would NEVER hurt your resume.

As far as tools of the trade.. I find PAINT.NET has everything I need.. and its free.. I hear Gimp is good too though..

The majority of graphics work we end up doing for websites tends to not need too many of the really hardcore photo and graphic manipulation features of Photoshop.. The designers all have it, but generally will use Paint.NET for most day to day stuff like layer work, croping resizing resampling and transparency work.

Originally Posted by Learning Newbie

Only The GIMP is open source. Do you really want to spend $1,000 for a piece of software to learn?

I got Photoshop cs3 on a torrent, I'm not sure about the legality of that, but it is certainly easy and I have no moral obligation against it.

I got Photoshop cs3 on a torrent, I'm not sure about the legality of that...

Your not? Really? or was that sarcasm?

I use gimp for some things and paint shop pro for other things, don't even own photoshop at all

Originally Posted by highanddry

I got Photoshop cs3 on a torrent, I'm not sure about the legality of that, but it is certainly easy and I have no moral obligation against it.

A liitle clue:

It's not legal.

^^ T
I should have said.
I don't "care" about the legality of that, It is certainly easy and I have no moral obligation against it. ;P

Originally Posted by highanddry

I got Photoshop cs3 on a torrent, I'm not sure about the legality of that, but it is certainly easy and I have no moral obligation against it.

I found this car on the side of the road. I don't know the legality of it, but now I have a nice BMW.

I found this car on the side of the road. I don't know the legality of it, but now I have a nice BMW.

Let me tell you, If I could make a copy of a Beamer and get it from a download somehow into my garage.. I'd have one.

I know the debate, but regardless I have copies of thousands of dollars worth of software, music, movies and documents and I sleep like a baby.

Originally Posted by highanddry

I have copies of thousands of dollars worth of software, music, movies and documents and I sleep like a baby.

Ted Bundy slept like a baby after every girl he raped and killed, too. Lack of remorse tends to mean socio pathology, not that a person has nothing to feel remorse over.

If you can invent a car, more power to you. But you haven't. You didn't write a picture editor program - you waited for someone else to write one, then took it. This is why programmers (people) like me get laid off. I don't understand why freeloaders refuse to go to Open Source? There's an alternative that doesn't involve stealing from the very people whose work you admire.

I guess that's the "me generation" tho.

Looks like you guys went a bit offtopic

Anyway, I would recommend Photoshop, since I found it much easier to use than The Gimp and has a lot more tutorials, guides, and support on the internet

Photoshop has the tremendous disadvantage of price. In a question about whether it's the appropriate tool for the job, to ignore cons and look only at pros is foolish. Talking about the cost of Photoshop is as off topic in a thread called "Do I need photosohp" as HTML is in a forum about HTML. The ease of use of commercial vs free software needs to be evaluated in proportion to its price difference.

If this isn't worth talking about, that's a truly sad testimony to the idea that the me generation feels like you should just steal anything you can get away with taking.

If you would lose sleep over your own work being stolen, you really are obligated to respect other people's work.

Soon, all that will be left is this gimp you don't like.

Let me inject yet another option - PaintShop Pro. It can do nearly everything that PS can do and for a FRACTION of the price. A lot of the stuff PS can do, most people don't need for just web graphics anyway. PSP can do photo editing too, just not to the high level of PS.

I have CS 3, The Gimp, and Paint.net ... Gimp has come a long way with its gui, but isn't there yet. In some ways, like true 16 bit histograms, it's more powerful than Photoshop. But it takes a lot of effort to fight the application into submission. Photoshop might as well be my operating system, but for anything other than photograhpy, it seems like overkill. Paint.net is a great in-the-middle app. There's more than enough power for day-to-day work; I can even be confident getting a non-raw image ready for the web. And I'd think its learning curve is less than full blown PS.

There's always Elements and the like, too, at a fraction of the price. I really wouldn't recommend an older version. The main thing Photoshop has going for it, for non-photographers, is the gold standard seal of approval. The results you'll get out of any two apps won't tell you which app you used - no higher quality from PS vs Gimp - but knowledge of Photoshop can be valuable in the career arena.

Originally Posted by Learning Newbie

Ted Bundy slept like a baby after every girl he raped and killed, too. Lack of remorse tends to mean socio pathology, not that a person has nothing to feel remorse over.

If you can invent a car, more power to you. But you haven't. You didn't write a picture editor program - you waited for someone else to write one, then took it. This is why programmers (people) like me get laid off. I don't understand why freeloaders refuse to go to Open Source? There's an alternative that doesn't involve stealing from the very people whose work you admire.

I guess that's the "me generation" tho.

Woh scary comparison... Rape/Murder to downloading. Shows a lack of good thought. The inability to recognize the incredibly important and obvious distinctions between the two, represents a serious failure of morality on your part. I understand the sentiment but your rationale is flawed in places.

Successful programmers don't get laid off, it is pretty convenient to blame downloaders. I have done programming for online applications (open source), clients and for sales. I expect it all to be downloaded for free and I actually appreciate it for exposure. All the wisest musicians support and embrace file downloading. You should have chosen a safer medium my friend.