Thx: Best image software

[Andro Gagne]

Joe:

        Though it is a bit pricey (about $550 retail, about $280 academic pricing), I'm a bit surprised that no one responding to your query voted for Adobe Photoshop as the best image software. In my opinion, Adobe Photoshop is, without a doubt, the best software around for graphics work. Nothing else compares with its complement of powerful features.  It is my belief that anyone trying to develop professional quality graphics on a regular basis, for print or for the Web, will eventually end up using Photoshop. I have been using Photoshop for a little over a year now, and I've never been tempted to go back to one of the other programs for my graphics work. To get a good feeling for what Photoshop can do that other programs cannot, I would recommend asking for a demonstration of Photoshop by someone who's been using the program on a regular basis for a year or more. If you do buy or try out Photoshop, you may find it helpful to buy a couple books on getting the most out of the program, as Photoshop's _User_Guide_ probably isn't quite as basic as it should be for new users. Books I found very useful when I was first learning to use Photoshop (and to do Web graphics work in general) were:

        Siegel, David.  _Creating_Killer_Web_Sites_.  Indianapolis, IN: Hayden Books, 1996.

        Weinman, Lynda, & Heavin, Bruce.  _<Coloring_Web_Graphics>_.  Indianapolis, IN:  New Riders Publishing, 1996.

        Moniz, Steven.  _Photoshop_Studio_Skills_.  Indianapolis, IN:  Hayden Books, 1997.

        Notice:  I have no financial interest in Adobe Photoshop, the books cited here, or their publishers.

Best regards,

Andro Gagne
apgagne at Friend.roc.servtech.com