I've been an Adobe lover ever since Photoshop 4.0 and I've used Photoshop practically religiously for over 8 years. My question to you is, which is better: Photoshop (CS2) or The GIMP (latest)?

I ask this because after being heavy in the "Mac Intel" craze, and realizing now that there's no hope for CS2 on Mac OS X x86 -- I don't want to keep dual-booting Windows XP just to use Photoshop and waiting until the end of this year to see Photoshop CS3 with a "universal binary" appear on Apple.com takes the fun out of this new Mac Mini I just purchased (Intel Core Solo, 1GB, OSX/XP)

From a Photoshop expert's POV (Yes, I consider myself an expert, certified and all...), is The GIMP easy to come to to terms with? I've only used it lightly, mostly at a glance or fixing a small thing here and there when I'm on another Operating System. I've never sat down and said to myself, "OK, we're going to do a 1px stroke on this text and bring in a drop shadow at 25% black to the left" and actually completed it in The GIMP.

Any thoughts on this bind I am in?

http://www.desktoplinux.com/articles/AT6362808891.html

That article outlines some shortcomings and whatnot.

Why wouldn't adobe make photoshop for MAC x86 version? Their normal mac photoshop's were successful, right?

Why wouldn't adobe make photoshop for MAC x86 version? Their normal mac photoshop's were successful, right?


waiting until the end of this year to see Photoshop CS3 with a "universal binary" appear on Apple.com


As rich said it's not a matter of if, it is when... when being several months from now.

I did not like gimp because I did not see a layer styles option when I tried it.

I also dont like the SDI, prefer photoshops MDI.

I may take another look at the gimp though.

For graphic designers, I think it would be out of place to have a gimp file instead of a psd file.

I don't know too much about The GIMP, but CS2 will work on your Intel Mac in OS X. My friend has a core duo iMac and Photoshop runs fine on it using Rosetta, the invisable PowerPC emulator. Granted, it's not for someone doing 100 layer advanced compositions, but for small business design and photography it should meet your needs, especially if you max out your ram. Adobe said there's too much work to just release a patch now for CS2, they have to build it into the next version, which last I heard was scheduled for Q2 2007.

GIMP, for non experienced people. I prefer photoshop though.

Paint NET is another good free alternative. Much easier to use than the GIMP, and still plenty powerful.

http://www.eecs.wsu.edu/paint.net/

And there is GIMP with "photoshopped" GUI - GIMPShop (http://plasticbugs.com/?page_id=294)

GIMP is quite confusing. I prefer photoshop, which has a very clear overall structure (or is this just because I'm used to it..?)

I like PS since almost everyone has it, has many features and its easy to use. Ohh dont forget how effective it is also.

And there is GIMP with "photoshopped" GUI - GIMPShop (http://plasticbugs.com/?page_id=294)

I'm loving this hack. Thank you!

I am using photoshop for 4 years now. I find it to be very good. The price is indeed a problem, since GIMP is free ... Anyway ... a good designer will know how to use a software to its best capabilities. there are some great Gimp users out there, so it's a lot of a designer issue and not only the software/

Why wouldn't adobe make photoshop for MAC x86 version? Their normal mac photoshop's were successful, right?

http://www.appleinsider.com/article.php?id=1641

They are doing some major development on this version since the intel chips came out for mac.

The price is indeed a problem

Best way to get the newest PS is to get version 5.5 or might be 6 now and just buy the upgrade for 1/4 the price of the full version PS.

Maybe my mind is playing tricks on me, but at the shop, I think I saw on the Photoshop CS2 box that it can be upgraded from any past photoshop...I guess that really is the cheapest way to obtain CS2.

I used to be a big Photoshop user myself, until I switched to Linux. GIMP seemed a bit foreign to me, and I just gave up editing photos completely. Maybe with the Gimpshop hack, I will attempt to get back into it. Nice find.

I love Photoshop CS. It has all the features I need & more. Plus, there are SO many plugins you can get to go with it.

I also like how most of the time, you can literally make a picture look like a movie poster. I mean a real one, not one that you can tell was done up. A friend of mine did one that reminded me of "The Chronicles of Narnia". I did one that was out of "Sin City".