How do people afford Photoshop?

[StephanieLH]

I just got PSE9. Got a great deal. I think I paid $30 with a $20 rebate and $20 off for applying for the Amazon credit card which i then cancelled.

But PS seems way out of my league and yet many of you use it. How?

[Paula]

I got mine with an education discount. I was a special education teacher plus I have three school age kids at home.

[MamaBee]

academic student version... My FIL got it for me, he teaches at the university. I can't wait until (well I can, don't want him to grow up too fast... ) until I'm homeschooling kiddo to get other software packages that I want, like Lightroom...

[BrattyMeg]

education version here too

[newfiemountiewife]

I got the Adobe Design Suite using the educational discount at Adobe. I have 3 school age kids.

ETA: When I bought CS3 a couple of years ago, I paid full price because I didn't know about the educational discount. That was painful LOL

[ColleenSwerb]

My MIL is a teacher and SIL's are still in college. So I too have the education version.

[pewtertm]

A few years ago, Adobe sent me an offer to upgrade from PSE to CS3 (which was their current version at the time) for 199.99. It was my combined birthday/Valentine's gift.

[Darcy Baldwin]

I purchased a copy, used, from someone who could no longer use it.

[maggie965]

I had a really good bonus this year so I upgraded when they had the special pricing.

[Jengerbread88]

Educational discount for me as well. I got the entire suite (Illustrator, InDesign, PS, everything) for only $400.

When I finish school, it's only going to be about a year or two before Zach is in Kindergarten, so we'll continue to qualify for an education discount then. Once kids are out of college, though, I don't know what we'll do

[SweetMelissa]

My uncle runs a professional photography & video business in Miami. When he ordered the software for the business computers they gave him a discount and he ordered me one at the same time for my birthday. He got a great deal (won't tell me what) and I had a great birthday! Now every time they update the program he does the same thing.

[cardinalskate]

Stephanie, I can't afford it either and I'm just fine with PSE for now!

[SirScrapalot]

I made the switch when they offered special pricing to move from Elements to full PS. Since then, I've used the upgrade discount, which is usually the same price as the education discount. The first time I bought it, I used some of our tax return. This time, I used some of the money I have made....it's expensive, but this is my hobby, kwim? A buddy of mine who golfs spends almost as much on just t-times for a few months, not to mention clubs and all that.

[Nutmeg]

Education version. I graduate in little over a week so I've been buying all of the programs I wanted to update over the course of the semester. It's going to hurt next time I upgrade.

[HeatherKS]

Originally Posted by pewtertm

A few years ago, Adobe sent me an offer to upgrade from PSE to CS3 (which was their current version at the time) for 199.99.

Yes, this. I upgraded from PSE6 to CS4. I paid for it with some money I earned by doing a catalog design job for my dad.

[StephanieLH]

So do you have to be homeschooling to get the discount? Or just have school age kids?

I got my Masters 10 years ago. That is it for me. No more school for me. Education, you bet but not school.

Thanks for all your input. I think that took all of 10 minutes for 14 responses. You all rock!

[kscwgirl]

Education version here to. Academic superstore.... I got cs5 for $200

Eta my daughter is in 1st grade and I just scanned in her grade card, had no problems.

[Darcy Baldwin]

You have to be in school, you have to be a homeschooler, tied to the educational field (teacher, etc.) or you have to have school-aged children to get the educational discounts.

[Jengerbread88]

Originally Posted by StephanieLH

So do you have to be homeschooling to get the discount? Or just have school age kids?

Nope, as long as your kids are school age, you can find a qualifying discounted version. Check AcademicSuperstore. Homeschoolers DO qualify, but so do children in Public or Private schools.

ETA: Just saw Darcy's post... what she said

[nun69]

I got the education version too...still in the box waiting to be installed on my new computer!

[Lyd]

The version I'm on right now, DH won at a work meeting, but he does work for a University, so when we're buying, we also get the Academic version. It makes a HUGE difference in price.

[adrianka]

I have the regular version of CS4. Bought it in the British Amazon when the pound/euro exchange rate was almost 1:1. It was still a huge amount, but the most affordable pricing I could get at that time (it would have been much cheaper in the US, but my license wouldn't be valid in that case).

As for affording it - I have a good salary, but what I paid for it hurt anyway. I still think Adobe should sell personal-use licences. Student/teacher is great, but I'm not a student/teacher/mother of school children, heh.

The price is the reason why I'm waiting with upgrading - it seems outrageous to pay 200 EUR for a mere upgrade, not to mention the price of the full version. I don't see myself upgrading before CS6, maybe even later. This seems a waste even with a good salary.

[Kjersti]

I took a photography class at the local college....i got the educational version.

[kim21673]

I originally bought the eduction version when I used to teach...I have since upgraded to the regular version of CS4. I am hoping to save $$$ to get the full blown version with Illustrator soon......we'll see...

[farrijc]

Same here, took a continuing education class at a local college and got the educational version. No way would I be willing to pay for it otherwise!

[emmasmommy]

i also got the educational discount.

[newfiemountiewife]

I bought mine straight from Adobe, but I know some people buy at Academic Superstore.

[Traci Reed]

You can go into the Mac store and get it with the educational discount too.

[rach3975]

I bought a new, legal copy of CS3 off E-bay (with valid serial number, etc) for $150 shortly before CS5 came out.

[emmasmommy]

i actually ordered mine through amazon but then just had to show all my stuff to the academic thingie.

[4noisyboys]

With mine...I did an upgrade from PSE6 to CS3, and then another upgrade to CS4.

I'm guessing the upgrades were about $200 a piece. I can't remember.

[MandaT]

Someday I'll take a course at the local CC to get the eduction discount & upgrade, but for now, I'm like you & should be receiving a box today that has PSE9 in it!!

[NeverendingJen]

It was my present for surviving deployment...we got a nice tax refund because of it and rolled it into CS4

[amystoffel]

You should look on ebay. There are companies who invest in software and then dump them for CHEAP when they buy new software. Just the other day I saw PS7 go for $69.

[Ginger_79]

Originally Posted by amystoffel

You should look on ebay. There are companies who invest in software and then dump them for CHEAP when they buy new software. Just the other day I saw PS7 go for $69.

Oh, I wouldn't go for PS7 though. I scrapped with it and it's ok, but it is lacking a lot of functions compared to anything CS. For example it does not support vector shapes, which means textpaths going around objects are very hard to do. Nor can you use vector based brushes. And there's no warp tool either.

[rachaelsscraps]

I just treated myself to the new Creative Suite 5.5 and the new Lightroom (version 3 I think, the new one)... My son's in kindergarten, I asked them if he's eligible and he is I paid only $388 for the newest CS, Illustrator, and Lightroom (and some other stuff I prob won't use).. Gotta love the education store!

[newfiemountiewife]

Originally Posted by Ginger_79

Oh, I wouldn't go for PS7 though. I scrapped with it and it's ok, but it is lacking a lot of functions compared to anything CS. For example it does not support vector shapes, which means textpaths going around objects are very hard to do. Nor can you use vector based brushes. And there's no warp tool either.

I started with PS7 and I preferred it over CS2, but once I went to CS3, there was no looking back. I loved PS7 but it's too outdated for what I use it for, however, it is still an awesome program that would work well for scrapbooking!

[sugirox]

I purchased mine from Adobe with the education discount as well.

[snaggletooth75]

I paid the full $699 bucks for CS4 from adobe last year! LOL!!! I was a PSE user before that!
I have 4 kids and didnt think to use the discount but its no biggie! I had the extra cash lyin around at the time and it was a good investement

[liahra]

My boyfriend bought me CS5 for my birthday

[d2vasquez]

Just bought CS5 through Academic Superstore for my new laptop....using my youngest daughter's report card and have done so since she was in kindergarten. Pretty talented girl to take on Photoshop so early!

[NatalieKW]

Got mine the day before I walked across the stage and ended my college career...

[AmberK]

Im lucky that DH got a copy from his work that Im using. He no longer works with that company so when it comes time for me to upgrade we will be going the educational discount route.

[Stacey42]

My dad got CS4 as part of a photography class that he took and he hated it. He prefers his PSE, so he gave me his copy.

But I am a PSP person so I don't use it much. I keep thinking I'll switch but certain things about CS and PSE are different enough from PSP that they bother me too much.

[yari]

Originally Posted by Darcy Baldwin

You have to be in school, you have to be a homeschooler, tied to the educational field (teacher, etc.) or you have to have school-aged children to get the educational discounts.

Seriously?! Grrr. I wish I would have known that before I upgraded to CS5!

[color of my heart]

i got an educational discount as well. i needed PS, inDesign, and illustrator for school, so i bought the suite with those three. i think i spent $340 on them? i can't remember.

i don't know how people can pay full price for them. it makes my head hurt. i love adobe products, but they are not worth the full price. sorry.