Which version of Photoshop is the best one to buy if you're would like to use it to create comic book art?

Question

(Considering cost and simplicity of photoshop), Like I've heard that CS and Adobe Photoshop 6 and 7 are good, except i don't know which one to get. (And CS2 is very complicated to use...)

Answer 1

Illustrator is probably a better bet than Photoshop for doing cartoon art. As noted by imajinn, Illustrator is much easier to work with for drawing because it is vector based.

Vectors connect points on a line using algorithms. This allows the program to manipulate lines (paths) just about anyway you choose. You can bend, shape, merge, subtract and colour them pretty much at will.

Raster images, like in Photoshop assign values to individual pixels. In a sense it "sees" an image, inteprets it and then decides how to map it out.

Here is a good explanation from Mustek:

http://www2.mustek.com/Class/bit_vec.html

The best solution would be CS3 - you could take advantage of both programs. Don't forget that there are huge discounts for CS3 if you qualify as a student or teacher and can buy educational.

Answer 2

The best option would depend on your operating system and amount of RAM, generally the lower the version the less it takes, I use Photoshop 7 at home and CS3 at work and can achieve exactly the same results in each, there is very little to tempt me to upgrade at home (because I don't have a dual processor mac and I use other programmes for the Opentype options). CS2 might be a bit cluttered in appearance but is no more complex than any of the versions you mention. Which ever you choose I suggest you work at 300dpi in CMYK mode (this is the minimum you will need for commercial printing) which will create large files, so you might consider a large external hard drive for storage.

Answer 3

All versions of Photoshop are complex, compared to traditional methods of prodcing artwork.

For your purposes, you don't need ninety-nine percent of the features in Photoshop. I'd recommend getting a version of Photoshop Elements, or, even, a VERY early version of Photoshop, like version 3, which was, I believe, the first version to support a "layers" feature. You may be able to find a legal copy of version 3, online for around $30.

And, don't let some of the other responses mislead you. Photoshop's "paths" tool (looks like a pen point) gives you vector drawing capability. Even the earliest versions of Photoshop (except Photoshop LE) have this tool.

Answer 4

Photoshop is good but illustrator (CS) is much more user friendly when you need to draw( the tools are easier to use). It works with vectors, wihch are really little points. Check out my page. All the artwork is computer generated with illustrator. I finish on photoshop to apply textures

Answer 5

Photoshop CS3 is the best one out right now, but expensive.
I would try Photoshop Elements 4.0 or 5.0(which is the new one)

Answer 6

U can use photoshop and get pictures from the original comic and change what their saying or something?

Answer 7

If you're going to buy it go with the latest CS3. Standards change (even though not so much in design), but you want to stay with the present. Then when it's time to upgrade it's not such a big jump.

Answer 8

I use 7.0 it works great, no complaints. download the trial versions of 7 and CS if you can to try them both.

Answer 9

well, i have cracked all of the v's that i have used, but with that said for use 6&7 do just as well, but hey! if its free, why not get the best!