Why is photoshop so expensive?
I mean, its no different from the free programs, actually there are some better ones out there. Seriously though I would NEVER buy some stupid picture editing software for $900.00! Is it that great? What do you believe they should be charging, if at all? does anyone agree?
Comments
Photoshop is geared toward professionals who make a living with it and who can use all it's features. Try Photoshop Elements. It's has many of the same features and is geared towards the casual user. And is MUCH cheaper.
Adobe Photoshop has been a staple of my creative process for several years now, and as well as it being the most advanced image editing software available, it's also the Market Leader and has been for many years. Programs like Photoshop require immense amounts of labour and skill to produce, and the staff and manhours also have to be paid for. They do have to make a profit as well. Since you would never buy it, you probably haven't had and won't experience becoming proficient with Photoshop and attaining a skill with the program that one could liken to crafting. In my opinion the best alternative is GIMP, which is consistently about 2 versions, 3 sometimes depending on features, behind Photoshop - which is great going for a free product.
If you qualify, you could get Photoshop or another Adobe product on educational license, which means that my copy of Photoshop only cost me 99 British Pounds, or about $200.
If you want my opinion, I'd say that Adobe Photoshop is far more than 'some stupid picture editing software', and that it is far more like the crafting tool of a graphic designer which takes a skill to operate well.
Hope that helps,
Simon H
It's expensive because it's designed to be used by graphics professionals. When it comes to professional software, it's reasonably priced. The cost has probably stayed high due to massive piracy, which hurts their profits.
For most non-professional users, Photoshop Elements is fine, and it costs less than $100.00. But people prefer to steal the full version, which hurts honest users.