QUOTE (FlareDragon2004 @ Mar 27 2009, 05:54 PM) Well, as stated, I dunno anything about image editing period. I probably learn how to get rid of grain, parts of a photo I don't like, and some color editing in photography. (Nothing too much)
The main reason I would want either elements, CS4, or gimp would be to make sigs/icons/gifs for forums and so such. Nothing more.
I could put the money in to any software, I'd just like to know which is better for me now? (Someone who just wants to take a dip in the photo imaging stuffs. No point in buying a 50 caliber sniper rifle if you just want to shoot some cans right?)
That is exactly why I don't think you should drop $700+ on the full version of photoshop. First try downloading gimp and see if that will work for you. It's free so the most it would cost you is a bit of time and a little bandwidth. If you can't figure it out or it can't do what you want then look at a commercial option. Try out the trials of elements and photoshop and see whether you need all the extra stuff in the full version.
Personally I love using photoshop because it makes it easy while still giving you an amazing amount of power to create but the cost is a major factor. If you can find a copy of photoshop CS3 that someone still has then by all means go for that if you can get it for less since between CS3 and CS4 not much really changed and it will work just as well.