What is the best and most user friendly photo editing software?

I using Adobe Photshop Elements 2.0 trial version and so far I like it. Before I decide to purchase I would appreciate any input from others.

Thanks
John

Ive used lots of products from Adobe but ive never tried Elements, Im mostly a Photoshop guy. But I give all Adobe's products two thumbs up because they are the best in the industry... And thier quality is reflected by the price lol. But you pay for what you get!

the lates adobe photoshop, i dont know which version is the latest.

Well I use Photoshop and Jasc's Paint Shop Pro, and I have to say I personally like PSP much better. Loads a lot faster, cleaner layout (at least version 7 which is the version I use), easy to use. There are something that it can't do that I switch over to Photoshop to do, but those instances are few and far between(it's probably been three or so months since I've had to use photoshop, and I do graphic work of one form or another almost every day).

A new copy of PSP is 100$, which if I recall is just around the price of Elements.

Thanks for the sugestions.

Heres a tip, dont bother with photoshop elements wait until elements 3.0 comes out. I am testing it, and it is very slick.

now to clarify something about paint shop pro and photoshop series.

Paint Shop Pro, is a paint and image manipulation program

Photoshop Series, is strictly for use on photos.

but either works fine.

Thanks for the tip. I'm not in a hury to buy. Currently using MS Picture It Publishing Platinum that I bought for my wife to prejects for work. It has limited photo editing features.

When is Adobe Elements 3.0 going to be released?

John

Photoshop Elements seems to come packaged with almost any image realated didtgal device you can by, or at least I buy. I have 2 copies myself, one from my Canon 10D purchase and another copy from something else I bought. My parents got one with their new Sony camera and some people I work with got it with a Canon scanner.

You might try taking a look at a new digital camera or scanner. You can get a full version of Elements bundled with it. That way you can get a new toy and "save" $100 on the bundled Elements package.

Elements should cover anything you need. Photoshop CS can do more but for many people it is stuff they won't use. Simple question, Do you shoot digital in RAW format? If you don't or don't know what RAW is then you don't really need Photoshop CS, save $500 bucks and use Elements.

You can also try GIMP. It is a Freeware image editing software that is actualy quite good. I never got comfortable with the intreface myself so I have not used it much myself.

To Laptopguy265, check you CGtalk.com. You'll find a lot of people using Photoshop as a paint program.