Paint Shop Pro, at least a couple versions ago, was a significantly lower priced alternative to Photoshop.

It supports many graphics filters, had layers, etc.

For the money, it was a really nice piece of software. It used to be about $99.00.

If you want a free alternative Gimp might be worth a try. You need to get used to it, but once you are, it is very powerfull.

Photoshop Elements is a great low cost alternative. It does not have all of the bells and whistles of CS2, but for what you describe, it will be more than adequate. I think it is around $60.

JAB

I second Chienworks on the micrografx suggestion. I still use it today. I was furious when Corel bought them out and then demolished the program without any further support for the product. There is a bug that affects links in internet explorer 5, 6 and maybe 7 if you have Picture Publisher 10 professional by Micrografx. There is a third party fix out there floating around the web somewhere. If you do buy version 10 though I have the patch and can email it to you.
Webtricity 2 is a great package containing 3 programs: Windows Draw, Picture Publisher 8, and a 3d graphic animation program that is a little cheesey for my taste, but the price is right.

j razz

I often wonder, at what point does dead, abandoned software become up for grabs? How long after not just the software title, but the company that wrote it no longer exists can the software be considered, well, not necessarily public domain, but no longer controlled?

Hey, i'd pay for additional licenses to Webtricity and PicturePublisher if i could! Please ... someone take my money.

I just bought Paint Shop Pro XI Photo recently (now owned by Corel) and was surprised at how much is under the hood in addition to a number of "automatic" settings if you're in a hurry. Worth looking over, there is a Flash demo on their site and various reviews are on the net. It's about $89. The quality of the auto color corrections is a little more sophisticated than my old version 8, and a particularly nice feature is a menu item that applies a depth-of-field effect around a subject in the foreground.

I do also have Photoshop Elements 2 and 3, but the nice thing about PSPro II is that you can work a little more intuitively and really fast if you're trying to get a bunch (or batch) of photos processed, leave the church office on a Saturday afternoon and get home for dinner.

Hi,

I use Photoshop elements, and I love it. It's arround $100 here in Denmark and worth every cent, imho.

/Ulf

hmm.. replacement for PS...
I would have to say Ulead Photoimpact.. does everythign CS2 does, not as "sophisticated" but has some of teh most imcredible retouch tools. Very smart software, PS plugin comatible, layer compatible, does prety much everything PS does, but doesnt have all those floating boxes. Very fast, very efficient. I actually use it to do most of my work on it, and now only use CS2 if im working directly with RAW images or have specific PS projects. Everythign else is on photoimpact

I like "The Gimp." If you've used a non-windows version of p-shop you'll be at home (layout is similar to irix/mac os layout). Plus it's 100% free.

I just got tired of the constant Adobe updates that render older versions basically useless when working with newer versions. (same reason I went with openoffice.org vs ms office)

I have to put my vote in for Ulead PhotoImpact as well. They have just released vs.12 of the program, and it supports auto-white balance, and there are many other adjustment tools as well. You can download a demo of PhotoImpact 12 from the Ulead website.

In addition, I've just downloaded the 30-day demo of Adobe Photoshop Elements 5.0 to tryout, but haven't installed it yet, but I've already been reading in the forums that PSE5 has removed the undo / redo / save buttons...which has many people complaining. Though apparently there is a history panel that can be used to undo what has been done.

I use Corel PaintShop Pro X - there are no significant enhancements in XI that are useful to me.

I teach Photosho Elements - but don't recommend it as it tired to take over your machine as far as graphics are concerned, it's bloated and slow.

Why not try the free Photo Plus from Serif - it's fast, and free, and does most of what Photoshop does. It also offers cheap upgrades to the latest version if you like what you see. www.freeserifsoftware,.com

Worley

I'm still using Photoshop Elements 2. It's similar to the full version of Photoshop in regards to the interface. Newer versions of PSE have adopted their own look, so you can't cut your teeth on Elements, and then work with CS2 with some familiarity.

I've contemplated upgrading to CS2, but I can do what I need with Elements, so that $600 has never been worth it to me.

Faststone Imageviewer.... www.faststone.org

FREE, good, simple, supports RAW. Quite unknown, butworth a look. I use Corel PS XI for more detailed work, but for fast and simple, Faststone.

Al S.

Why not stay with the older PS you have? It has all the basic functions you need and more.

Uwe Steinmuller at outbackphoto is now using this ILO Photoshop:
http://www.lightcrafts.com/products/lightzone/Discover.php
This software is still in its early stages, but, in terms of technically approaching images like Ansel Adams' Zone system, I really like this software. Plus, it has native non-destructive layering to everything you do in it.

Bill, thanks for sharing that link. The approach using Adams' Zone System really caught my attention. Looks very promising.