Which Photoshop program do I buy? I'm so confused...?

There are numerous websites that can do the same basic effects.

These are two online photoshop alternatives: http://fotoflexer.com/

http://www.fixredeyes.com/

Or you can use Gimp (actual program): http://www.gimp.org/

All of the above programs/websites are free :)

Gimp beyond the shadow of a doubt http://download.cnet.com/GIMP/3000-2192_4-10073935...

I have seen so many professional quality edits, manipulations, corrections, photo blends etc that I haven't even considered Photoshop. With the abundance of Gimp tutorials, Yahoo answers, Youtube and the like you should be just fine with Gimp. The Blurs come standard. The color removal as well. I don't understand it but I have taken all the red out of a photo. Just wading into the deep end of the Gimp pool. I quickly swam back to shallower water. The amount of manipulations are infinite. With the Elsamuko Scripts, um those are filters not manipulations sorry, you can download in addition to the abundance of on-board tweaks available unless you are a professional or have money to burn Photoshop isn't worth it. Some have even said Gimp was overwhelming. Um yeah it was for me as well. After about a week of tutorials I was very comfortable to test out other more advanced photo edits. I have only been using it for 3 months and have yet to venture out into the deep end again. The point is that it does have a deep end a VERY VERY DEEP end. At the same time with some one button clicks you can edit easily. Eventually I will revisit my nemesis but for now I need to refine what I already know. Anyways in a nutshell Gimp FTW. Even simpler photo edits/collage maker is Picasa 3.8 http://download.cnet.com/Picasa/3000-2193_4-101603...

Hey there,

You can get Picasa for free from this link http://bitly.com/1xTBoqV

It's the best software of its kind.

Cheers.

CS5 is the current version - of just plain Photoshop.