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I have a G4, but am not all that great with computer knowledge. I want to buy a used copy of photoshop becauase they are too expensive new. I do not need the most up to date, just able to run on OS10 would be fine. I have some photoshop files on disc that i need to open and print and don't have photoshop anymore. I went on ebay and couldnt quite get the gist of what i need. Does it have to be unused? What do i need to know in buying used software? thanks a bunch.

I've never bought used software before...but if you're buying from Ebay, I'd make sure you are buying from a seller with good feedback and someone who sells software frequently. The same with guitars, etc....I feel like you are less likely to get ripped off by someone who deals in that area regularly.

You should also buy whenever possible through PayPal and use a credit card. PayPal and Ebay offer almost no protection when you read the fineprint...and if you do get ripped, credit cards are quick to refund and charge back the instant you mention the word "fraud".

If you have existing Photoshop files, make sure you are buying a version at least equivalent to the version you created the files in. Photoshop 7 will not open documents made in 10, unless you saved them as an earlier version.

You may be able to open and print the Photoshop files using software that is already on your computer or easier to obtain Mac shareware.

Apple's "Preview" program in your Applications folder should be able to open and print most standard Photoshop files. Have you tried that yet.

If that doesn't work for your files a great shareware program like GraphicConverter should be able to help.

Good luck.

Yeah, anti-pasto is right. If you right click or ctrl click on the file and click on "Open With" and choose Preview you will probably be able to view and print it. If that doesn't work there may be an online utility that can convert it into a more common file like jpg or tiff.

Try Graphic Converter or Gimp ( open source software available here ) before you buy an old version of Photoshop.

Unless saved with "Maximize Compatibility," you might have problems opening the files in something like Preview if they contain layers and such. Same goes for backwards compatibility with an older version of Photoshop, depending on the nature of the layers. If they are "flattened", however, you should be in good shape.

If you want Photoshop, what about Photoshop Elements? Download the demo, and see if it does the trick. That one goes for around $90. I think the Mac version is 4.0, and requires OS X 10.3 or later.

Anybody else got any ideas?

Did you try any of the suggestions? What happened?

I don't think there are any backward compatibility issues with Photoshop like there are with Illustrator. I could be wrong, but I don't recall opening files in an earlier version of PS where I've done effects in a later version. I think since the effects are applied to pixels that they are more or less permanent and you can still see them when opening the files in earlier versions of PS. There may be layers issues, but I usually flatten my files when I am done, so I don't have a good answwer for you there.

One thing, and it's probably obvious, if you buy a used version on eBay, make sure it is the full version of the software and not the upgrade.

There could be backwards-compatability problems if the files are layered PSD files (for example). I don't think this applies to JPGs, however.

Can you even buy 'used' software? When you pay for software, aren't you licensing the program, rather than just buying the physical disc?

Good luck!

I second the suggestion to try Photoshop Elements.