Free Adobe Creative Software

[whitecoast]

For all you creative types out there, it appears that Adobe is now giving away some of its creative suite software away for free, including:

Creative Suite 2
Acrobat 3D 1.0
Acrobat Standard 7.0
Acrobat Pro 8.0
Audition 3.0
GoLive CS2
Illustrator CS2
InCopy CS2
InDesign CS2
Photoshop CS2
Photoshop Elements 4.0/5.0
Adobe Premiere Pro 2.0

I honestly don't even know what a majority of this design software does but maybe some of the more professional and tech-savvy out there could make use of it.

I was a graphic design queen back in highschool, when I had access to Photoshop for free. I've always loved the multitude of features it had and the creative license it gave us with regular, boring old photographs. Unfortunately it was incredibly expensive software to own privately on its own so it fell out of personal use for me a long time ago. But maybe I'll get back into it again now, who knows?

Here are the download links and serial numbers if anyone is interested:
http://www.adobe.com/downloads/cs2_downloads/index.html

 

[grini]

Thanks for sharing this, whitecoast! This is just what I need! :)
I have pretty old computer, 7 years old... I hope CS2 will work smooth enough.

 

[grini]

Too good to be true.
You need to have a valid license if you want to use this version.

_http://reviews.cnet.com/8301-13727_7-57562515-263/adobe-releases-creative-suite-2-for-free/

UPDATE, 2:40 p.m. PT: There has been clarification since this story broke. Adobe has not released the CS2 software for free. Instead, it has cancelled its CS2 license management servers, so for those with existing licenses it is now offering downloads that do not require contact with the licensing servers. This service is only going to be available for those with existing Adobe CS2 licenses, which will be verified when creating the Adobe account to download the software.

 

[whitecoast]

Eh, figures. Kind of a pity. I've been using gimp for the longest time as an open source alternative, but the controls are a lot less intuitive. But maybe that's just because I was trained on photoshop and expect everything to be just like it.

Should the link be deactivated?

 

[3DStudent]

Aww too bad. I use gimp too for photo editing. Have you tried changing the hotkeys in Gimp, whitecoast? There is apparently something called GimpShop, which is supposed to be a version of Gimp that looks and acts more like Photoshop. But I was never able to get a good download of the file, it looks like it was discontinued.

 

[whitecoast]

Aww too bad. I use gimp too for photo editing. Have you tried changing the hotkeys in Gimp, whitecoast? There is apparently something called GimpShop, which is supposed to be a version of Gimp that looks and acts more like Photoshop. But I was never able to get a good download of the file, it looks like it was discontinued.

Wow, thanks for the heads up, 3D Student! I'm downloading and trying it out now.

 

[Foxx]

Aww too bad. I use gimp too for photo editing. Have you tried changing the hotkeys in Gimp, whitecoast? There is apparently something called GimpShop, which is supposed to be a version of Gimp that looks and acts more like Photoshop. But I was never able to get a good download of the file, it looks like it was discontinued.

GimpShop appears to be still available (it's using the latest release of Gimp - 2.8 - which was released not long ago, so it doesn't look discontinued to me):

_http://www.gimpshop.com/

I've used the Gimp for a long time and enjoyed it and have found it to suit most or all of my needs, which admittedly are usually pretty simple. It's been a while since I've used Photoshop, though, so I don't have much of a comparison anymore.

The original version of the gimp is here:

_http://www.gimp.org/

 

[HiThere]

I downloaded Photoshop and Elements and tried to install them, and they seem to function. The 'activate' alternative isn't clickable inside the programs, but so far no notifications of restrictions in use of the programs.

EDIT: Thank you for the heads-up whitecoast! :)

 

[HiThere]

It still seems to work fine, no messages about trial version or registration blocks so far. The version CS2 is from 2005, so maybe Adobe is trying to gain new customers by conditioning them (us) to use their old software.

 

[Nook]

It still seems to work fine, no messages about trial version or registration blocks so far. The version CS2 is from 2005, so maybe Adobe is trying to gain new customers by conditioning them (us) to use their old software.

Downloading it right now. Thanks for sharing whitecoast!

 

[Nook]

I downloaded Photoshop and Elements and tried to install them, and they seem to function. The 'activate' alternative isn't clickable inside the programs, but so far no notifications of restrictions in use of the programs.

EDIT: Thank you for the heads-up whitecoast! :)

Couldn't install photoshop though on the Mac. here's what it said

You can't open the application HFSTest because PowerPC applications are no longer supported.

Hithere, are you using Windows?

 

[grini]

It still seems to work fine, no messages about trial version or registration blocks so far. The version CS2 is from 2005, so maybe Adobe is trying to gain new customers by conditioning them (us) to use their old software.

Well, that is interesting and a little bit confusing :)
When I saw this thread I started to download Photoshop, but in the meantime I googled about it and then I found "update" from Adobe, so I cancelled that download because they said it won't work if you don't have a license.

Now you are saying this and I found this article:
_http://epicfail.xepher.net/2013/01/10/adobes-free-photoshop-cs2-release-epic-fail/

Recently Adobe made Creative Suite 2 available to download, complete with serial number but without requiring activation. Included were applications Adobe Photoshop, InDesign, Elements, Premier Pro, Illustrator, Acrobat Pro and GoLive – available individually or as part of the CS2 bundle. Shortly thereafter the news broke that Adobe was giving away their 10-year-old software for free! It seemed like a late Christmas present.

Well apparently it isn’t. Adobe released an official statement to say:

You have heard wrong! Adobe is absolutely not providing free copies of CS2!

What is true is that Adobe is terminating the activation servers for CS2 and that for existing licensed users of CS2 who need to reinstall their software, copies of CS2 that don’t require activation but do require valid serial numbers are available. (Special serial numbers are provided on the page for each product download.)

So, you can download and install the software from adobes site and it will totally work, but if you don’t already hold a license for the software you are considered to be doing so illegally. By the way there is no warning on the download page that you might inadvertently become a software thief.

So, let me get this straight, Adobe is providing free downloads of CS2… but telling people not to take it? And, in this case, after the horse has bolted and many people have already downloaded it believing it was a Christmas freebie. In short Adobe made a complete and total EPIC FAIL and has come off as a bit of a Grinch.

Personally I think they missed an opportunity. Hardly anyone uses Adobe CS2 any more; it is essentially redundant with people in the creative industries using much more up-to-date versions. If Adobe gave away CS2 it would give an opportunity to people who are not already familiar with the software to try it and get their feet wet with an earlier, simpler version. It would seem generous and encourage brand loyalty. It would also persuade a lot of people to sign up to Adobe’s website. In short it would create new customers.

Just my two pennys worth. What do you think? Is Adobe deliberately encouraging piracy or are they just that dumb?

 

[grini]

Couldn't install photoshop though on the Mac. here's what it said

I hope this will help:

CS2 SYSTEM REQUIREMENTS

Mac OS X v.10.2.8–v.10.3.8. PowerPC® G4 or G5 processor
Microsoft® Windows® 2000/Windows XP. Intel® Pentium® III or 4 processor

 

[HiThere]

Hithere, are you using Windows?

Yes.

So, you can download and install the software from adobes site and it will totally work, but if you don’t already hold a license for the software you are considered to be doing so illegally.

Personally I think they missed an opportunity. Hardly anyone uses Adobe CS2 any more; it is essentially redundant with people in the creative industries using much more up-to-date versions. If Adobe gave away CS2 it would give an opportunity to people who are not already familiar with the software to try it and get their feet wet with an earlier, simpler version. It would seem generous and encourage brand loyalty. It would also persuade a lot of people to sign up to Adobe’s website. In short it would create new customers.

Too good to be true then, but clumsily handled by Adobe it would seem.

 

[Tigersoap]

For what it is worth, The CS2 suite is fully functional and is still available with serials despite what adobe says.

So theoritically speaking IF you downloaded them and installed the programs (the activation servers are gone) there is nothing that would prevent you from using them for education purpose