I am using Photoshop CS for a long time and find that it is the best graphics software. But now there are many version of Photoshop like CS2, CS3, CS4 and CS5. The latest version is going on and on. My question is while Photoshop CS give me all the things I needed then what is the utility of others versions?
A pen and paper is enough for "graphic design". If you don't need to upgrade, you don't need to upgrade. Simple as that.
Hi, whenever the company launch new version, usually they modify the existing features or will add new features. How ever it is upto you weather to use it or not. Suggestion is to use new version, as you have to be competitive with all the other designers..
If you're fine with it, then there's no issue. The main reason you'd need newer versions, say at least CS2 and up, is to take advantage of newer computing architecture. Now that multi core processors are more common, the newer software takes advantage of that. CS is from what, 2001 or something? So again, if you can get by, then it's fine.
I think CS has most of the important tools IMO. Usually adobe adds a few features each version just to put out a new version, most of the important tools they have added in the last few years are for photo editing with high grade cameras. I up grade every 2-3 years but I usually don't use any of the new stuff just the same old basic tools. Unless you have a SLR camera you are not missing much.
Unless you're a professional graphic artist, GIMP would be fine in all honesty. There are new things in the updates that make things easier like cropping and filling with content-aware, better algorithms etc... Most notably in the newest version CS6 is better 3D integration. Again, nearly obsolete unless you're a professional.