Do you HAVE to be using the latest version of Photoshop if you want to do photo restoration properly?

It's a valid question, no doubt about it. And it's one that gets asked a lot, but to answer it we need to know why this particular question is being asked. It's not because there is some doubt about the ability of Photoshop CS3 to do the job required. Let me assure you - it's MORE than up to the task.

Personally, I feel it nearly always comes down to cost. Photoshop CS3 costs about $650 and if you are approaching photo restoration as a potential or actual hobby, then that's a sum of money that is going to make many people stop and think, "do I really need to spend that much?". I realize that I've asked another question without answering the first one yet. Hang in there.

If you're a professional - in other words, if you regularly restore old photographs for money - it's a no-brainer. Stop asking questions and just buy it already! You won't regret it. Even if you never use all of the tools available to you, the smooth and peerless work flow will pay for the purchase many times over. If you were a professional carpenter would you use a hammer or a nail gun? Right! If your tools allow you to work faster then you can do more and earn more.

If you have Photoshop CS2 or some other relatively recent version do you need to upgrade? Well, no ... probably not. Sure there are some cool new tools in there that would make life easier. Any time the selection tools are added to my ears prick up. Why? Because getting your selections right is half the job of restoration a lot of the time.

Non-destructive editing took long enough to make its way into this software. And if you do any work for clients who like to tinker with an image AFTER you've sent them a proof, these features will be well used.

If money is tight, then wait until CS4 or CS5 comes out. It won't cost you any more to upgrade later instead. Plus the value of yearly updates to core software like Photoshop is reducing. Gone are the days of revolutionary new features (anyone remember Photoshop before Layers?). Most of the upgrades are just enhancements to existing features, rather than something completely new.

I still believe that Photoshop Elements is a worthy alternative to the full Photoshop. A hundred bucks shouldn't break the bank. But as soon as you begin to find the toolset limiting, you should upgrade to the CS version. Adobe offers a discount if you already own Elements.

Don't forget that you can download a 30 day trial and see for yourself the fantastic work flow and toolset that I'm raving about.

So, back to the question. Do you HAVE to be using the latest Photoshop CS for photo restoration? In my opinion, no you don't, but there are plenty of reasons why you should!