Photoshop Elements: Pros or Cons

[FordCorsair]

Does anyone have good knowledge of Photoshop elements that they could share here?

I currently use Photoshop CS3 (extended) at the office (Web/Graphic Design/Photo manipulation), but being a bit tight with my cash I don't want to really fork £500+ (UK Pounds) for basic home use, so i was wondering if Elements behaved/looked the same as Photoshop CS2/3/4?

As for home use I'd be doing basic resizing/cropping and adding a frame or watermark for web use on a PC lap-top running Vista.

thanks

Dom

[tfit]

I don't know cs3, only tried cs2. But elements is far from what you want. It's clumpsy and only useful for very basic user level use. But this is just my opinion

[FordCorsair]

thanks tfit for your opinion. I gather from your comments the GUI doesn't even look like photoshop... what about file imports/export, can it handle .PSDs or TIFs?

anyone suggest a suitable cheaper alternative, perhaps Corel's Paintshop Pro X2?

what file formats can or does this support? (website fails to mention file formats http://www.corel.com/servlet/Satellite/gb/en/Product/1184951547051#versionTabview=tab0&tabview=tab0)

thanks

[Twey]

The GIMP can provide most if not all of the features of Photoshop. The interface will take some getting used to, but it's free.

[djr33]

Elements is fine if you like having fewer options and easier work. It's faster, actually, than photoshop, for the basic functions (like a "remove red eye" tool). However, it is more limited, so you may be annoyed if you're an advanced user. But it'll get things done... it's very capable.
No reason to not try the GIMP first-- it's free after all, and elements can always be bought later.
Also, no need to bother with the newest version of photoshop. If you just want it for normal use, then just get an older version. I still, happily, use 7, not because I can't upgrade, but because I don't want to. I like it, and it's capable of everything (aside from some, by CS3/4, newer interesting features that apply to video work, but not much else, like painting on 3D models).

[tfit]

Let me explain my take on this. Elements/cs3 is too large for the simple things I do with raster images: using layers. I don't use filters or other kind of plugins. I use photofiltre studio to use layers and I prefer to create images with scripting.
But decide for yourself with some reviews:
http://graphicssoft.about.com/od/pselements/ss/PSE7whatsnew.htm
http://photo-editing-software-review.toptenreviews.com/2103-adobe-photoshop-elements-lg27-screenshot.html
http://reviews.pricegrabber.com/graphics-publishing/m/65234628/
http://www.photographyblog.com/reviews_adobe_photoshop_elements_7.php
http://www.reviewcentre.com/reviews871.html

[FordCorsair]

thankyou all for your advice, if anyone else wish to add thier views, please do.

tfit: the links were most useful especially the screenshots, thanks for that.

djr33: I've tried looking for 'earlier versions of photoshop 7 or CS but have had no joy in finding anyone that would sell 'shrink wrapped' old copies.

twey: I'll test drive the GIMP next time i'm online at home, however I downloaded VIM for Windows XP once and got completely confused by it when I loaded it up, subsquently use Notepad++ for HTML authoring (read cut 'n' pasting).

Conclusion: I may suggest Photoshop Elements 7 as a Christmas present idea...

[Twey]

GIMP and vim are two quite unrelated pieces of software :) vim (at least on *nix) comes with a 'vimtutor' application, which you can use to get started.

[djr33]

As for "shrink wrapped" copies, that isn't incredibly important. Legally, you must have a license (you don't technically own the program, just the media [CD/DVD] it ships on). So, if it's unwrapped and you get a legitimate license, then you're just fine. Ebay would be fine.

However, sellers may or may not keep an (illegal) copy of the software for themselves and this could potentially lead to some sort of trouble with support or registration from adobe, and all that. Or if you have a moral problem with potentially taking part in someone keeping a copy and selling their CD, then that's another reason not to do it.

But in short, it's valid to purchase used software, as long as the license properly transfers owners.

At least it should be. I'm sure you can find the information on the adobe site for specifics.

[graemeak]

Photoshop Elements is a highly capable program. If you are a photo editor and use RAW files a lot you will want more powerful software like Photoshop CS4; however for everything else Elements should be fine for you it's a damn good program.

Frames and watermarks are what you're doing along with cropping and resizing; just go for Elements. The real photoshop is more for extensive editing.

Hope this helps.

[Twey]

I'm seeing no reason to pay for Elements rather than go with the free GIMP here.

[djr33]

You've said that, but if someone prefers Photoshop, the question here is whether the full version, or the lighter "elements" version is needed.
But, yes, no reason to not try GIMP before paying anything.

[Twey]

But Elements isn't Photoshop either.

[graemeak]

That's funny... I have "Adobe Photoshop Elements 6.0" on my start bar ;) Elements is photoshop and for the little cost that it has it does a hell of a lot.

Seeing as all this guy wants is cropping, resizing and watermarking then it will do it easily!

[FordCorsair]

I have the Gimp... looks promising. No time now to fully poke about but likely to deal with what I need.

Question to Twey, can it 'batch' mutliple files to do the same thing, like resizing a bunch of images in a folder, like one can with Photoshop actions?

thanks to graemeak for your comments, they're appreciated.

Dom

[djr33]

But Elements isn't Photoshop either.As above, it most definitely is. It's elements of photoshop-- PS stripped down to basic functionality.

As for actions, you should realize that elements may not allow this either. From what I remember, actions were (as of V.7 or something) one of the features not included in elements. That may have changed by now with CS4, etc.

[Twey]

Yes, the GIMP can. It has a specialised command-line batch mode, and can also execute some PhotoShop actions via a plugin.

[djr33]

Do you need photoshop to create the actions, or is it possible to create an action within gimp/the plugin?
However, in this case, with photoshop at work, that would work well anyway.

[Twey]

No, it can't create PhotoShop actions, as far as I'm aware. The plugin is only for people who need to run existing actions; the batch mode is more powerful in tandem with a decent shell.

[WebSight]

Photoshop Elements is an excellet tool for the price that you pay. I know that Gimp is excellent for a free tool. For me it comes down to how much you can spend.

If I need something FREE, GIMP is the way to go.
If I need more features and have under $100 to spend, Elements is a great choice.
If you need the industry standard and can afford it Go Photoshop!

[djr33]

Agreed, with the addition of:
It's not exactly a matter of features, but a matter of overall quality-- I don't like using the GIMP, so I'd rather pay to use Photoshop. I'm sure it's possible to use the GIMP to make something I can make in Photoshop, but I want to use PS, not GIMP, and that's what you're paying for.

[Twey]

The GIMP and Photoshop are usually considered quite close in terms of features, so I'm certain that the GIMP has more than Elements does.

Daniel, that's not a matter of quality, it sounds more like you're just more used to Photoshop :p

Of course, the fact that the GIMP is free (libre) is a big bonus, too.

[djr33]

Yes, in capability they are similar. A decent editor with elements will get the same results as s/he would from the standard version of photoshop, though, and probably the same with the GIMP.

Yes, I'm more used to photoshop, so I can't accurately comment on the GIMP, but as I've said, I like PS more, and so I'm willing to pay more-- I'd call that quality. A badly manufactured hammer has exactly the same features as a really expensive well manufactured hammer, but that doesn't mean they're the same quality ;)

And, yes, the fact that the GIMP is free is a plus, but that doesn't speak at all to its quality-- only that it may not be worth more to purchase PS, considering, overall, but not that PS is equal to it in utility.