Photoshop or Elements?

[laura]

I want to purchase some editing software - I currently use Picasa (free)- but not sure whether to buy Photoshop or Elements? Reviews I have read say Elements is basically a watered down version of Photoshop. But with a such large difference in price, what does Photoshop have that Elements doesn't?

I have also heard about software called Coral Pro (I think) - does anyone use this? :confused:

[jerryph]

Photoshop Elements basically does colour manipulation where CS3 can do layers and masks and a million things more. If I could recommend, get CS3, but use means to get it cheaper. Get it at the student discount (50% less) or do something like what I did, which was to find a badly scratched original CD with serial of CS2 at a garage sale for $5 and then purchase the upgrade for $299.

Forget CorelDraw, its more a drawing program than a photo manipulation program.

If you don't have the budget, LightRoom is a close #3 choice. Bibble and DX0 are other very good picture adjustment programs but are more like Elements.

CS3 is the best, though.

[dkippen]

I agree with Jerry - but I have CS2. I have Lightroom, but haven't done a whole lot with it yet - a summer project I think.

[laura]

Thanks for the advise...I'm going to go searching to find that bargain then...!

[daltoned]

I use Elements5, which is fine for hobby photographer's use. It also has an excellent photo organiser on which I now have over 4000 images from 3 different cameras. As I know it and I stand to be corrected, Elements does handle layers etc.( I'm still learning this whole digital imaging thing). Elements 6 has a new interface and some further refinements but V5 is ok for my needs. Hope this helps.
EddieD

[laura]

Thanks Eddie. Photography is still a hobby for me, I still have so much to learn! With Elements being cheap compared to Photoshop I am more inclined to purchase this to get me started.

[laura]

Adobe are offering a 30 day free trial of Elements 6! Think I will try that before deciding what to buy!!

[coffee]

Make no mistake, Elements is very powerful. You CAN do layers and such. I don't know if I would call it watered down from CS3, it just doesn't have some of the elements professional us CS3 for.

You won't be dissapointed if you get Elements.

[dkippen]

Since I have both Photoshop and Elements - I see Elements as a watered down version of Photoshop. I think Adobe's intent was to share with consumers some of the power of Photoshop and thus created Elements. I use both and since I'm more familiar with Photoshop, I always go back to that. I don't think there's as steep a learning curve with Elements as there is with Photoshop. Laura - good luck with your trial membership. For many, this is a very good program to have.