Elements vs PS

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Pietrach

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Ok, I decided to get one of these. Not the better on, but the one that suits my needs best. Problem is that I know the capabilities of PS, but dont know the Elements.
What I need is:
1) basic adjustments such as curves, contrast, color balance etc.
2) masks (saturation, contrast, exposure, brightness etc)
3) sharpening filters (usually unsharp mask)
4) color replacement adjustment
5) adjustment from 8bit to 16bit

Can you tell me if Elements has it all?

If so, what is the difference between these two?

Thanks
 
In view of the fact some of your editing sounds more advanced I'd suggest the full version, Elements used to be the poor relation when it came to masking, I know it's better now but I don't know if it's good enough.
 
i use elements 9 and it has all those you mention. The adjustment from 8-bit to 16-bit i've only used in ACR which you get with elements - not sure if that's the same with CS5?

i'm sure you can download a 30 day trial of elements to see if it suits your needs.

just had a check for you on elements 9:

New Fill Layer --> Solid Colour / Gradient / Pattern
New Adj Layer --> Levels / Brightness Contrast / Hue Saturation / Gradient Map / Photo Filter / Invert / Threshold / Posterize

There is no difference in the 2.. it's all a big con :lol:

i'm not sure you can add plug-ins to elements can you? :thinking:
 
leftcurl said:
i use elements 9 and it has all those you mention. The adjustment from 8-bit to 16-bit i've only used in ACR which you get with elements - not sure if that's the same with CS5?

i'm sure you can download a 30 day trial of elements to see if it suits your needs.

just had a check for you on elements 9:

New Fill Layer --> Solid Colour / Gradient / Pattern
New Adj Layer --> Levels / Brightness Contrast / Hue Saturation / Gradient Map / Photo Filter / Invert / Threshold / Posterize

There is no difference in the 2.. it's all a big con :lol:

i'm not sure you can add plug-ins to elements can you? :thinking:
Click to expand...
Theres a big difference, 3 tabs in camera raw against 7 in CS5 for a start.
 
jon ryan said:
I think only curves is missing from PSE
Click to expand...


...from your list, I should have added. But there is a big difference in ease of use between the two. Bridge vs Organiser really is no contest, for instance.

But, PSE is amazing value for the money when you come down to it. With a bit of effort you can do pretty much anything you're likely to need.
 
swanseamale47 said:
Theres a big difference, 3 tabs in camera raw against 7 in CS5 for a start.
Click to expand...

There's also a big difference in price £55 compared to £550, that would buy a pretty good lens that you need/want.;)

Theres's not much you cannot do in Elements these days and there is curves but not much use except for basic stuff.

This free one does much more and in my opinion is more useful than the one in CS. http://free.pages.at/easyfilter/curves.html

In Elements you cannot work in 16 bit for layers and adjustment layers if this bothers you but hey Scott Kelby who everyone praises freely admits he only ever works in 8 bit. ;)

And yes you can use plug ins in Elements.

Also Elements is purley a photo editing software if you are into graphics than CS is must.

I have no axe to grind as I use both.:)
 
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leftcurl said:
i use elements 9 and it has all those you mention. The adjustment from 8-bit to 16-bit i've only used in ACR which you get with elements - not sure if that's the same with CS5?

i'm sure you can download a 30 day trial of elements to see if it suits your needs.

just had a check for you on elements 9:

New Fill Layer --> Solid Colour / Gradient / Pattern
New Adj Layer --> Levels / Brightness Contrast / Hue Saturation / Gradient Map / Photo Filter / Invert / Threshold / Posterize

There is no difference in the 2.. it's all a big con :lol:

i'm not sure you can add plug-ins to elements can you? :thinking:
Click to expand...
there is a big diference between pse10 and cs5 or pse9 and cs4, i have cs4 and 5 and elements 7 and 10 and love using elements as its quick and easy, but cs4 is what i use when i need to do some proper work and it also has alot of short cuts like actions.
 
Pietrach said:
Ok, I decided to get one of these. Not the better on, but the one that suits my needs best. Problem is that I know the capabilities of PS, but dont know the Elements.
What I need is:
1) basic adjustments such as curves, contrast, color balance etc.
2) masks (saturation, contrast, exposure, brightness etc)
3) sharpening filters (usually unsharp mask)
4) color replacement adjustment
5) adjustment from 8bit to 16bit

Can you tell me if Elements has it all?

If so, what is the difference between these two?

Thanks
Click to expand...
you have a k120d super that must be worth some money, and dowload the free trials and try both to see which you like.
 
Save your money and get elements, PS a lot of money when you're only using it for basic photo editing and I'm sure curvers is available, has been since version 7 of elements
 
pete.rush said:
Save your money and get elements, PS a lot of money when you're only using it for basic photo editing and I'm sure curvers is available, has been since version 7 of elements
Click to expand...

There is a cut-down version of curves in later versions of Elements (enhance> adjust colour > adjust colour curves, in PSE 9), but it's a bit limited. Better than nothing though.

I agree, though. PSE is outstanding value. CS is over priced for the additional stuff you get unless you need it for work. LR does a good `in between` job, but there is far too much missing from it for me. PSE is a far more powerful editor than LR, and far better value.
 
for me elements works fine, it does what i want to my pics and i have no reason to spend hundreds on something I do not know how to use properly.

Elements 10 is/was available from currys/commet cannot remember which one for £30, so why not spend a little to see if it does what you want it too before spending big bucks on things you might not use.

spike
 
craftysnapper said:
.......
Theres's not much you cannot do in Elements these days and there is curves but not much use except for basic stuff.

This free one does much more and in my opinion is more useful than the one in CS. http://free.pages.at/easyfilter/curves.html

.........
And yes you can use plug ins in Elements.
Click to expand...

Cheers for that Paul! New to Elements (10) and seems to work well :thumbs:

Andy
 
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