Photoshop elements 6

[mtblackdog]

Dose anybody here know if elements 6 has any layering capabilities?

[Damo77]

Yes, I believe so.

[davidcrebelxt]

I think all versions of Elements from the start have had layers, I know for sure PSE3 does.

What's missing that some people like is "layer-masking" or "quick mask".

[jesusdelallata]

Elements 6 does have layers. They now have a 30 day download available. I've been using photoshop 7 for about 4 years and have not jumped to the latest CS3 version. Too expensive. I downloaded the trial version of Elements 6 and I was shocked.

Elements does everything I do plus more. It does levels, curves, color balance, unsharp mask, and on and on and on. Like I said, I was very surprised that I don't need to pay $600 + for CS3. I just need to pay $99.

[Pete W]

Here is a screen image showing layer menu quality not great

http://www.scoobyweb.co.uk/PWP/images/ps6.jpg

[mpatton]

One thing I've found really useful in CS3 that Elements does not have is Merge HDR. Basically, you bracket the exposure with your camera with 5 or so exposures to get both shadow details and highlights, then you 'merge' the images (CS3 even tries to match slightly different positioning.)

The quality really makes a difference, almost rivaling that of film. This is something I've really missed going digital. I'm using a trial version of CS3 now, but I'd like to buy it when I get the money. It's worth it for this feature alone.

Buy the way, has anybody had experience in buying 'discounted' Photoshop for $250 (US) or so? I'm really leary about what I'd really be getting.

[davidcrebelxt]

One thing I've found really useful in CS3 that Elements does not have is Merge HDR.

Of course there are other applications and plugins (like photomatix) available to let you do that without paying $600 just for that... maybe not the all in one photoshop experience, but much cheaper.

Yeah, jesusdelallata, I bet alot of people are shocked at what Elements can do... as it gets dumped on so much by those who are ahem... "serious" photographers.:rolleyes:

I loved it when LR came out and how so many people loved the catalog/library concept, and image tagging and collections and sorting. Many of the same ones before had panned the organizer of Elements as 'childish' and not professional. Elements had catalogs for YEARS, and even does some of the tagging and sorting BETTER than Lightroom.

Funny (or sad) how many beginners are swayed to judge this app without taking a look, and are convinced they NEED to buy (or worse, pirate!) CS3, when everything most people (beginners especially) are going to do is right there in Elements.

[prime80]

Elements has always been an outstanding tool for most photographers, especially since elements 3. If I didn't get CS3 through work, I'd be happily using elements still. Does 6 finally include layer masks? That's the one feature that I couldn't do without anymore.

[PhotosGuy]

Elements Mask plug-ins
http://graphicssoft.about.com/od/pselements/p/layermasks.htm

[prime80]

Yea...those have been around for a while. I was just curious if Adobe had finally added them to the product.

[arg245]

I bet alot of people are shocked at what Elements can do... as it gets dumped on so much by those who are ahem... "serious" photographers.:rolleyes:

I loved it when LR came out and how so many people loved the catalog/library concept, and image tagging and collections and sorting. Many of the same ones before had panned the organizer of Elements as 'childish' and not professional. Elements had catalogs for YEARS, and even does some of the tagging and sorting BETTER than Lightroom.



All excellent points! Too many people subscribe to the belief that just because it costs more, it must be better. Added to that is the Adobe Marketing machine, which gets a significant boost from the "serious photographers", and you have tons of people using Photoshop CSwhatever, at $600 a pop, and they don't even scratch the surface of the program's capabilities. And Lightroom is just another example. Sooo many apps have been around that do just as much as Lightroom, but just because its Adobe, and it's the latest rage, people just dumbly fall for it.

I have an extensive library of photos, which I manage with;

Picasa for cataloguing and keywording,
View my images with Picasa or Faststone,
Convert my raws with DPP,
And edit, with layering, masking and everything else I need with Elements 4.0 (which I got free as a bundle),
And HDR with Photomatix Pro (which beats CS3 in HDR anyway!

Total Investment - $40 (for Photomatix student edition)

Take a serious look at your photographic needs, and don't fall for all the hype. You'll drive yourself cray just looking to have the latest - which is not necessarily the best.

[PhotosGuy]

You'll drive yourself cray just looking to have the latest - which is not necessarily the best. I agree. I'm still using RSP & PS7.

[davidcrebelxt]

I agree. I'm still using RSP & PS7.

Good to see there's a few voices of reason around... occasionally you get the feeling you'll be run out of town and have your camera privileges revoked for not using CS3! :lol: