Help - PS CS CS2 - PS Elements

[Maxima]

Hopefully someone can give some advice here ...

I'm debating if I need to upgrade to PS Elements 3.0 from 2.0. I would like something which can open CR2 files directly, instead of converting them first. Is 3.0 much better than 2.0?? I'm just starting to do some editing, so I'm assuming Elements is a good start for me, or will CS or CS2 suit me better in the long run? Any info, suggestions, ideas, thoughts - good or bad are welcome. Throw some my way please, I'm new to this, but would love to learn, so I'll take whatever you wanna throw at me.

Thanks much!!

[PacAce]

If you're just getting started, PS Elements 3 should be fine for you. If you have the DRebel XT (350D), then an update to allow you to process the RAW file should be available soon.

As for the question of whether PSCS or PSCS2 would be more suitable for you in the long run, the answer will depend on how much editing you think you are going to be doing with your images. PSCS has a lot of power built into it because it is a versatile tool used by many different types of people--illustrators, graphic artist, photographers, designers, animators, etc. But I think most photgraphers are probably only scratching the surface with the type of editing that they routinely do.

[rfreschner]

PSE3 is definitely a step way above version 2. Whether or not you want to move to PSCS2 is something you need to decide whether you need the additional editing capabilities that CS2 provides. I have PSE3 and it is a great tool, but I am going to upgrade to CS2 shortly.

[Goofup]

I was hassling with about that same decision myself recently (I already had PE3). A really nice tax refund (and the Canon/PE2 offer of CS2 for $299) and I bit the bullet and got CS2.

If you're just starting out get PE3, period. Major upgrade! One thing I discovered right off the bat is PE3 IS CS2, just with not as many features. What I'm trying to say is don't think Elements is less of a program or isn't "as good" as CS2. It's quite powerful once you dig into it (Elements isn't elementary).

Also, if you're eventually going to get Photoshop, PE3 is the best training tool out there. When I fired up CS2 for the first time, I was surprised how right at home I felt.

[rgravel]

In my opinion, Photoshop Elements 3 is to Photoshop CS what the Canon Rebel XT is to the Canon 20D.

I have both the XT and PSE-3 :) and I still have so much to learn, and so little time, that getting the top guns would be overkill for me ;)

Good luck in your decision.

[rfreschner]

One thing I discovered right off the bat is PE3 IS CS2, just with not as many features.

Actually, IMO PSE3 is closer to CS than CS2. There are a number of new features in CS2 that are nowhere to be found in PSE3, such as the Bridge, improved RAW workflow, Vanishing Point, etc. That being said, PSE3 is a very capable tool and I'm sure some of these features will trickle down to Elements eventually.

[NoLight]

Goofup did you get CS2 for 300.00? How ? Give details!!!

[jimsolt]

In my opinion, Photoshop Elements 3 is to Photoshop CS what the Canon Rebel XT is to the Canon 20D.

Do you mean Elements 3 has a lot of features but is too small to fit in your big hands?:D

Jim

[rfreschner]

Goofup did you get CS2 for 300.00? How ? Give details!!!

Adobe had a special offer for Canon customers that received PSE2 with their new camera that allowed you to upgrade it to the full PS for $299. I know the offer came with the 20D because I ordered my copy of PSCS2 this morning. :D Not sure if it came with the Rebel XT or not.

[Goofup]

The Canon/Elements 2.0 offer site: http://store.adobe.com/store/products/master.jhtml?id=catCanon&sourcecode=112300 NOTE: Adobe is asking for the code from an "offer coupon" to take advantage of this price. I don't know if it coupon is included with your Canon product, but I think you get it by email (and I don't know if the email is suppose to come from- Canon or Adobe). I do know you have to have the PE2 version that came with your Canon product registered on their site before I'd call the Adobe Store.

As for PE3 being like CS or CS2, I said that because things that show up in Photoshop seem to trickle down to the next version of PE and vice versa. For instance:
** CS's Healing Brush shows up in PE3 :D
** PE3's Spot Healing Brush shows up in CS2 :D

PE3 still has the Selection Brush and it didn't make it to CS2. It's no big deal, but I found it a handy little tool- too bad it didn't make it.

[Todd Jacobsen]

Hopefully someone can give some advice here ...

I'm debating if I need to upgrade to PS Elements 3.0 from 2.0. I would like something which can open CR2 files directly, instead of converting them first. Is 3.0 much better than 2.0?? I'm just starting to do some editing, so I'm assuming Elements is a good start for me, or will CS or CS2 suit me better in the long run? Any info, suggestions, ideas, thoughts - good or bad are welcome. Throw some my way please, I'm new to this, but would love to learn, so I'll take whatever you wanna throw at me.

Thanks much!!

PSE3.0 contains the "Organizer" which I have found to be invaluable - and it is not contained within Creative Suite products. I started to use PSE3.0 as the "front end" to PSCS and will continue to do so with PSCS2, now that I know the "Bridge" did not incorporate these capabilities.

PSE3.0 "EDITOR" is the mini-me to PSCS. Although you do have the capability of ACR (Camera Raw plug-in), it is limited in PSE. In addition, there are many of the ACR3.0 upgrades (contained in PSCS2) that are not useable in PSE3.0 (they don't show up).

There are a few sites (Adobe forums) where you can located additional tools that aren't contained within PSE Editor, but people have created "plug-ins" so there is more PSCS capabilities available (for PSE) other than the generic Adobe provided PSE.

I heartily recommend upgrading to PSE3.0 for the Organizer alone. If you find yourself being limited by PSE3.0 Editor capabilities, I would recommend thinking about moving to PSCS2.

[Maxima]

Thanks much to all who replied, I greatly appreciate it! I guess it'll be PSE 3.0.

[rfreschner]

PSE3.0 contains the "Organizer" which I have found to be invaluable

That's one thing that I also rely on and am trying to figure out how to fit it in to my workflow with CS2. I've been trying to figure out whether I can use keywords in Bridge to accomplish much of the same thing.