Editing software!

[compleks]

Hey hey.
I'll make this quick

I'm just curious to hear the general consensus on editing software. Aswell as personal opinions.

I just received a copy of Photoshop elements, which I'm pretty damn pleased about. What's the main diff. between elements and the standard photoshop?

What do you use and why?

Cheers

[Japaslavian]

Standard Photoshop is much more powerful and has a lot of extra features that are not available in Elements. Though I think the general consensus is that Elements is the perfect program to learn with, because you're not thrown into a huge program with 4 trillion ways to do everything.
Especially if you're not a professional user, because you're not spending tons of money on a program that has a million things you will never use.
So get comfortable with Elements, and if you feel you are being limited by what is available on it, then its time to move up to Photoshop.

[OsmosisStudios]

Elements is great as an introduction, or for simple photo editing. The CS is designed more for a full-on designer and photographer that needs to the power. Remember, photoshop isnt just for photos!

[BabetteKD]

I use CS2 and CS3 (versions 9 and 10) now, learned on Photoshop v. 5 and got Elements 1 a few years later. The Creative Suites have more tools than the Elements versions and more powerful versions of what Elements has.

For the few times I'm feeling 'artsy-fartsy" I'll open up Painter, which mimics all forms of art media (oil paint, charcoal, etc) just like how the real media forms are.

[dseymour]

I use PS CS4 and Lightroom 2.

I LOVE Lightroom. I even made it my default when I plug in my camera. iPhoto is nice, but it bugs the **** out of me. So slow sometimes. Lightroom is a very fast and clean program. Looks pretty too.

Photoshop CS4 is a lot more powerful than most people will EVER need, and most of the stuff, people won't even notice. Elements is for the people that want to just do some basic edits to their photo, and a little bit more advanced things. Not do full on graphic design. Since I want to be a graphic designer, that's why I learned it and use it.

[compleks]

Thanks for input everyone!

I'm sure elements will keep me busy for quite some time.

[FoG]

I use Serif Photplus and Drawplus to me it seems odd people spend so much on Photoshop for "hobby" work I think I will leave that for the Pro's as I get amazing results for afr far less and to be honest it is wayyy easier to get your head round and can do almost as much as one pro near me said after borrowing mine he was simply annoyed by the price of photoshop after. but it can do more .. I will have to get it for the RAW image factoor unless the new Serif RAW is very very good

[windrider86]

There's been a ton of discussion on this very subject all ready. Just to put my 2 cents in anyway tho.
I have CS3 and never use it. For me, al the controls are all in different areas and makes it a pain int he butt for me.Of course I am used to PSP
I use Paint Shop Pro that can and does do everythig PS can do and its alot less expensive. All your controls are in one easy place

[candleman]

i've started with Elements and its brilliant.. i've yet to find something i cant do.. sure it may be easier in CS4.. necessity is the mother of invention. so i just get creative in how i use it and i've done some cool stuff. but i dotn dabble with the graphic design stuff.

i reccomend elements, but as soon as ai get the cash i'm getting LR2 and CS3 elements was the perfect learning platform.. but i now need a more efficient workflow.

[OsmosisStudios]

Originally Posted by dseymour

. iPhoto is nice, but it bugs the **** out of me.

You know, I got a mac a few months ago and have yet to try iPhoto. I dont think it offers anything that I think I would actually use.