CS2 or Elements 7

[Breanna]

Hello everyone!!

I was just given CS2 as a gift. I've been working in Elements 7 for the last 8 months. I'm stilling learning how to use it. I downloaded CS2, but now I'm wondering if I'm taking a step back. I plan on upgrading to CS4 soon.

Is there a huge difference between the programs? Any suggestions, like learning the CS2 before purchasing CS4? Should I get rid of Elements 7 now that I have CS2? Does CS2 organize your photos like Elements? I haven't even opened the program up on my computer yet...kind of scared...lol

Thank you!
Bre

[Rolling Stone]

You have upgraded. CS2 will be a great learning tool before you get CS4. Buy the time you learn it, you may have saved up for CS4 or higher.
Not sure what you mean by organizing your photos. I retrieved all my folders through my pic folder in Windows. After PP, they can be saved into the same folder.
I would keep E7 until you are very familiar with CS2. It's nice to have something to use as a quick backup that you are familiar with.
Good thing you didn't open it up yet. It would have made your computer explode! I'm kidding. Open it up and start your new journey!
Have fun.

[Free]

Start playing on CS2, there's not going to be a huge learning curve between 2 & 4 and the more basics you know the better you'll be.

[Breanna]

Thank you for your replies. I've hit a wall...I can't open CR2 files in Bridge. I've been reading the manual and I also bought Scott Kelby's Photoshop CS2 book.

Right now when I upload my photos from my camera they go directly into Elements 7 and are saved as CR2 files. When I double click on them to open in Photoshop it reads that it "can not complete my request because it is not the right kind of document."

I want to be able to have all my photos directly go into either Bridge or Photoshop. I'm still learning Elements but I would really like to be able to learn CS2 but without a pictures I can't do much..LOL

PLEASE HELP ME!!!!!!!!!!! LOL

[Samanax]

You won't be able to directly open the RAW files from a Canon XSi with CS2. The last Canon EOS Rebel that was supported by ACR 3.7 (the latest Adobe Camera RAW converter for CS2) was the XTi/400D.

You can get around this by converting your RAW files to DNG with the Adobe DNG Converter. Photoshop CS2 can work with DNG files.

Using Photoshop CS, CS2, or CS3 for new cameras

I've heard that ACR 4.6 does work with CS2 and will allow you to open the XSi RAW files from Photoshop, but I've never tried it.

[HankW]

You might check your PSE7 Edit> preferences and turn off Automatic download/install. I don't remember how it reads but this will allow you to make the choice of which program you want to use. I ran into this problem when I started using lightroom but it's been awhile. As mentioned above, you will need the current ACR for your camera RAW files.. Check adobe for the latest version for the camera your using and you should be all set.

[Free]

Originally Posted by Breanna

Thank you for your replies. I've hit a wall...I can't open CR2 files in Bridge. I've been reading the manual and I also bought Scott Kelby's Photoshop CS2 book.

Right now when I upload my photos from my camera they go directly into Elements 7 and are saved as CR2 files. When I double click on them to open in Photoshop it reads that it "can not complete my request because it is not the right kind of document."

I want to be able to have all my photos directly go into either Bridge or Photoshop. I'm still learning Elements but I would really like to be able to learn CS2 but without a pictures I can't do much..LOL

PLEASE HELP ME!!!!!!!!!!! LOL

Download the latest camera raw from adobe