CSE5 versus PSE9-10

[LaurieW]

I have an offer from Amazon to upgrade from PSE9 to CSE5 for $187. Not being a designer, what can I do if I upgrade that I cannot do now? I have until March 3rd to decide. I have begun to do more photo editing with PSE as well as started doing some of my scrap pages. This seems like a great deal, but I want to make sure it is a great deal for me.

 

[yvonnahenna]

CSE5 is Photoshop CS5?

I never worked with PSE. So I can't compare anything.
I always had photoshop. Now I have CS3. I can say that I love Photoshop! LOL

Not really usefull my post

 

[taxed4ever]

Laurie - You can do more shadowing and filters and a bunch more things in CS5 than PSE it takes a bit to learn but there are all kinds of tutorials out there. I used to have PSE6 and made the switch to CS5 and I love it!!! Started with CS3 and worked my way up to CS5 and have never looked back. I say go for it!!

 

[mrstoa]

Hi Laurie

I have both PE 6 (and 9) and Photoshop 4.

If I want to do layout quickly I use PE6. It actually does everything I need it to do. I've learned to do shadow etc and have a mask action I use, if needed.
I also use Pioneer Woman's actions for special effects - they are free and adaptable.

PS 4 has a high learning curve -- well for me .. I've found that learning speed is decreasing as my age increases

That being said the next time Lightroom goes on sale I will purchase it!
If you are mainly interested in photo manipulation I think this is the best option IMHO
Hope this doesn't make your decision more confusing.

 

[annette.]

That being said the next time Lightroom goes on sale I will purchase it!

Lightroom is 50% off at Adobe's website until March 5.

 

[petey111]

I do most of my scrapping in PSE and it's fine for me. I just haven't taken the time to learn CS3 very much. I didn't have to pay for it either. I've occasionally delved into it for text paths, some actions, and when I made an animated gif. But I'm not necessarily artsy fartsy with my layouts. So it would be a tough call for me.

 

[clarabear]

Lightroom is 50% off at Adobe's website until March 5.

Good to know...I'll have to check that out.


As far as CS vs. PSE...I love PSE. I started with CS2 and it definitely overwhelmed me. The only thing I really missed was the actions ability. I lost all of the actions I had and the PSE ones are improving but not as good as the CS ones. But that is the only thing I missed.

 

[CookingMyLife]

I started out with Photoshop CS, the first CS version, and I tried to teach myself. OMG what a nightmare! A friend's husband was using it but strictly as a semi-pro photographer. I soon realized that 1. it was going to be too hard to learn for what I wanted to do...play with what i finally learned was scrapbooking! and 2. I was not interested in making my photos look professional/perfect etc.

I switched to the Mac PSE4 which was the only one out at that time, and now have PSE10. Because I got such a good deal on 10..like $40 at Costco incl the Linda Sattgast dvd on PSE10...I got it but all in all I was happy enough with PSE9.

Do you want to write your own actions? do you want lots of text on a path options? Do you seriously want to work on your photos beyond what PSE can do? Do you want to start learning a new program? Lightroom has its own learning curve and it is my not so humble opinion that Adobe software is the least intuitive I have ever learned. ymmv but that's how it's been for me.

I guess Laurie, I'd ask yourself where you want to go in scrapping. Do you want to design more things? or do you want to scrap more? Going with CS5 will give you opportunities for the former but you will have to take a great deal of time from the latter to learn it, and unlearn some of your PSE methods. That's my take each time I see a sale 'too good to miss.'

 

[petey111]

Maureen is so articulate. That makes so much sense the way she put it!! LOL

 

[LaurieW]

I am taking it all in. I knew it was a good price, since I have to pay non student/teacher price, but I am not sure I need it even at a good price- keep the info coming. I trust you guys

 

[Heather Prins]

I use CS5 and love it, but I have never used PSE

 

[wombat146]

I haven't used Photoshop only Elements and am currently using Ver.8 and I don't have any desire to change. It does everything I want it to. I love using actions and I love working with Lightroom. Lightroom is fabulous and not as hard as I thought it would be, but I am using it to highlight my photos for myself, not a photographer working on photos for a client so I really haven't delved into it all that much.

 

[Madi]

I played with CS5 a month for free, it was a big change.
Most of the time you can download a program and use it for a month for free, maybe that's an option for you.

I have PSE 9 and 5, and I still scrap with 5 because it's easier to work with familier stuff.
I thinks it's not all about the program you use, but how you use it?
Ona is still showing me tricks in Photoshop Elements and making me use buttons I never used before.

 

[Katherine B]

I have and use both (PSE6 and CS3 . . . will be upgrading this Spring to PSE10 and CS6).

My experience has been that Elements is better suited for scrapbooking than PS and PS is better suited for photography and design work than Elements (aside from a scrapbooker I am also a photography and graphic design major).

Best of luck with your decision.