Photoshop Elements: Which one?

[faerywings]

My computer has been giving me a lot of issues lately and I might need to strip it down or get a new one. Either way, I might not be able to reinstall Photoshop CS5.

If that is the case, I am going to need to get a version of Elements since Creative Cloud is not an option. (why did they do that? ugh). So I have questions, lots of questions.
Can you tell me a bit about whichever version of PSE you use? I don't think I can buy anything other than PSE 20 on Adobe's website.
If you have used Photoshop, was it hard to move to PSE?
What did you miss the most so I can prepare myself?
Do brushes/masks/actions/styles all work with it?

Sorry for being a bit of a pain but I appreciate knowing what I might the getting into LOL

 

[seniorgal]

I find PSE much easier to use. I have 19 and looked at 20 and it has some new good features. You may be a little disappointed with the shadows but there is a way to separate them so you can warp them. I used Photoshop CS5 for a year and went back to PSE because it's so less frustrating and I can do layouts so much faster.
You will probably get answers that will contradict this.:eyebrows:
Brushes/masks/actions/styles all work with it. (Unless they were made specifically for Photoshop)

 

[BrightEyes]

Chris, I use PSE 2020 as it has a lot of new features I like. It is much easier to work with than PS. There should be a new PSE coming out in Oct or Nov. Best Buy has PSE 2020 on sale for $30 off right now and can be bought on-line. I have been able to load actions, brushes, masks, styles, etc into PSE with no problems. Just be sure to save the ones you have in their own files so they are available for you to upload to PSE. The difference in shadows in PSE vs PS is that in PSE the shadows are not on a separate layer and when you change the angle of light/shadow on one item it will change it for all the shadows on that page.

Good luck on getting your computer cleaned up and reset.

 

[Madi]

I have only and always worked with PSE,
So I can not tell you what you will miss.

 

[zanthia]

i have pse 10 - i know ancient but i love it. i have tried nearly every version since then ( via demo) and always go back to pse 10.

the user interface is a 1000 times better thats why i stick with it. complaints people have about later version dont exist for me

 

[Nickel]

I used PSE 7 at work when I had CS5 at home.

The only Adobe didn't incorporate was the Pen tool (for free forms, I believe they have a kind to make text paths..but maybe I'm wrong because I was never tempted to download a try version

 

[faerywings]

Thanks for the info, everyone. I am dealing with the computer locking up as best I can. I am too terrified to mess around with it.
I save my LOs every time I change something which is a total pain, but you know what's worse? Losing almost the entire process of a page because the darn thing froze again!

 

[seniorgal]

Sorry you're having computer problems. I wish women had designed them and all would be smooth sailing!
Idea: you could always try the 30 day free trial for PSE 20 and see how you like it.
I love the photo bin where you can put all the items you want to use on your layout so they are ready to go.

 

[Danesa]

I don't have any good info for you, but I do know the feeling of losing everything you've worked so hard and deliberate on. I try to remember to save often but sometimes this mind forgets and that's when it always happens! ugh Good luck. I'm keeping my fingers crossed because my computer is misbehaving also so I know your stress level increases. Hugs