PSE vs CS

[clarabear]

So, I currently have Creative Suite 2 I think and I have started thinking lately that it may be more program than I need but it is all I know. So, I would like to hear from those of you that have used one or the other and especially both to see what your thoughts are about them.

The things I am specifically wondering about is time, actions, layers, and anything else you may feel is important. Thanks guys.

 

[Cat]

Well I am a convert to CS2 from PSE I journalled my transition in my blog because I had a hard time making the switch, having installed and uninstalled CS2 more than 3 times!

I now love CS2, there is so much more CS2 has the PSE doesnt have. The main thing is actions, I love photo actions and particularly Amanda's (Taylormade) Her actions and others like the pioneer woman are fabulous but they are not compatiable to PSE. I also love working paths, be it through brush work on text, the option is not available in PSE.

I dont use PSE anymore for scrapping, the one thing I did miss when I was making the transition was the photo bin, but I am now past that LOL, the only thing I use PSE for is for my organising my photos now.

 

[stephie]

elements is just a small mini version of CS2. ACtions are harder to use in PSE, but isn't impossible. I own CS3 and PSE5 only because I had Elements first and got CS3 as an addition to my photography business. I needed to mass edit things in RAW. and More actions, and stuff.

 

[NewAdmin]

yep... i totally second everything that has been said. CS seems VERY overwhelming when you first start using it... and i had the same thought when i converted... that it was too much program. but i assure you... if you have it... keep it and keep learning. there are things that program can do that i go and FIND uses for. hahahaha. didn't think i needed them until i knew they were there. now i can't live without them. lol. it's a GREAT program... it really is.

PLUS... most designers use that program, so your chances of compatibility with whatever is released is much better... be it actions or brushes or whatever.

 

[mei74]

clara - i have pse at home and that is what i started with. at work, i now have cs, and wow! So much to learn but also really cool. i still do like my pse because i know it so well, but i like learning about cs now too.

 

[clarabear]

Good to know. Even after using it for a year i feel like there is still so much to learn and so much t hat I don't use but then I will randomly find something and be like "Wher have you been all my life."

 

[NewAdmin]

"Where have you been all my life." bahahahaahah. that's funny clara. lol. and i TOTALLY know what you mean. i've been using it for almost 2 years and i STILL find stuff like that. lol

 

[petey111]

Uh...yeah...ditto everything everyone said. I started with PSE6 on my PC. Got my Mac laptop and put PSE 6 on there. But it also came with CS3. I scrap in PSE more. There's just some little things that I wasn't used to on CS3 that slowed me down. Transforming layers was an extra key stroke and accepting the transformation was another key stroke. Just little things. But I use it when I want to do something with actions that others have created and texts on paths.

 

[~*Lainebean*~]

yep, same as everyone! I have pse 6 and my mom has CS2, so when i scrap on her comp (very rarely, HA!) I use her CS2... I love the actions but i miss the photo bin!! And it was weird how the shortcut keys were different! I havent used it enough to really discover/understand anything different besides that

 

[katg1006]

It was an adjustment to go from PSE to CS2 at first...but I love it I am definitely a CS2 fan

 

[NewAdmin]

Uh...yeah...ditto everything everyone said. I started with PSE6 on my PC. Got my Mac laptop and put PSE 6 on there. But it also came with CS3. I scrap in PSE more. There's just some little things that I wasn't used to on CS3 that slowed me down. Transforming layers was an extra key stroke and accepting the transformation was another key stroke. Just little things. But I use it when I want to do something with actions that others have created and texts on paths.

hey... just curious... when you say "transforming layers" ... what do mean?

 

[t_a_l_i]

I use PSE7. I don't think I'll probably ever be in the position to upgrade to CS2 or anything like that.

I love PSE. But ... I would kill for more action possibilities. I know how to install them, but there aren't many that are compatible with PSE and that is a huge bummer!

 

[Madi]

I voted PSE because I only have PSE5 (and love it).

I checked for prices and CS4 costs 1000 euro's and there's even a version for almost 1500 euro's. PSE is about 100 euro's. I read that some of you said "it came with my computer", so I guess if I wanted to change I'd be better of getting a new computer with CS on it!

 

[snappy2003]

I just got CS4 for Christmas but am used to using PSE6. What I've been doing is using PSE for my layouts and CS4 to edit my photos. I figure I'll start slow and work my way up . My DS got me a book to help learn it but I haven't cracked it open yet, I wonder if there's a book geared towards scrappers....hmm...

Anyhow, that's where I stand, it's very powerful and I imagine I'll get there it'll just take time. It took me a long time to move from DIP to PSE as well.

 

[NewAdmin]

I just got CS4 for Christmas but am used to using PSE6. What I've been doing is using PSE for my layouts and CS4 to edit my photos. I figure I'll start slow and work my way up . My DS got me a book to help learn it but I haven't cracked it open yet, I wonder if there's a book geared towards scrappers....hmm...

Anyhow, that's where I stand, it's very powerful and I imagine I'll get there it'll just take time. It took me a long time to move from DIP to PSE as well.

i haven't found a photoshop book yet that's geared toward scrappers. but i do know where you can find some tutorials. heheheeh

www.taylormade-designs.net

 

[petey111]

hey... just curious... when you say "transforming layers" ... what do mean?

On my version of CS3 on my Mac when I want to resize something, I have to click on the layer in the layers palete (which isn't always easy to see which layer I want) then hit cmmnd + T, resize, then hit return to accept the resizing. Maybe there's some preferences that will shorten some of that for me, but that's the kind of thing that I didn't want to spend time on since I had PSE at my disposal too. =)

If I took the time to learn it, I might like it better. But I'm too lazy to take the time to learn it.

 

[NewAdmin]

On my version of CS3 on my Mac when I want to resize something, I have to click on the layer in the layers palete (which isn't always easy to see which layer I want) then hit cmmnd + T, resize, then hit return to accept the resizing. Maybe there's some preferences that will shorten some of that for me, but that's the kind of thing that I didn't want to spend time on since I had PSE at my disposal too. =)

If I took the time to learn it, I might like it better. But I'm too lazy to take the time to learn it.

ahhh... gotcha. maybe this will help. not sure how different it is with a mac, but it might do the trick.

Checking these boxes should allow you to simply click on the element or photo right on the layout. when you click on it, your transform controls should automatically appear. also... in your layers palette, open a new document and then right-click underneath the layer... this should give you options to change the size of your layers so they are easier to see.

hope this helps. xoxo

 

[petey111]

Aha! Excellent tips. Thank you very much! Bite-sized pieces of info will get me there eventually. =)

 

[Bobbi]

i haven't found a photoshop book yet that's geared toward scrappers. but i do know where you can find some tutorials. heheheeh

www.taylormade-designs.net

Thanks Amanda! I got CS4 for Christmas. I have it loaded, but haven't attempted a layout yet. My comfort level is still with PSE5. I'm sure I will have plenty of questions along my journey of learning.