Which Photoshop Elements?

[mom2rtk]

I got an early version of Photoshop elements (2.0) with my very first DSLR. Through the years, there have been a few functions in that program I have used, but about 6 years ago I started using Lightroom for the vast majority of my editing (99%). But every now and then, there's something from PSE I want to use and am glad to still have that program there.

So here's my question. I know it's woefully out of date, but I just haven't felt the drive to upgrade. But as my image files got larger, it got slower to view things in the program. After my computer crash a few weeks ago, I have gotten everything loaded back on except PSE. That's the last piece, and that's only because it's probably time to upgrade.

I guess since I've been using 2.0 for so long any version is going to be an improvement. Being the cheapskate that I am, my question is do I need the latest greatest? (15.0) or can I make due with an earlier version if I find a deal?

 

[11290]

I have both PSE 10 & 11 (got them free) on my computers and use 10 most of the time. 11 does a lot more but they changed the layout architecture somewhat in 11, in addition to the gray background which I didn't like, and I just didn't try getting used to it, so kind of stayed with 10.

Having said all of that, I am contemplating going to 15. A lot of new stuff in it and probably worth the money, I'm just bad about having to have the latest stuff.. Just got an email from ADOBE this morning with an offer of $69.99 on 15. Not a bad price but will probably wait until the Black Friday ads from Staples, Office Depot or Best Buy before pulling the trigger.

Biggest issue for me, I just don't seem to find the time lately to do much photography much less a lot of post process. Just seem to be too many things in the way. As an aside, I work part time about 4 times a year, 6 weeks at a time, at WDW. Have taken my DSLR, tripod, all the stuff each trip for the last couple of years and other than some other family trips to the parks for RunDisney events, just never take time to do any serious photography stuff, even on my days off. Pretty sad but just don't.

 

[mom2rtk]

I have both PSE 10 & 11 (got them free) on my computers and use 10 most of the time. 11 does a lot more but they changed the layout architecture somewhat in 11, in addition to the gray background which I didn't like, and I just didn't try getting used to it, so kind of stayed with 10.

Having said all of that, I am contemplating going to 15. A lot of new stuff in it and probably worth the money, I'm just bad about having to have the latest stuff.. Just got an email from ADOBE this morning with an offer of $69.99 on 15. Not a bad price but will probably wait until the Black Friday ads from Staples, Office Depot or Best Buy before pulling the trigger.

Biggest issue for me, I just don't seem to find the time lately to do much photography much less a lot of post process. Just seem to be too many things in the way. As an aside, I work part time about 4 times a year, 6 weeks at a time, at WDW. Have taken my DSLR, tripod, all the stuff each trip for the last couple of years and other than some other family trips to the parks for RunDisney events, just never take time to do any serious photography stuff, even on my days off. Pretty sad but just don't.

Best Buy has it online right now for 69.99. I saw it on Ebay for around $50.

I did think about waiting to see what Black Friday brings.

As you can tell by the fact that I had version 2.0, I'm really not a "latest and greatest" sort. But as I have mulled this over, I have started leaning toward making sure I do get the latest and greatest since it could be a decade or more before I upgrade again!

We only get to Disney once a year, so I do still try to make some time for photography on our trips. In between we like to visit national parks. I love landscape photography. I don't do tons of post processing, but I do some on every image I post or print (mostly for scrapbooking).

I hope you get a chance to break out the camera and tripod again soon!

Thanks for your input!

 

[havoc315]

Sure you don't want the most current LR and full photoshop for $10 per month?
The content aware features of photoshop are really the only thing I use anyway. Love content aware image rotation.

 

[mom2rtk]

Sure you don't want the most current LR and full photoshop for $10 per month?
The content aware features of photoshop are really the only thing I use anyway. Love content aware image rotation.

I'm just a cheapskate and don't want to commit $120/year to it. I used my first version of Lightroom for over 4 years. (I only upgraded because mine wouldn't support my change to the 6D).

I actually just went ahead and ordered PSE 15 on Amazon for $39.99 last night. Since I got my 2.0 version free with my first DSLR, I'm still happy with what my cost has been.

I also don't like needing to learn the ins and outs of program updates all the time. I really have very little time to devote to this hobby, so don't like using the little time I get figuring out a new function. That said, I know it limits me and every time I've been forced into an upgrade I've been happy in the end.

Now off to google "content aware" and second guess myself! See, you planted a seed. Next time I have to upgrade Lightroom, I'll be sure to check it out.

 

[havoc315]

Truthfully, content aware is the only feature of photoshop I use. I use Lightroom for everything else.
Basically, it's extremely advanced automated clone brushing.
You know when your horizon isn't straight... if you rotate the image, it has to get chopped into a smaller image... photoshop can keep the full size image and intelligently fill in the edges.
Want to remove unwanted objects from a photo? Just use a content-aware tool and photoshop intelligently fills in the background. (Success depending on how complicated the background is... but has a decent success rate). I'll post an example..

 

[havoc315]

Pre-photoshop:

DSC05368.jpg by Adam Brown, on Flickr

Used content aware to straighten the image and remove the strollers...

DSC05368-Edit.jpg by Adam Brown, on Flickr

 

[mom2rtk]

Truthfully, content aware is the only feature of photoshop I use. I use Lightroom for everything else.
Basically, it's extremely advanced automated clone brushing.
You know when your horizon isn't straight... if you rotate the image, it has to get chopped into a smaller image... photoshop can keep the full size image and intelligently fill in the edges.
Want to remove unwanted objects from a photo? Just use a content-aware tool and photoshop intelligently fills in the background. (Success depending on how complicated the background is... but has a decent success rate). I'll post an example..

That is pretty darn cool! I'm maintaining my cheapskate ways for now. But I could see myself giving this a serious look when the time comes to upgrade my Lightroom again.

As always, I really appreciate your input here!

 

[klmall]

I'm glad you purchased 15. You will have a bit of learning to do but I think you will really enjoy it! I used to buy books to help with using the features in PSE but now I just Google to learn!

I also just purchased PSE 15 online but haven't installed it yet. I have upgraded PSE whenever I see feature(s) I like or need. I'm looking forward to using the "facial features adjustment", the "speed pan", "perspective crop", and the "photo text" tools to save time and effort!

New features that I bought PSE 14 for were:
-Haze Removal (I tone this down usually but has been helpful in some landscape photos.)
-Shake Reduction (rarely helpful but when it works; it's great!)

And the one I use the most and my favorite, as mentioned earlier: Content Aware. Works so well for me that I rarely use the Clone tools anymore. I love this and feel it alone made PSE 14 worth every cent!

My problem is that I switched to Lightroom far too late in my editing learning. I am using it more and more (maybe for 80% for editing) but I find for some reason that "Adjust Lighting" in PSE is far easier for me to use over any comparable feature in Lightroom.

I too, refuse to pay $120 a year for the online version but occasionally when I see a tutorial covering a neat feature only in the online version I get the urge. Recently I saw a great example that used a perspective correction feature only available online. I'm hoping that the "perspective crop" in PSE 15 will work similarly. Online tempts me but I still want to 'own' my software so it's a question I debate.

And forget full-blown Photoshop. Never want to go there again after a full year trying to learn how to use it (long before Lightroom....).

Just holler if you have any PSE questions Janet!

 

[mom2rtk]

Thank so much @klmall! I'm looking forward to learning it. I appreciate the offer to answer my questions. I'm sure I'll be taking you up on that!

You think there will be much of a learning curve going from 2.0 to 15?

And if you have any questions as you continue to use Lightroom. I'm not an expert but have been using it for a while. I like it so much for exposure that I can't imagine using anything else. But maybe I'm in for a surprise!

Can't wait to get back from DLR with a bunch of new photos to try it out on!

 

[klmall]

I definitely will remember your offer Janet!

Thanks!

 

[mom2rtk]

OK, so I finally had a little time to install Elements 15 and start nosing around.

My first question has to do with the organization function. Under my ancient PSE, I didn't have to actually "import" photos. There was just a navigation panel that allowed me to find files anywhere on my computer to work on. Apparently with PSE 15 I have to import them.

When I started using Lightroom, I didn't realize that "importing" photos actually put a copy of the photo onto my computer's C drive and the internal memory filled up fast. So does PSE do the same thing? Will it be copying the photo into a separate file? I really don't want to take up more memory space like that?