Simple Photoshop beginner question

[tracydanger]

[i][b]I just want to know as a beginner if I should go ahead and buy Photoshop CS5 or will Photoshop Elements suffice?[/b][/i]  I have googled this 100 times and just can't find a quick and simple answer.  Please help! 

I am still learning my camera, photography basics, and making a business plan for the future. I am interested in portraiture--likely of babies, children, seniors.  Will start as on location photographer.

  I know that I need to be careful in buying the key equipment that I will need down the road.  Even if Elements is more affordable I do not want to waste $100 that I could just put towards PS CS5.  I want to be sure that I am learning what I need to learn with that software, too.  Learning on a Canon Rebel T2i to start.

Please, just some simple advice.  I do not have time or patience for nasty answers--which I have experienced on other sites.  I am serious about where I want to go with this, and I am really looking for a forum where I can learn from and respect the other members. TIA!!!  Ali

[sonoranhawk]

Tracy, I started years ago with Elements, then graduated to the full Photoshop package, which I've been using for 4 years.  I guess it all depends on what you think you might want to do in the future. You can do a lot with Elements, Photoshop CS5 takes it to a higher level.  The tools are more advanced, you have more options for image adjustment, you have layer masks, can create your own actions, and there are tools in CS5 that aren't in Elements.  If I had known in the beginning where I was going with my photography, I'd have bought the full Photoshop package instead of Elements. If you're going to do this as a business, then go with CS5.  You also might consider Lightroom which is in between the two in capability.

[lynnrider]

Hi Tracy - I am a huge fan of Lightroom - only problem with it (and I'm on version 3 now) is that for advanced cloning/healing work I still have to send the image over to Photoshop.  Having said that, although I have CS3 (and haven't upgraded it) I do most everything I need to do in LR3.  Adobe offers full 30 day trials - you might want to try them on and then make a decision.  Hope that helps!

[tracydanger]

Thank you for your advice and opinions.  Much appreciated.

[jackaldridge]

Hi Tracy,
You might want to consider downloading the trial versions and taking a look at each program. There are also plenty of training sites on the web for each program that can give you more info about the differences between them. CS5 is great, but be prepared to attack the learning curve. Elements will ease you into the curve more slowly...

[cursmicon]

Hi Tracy,

Welcome to Photoworkshop.com. 

It depends on what you want to do with your images. 

I have used Elements since 2004 when I first got into digital photography.  (FWIW, I have been a photographer since 1955.) 

What I seek in an image processor is something that allows me to do the same things I used a film (chemical) darkroom for, as well as to take advantage of some of the unique and handy features that digital photography allows.

Personally, and at the risk of bringing down "wrath" <GRIN> of dedicated users of the full PS program on my head, I have never been able to justify the expense of the full program. 

If you are planning to do extensive image modification, creating graphic art and the like, you will probably want the full program. 

You might want to go to the Adobe website ( https://www.adobe.com/cfusion/tdrc/index.cfm?product=design_premium&promoid=EBYER ) and check out the free trial offer to see if you will need all the features of the full program.

Hope this helps,

Jerry Currier

[PS4EVER]

Hi,,,  As a user of the full version of PS ever since version 2.5,  I would not be without it, as my user name implies, BUT that means nothing as far as some one else is concerned. I believe in using [u]what is needed to do a job[/u], and no more, so for a beginner I would say to get and "learn" the Elements version first. There are two main reasons for [u]only[/u] doing it that way. - 1st you save the money up front and still get what you need to do your work. - 2nd you don't spend a LOT of money on something you don't even know how to use yet. Save the money, learn the program, and then decide if the full versions is what you need. UNTIL you learn how to use Photoshop you will not even know what all you will need to do the job.
Like the old saying goes, "Look before you leap."

[BeaFriedli]

how much money do you want to spend ?  what are your intentions with photography ?
Business or just pleasure ?  Don't get too caught up with new and fangled. Simple basic programs works just as well. Depends upon what YOU want and really need

[The Regsy]

HI Tracy, 

From my point of view I use both, I have elements on an older laptop that I take out with me to edit on the fly, should I need to and CS5 on my main PC at home.  If you are beginning then I would suggest Elements, its a great package and has a lot of the features from CS5 built right in, it is also far far easier to use than the full on Photoshop.  I have found very little that I need that isn't there in Elements and I am  usually very happy processing large volumes of photos through it, I have also been running Lightroom and if your budget would stretch that far Lightroom and Elements would be a good combination to have.

Of course, as usual, it all depends on what you want/need from the software, I use lightroom because I cover local music events for a local newspaper and website this means that I usually process through a couple of thousand photos over a weekend (sometime more!) and Lightroom is great for this, Elements provides the full range of tools that you are likely to need, from healing to layer manipulation and the usual editing functions, and Elements usually has a wizard to do things for you (like red-eye removal) The CS packages don't making it a much steeper learning curve.

So its all down to your needs, but Elements is powerful, friendly and very cheap so you can get Elements and a good guide book and still save money against CS5.

Good luck and I look forward to seeing some of your work on here soon. 

[Charlie Cotugno]

Hi Tracy,

Like everyone else has said you should really try to download a trial version of each to see what suits you best. Another plug for Lightroom, a lot of photographers have gone to using this program and hardly use Photoshop. You can do extensive touchup in Lightroom, I suspect many of us are used to the retouching methods in Photoshop and the Lightroom works is a bit foriegn. It just takes a little bit of learning.

There's also a new plug-in from OnOne Software called Layers for Photographers that allows you to use layers in Lightroom much the same you do in Photoshop. You might find that this combination is better for you and more cost effective than the full-blown Photoshop. 

My workflow uses both Lightroom 3 and Photoshop CS5, once you start getting your feet wet in all of this you'll discover what works best for you.

Good Luck!
Charlie

[StearnsJD]

[quote author=tracydanger link=topic=5.msg7#msg7 date=1290900345]
[i][b]I just want to know as a beginner if I should go ahead and buy Photoshop CS5 or will Photoshop Elements suffice?[/b][/i]  I have googled this 100 times and just can't find a quick and simple answer.  Please help! 

I am still learning my camera, photography basics, and making a business plan for the future. I am interested in portraiture--likely of babies, children, seniors.  Will start as on location photographer.

  I know that I need to be careful in buying the key equipment that I will need down the road.  Even if Elements is more affordable I do not want to waste $100 that I could just put towards PS CS5.  I want to be sure that I am learning what I need to learn with that software, too.  Learning on a Canon Rebel T2i to start.

Please, just some simple advice.  I do not have time or patience for nasty answers--which I have experienced on other sites.  I am serious about where I want to go with this, and I am really looking for a forum where I can learn from and respect the other members. TIA!!!   Ali



[/quote]Check this out : http://www.bls.gov/oco/ocos264.htm
Jim Stearns

[jiobrien]

Hello Tracy, I'll just pile on 1 more response.  I've used Elements in the past, and found it quite satisfactory.  Now I'm using CS5 with the complete onOne plug-in set. In my workflow, I take the image through Camera Raw, an Adobe plug-in which has a powerful set of tools for initial processing. Adobe usually offers upgrades from Elements to CSx, that's how I started using PS, the full version. You get to try out some of the Photoshop (PS) tools and see how they work for you, and by that time you'll probably know whether you need or want more. I tried LightRoom, but never could get used to it; as someone pointed out in an earlier response, it is different, although powerful itself. Whatever you decide, enjoy!

[Mickey9Grona]

[quote author=tracydanger link=topic=5.msg7#msg7 date=1290900345]
[i][b]I just want to know as a beginner if I should go ahead and buy Photoshop CS5 or will Photoshop Elements suffice?[/b][/i]  I have googled this 100 times and just can't find a quick and simple answer.  Please help! 

I am still learning my camera, photography basics, and making a business plan for the future. I am interested in portraiture--likely of babies, children, seniors.  Will start as on location photographer.

  I know that I need to be careful in buying the key equipment that I will need down the road.  Even if Elements is more affordable I do not want to waste $100 that I could just put towards PS CS5.  I want to be sure that I am learning what I need to learn with that software, too.  Learning on a Canon Rebel T2i to start.

Please, just some simple advice.  I do not have time or patience for nasty answers--which I have experienced on other sites.  I am serious about where I want to go with this, and I am really looking for a forum where I can learn from and respect the other members. TIA!!!   Ali



[/quote]

Felt nice after reading your comment tracydanger. Actually i am also learning portraiture. I started my study with posing and Camera positions.... I am feeling glad to discuss about portraiture with you. I would love to take suggestions regarding it from you. So be in touch buddy!