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Photoshop vs Photoshop Elements

gazfocus
gazfocus Posts: 2,467 Forumite
Part of the Furniture 1,000 Posts Name Dropper Combo Breaker
I'm looking to buy a more up to date version of Photoshop than what I've currently got, but the price is staggering. So much so that I'm considering buying Photoshop Elements instead.

Has anyone ever used Photoshop Elements? Is it any good? Basically I will only be using the software for web design so don't need all the 'pro' features of Photoshop, just need layers, blending options, etc.

Any advice would be great.
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Comments

  • swvillafan
    swvillafan Posts: 436 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 100 Posts Combo Breaker
    Hi there, there is a free tool called the GIMP, fairly similar to Photoshop and the like but at no cost. Might be worth a go first and if you dont like it then nothing lost! :)
    Useful is beautiful
  • mr_fishbulb
    mr_fishbulb Posts: 5,224 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture Combo Breaker
    gazfocus wrote: »
    Has anyone ever used Photoshop Elements? Is it any good? Basically I will only be using the software for web design so don't need all the 'pro' features of Photoshop, just need layers, blending options, etc.
    Elements should do that, but depends how much you want to use layer masking. Apparently it's not as good at that bit.
  • chrisbur
    chrisbur Posts: 4,263 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 1,000 Posts Photogenic Name Dropper
    I have used several versions of elements, currently on 8, and have yet to find any need to move up from this. You can have a free trial of the latest version at
    https://www.adobe.com/cfusion/tdrc/index.cfm?product=photoshop_elements&loc=en_gb
    The trial versions are just the same as the full versions and you can use them for 30 days.
  • poppy10_2
    poppy10_2 Posts: 6,588 Forumite
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    Photoshop Elements is fine, it does everything the average home user would ever want to do. The full Photoshop is really only for graphic designers and pirates.

    Oh, and the GIMP is an unusable mess designed for masochists, you can try it out if you want as it is free, but I doubt you will want to keep it.
    poppy10
  • PZH
    PZH Posts: 1,599 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture Combo Breaker
    swvillafan wrote: »
    Hi there, there is a free tool called the GIMP, fairly similar to Photoshop and the like but at no cost. Might be worth a go first and if you dont like it then nothing lost! :)

    :rotfl: Shame about the name ;) But going to download and give this a try :T
    poppy10 wrote: »
    Oh, and the GIMP is an unusable mess designed for masochists, you can try it out if you want as it is free, but I doubt you will want to keep it.

    :rotfl: And then I read the next post... (Still going to try it though)
    “That old law about 'an eye for an eye' leaves everybody blind. The time is always right to do the right thing.”
  • ukcarper
    ukcarper Posts: 17,337 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 10,000 Posts Name Dropper
    I’m using elements 6 after using photoshop4 in the past, the only thing that I did miss a first was curves which is better in photoshop but now I find it covers all my needs.
  • gazfocus
    gazfocus Posts: 2,467 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 1,000 Posts Name Dropper Combo Breaker
    Thanks, I'm currently waiting for Photoshop Elements 9 trial to download but it's taking forever lol.

    It's good to hear that there are some people that switched from Photoshop to Elements so hopefully I'll be fine with it, especially as it's so much cheaper.

    I've looked at GIMP in the past but I must agree with Poppy, it's an unuseable mess so wouldn't dream of relying on it for work.
  • Farway
    Farway Posts: 14,814 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 10,000 Posts Homepage Hero Name Dropper
    gazfocus wrote: »
    I've looked at GIMP in the past but I must agree with Poppy, it's an unuseable mess so wouldn't dream of relying on it for work.

    Agreed, you could also try gimpshop

    GIMPshop is a modification of the free/open source GNU Image Manipulation Program (GIMP), intended to replicate the feel of Adobe Photoshop. Its primary purpose is to make users of Photoshop feel comfortable using GIMP

    Just Google it to try it
    Gardener’s pest is chef’s escargot
  • mr_fishbulb
    mr_fishbulb Posts: 5,224 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture Combo Breaker
    poppy10 wrote: »
    Photoshop Elements is fine, it does everything the average home user would ever want to do. The full Photoshop is really only for graphic designers and pirates.
    Very popular in Somalia :)
  • JJ_Egan
    JJ_Egan Posts: 20,281 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 10,000 Posts Name Dropper
    Elements has about 90% of photoshop tools .
    Most non pro users will have no problem using it over photoshop .

    If you find that elements is missing tools to do something after trying then you can buy the far more expensive photoshop . Thats the route i would go .


    jje
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