Photographer
Alan John Images
Posts: 818
Washington, District of Columbia, US
After I got PS elements 6, I added some free plug-ins including a real curve feature (not the lousy PSE one), and a bunch of action pre-sets that duplicate a lot of what PSE is missing like duotone. The only thing I can think of that I can't do with PSE now is harness the 16 bit capability of PS. Is there anything else I'm missing that would compromise post-prod if I don't get the full PS?
Photographer
Craig S
Posts: 232
London, England, United Kingdom
One thing that springs to mind is that some plug-ins don't allow commercial use so you might be limited with what you can do with the end result.
Photographer
lll
Posts: 12295
Seattle, Washington, US
Elements, even with plug-ins, does not have any major retouching features. It is nowhere close to the full Photoshop.
That said, if it is enough for your use, it is enough. Of course you are missing a lot with the full Photoshop, but if you are not even aware of what you "need" in Photoshop, you don't need it.
As an aside:
Those who pirate the full version really should just buy Elements.
Photographer
Eros Studios
Posts: 690
Boston, Massachusetts, US
Simpy - Yes.
As soon as you can you should get the full version and work hard learning it's capabilities in regard to photo retouching. There's a reason PS Elements is a about a fifth of the cost of the real deal.
Retoucher
Kevin_Connery
Posts: 3307
Fullerton, California, US
lll wrote:
That said, if it is enough for your use, it is enough. Of course you are missing a lot with the full Photoshop, but if you are not even aware of what you "need" in Photoshop, you don't need it. Agree 100%.
The full version of Photoshop supports a lot of things Elements doesn't, but if your style doesn't need those tools, you won't miss them.
General limitations of Elements 6 vs Photoshop CS3/4:
Limited automation: no recording of Actions; no Scripts. (You can RUN some existing Actions via workarounds, but you can't record your own. Since I typically record a half-dozen temp ones every week...)
No CMYK. Limits masking and extremely hinders--almost eliminates--the ability to properly prepare files for press.
No LAB. Limits masking, makes some color correction very difficult, makes some color changes very difficult, makes some kinds of retouching more difficult.
No direct access to the underlying channels. This is a huge limitation for compositing and color correction.
No tool presets for quick access to commonly used settings.
Limited options on colorspaces. For typical use, that's not critical, as the major ones are supported. For some kinds of fine-tuning, it's a non-trivial limitation.
Limited Adjustment Layers.
No Calculations or Apply Image.
Layer masking is unavailable except via kludging.
No access to 16-bit mode. That's a substantial limitation for black-and-white.
No pen tool; limited vector capabilities. Not critical for some forms of photography; very important if doing graphics.
No Smart Objects/Smart Layers/Smart Filters.
No Vanishing Point. (Perspective cloning/pasting)
Limited HDR support.
A bunch of other things which probably don't matter to most photograph
The first four (bolded items) are enough to eliminate Elements for me as a production tool, and three of them been present since at least version 2--I think they were there in v1, but I'm not sure; I didn't use PS much until v2--other products were more powerful, and I mostly just used PS for conversions and calculations. Actions came later, in v4.
For a LOT of photographic work, Elements is absolutely fine; it's surprisingly powerful. But the limits are reached much sooner, and many relatively simple tasks in Photoshop are either impossible or very time-consuming in Elements. Depending on my clients, I often suggest they use Elements and see if they run into problems. (Not any photographer who has to deliver CMYK files, though!)
Photographer
Not This Guy
Posts: 12851
Aspen Cove, Guam, US
I bought a copy of Elements to put on my 3rd PC because my full version only allowed it to be installed on 2. I didn't expect it to have full function but I found it to be so frustrating I uninstalled it and gave it away.
The thing I hated most was the archiving. I couldn't figure out how to get it turned off. I'm kind of set in my ways when it comes to my file structure. I need to load jobs, finish them, back them up, and get them off my PC and out of my mind. Elements wanted to hold onto everything.
I would have loved it if it was just a stripped down version of the tools. I just couldn't deal with the way it wanted me to bring files in and out of it.
Photographer
Montage Images
Posts: 164
Tacoma, Washington, US
99.9% of people will never use the full potential of Photoshop CS2,CS3 or CS4. Elements with the plugins is just fine, you don't need to go out and spend the $600.
Photographer
timhem
Posts: 88
Livonia, Michigan, US
There is a student version of CS4 available at most college book stores for around $180, which isn't that much more than elements with some plug ins. I don't what differences there are in the student version versus the full price CS4 but am sure someone here will enlighten me quickly.
Retoucher
Kevin_Connery
Posts: 3307
Fullerton, California, US
timhem wrote:
I don't what differences there are in the student version versus the full price CS4 but am sure someone here will enlighten me quickly. EDIT
None.
You must qualify to buy it, but the contents are the same. (Sometimes they don't include some of the stock art and other 'extras', but the software is identical.)
Adobe introduced a new Student version in CS4, which does have more limitations than their Educational/Academic versions. According to Adobe's Student Edition FAQ Can a Student Edition also be used for commercial purposes?
In North America, Student Edition software can be used for commercial purposes. Outside North America, Student Edition software is for noncommercial purposes only. (The UK FAQ, for example, says: "Student Edition products may not be used for commercial gain."
Prior to CS4, there was no distinction between 'student' and 'educator'; the price for an instructor was the same as for a student, no commercial limits were imposed, and it had the same installation limits--two non-concurrently used computers (laptop/desktop, office/work, etc.) Now, the 'Student' edition is even cheaper while the 'Educator' isn't as heavily discounted. The rules changed when I wasn't looking.
Photographer
Ross Clark
Posts: 164
Mansfield, Ohio, US
Student version is also limited to installation on one machine only.
Photographer
Ross Clark
Posts: 164
Mansfield, Ohio, US
Student version is also limited to installation on one machine only.
Photographer
lll
Posts: 12295
Seattle, Washington, US
Ross Clark wrote:
Student version is also limited to installation on one machine only. That is not true. No. Student version can be installed on two non-concurrently used computers.
Photographer
Kevin Connery
Posts: 17824
El Segundo, California, US
lll wrote:
That is not true. No. Student version can be installed on two non-concurrently used computers. New for CS4, Student Edition
Student Edition FAQ wrote:
How many computers can I use a Student Edition on?
A Student Edition can be used on only one computer. This is ensured through a product activation procedure, which is performed online. They split the Academic/Education version into 2 different ones: Academic and Student. Different pricing, different eligibility, and different licensing.
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