Photoshop Elements 2.0

[mjs1973]

I just got my digital Rebel and I'm still working my way thru the manual. I haven't even opened the software book that came with the camera or installed any of the software on my PC. I currently have Photoshop 5.0 on my system. Is it worth the time and computer space to instal Photoshop Elements 2.0 since I already have Photoshop 5.0? Are there tools in the Elements 2.0 package that aren't available in my 5.0? Is the Elements 2.0 geared more towards the "digital darkroom" or is it just a simplified version of what I already have? One more question... I also have a Kodak point and shoot digital and have installed the Kodak software for downloading my pictures onto my PC. Can this same software be used with my Rebel or do I have to use the software that came with my Rebel?

[Asylum Steve]

There's no question that overall, PS 5.0 is a much more complete and versatile imaging program than PS Elements. Still, being an older version (PS CS is now version 8), there might actually be some features in PSE better geared to working with digital images (especially things like slideshows and sharing or emailing pics).

You can get a fairly good rundown of PSE's features on the adobe web site (http://www.adobe.com/). On the pulldown "products" menu go to "digital imaging"...

Obviously, the best thing would be to upgrade your full version PS to CS, but, yes, that would be expensive...

Still, if you plan to shoot in jpeg mode, PS 5.0 has all the basic tools you need to image edit.

As for the Kodak program, you will need to download the Canon software to work with the Rebel RAW files, but may find that you can use it for your Kodak camera also.

[Photo-John]

Like Steve said, Photoshop 5.0 is definitely a more comprehensive and powerful program than Elements 2.0. But starting with version 5.5, Adobe started adding color management tools to Photoshop. For good, predictable, consistent color, those tools are very important. I'm not sure if they're included in Elements 2.0, but if they are, it might be better to use that program. You don't absolutely need color management tools. But if you're serious about your photography, and you plan to share and print a lot of your photos, you'll likely find that you need more critical color control than Photoshop 5.0 offers.

[adina]

Is it the full version of 5.0? I bought a scanner a while back that came with 5.0 limited edition. When I installed Elements (came with the camera) it had things that the 5.0 le didn't have, but was also missing some things that 5.0 le did have.

I left both on, and just used whichever had the feature that I needed. Annoying, yes, but worked until I could buy cs.

adina

[mjs1973]

Hi Adina,

I do have the full version of 5.0. I haven't even bothered loading the 2.0 Elements program in order to save some space on my PC since it's getting pretty old. I am pretty new to the whole idea of digital imaging, but I have been familiar with PS for about 5 or 6 years now. I have never used it for anything major so I don't have any idea what the full potential of 5.0 is. From what I've heard, there are some things in 6.0 and higher that are very handy when it comes to playing with pictures so I may just delete 5.0 and download a newer version and be done with it, or maybe I will just hang onto the 5.0 version and learn as much as I can before I go higher. My only concern is that I may be handycapping myself by staying with the older version.... about the only thing that I am sure about is that I'm not going to install Elements 2.0. My feeling right now is if I'm going to install something else on my PC, I'm going to make it worth my while with either 7.0 or CS. At least that's what I have decided for now, that could change tomorrow tho. ;) Thanks for the info!!