Algernon Loc: Milwaukee, Wisconsin

I am a CC subscriber, using Lightroom. (Migrated from Aperture about a year ago and love LR by the way.)

I have previously used a downloaded license version of Elements 12 and still use it when I have the need to use Layers.

My question has to do with the feature set of Photoshop vs Elements. Is it worth my while to go ahead and enable PS on CC? "What do I get in PS that I can't do in Elements?"

I guess a related question is "how similar to Elements is the PS interface?" I am pretty comfortable with both LR and Elements.

Db7423 Loc: Pittsburgh, PA

My take on this is open it and see for yourself. There are probably a hundred more things you can do with Photoshop. If you have CC you are already paying for it. Photoshop is harder only because it does so much more than Elements and can be quite overwhelming at first. You can still keep and use your Elements. ;)

Bob Yankle Loc: Burlington, NC

If you're familiar with PSE 12 tools, you are already 85% of the way to being familiar with PS CC. There may be more tools and subsets of tools, and they may have more properties than you're used to, but they're laid out essentially the same. PS CC does layers like they're going out of style (which they're NOT - just a bit of hyperbole there).

georgevedwards Loc: Essex, Maryland.

I have both on my PC. There is nothing I have found so far in Elements that I can't do in Photoshop CC. However, there seem to be many things I am used to that just aren't in Elements. It is hard to come up with a list off the top of my head. My advice is this: it depends on your personality. Many good photographers I know who used Photoshop switched to elements, usually saying it was easier and did what they wanted, Photoshop Full edition is more complicated. I myself prefer the depth of Photoshop Full/CC, I like having all kinds of extra tools to work with. It is complicated and took me a long time to learn. Also the layout of each is different. Once you get used to one, the other layout uncomfortable. If you don't like a lot of post processing in your photos, Elements is for you. Personally I live for post processing, (using the Raw converter in CC is unmatched, so is its Panorama stitching and it can do focus stacking for instance) and CC is for me.

jeep_daddy Loc: Prescott AZ

Photoshop CC along with the other CS versions will allow you to work on 16-bit images in layers and do 16-bit adjustment layers along with 16-bit filters while PSE is (for the most part) only allowing you to use 8-bit images.
This may or may not be important to you but keeping my image data as high as it can be is important to me. When editing images in 8-bit mode, much data is lost with each layer edited.

Searcher Loc: Kent, England

Most of the effects filters in Photoshop are 8 bit only.

Rongnongno Loc: FL

PSE is a weak subset of PS CC.

For that reason alone you would have to be nuts to use PSE instead of what you pay for: An incredibly versatile program that is still unmatched.

Algernon Loc: Milwaukee, Wisconsin

[digression: it looks like I cannot do a multi-quote in this software, so a generic reply will have to suffice.]

Thanks to all.

I enjoy post-processing, so that aspect is not daunting. Over the years I have migrated my post-processing from Picasa, to Elements, to Aperture, and now to Lightroom.

My PSE is legacy. The only reason I use it instead of PS at this point is "because it is there". And, I suppose, because I already know how to use it. When the need for layers arises ... boom, there it is.

It sounds like the learning curve for PS will not be like starting over again with a completely new interface. And I might occasionally make use of the additional tools and filters.

One thing I'm sure of is that if and when I Google how to do something in Photoshop, the functionality will actually be there. Sometimes in the past I've gone to try something and found out that that particular tool or filter did not exist in PSE.

I guess since I have free access to PS, I might as well enable it and try it out. Worst case is I decide the additional functionality is not worth the effort of learning a different interface. Based on the responses so far, the level of similarity of the two UIs seems to be a matter of "eyes of the beholder".

Your advice and counsel is much appreciated. Thank you to fellow Hoggers.

dpullum Loc: Tampa Florida

Had PSE 10, loved my PSP-X7... had problems with stability of 8x10 crop falling into free form..%*#@.. so when a $40 PSE-13 came along I jumped and purchased. Great when you tell it 8x10 it does 8x10!!!

Realistically, PSE-13 is all I will need for years to come.. and unfortunately at my age the number of years to come are too few.. OUCH! PSE 13 has better features... Google PSE 13 vs PSE 11 or 12. I am pleased with PSE 13 and my full set of Topaz (full set now on sale for $99)

To augment my PSE-13 I added PSE plus which unlocks, so to speak, additional features. Well worth $12. For a list of actions and add-on to PSE see:
http://blissfullydomestic.com/life-bliss/more-free-actions-for-photohop-elements/15630/

jfn007 Loc: Close to the middle of nowhere.

I have Elements 11 and it does not have "Curves".

Preachdude Loc: Geneva, OH

There is a natural tendency in all of us to want one program to do everything, having all the right tools. Photoshop has all the tools anyone might ever need, but that may be more than you need. There are some features in both Photoshop and in Elements that are done better in other programs, such as noise reduction, hdr processing, and panorama stitching. In other words, both PS and Elements have their strengths and their weaknesses.

russelray Loc: La Mesa CA

A couple of years ago I was talking with one of the Adobe experts about Photoshop, Elements, and Lightroom and really liked the way he explained it:

Photoshop is the shop.
Elements are elements of the shop.
Lightroom is a room in the shop.

Do you want to work in a room, just use elements, or want the whole shop?

Well, I went for the whole shop.

mborn Loc: Massachusetts

:thumbup: :thumbup:

Joecosentino Loc: Whitesboro, New York

There was a survey sent out from Adobe on Friday asking about pricing. For subscriptions. They had us look at about 10 pricing plans and click wouldn't purchase this plan or not. The best one was Photoshop for $10/month but no mention of a bundle with lightroom. So if that is the case it could double the cost of CC.

THE FULL PACKAGES were 75 to 125/ month.

I really did not see an option I would sign up for. I currently have the full CC package but I am looking at one 1 now. I can see a bump in the subscription pricing coming.

Algernon Loc: Milwaukee, Wisconsin

Well, that would suck. Though it would resolve any question I might have about PS vs PSE. If pricing for a LR/PS bundle goes up significantly, then I would simply stay with LR as my main post-processing solution and use my licensed PSE version as needed.