jliane Loc: Washington state

I bought PS Elements 8 when it came out, but have only recently tried to use it since upgrading to my first DSLR, Nikon 5300. I've found it frustrating to use after having used Picasa and there is no longer access (at least that I can find) to tutorials for this version. I would like to upgrade to something more current, so I'd like input re upgrading to PSE 13 or if I get lightroom 6, is it reasonable to then keep using PSE 8? I'm leaning toward lightroom but that may be because it's newer than what I have now.

Bob Yankle Loc: Burlington, NC

PSE 13 will give you access to Layers, selections, and pixel-level editing which LR 6 will not. One of the features I use a lot is when leveling a photo, PSE 13 will fill in the edges with content-aware fill. It's a pretty nifty trick. I can do the same thing in PS CC 2015 but it takes 3 steps instead of 1.

UXOEOD

Lightroom is much more user-friendly. I tried PS Elements, and never did get the hang if it. Got Lightroom, and will agree it does not do everything that PS does, at least I CAN use it.

Good luck!

btbg

It depends on the kind of photo editing that you do. Lightroom doesn't do layers at all so if layers are important to you then it isn't your best choice. However, Lightroom is great for cataloging and basic photo editing.

If you spend the time to label your folders and photos properly it makes it incredibly easy to find a photo that you took years ago.

I love Lightroom and it would be what I use most frequently except that I need Photoshop for work. PSE doesn't have the power or capability of Photoshop, but is still a solid photo editor.

I know lots of people that swear by Picassa, but I don't know a single professional locally who is using it. They all have either Lightroom, Photoshop or both.

As far as tutorials go there is more than one way to do a tutorial. One choice is to buy used books that give instruction for the version of PSE that you have. Another is to use a tutorial for a newer version and do as much of it as your version will allow.

Although Photoshop and PSE have made a number of changes over the years the basic format and controls have stayed pretty consistent so unless a tutorial uses a feature that was added after your version it should still be helpful.

I guess this is a long way to get to I would chose Lightroom if the choice is between it and any version of PSE.

jliane Loc: Washington state

Thank you. Costco has PSE 13 on sale now, so I have decided to start with that and will most likely end up getting Lightroom at some point. It sounds like there are benefits to using both.

jliane Loc: Washington state

Thank you. I have ordered PSE13 (on sale now), but will probably get Lightroom too. Good for my aging brain to learn something new, right?

dpullum Loc: Tampa Florida

jliane, good choice. How about sharing the details of the purchase, no not your credit card number and 3 number code, rather the cost and where to connect. That info may be helpful to some UHH people.

I, a died in the wool PSP-X7 advocate, several months ago got PSE-13**, it is great many features I have learned to love***,

** PSE-10 thumbs down.
***Especially the "crop" tool in PSP-X7 it has glitches.

PSP-X8 just came out they are running a special on the Ultimate edition along with Aftershot which according to one step-wise side by side review by an expert .. well aftershot won.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GX7ek7xJYJ0

Lightroom has great manipulation controls for color and exposure... ooops.... if you use PSE-13 and "Open as Raw" then similar controls are there !! Open as Raw gives 8&16 bit choice.

Also for $12 you can purchase Elements Plus, which hacks awake many PS features that have been suppressed.
http://elementsplus.net/

jliane Loc: Washington state

Thanks for the additional information.

to buy PSE 13 on sale for $49.99 + tax while supplies last until 8/30, go to costco.com and enter search for Photoshop Elements 13. You have to spell it out.

photoman022 Loc: Manchester CT USA

I'm presently using PSE9; it came with my scanner. I, too, was frustrated trying to learn how to use it. I went on Ebay and bought 8 books on how to use PSE9; the total price was around $40 including shipping! The price of each book new was $40! Sometimes old technology can pay off! There's a learning curve involved in everything. The books helped me see what was more important in PSE9(like how to easily replace the sky!) Most important of all, I learned how to use Adobe Camera Raw. If PSE8 does not have ACR, then I recommend upgrading to another version of PSE.