DRG777 Loc: Metro Detroit

Hello, all. I am fairly new at UHH. I have used a version of PSE for 8 years to do my post processing. It seems to do the things that I want and is reasonably priced. I'm currently on version 14. It has a glitch that won't do panoramas, but I go to an earlier version for that and then return to 14. I have gone through some earlier threads on PS CC and Lightoom vs Elements, but did not really get a definitive feel for if I should just stay with what I have. I would not want to pay for a monthly subscription to add another program. I shoot with a Canon 6D/16-35mm zoom and a Nikon D7200/18-200mm. You can check out a good sampling of my photos at https://500px.com/drg7771 to see if there are things that I could do better with my post processing. Do you think I am good with PSE 14, or is it worth it to change or add another program?

WayneT Loc: Paris, TN

You have a beautiful set of landscapes and yes you could do more with Photoshop and LR. I've always looked at the $10 a month as my cost of processing which is a heck of a lot cheaper than I paid for processing and film cost when I was shooting film. LRCC gives you a solid way to save and categorize your photos and the addition of PSCC gives you the ability to be a lot more creative with them. Admittedly there would be a lot to learn but there are tutorials on the Net that are free and well done to help you walk through them. I wouldn't give my LRCC and PSCC up for anything at this point.

jerryc41 Loc: Catskill Mts of NY

Like you, I'm not looking for more monthly payments. You can get PSE 15 for $55 now.
https://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/search?N=0&gclid=Cj0KEQiA39_BBRD0w-_rmOrc__8BEiQA-ETxXcnzoQCRfp4qKdFVhyV0LlTJm5LTFJ7bi6qQLKkI2PYaAvyc8P8HAQ&c3api=4680%2C161955079572%2Cphotoshop+elements%2Ce&InitialSearch=yes&Ntt=Photoshop+Elements

Free processing -
http://fieldguide.gizmodo.com/the-best-photoshop-alternatives-that-are-totally-free-5974500
http://lightzoneproject.org/

Not free -
http://digital-photography-school.com/a-beginners-guide-to-choosing-the-right-post-production-software/
http://www.digitalcameraworld.com/2015/03/23/best-photo-editing-software-photoshop-cc-and-7-photoshop-alternatives-tested/1/
http://www.redmondpie.com/best-adobe-photoshop-alternatives-for-windows-and-mac-list/

Affinity has a free beta version for Windows, and it will be selling for $50 when it's ready.

Szalajj Loc: Salem, NH

If you do decide to go with Lifgtroom, also grab PhotoShop and Bridge as part of the package at the single price!

When I grabbed Bridge and PhotoShop, I didn't grab Lightroom, and I'm now having problems trying to get Lightroom!

Gene51 Loc: Yonkers, NY, now in LSD (LowerSlowerDelaware)

If you pay to upgrade to keep your PSE current, and you break it down on a monthly basis, you are paying a monthly fee. Remember, you don't own your software, you own a license to use it.

That being said, your work is good, but could benefit from the haze filter in CC, easier color cast correction done in LR/ACR raw conversion, etc. If it is working for you with the exception of panoramas, you can download Panotools PT/GUI and use that. If you are looking at your work and you feel that there is room for improvement, then PS/LR CC will allow you to grow, as far as you want to take your work. If you don't want to pay $10/mo, then pay $120/yr, or $180 every 18 months. Then you won't need to feel like you are paying rent to use software. Even though that is a reality. I've paid Adobe $$$$$ since version 4 (1998) to keep my software current. Trust me, $10/mo is a pittance and I feel like I am stealing something at that price.

WayneT Loc: Paris, TN

If you are paying for the photographers package at $10.00 a month then be sure to download the Creative Cloud setup and download your PS, LR, Bridge and Camera RAW from the Creative Cloud application.

Cwilson341 Loc: Central Florida

Roy, you have some very impressive photography on your site! I've been thinking about pp a lot recently and I don't believe there is a "one size fits all". So much about the end result is a matter of personal choice. Whether or not you like your results is the important thing. If there is something you are not satisfied with, could you change it with your current program? Have you downloaded the NIK suite of add add-on's? They are free now and work beautifully with Elements. Just be sure you keep shooting those beautiful scenes!

Rob Almeda Loc: Gaithersburg, Maryland

I have PSE 14 too works Ok. Then I heard of Affinity Photo which is available in Beta and it is an equivalent of PS and you don't have to pay subscription.

Bugfan Loc: Toronto, Canada

I'm not surprised to hear that all of a sudden PSE doesn't do panoramas.

Many years ago using a much earlier version there was a wonderful feature for creating DVD Menus. I built myself a lovely library of menus that I could use every time I compiled a new slide show. Then I upgraded PSE and to my horror discovered that this functionality has disappeared.

I complained to Adobe who denied that the functionality ever existed and suggested that I should propose this as a new idea for a future release.

Eventually I went to PS3 abandonning PSE. There I discovered a lovely feature that allowed me to make PDF presentations, a nice way to create a slide show. That was my solution to sharing pictures until PS4. Suddenly that feature disappeared. I complained about that to Adobe. Their response was like with PSE they suggested the feature never existed. And then they suggested I might considering buying Acrobat to creat PDF presentations or alternately recommend the functionality as a new feature for a later release.

There's a lesson there when it comes to dealing with Adobe. While they will seduce you with new features, they also remove features as they go through upgrades. When I wanted to upgrade again I got smarter, I wrote Adobe and asked what functionality they have removed from the new release. They denied having removed anything and denied that they ever did such a thing in the past. Well I didn't believe them and thus refused to upgrade.

My suggestion to you is that if you have an Adobe release that does something nice for you, never give it up. I still run very old PSE and PS versions to have access to the functions I've lost. That way I don't lose anything. So if PSE15 doesn't support panoramas, keep version 14 on your hard drive too so that you can continue to make them. If a later version of PSE offers the functionality again then delete version 14 at that point. It's a waste of time complaining to Adobe.

MiroFoto

Does anybody know the difference between Elements 14 and 15 ? Why is 14 version more expensive? Is anything missing in Elm 15?

Thanks Miro

rmalarz Loc: Tempe, Arizona

If I was to add another program, I'd look into either Light Zone or Phocus. Both are very powerful and free.
--Bob

DRG777 Loc: Metro Detroit

I saw a video on the Adobe site that covers this. They were mostly organizational changes. I did not see anything to make it worth upgrading now.

Regarding some comments on subscription costs vs upgrading PSE, I have only upgraded twice so far over 8 years when I bought a later camera body and my PSE would not process the raw files, so I needed a newer version. I have gone from 8 to 11 and now 14.

Szalajj Loc: Salem, NH

I've tried to add LightRoom to my package, but I can't seem to get it to happen.

I've also tried to send a message to Adobe several times asking for assistance, but I've never gotten a response from them.

Does anyone have a way to actually get into contact with them to get some real time help?

WayneT Loc: Paris, TN

Google Adobe support and there is an 800 number and a chat room link. Keep in mind it is a holiday weekend so they may not even be open.

DRG777 Loc: Metro Detroit

PSE does have the haze filter, but I have only had that as long as the photos from Norway. I did use it at times, but not severely. I found that it sometimes made shots look overprocessed, or took away some depth.

Could you please pick a specific photo of mine, and describe what you think would benefit from another tool? Thanks.