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Dec 13, 2019 10:47:55   #
Jbravi
 
What is the major difference between photoshop and photoshop elements? I know PS is used by professionals. I am an advanced amateur , do you think I can get away with elements on macbook pro? I use LR as well.

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Dec 13, 2019 10:55:31   #
garrickw Loc: Wyoming Mn.
 
I do not consider elements even Photoshop the difference is so numerous don't know how to even start to tell you bite the bullet and pay a lousy 10.00 a month and you will get Lightroom also for 10.00 a month you will have software that is more advanced then the software they used to put men on the moon

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Dec 13, 2019 11:01:49   #
bleirer
 
Since you have Lightroom, do you have the creative cloud subscription or an older version? An older Lightroom can do most tasks very well, until you need layers.

I'd say Elements is 75% of Lightroom and Photoshop combined. It's fine for most things until you really get serious and start wondering if you could raise your game another notch. Chart shows the difference.

https://www.adobe.com/creativecloud/photography/elements-switch/ccpp-vs-pse.html

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Dec 13, 2019 11:02:20   #
Jbravi
 
garrickw wrote:
I do not consider elements even Photoshop the difference is so numerous don't know how to even start to tell you bite the bullet and pay a lousy 10.00 a month and you will get Lightroom also for 10.00 a month you will have software that is more advanced then the software they used to put men on the moon


Can you please suggest the other software comparable?

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Dec 13, 2019 11:02:55   #
CHG_CANON Loc: the Windy City
 
Do you shoot in RAW? Looking at your list of cameras, your D850 allows for 14-bit RAW files to increase the color data in the file. If you bring that file into PSE and use any of the layer-based tools, you're forced to drop the bit-depth down to 8-bit, the same as your JPEGs. Your software is now defeating the purposes of your camera and RAW shooting. This alone is the reason to skip PSE from the spectrum of software tools available to the RAW shooter.

LR is a fully capable 16-bit editor. If you need a layer-based edit to your image, ask yourself why? You don't need layers to crop in LR, nor for rather sophisticated cloning. One area I periodically encounter is needing 'more canvas'. Say I have a bird-in-flight that is too near the edge of the frame. A weakness of LR is not having the ability to 'create' more sky around the bird better positioning the bird in the frame. Beyond creating more canvas, PS is very good at creating content and / or replacing content, much more effective than LR, and possibly, more efficient too. Personally, I just delete the image hoping I have another version that doesn't require PS and can be edited only in LR. For many, their photography assumes the use of PS to complete the image rather than my approach to avoid 'needing' PS to complete the image.

Your own shooting technique and processing needs will determine what you 'need' to realize the edited images you desire.

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Dec 13, 2019 11:59:28   #
Bill P
 
Jbravi wrote:
Can you please suggest the other software comparable?


Photoshop CC!

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Dec 13, 2019 12:06:07   #
Bill P
 
Jbravi wrote:
What is the major difference between photoshop and photoshop elements? I know PS is used by professionals. I am an advanced amateur , do you think I can get away with elements on macbook pro? I use LR as well.


I suggest you skip LR and Elements and get PS, if you expect you will want to move beyond the capabilities of LR. You will spend a lot of time learning LR, and then you will need to spend months or years learning PS. Why not just use PS, where you will be learning it as needed, and then you save the extra time. You can use PS to the extent you are using Elements easily. There is no Adobe Army with automatic weapons patrolling the nation seeking out those who don't use all the functions of PS.

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Dec 13, 2019 12:11:37   #
bsprague Loc: Lacey, WA, USA
 
Photoshop Elements and Photoshop are related primarily in name only. Read the credits in "Help > About". They have entirely different teams of people doing the coding. Like other photo editing companies, the Elements team may borrow tools, tool names and techniques. Both do share in the ACR program, but differently.

They aim and tweak their products to different markets too. Graphic designers, professional photographers and (serious) hobbyists all have different wants and needs.

You can assume that Photoshop Elements is a downgraded Photoshop. It is not. I does things the "real" one doesn't. It has modes called Quick, Guided and Expert. Expert feels closer to the "real" one. The real one doesn't attempt a Quick or Guided. Want to blur a background? Elements quickly guides you through it. Want to do a layer mask on fluffy, backlit hair? The "real" one has stronger, more complex tools with more fine tuning options. Object removal? There may be nothing that matches the "real" one.

Because of "ease of use", there can be reasons to have both the "real" one and Elements. The "real" one comes with the five Lightrooms in the $10 subscription, whether you want it or not. The easy one at $60 to $100 might be a justifiable addition just for the short cuts.

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Dec 13, 2019 12:30:35   #
bleirer
 
When you open a raw file in Elements, it first opens in a watered down version of Adobe Camera Raw. I believe there you have the opportunity to recover highlights from your high bit raw file, so you don't necessarily lose all the advantages of raw shooting. Some of that module is still high bit. But when you ok it and the raw is converted to use in Elements, i believe it is then all 8 bit. But still useful because you've recovered the highlights and jpegs for the web and printing etc. are 8 bit anyway.

Overall the subscription is far more capable. Even the Lightroom half of it is extremely capable, it's worth the $10 per month for sure. It comes with a learning curve though where elements holds your hand more.

I personally started in Elements without knowing what I was missing out on, then graduated to the subscription. It's easy to convert. Just don't delete your raw files.

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Dec 13, 2019 12:54:53   #
Jbravi
 
CHG_CANON wrote:
Do you shoot in RAW? Looking at your list of cameras, your D850 allows for 14-bit RAW files to increase the color data in the file. If you bring that file into PSE and use any of the layer-based tools, you're forced to drop the bit-depth down to 8-bit, the same as your JPEGs. Your software is now defeating the purposes of your camera and RAW shooting. This alone is the reason to skip PSE from the spectrum of software tools available to the RAW shooter.

LR is a fully capable 16-bit editor. If you need a layer-based edit to your image, ask yourself why? You don't need layers to crop in LR, nor for rather sophisticated cloning. One area I periodically encounter is needing 'more canvas'. Say I have a bird-in-flight that is too near the edge of the frame. A weakness of LR is not having the ability to 'create' more sky around the bird better positioning the bird in the frame. Beyond creating more canvas, PS is very good at creating content and / or replacing content, much more effective than LR, and possibly, more efficient too. Personally, I just delete the image hoping I have another version that doesn't require PS and can be edited only in LR. For many, their photography assumes the use of PS to complete the image rather than my approach to avoid 'needing' PS to complete the image.

Your own shooting technique and processing needs will determine what you 'need' to realize the edited images you desire.
Do you shoot in RAW? Looking at your list of camer... (show quote)


Thank you for the clarity

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Dec 13, 2019 12:54:56   #
JD750 Loc: SoCal
 
Jbravi wrote:
What is the major difference between photoshop and photoshop elements? I know PS is used by professionals. I am an advanced amateur , do you think I can get away with elements on macbook pro? I use LR as well.


Take a look at the site at the link below for a comparison between Photoshop and Photoshop Elements.
https://www.educba.com/photoshop-vs-photoshop-elements/

In the old days the big motivator for using Elements was price. Nowadays with the subscription model, that cost motivator has been mitigated. A year of the Adobe Photographers Plan subscription is $120 (US) verses $99 for the Elements Premiere software. With the Photographers Plan you get Lightrooms (both) and Photoshop, Bridge, Adobe Portfolio and mobile apps as well. It’s a good deal. However some prefer the purchased software.

I have used Photoshop Elements on a MacBookPro and now use Photoshop. Both will work fine on a MacBookPro.

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Dec 13, 2019 12:57:09   #
Jbravi
 
Thank you all for the enlightenment.

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Dec 14, 2019 05:49:49   #
dpullum Loc: Tampa Florida
 
garrickw wrote:
I do not consider elements even Photoshop the difference is so numerous don't know how to even start to tell you bite the bullet and pay a lousy 10.00 a month and you will get Lightroom also for 10.00 a month you will have software that is more advanced then the software they used to put men on the moon


Reality garrickw... reality!! Why rent a Mercedes to drive to the 7-11? The person asking, Jbravi, is relatively new to Digital Post Processing [advanced amateur**] and you are suggesting a difficult learning curve program.. why! Affinity with a $50 investment would be fine. PSE with PSE-Plus would be more than most would use. For $120 a year many Plugin, perhaps Topaz, would provide a world of easy to use post-processing.

Jbravi, buy what suits your real needs ... beyond that and it is a waste and has a difficult learning curve. There are lower cost great modern software edit programs out there with one time costs. List what you need to do and buy accordingly. Keep it simple and enjoy photography.
---------------------
** Perhaps not all that "advanced amateur" since in October 2019 he was asking "Even though I have the exposure compensation on camera [+/-] I have never used it"
https://www.uglyhedgehog.com/t-613912-1.html

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Dec 14, 2019 06:13:40   #
Gene51 Loc: Yonkers, NY, now in LSD (LowerSlowerDelaware)
 
Jbravi wrote:
What is the major difference between photoshop and photoshop elements? I know PS is used by professionals. I am an advanced amateur , do you think I can get away with elements on macbook pro? I use LR as well.


Currently, PS is only available with Lightroom.

PSE is ok, but when you start hitting brick walls you'll find that PS is much more capable and pretty much without limitations. Most are terrified of the learning curve. The truth is, you don't have to know EVERYTHING about PS in order to take advantage of it.

On the editing side, Lightroom is NOT an image finishing tool. It is a tool to get your images to a certain point - proof quality - quickly, with the intent that for actual finishing, you'll use Photoshop. The LR image editor is the same one that is in Photoshop - Adobe Camera Raw - so technically PS is all you "need" - the results you can get with raw images is EXACTLY the same from PS as it is from LR. LR does not do well when you have lots of local adjustments.

As far as the differences between PS and PSE, the wisdom you seek is in these links:

https://www.adobe.com/creativecloud/photography/elements-switch/ccpp-vs-pse.html

https://photographylife.com/photoshop-vs-photoshop-elements

https://expertphotography.com/photoshop-elements-vs-photoshop-cc/

https://digitalscrapbookinghq.com/pse-vs-ps-features-pse/

https://www.tomsguide.com/us/adobe-photoshop-buying-guide,review-2617.html

Only you can decide what is best for your needs.

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Dec 14, 2019 07:57:39   #
bleirer
 
Gene51 wrote:
Currently, PS is only available with Lightroom.

PSE is ok, but when you start hitting brick walls you'll find that PS is much more capable and pretty much without limitations. Most are terrified of the learning curve. The truth is, you don't have to know EVERYTHING about PS in order to take advantage of it.

On the editing side, Lightroom is NOT an image finishing tool. It is a tool to get your images to a certain point - proof quality - quickly, with the intent that for actual finishing, you'll use Photoshop. The LR image editor is the same one that is in Photoshop - Adobe Camera Raw - so technically PS is all you "need" - the results you can get with raw images is EXACTLY the same from PS as it is from LR. LR does not do well when you have lots of local adjustments.

As far as the differences between PS and PSE, the wisdom you seek is in these links:

https://www.adobe.com/creativecloud/photography/elements-switch/ccpp-vs-pse.html

https://photographylife.com/photoshop-vs-photoshop-elements

https://expertphotography.com/photoshop-elements-vs-photoshop-cc/

https://digitalscrapbookinghq.com/pse-vs-ps-features-pse/

https://www.tomsguide.com/us/adobe-photoshop-buying-guide,review-2617.html

Only you can decide what is best for your needs.
Currently, PS is only available with Lightroom. br... (show quote)


I'll just point out that the acr in Elements is missing a fair amount of the tools found in Photoshop CC. You didn't say otherwise, just thought I'd mention. I agree elements can do the job and could be all the OP needs for their needs right now without joining us down the rabbit-hole.

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