CHG_CANON Loc: the Windy City

First, LR6 is installed. Then, PSE is installed. If the PSE software does not automatically create an external editor inside LR, you have to create one and point to the PSE executable. Consider if you want to pass 16-bit TIFFs or PSDs to PSE in the ProPhoto RGB colorspace. From within LR, you'll right-click the image and select to edit that image in an external editor, selecting the PSE-2020 software. When you save and exit PSE and return to LR, the image should exist in LR. The layers will be 'flatted' within LR where you can continue editing / processing the image in LR, if desired.

PhotogHobbyist Loc: Bradford, PA

This is a generalized response but more toward the OP.

I have never used Lightroom, Affinity, On1, or any others for more than a cursory look. I have used PSE exclusively for several years (starting around PSE7) by purchasing the stand alone version every few years. Currently I use PSE 19 which allows me to open my photos in Adobe Camers Raw (I shoot RAW almost exclusively) and get some preliminary adjustments done. Then I open the image for more post processing.

The learning curve can be steep for PSE but the benefits are worth the time and patience necessary to learn.

Another reason I stay with PSE stand alone, the monthly fee of $10 per month for full PS is a much higher cost than paying $60 to $80 every three to five years for PSE. The annual updates usually make only a small improvement in PSE so waiting a couple years gives several improvements to the program at a time, and are not difficult to learn fairly quickly.

There are also numerous books and youtube videos to help learn the processes that are added each year. The books are relatively inexpensive and often can be obtained on eBay or Amazon at discounted cost.

Many have said that PS is the most used and best digital processing program for photos in the world. I tend to agree.

Papa Joe Loc: Midwest U.S.

I would feel lost without Elements. I have used it for years and find it indespensible. Years ago when I enjoyed photography as a professional I used the full blown Photoshop but now, with reduced demands find Elements does all I need (and then some). Yes, $59.00 was a good price. I paid $69.99 for 2020 but it's still a bargain and you stay out of the 'rent-a-deal' traffic.
Papa Joe

don26812 Loc: South Bay of Los Angeles, CA

Elements also includes an Organizer that provides an excellent digital imaging management capability. Like Lightroom Classic, it is built on database technology.

Todd G

I use it. I like that I own it not rent it. Does everything I need except focus stacking which there is a free program for that. Also I just got a canon 90D and I have to convert the raw 3 into raw 2 before putting into elements.

amfoto1 Loc: San Jose, Calif. USA

Elements is a good option and some people use it in conjunction with LR, although Elements has some built-in organizing and cataloging capabilities, too.

Elements is sort of like a "light" version of LR and PS combined.

Elements uses the same Adobe Camera Raw (ACR) "engine" at it's core, that LR and PS use. It's "simplified" to some extent in Elements. (It's built into Elements and LR, meaning to update ACR you have to update the entire program. With PS it's a module that can be updated separately.)

Elements has built in support for new users, which both LR and PS completely lack. You can opt to use Elements in "Beginner", "Intermediate" or "Expert" mode, depending upon your skill level. Photoshop, in particular, is extremely complex and has a long, steep learning curve. Where you might buy one or two books to learn to use Elements and become pretty expert with it in a month, with Photoshop you might need to take a year's worth of college level classes and read a stack of textbooks to truly learn to fully use it.

Elements doesn't see a lot of updates. There may be some during the course of a year, but Adobe usually just releases a new version of it annually (often in October). So, essentially, if you need to "update" Elements for some reason... such as you bought a new camera an old version doesn't support or you see a new feature introduced that you just gotta have.... you have to buy a new, complete version of it. For example, Elements 2020 was released last Fall just about the same time that Canon introduced the EOS 90D camera.... That requires ACR 11.4... but Elements 2020 uses ACR 11.3 and (so far) can't be updated to work with that particular camera model. So if you were to buy a 90D today, you wouldn't be able to directly work with its CR3 RAW files in Elements 2020. You can work with the camera's JPEGs... or you can use Adobe's free DNG Converter on the 90D's RAW files first, then work with the files the converter produces in Elements 2020. *Maybe* Adobe will update Elements 2020 to accommodate some of the newer cameras like the 90D... but *maybe not*. You might have to wait for and buy Elements 2021 when it's offered in October.

Even at full price, Elements is less expensive than a year's subscription to LR and PS. If you buy use a copy of Elements of several years before needing an upgrade, as most people do, you'll be way ahead on cost compared to the PS/LR subscription.

FYI, all Elements is only available as a stand-alone, perpetually licensed version. It is not sold by subscription, which is now the only way to get PS and LR.

Elements goes on sale occasionally. If you want it, when you can get it for $60 or $70, jump on it! It usually sells for $100.

*Photoshop* Elements 2020 is for still photography. *Premiere* Elements 2020 is for video... if you want that too. They are typically available in a bundle for $150 (reg. price is $100 each). Occasionally the Photoshop/Premier Elements bundle goes on sale, too. I've seen it as low as $100 for the two programs.

There is a lot of aftermarket support for Elements, just as there is for LR and PS. You can buy books to learn to use it well, or take online training courses. There are tutorials on specific procedures on Youtube and elsewhere. There are add-ons and "plug-ins" for Elements, as there are for LR and PS. One I've noticed that adds a lot of features is called "Elements+" (https://elementsplus.net/). For $12 additional cost, Elements+ expands Elements capabilities to be more "Photoshop like". (For example, Elements+ adds "focus stacking" capabilities... which someone mentions above.)

What you *can't* do with Elements are mostly things that a pro photographer may need for commercial purposes.... such as prepping an image for offset printing with a CMYK color space or providing 16 bit TIFFs to a customer who wants to do further work on the images, to adapt them to their usage (note, the latest versions of Elements can save more file types, incl. TIFF, PSD and others... still not as many as Photoshop, but more than older versions of Elements could do).

lamiaceae Loc: San Luis Obispo County, CA

PSE is probably Ok. I've used it a tiny bit but it as far as I know still only does up to 16-bit files. I have full Photoshop. You dont need to know the features of Ps you dont want to use. I know and use only the photo features I've learned. I don"t touch the graphic design stuff that is over my head.

Bill_de Loc: US

Nice write-up Alan.

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RichKenn Loc: Merritt Island, FL

I have used PS Elements for many years from 03 to 2020. I purchased about every third version. I can't imagine trying to learn anything else. It is a super program and sufficient for all but the most fussy.

SteveFranz Loc: Durham, NC

One alternative, go to "thepluginsite.com" and look at the plug in for photoshop elements. PSE has much of the functionality of it's more expensive siblings, and this plug in opens up PSE and enables access to most of those additional functions that are not otherwise accessible. (No, I haven't tried it, but I have been very pleased with other plug ins I have downloaded from the site.

Al Beatty Loc: Boise, Idaho

I recently dropped PS CC and opted for PSE 15 with additional support from Elements+ mentioned in Steve's post above. Elements+ adds about 265 features to PSE including one I use a lot - focus stacking. You can click this link to see a full list of items Elements+ adds to PSE at C:/Elements+/15.0/help_files/en/index.htm. It's the best $12.00 I've ever spent on photography and is available for ALL versions of PSE. Take care & ...

Linda From Maine Loc: Yakima, Washington

Hey Al, it looks like you've provided a link to your own computer Folks can try this one:
https://elementsplus.net/

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whfowle Loc: Tampa first, now Albuquerque

I compared my computer with the specs listed and it seems to be within the capability required. I'm going to try to remove every trace of the previous attempts at installing Elements and see what happens then.

Norm W. Loc: Southern CA

I used PS CS2 way back when, found it worked for me quite well. I was a teacher so got it at good price. Now I’m retired and not eligible for educators discount.
The Mac it was on died and it won’t work on the newer machine. Rather than pay monthly for a newer version of PS I got a copy of Elements 12 when it came out. It’s several generations old now. I find Elements has quite a bit in common with the PS and does layers as well as organizing. Transitioning from PS to Elements required some relearning. For the limited budgets Elements gets the job done. I have never used LR so not able to make any comparison there.
I think there are free trial options available for Elements so you can give it a try before buying.
Wish you well, stay well.

Al Beatty Loc: Boise, Idaho

Thanks Linda.