Franku Loc: Wallingford, PA and Parrish, Fl

Currently, I use Elements 8 and have interest in upgrading to Elements 12. I certainly am not an expert with Elements 8 and my greatest deficiency is with some of the advanced editing features involving layers. Suffice it to say I am looking for simplicity of applications.
I have read Elements 12 users' reviews and many refer to ease of use. There is no mention of their background or expertise and the brevity of their description leaves a lot to be desired from my point of view.
If possible, I would like if someone out there in Photoland who has used both Elements 8 and then upgraded to Elements 12 could give me a comparison regarding ease of use....if,in fact, Elements 12 layering is easier to understand and apply or has remained the same as Elements 8. Thank you in advance for your anticipated usually good advice. Frank

GWR100 Loc: England

Hi Frank, I was using 9, and wanted to up grade, but have read some doubtful reports on 12. I heisted, then last week it was on a silly offer for £33, so I bought it, ----Its great and has a lot of improved features, and if you are used to 8 I would suggest you will not have a problem, and if do go to you tube and watch a few free tuitional videos, or have a month free trial.

Geoff

MtnMan Loc: ID

Elements 11 made a huge improvement in usability compared to earlier versions. 12 gives you that improvement.

It still is complex software and has a learning curve to use effectively. Get the Kelby and Kloskowski book on it as well.

Rongnongno Loc: FL

Read that thread, related to your question

http://www.uglyhedgehog.com/t-168553-1.html

Db7423 Loc: Pittsburgh, PA

You said it all. My upgrade was from 7 to 11. I found it much improved and more intuitive and easier to use. It is worth the money if you like Elements as I do. There are only a few additions on 12 that make it different from 11 so I decided to wait for 13 before considering again whether to upgrad or hold for yet another year. ;)

Naturenut Loc: Salisbury, NC

I am currently using Elements10. I upgraded to 12 recently & began having computer freeze ups or problems accessing the internet. Uninstalled 12 & the problems went away. Did a little checking & found compatibility problems. Am not happy.

Morning Star Loc: West coast, North of the 49th N.

I started with PSE7, got 9 bundled with my scanner, got 11 for a Christmas present and shortly after 12 was released I bought the PSE/PrE upgrade bundle.
I never really got to know 7 or 9 for photo editing that much, as I used it mostly for scrapbooking. When 11 was released, there were many outcries about the different colours. It really was a love/hate relationship. Some people swore by the new colours (really only a different shade of grey/brown), others swore at them. Nobody seemed to realize you can set the working area to any colour you like (just right-click somewhere beside an image in the work area, select the colour you want).
I am now learning to use the Content Aware Move tool in version 12, to its fullest. I had a photo with a tree growing out of someone's head - used that move tool and extended the trunk back to Mother Earth, and nobody could tell the difference. Overall I am very pleased with both versions 11 and 12.

ejrmaine Loc: South Carolina

I currently use Elements 12, I'd suggest viewing this YouTube video on layers in PSE 12.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qiRY_91kdQY

Morning Star Loc: West coast, North of the 49th N.

Frank, to "see" what layers may or may not do, try and think of them this way (for now).

Think of the tabletop in your diningroom as the background layer, equal to the photo that you start with. You don't want to scratch up your table-top or original photo, so the first thing you do is to duplicate it (Ctrl + J, on a Mac I believe that would be Command + J, beyond that my knowledge of macs ceases to exist).
It's dinner time and you put a nice table cloth on the table. There's your second layer. Put on that a plate (3rd layer), napkin to protect the plate (4th layer), soup bowl (5th layer), soup in the bowl (6th layer). Oh, you need cutlery, waterglass, wine glass, finger-bowl (are they still used????), napkin beside the plate, etc. You can place each on their own layer, or if they are beside each other they can share a layer.

Now, you look over the table and decide that the napkins under the soup bowl are too stark white, you'd rather use a Christmas print napkin. On the table, you'd have to remove the bowl and replace the napkin, in PSE you could simply put in a new layer at that point with a new napkin, and click on the "eye" to the left of the old napkin to make it hide (not disappear, just hide).
And oops, the knife is placed with the cutting edge towards the outside. If it is on its own layer, you can simply flip the layer (under File, Image, Rotate).

You will find that in some cases you will have to add a layer yourself, or PSE will do it for you. For example, if you add text to an image, PSE will always put that on its own layer. If you drag and drop another image to the one you're working on, PSE will put that on its own layer. If you copy and paste, you'll have to make the layer first.
If you make a selection (Magic wand, marquee tool, etc), it will go on the layer you select in the layers bin.

Once you understand how layers stack up, and discover the different things you can do in layers, it really becomes fun working with them. But do try and take it in easy steps!!!

DeeAndre Loc: Boyertown PA

That is a wonderful way to explain layers. I have elements 9 and was always" afraid" of layers. Think I will begin to play with it. Thanks so much!

sueyeisert Loc: New Jersey

See if Costco still has it on sale. Buy it, then download it from Adobe and try it free for 30 days. If you don't like it then return it to Costco. If you like it then enter the serial # from what you purchased from Costco.

Frank47 Loc: West coast Florida

I upgrade every other version so went from 8 to 10 to 12. Each time there has been something new. While processes such as layers remain fundamentally the same, I have found ver. 12 to be easier to navigate.

Cdouthitt Loc: Traverse City, MI

Can your computer handle the upgrade...

warrior Loc: Paso Robles CA

Frank47 Loc: West coast Florida

Best advice out there! No risk. But, don't forget, don't open the box until you have tried the free trial and are happy. :thumbup: