Photoshop CS2 or Elements 4

[darktiger]

If you all had to choose, with price NOT being a factor. Which one would you choose, CS2 or Elements? And why?

[Sonny]

Originally Posted by darktiger

If you all had to choose, with price NOT being a factor. Which one would you choose, CS2 or Elements? And why?

PS CS2!!!

If price is not a factor, then definetly get PS CS2. I believe Elements is a "dumb downed" version of Photoshop.

[OversighT]

PS CS2 ... actions make all the difference. And as Korrupt said Elements is a scaled down version of CS2.


T.

[Detonate]

No comparision. CS2 for sure.

[Badge]

How can price not be a factor? PS costs $550 and elements $70
Actions if nice if you do the same thing over and over, but that is not what most amatures like myself do.
I might buy PS someday just for the braging rights, but right now I would rather spend the money on a lens, want a wide angle zoom.

[darktiger]

For me price is not an object because I got Photoshop CS2 for $99, and I imagine Elements would be roughly the same price......

[Terrancelee]

I am a total newb at digital, just starting out earlier this summer. I picked up Elements 3.0 for roughly 80 bucks at Sam's. Got home and it wouldn't install due to corrupt CD. So, I downloaded the trial version, thinking I could install it and use my serial number to make it legit. Nope. So, just played with it for a few days. When I made it back to Sam's, they had no more PSE. So, I came home and did a little research, keeping my eyes open on Ebay for a used version of PS 5.5 or higher. Found one for $60, whicn enabled me to get the CS2 upgrade for $150 I think,( from best buy), and I have CS2 for roughly $210 plus some gas/shipping/etc. PSE is probably more user friendly, but CS2 is awesome. I am so glad I took the plunge, but if you get it and have never used it, get a good book or two! Very powerful stuff, easy to get lost in it and make things harder than they really are. :)

Even if you consider yourself an amatuer, it's worth getting it. After all, you won't always be an amatuer. :)

[saroy]

If price is not an option?? CS2, hands down. But price is always an option, and that's why Elements exists.

[AjP]

PS2 no question, I have it and love it, never used Elements, always photoshop since.. I don't even remember :)

[Badge]

If you buy an older version of PS wouldn't it already be registered? So how do you qualify for the low upgrade price if what you bought was registered in someone elses name.

[eurotrash]

CS2 of course. thats like getting PS le or se.

...wait a minute....software costs money???!?1

[shutterflypro]

I have a copy of Photoshop CS that I would be willing to get rid of. The history of it is that I aquired two copies of it when a company shut down. Both boxes were open so I was worried about if it would be legit. I installed it and registered it just fine in my name. I am assuming the other one will be the exact same way. It is in the box with the manual and everything. Lemme know if someone wants it.

[Badge]

I was just about to spend $70 with Amazon for Elements 3, Do you have a price in mind? Any guarantee that if can be registered? I work in Houston so could come by to pay and pick it up

[Terrancelee]

Used software can be sold. I'm no expert by any means, but I do know this worked just fine. The 5.5 I bought was even an acedemic version from a student who needed it for a class a few years back. CS2 is registered in my name and afaik, it's all legit. At least, that was my intention, as hacked versions are not that hard to find if you just look.

[jeffkohn]

CS2 is definitely more powerful. Surpisingly I couldn't find a feature matrix on the Adobe website comparing CS2 to Elements. Here's a list of some of the features I find idespensible in CS2, I'm pretty sure many if not most of these are either limited or missing altogether in Elements:

Bridge
Full version of Adobe Camera RAW including lens correction and calibration
Curves
Full 16-bit editing
32-bit HDR support
LAB working space, along with large-gamut RGB spaces and control over rendering intents
Automation, batching, and actions
Layers and masking (I think Elements has this but I'm not sure if it's as functional)
The best plug-in compatibility (some plugins don't work with Elements)