Nervous about making the jump to CS3

I'm guilty of not posting here much, but I read and browse almost daily. And I have a question. Kinda.

Last week, I finally got CS3. I've been drooling over Photoshop for over 2 years, and couldn't take it any longer. While I'm comfortable with it for photo editing (mostly), it just scares me to start scrapping with it.

I'm used to Paint Shop Pro. I've used it for years and years.

Has anyone here made that huge leap to CS3 and felt just inadequate to start scrapping with it? Any tips or advice for me?

I went from PSP to CS2. It took me a while to make that leap. I was scared. I'd used PSP for years and was so comfortable with it. To be honest, right now, I couldn't even tell you what I liked about it, I love CS2 so much.

It does take a while to get used to and things are different, but once you use the clipping mask and the red eye remover, you'll never go back to psp.

I've been pondering the same thing, jumping from PSPX2 to CS2 or CS3, I also have Elements, but use it infrequently because I find there are things I can do in PSP and am used to doing that I can't do in PSE. I do like the PSE actions but that's the few times I open PSE. So I'm still weary of spending the money on CS3 and then deciding I hate it.

I started with PSPX, transitioned to CS2 and now use CS3. I won't lie, I had a hard time transitioning to PS, but it was soooooo worth it! It will take a good month to feel comfortable (at least, that was my experience). I started out by forcing myself to learn something new with PS every time I opened a new canvas. I'm not an expert at PS, but I have written several tutorials and I'm happy to help you if you get stumped You can PM or email me. The good thing is that both programs are similar. Anyway, congrats on getting PS and have fun!

Marsha,

I had Elements 5.0, too. And I used it mainly for the Magic Extractor and a handful of actions. I uninstalled PSE 5 this morning, because all my actions transferred over to CS3.

What really made me make the jump was an informal photography class I was taking. There are just some things that CS3 can do that PSP can't do as well or at all (Elements can do even less). And I was the one "converting" the CS2/3 lessons for other PSP users. Until that point, I was pretty happy with PSP.

I've always been a "trial by error" learner with PSP, so maybe I just need to uninstall it for a bit and pick my way through scrapping with CS3 for awhile. CS3 did come with 30 days of free video training, so maybe I should start searching through there for some lessons that'll apply to scrapping, too.

I would just get a template, and start playing. Playing is the only way you'll learn anything. Just trying to do things and then saying "I wonder how you do xyz" and then go look it up. Google is awesome

Good luck! We're always here to answer questions too

I just started with a tons of templates! It was soooo much easier for me to learn that way. I went from PSP9 to CS3 and I love it! I never even open PSP anymore!

I started on PSP X and when I switched to Mac, I switched to PSE 4. Then when I upgraded to Leopard, I had to upgrade to CS3 because PSE4 kept crashing on me. Now, I can't ever believe that I scrapped without CS3. I LOVE it.

I started with PSP and made the initial jump to PS7 (then PS CS2 and then PS CS3). The initial change was very hard, because PS is just so much different than PSP is, but in a good way because you can do so much more.

I found that I kept reverting back to PSP, because it was easier and I was faster on it, but eventually I just bit the bullet and committed fully to PS. Of course it made me slower at first, and I had to stop to look for tutorials for things I was used to doing, but in the end it is SOOOO worth it!

If you need any help with the basics, just ask! We're happy to help!

I just upgraded to CS3 from PSE 6.0 and I love it so much! I really like the whole way my page comes together for me in it. It took me a good week to figure out my basic way around it and I still have a long way to go but loving it so very much!

I love CS3. I started with Elements, and a lot of it is basically the same...just so much more in depth with CS3. You have to be really patient and just go for it! It's worth it in the end!

Thanks for all the encouragement!

I guess I know what I'll be doing for the next week or so. Plunging into the depths of CS3.

Maybe it'll get me out of the scrapping doldrums. I haven't had much scrapping mojo in quite a few months, and I miss the whole thrill of it.

I started with elements and switched to CS3 last year and I love it! I am still learning new things! There are some great tuts on youtube for editing photos- once you learn what the tools do you will be set! Have fun!