PS Elements vs PS CS5

i just bought a macbook air (yay for tiny laptops, and laptops that work). i have CS5 on my desktop, which is what i use for most everything. the macbook air is for portability. i needed something i can bring back and forth for classes, and my apartment and home (cause lugging my iMac on the plane? not gonna happen).

however, i don't want to spend another $200 on photoshop for this little laptop right now. so i was thinking PS elements. because that way, i could scrap on this AND on my desktop. but i wouldn't have such the money output. i've never used elements, so i was wondering what the differences were. i used CS2 for two years, and then CS4, before switching to CS5 this past year.

can i still use TIFF/PSD files? actions? is the layout of the program's windows mostly the same? are there any glaring changes/difficulties?

thanks!

I think that would be fine. I've never used elements, but yes you can use tiff/psd's. And if you find there's something you want to do but can't, you can just wait until you're back with CS5 to do it, kwim?

Ashley, did you buy the student version of CS5 or did you upgrade from CS4? If you bought CS5 without upgradring, then you should be able to use the CS4 for the laptop. Actually, does the licensing for MAC work the same way as for Windows? I can load CS5 onto one desktop and one laptop - I just can't use them both at the same time.

In PSE you can still use tiff/psd files. You can use some actions, but often they need to be designed specifically for PSE.

You might want to check and see if you can install the same CS5 on your laptop. Sometimes they let you install on a couple machines as long as they are not going to be used at the same time.

Can you not just install CS5 on your laptop? I've got CS4 installed on both my laptop and desktop, with no issues whatsoever.

@ colleen- you make a good point.

@ Kate- CS4 was on a pc. so i can't do that. i wish i could, it'd make life easier.

@ Christy & Jen- they only let you install on 3, and my serial was already used on two others without my knowledge. i tried to install for a friend, until she got her copy, but it told me that the serial had already been used on 3 computers. i'd only installed it on one, my iMac. after throwing a fit on the phone with my mother, she told me to call adobe. but i haven't called yet. i don't know who got a copy of my serial, either. and i can't prove that i didn't use it on three. so i doubt they'll give me a second serial.

Definitely give Adobe a call before you spend the money buying anything else. You never know what they'll do - they may surprise you .

I think they run pretty different... I know for me, I was pretty proficient in PSE9 and knew it inside and out and was in tears when I switched to CS5... It's just so different and some shortcuts are different and you can't really play with the shadowing in PSE and even the actions run totally different...


Even if you were to switch back and forth you may have to redo some things...

All that being said Elements is a really great option if it's all you can afford and I always recommend it to my friends!!! Just know that there are definitely limitations to Elements and if you're used to CS you might be disappointed...

I would install the trial version before deciding.

@ Kate- i'm gonna call on monday, once i'm back to my apartment. i hope they can figure this out, cause i'm so confused. i only installed it on my imac. i never gave anyone else the serial ):

@ heather- i'm downloading the trial now. just to see. i forgot about the adobe trials, haha. thanks for the reminder.

thanks ladies! i appreciate it. i figured i'd get honest and good feedback here, you all are smart like that

color of my heart said:

@ colleen- you make a good point.

@ Kate- CS4 was on a pc. so i can't do that. i wish i could, it'd make life easier.

@ Christy & Jen- they only let you install on 3, and my serial was already used on two others without my knowledge. i tried to install for a friend, until she got her copy, but it told me that the serial had already been used on 3 computers. i'd only installed it on one, my iMac. after throwing a fit on the phone with my mother, she told me to call adobe. but i haven't called yet. i don't know who got a copy of my serial, either. and i can't prove that i didn't use it on three. so i doubt they'll give me a second serial.

Click to expand...

Write/Call to Adobe and explain! I used up my 3 copies when my system was re-installed for too many times (I changed from XP to W7/32bit to W7/64bit, and that was it). In reality I only use two copies, but each re-install counted as a new computer. I wrote to explain, they called me and fixed it. That seems like the best way for me, and it will save you money and frustration (over a new programme that isn't quite what PS is).