From PSE8 to complete version

[Leontine78]

I am wondering if my life will be a lot easier when I go from PSE8 which I use now to a complete version.
I always have a problem with installing my actions and styles and I thought you could just drag them into your file when you use complete versions. Also with journaling you have more options. But I am so used to PSE....how long will it take to adjust to CS5.

It's pretty expensive software so I don't want to take this decision to quickly.

[taracotta7]

I will have to admit.....I bought CS5. I think it is worth every penny. I WANT to use it so I can have more control over my shadows and photo editing. I am scared of it though. There are many things that are the same as PSE. I just haven't really played with it much to actually learn how to use it. I just keep watching tutorials and hoping one day soon I will be brave enough to do it. My hubby keeps threatening that he is going to uninstall my PSE to force me to use it. I am hoping he doesn't follow through with that threat.

I just think it takes playing with it and watching a few tutorials. I think it is worth the transition. I really need to get brave.

[MamaBee]

phew, Tara... I'm happy to know I'm not the only one that has been staring at CS4 icon, while I'm contently working in PSE... I know I should switch over - CS4 has been installed on my PC for going on 1.5 years now... but a few things throw me off, like not having my bin on the bottom and the clipping shortcuts being slightly different... that I get annoyed and say I can do it faster in PSE.

I think I need to just uninstall PSE and force myself to use CS4... maybe I'll do that next month, when I'm done with my hybrid projects...

[sprauncey1]

Force yourself for a month to try it out and no going back. Then give yourself a reward for doing it. It really does come easily once you give it a shot. I was the same going from PSE4 to CS2, but when I finally bit the bullet and switched, I hated it for two weeks and then I started loving it. I don't like change.

[taracotta7]

Yes Rebecca! I miss the bin at the bottom! It is just how I do my workflow. So, I am not a big fan of change either and it will take some getting use to. I am so glad to hear I am not the only one! I know it will be worth it. I just got to put on my big girl panties and deal with it. LOL

[Leontine78]

If I hear you guys....I am staying with PSE then! I can do with it what I want....maybe except for the styles and actions part. If I get them installed, it works great....but untill then, LOL....

[carriesmom]

I switched from PSE5 to CS4 about 2 years ago and I don't think I could imagine using PSE to scrap anymore. It is a big adjustment not having the bin, but you develop a new work flow. Honestly, the best way to learn is to uninstall your old program and just do it. That way you aren't tempted to fall back. I had to do that when I got my tablet. Once you get in the swing, you will love it.

[FireWolf]

With CS5 you also get mini Bridge which should work in place of the bin at the bottom...I love it!

[mrshobbes]

This isn't exactly the same, but the ONLY reason I upgraded from PS 7 to CS2 (which I'm still using, eeek!) is because of the Warp tool that I can use for my shadows. I dithered for the longest time, got it, and then just jumped in and stressed myself out because it looked so different, lol. My point is--at a certain point I was less scared of the new software and more anxious to get my layouts to look better and/or to level up in scrapping skill because I had more options.

[sprauncey1]

Originally Posted by FireWolf

With CS5 you also get mini Bridge which should work in place of the bin at the bottom...I love it!

Kinda but the mini bridge doesn't keep files from different files open, just the current one. So if your a kit scrapper then it works, if you have different things from different kits, I'm not sure how to make it work. Am I right? I've been using CS5 for over a year and this is what I've found. But I've been known to be wrong before. The bin was/is my one loss from upgrading to big boy CS.

And yes you can do 95% of stuff in PSE, its just those last few things that can matter/not matter. Warping the shadows was mine as well. And actions are SO.MUCH.EASIER to install. And for me the content aware fill kicks butt too. I like to clean up my house with it. LOL So really it is up to you. Have you tried googling installing actions in PSE8, I know it can be complicated especially depending on the version of windows you use. You would think they'd make it easier after all these years.

[adrianka]

A good thing I'd never had PSE... From what I've read I'm pretty sure I'd be missing the bin function as well, LOL.

While it bugs me when people have PS and don't use it, I *totally* get the why behind it! It's the same reason why I won't switch to Mac or get Lightroom... or learn to use my CorelDraw properly. I'm a creature of habit and I have to be sure about things I do. Changing software (let alone platform) is never an easy thing for me and not knowing what I should to annoys me to no end.

Leontine, if you're happy with PSE, I'd say keep with it and maybe one day, when you feel like you really need PS, you can always get it. :-)

[FireWolf]

Originally Posted by sprauncey1

Kinda but the mini bridge doesn't keep files from different files open, just the current one. So if your a kit scrapper then it works, if you have different things from different kits, I'm not sure how to make it work. Am I right? I've been using CS5 for over a year and this is what I've found. But I've been known to be wrong before. The bin was/is my one loss from upgrading to big boy CS.

I'm a kit scrapper and have never used PSE so I don't miss that feature.

[FireWolf]

Leontine, why don't you download the trial of PSCS5.5 and try it out for a month and se how it goes before you make a decision? That way you know for sure what you will or won't really miss and can weigh one against the other.

[Leontine78]

That is a good idea, but I decided to stick with PSE. The only thing I really do with it is scrapbooking. And I love how fast I am already with PSE. I like the layout on my screen. If I change to CS I will have to learn everything again. Plus....the price scares me also I'll admit that. 500 euro is a lot of money. Can you imagine how many kits I can buy here for that money!

[adrianka]

Originally Posted by Leontine78

That is a good idea, but I decided to stick with PSE. The only thing I really do with it is scrapbooking. And I love how fast I am already with PSE. I like the layout on my screen. If I change to CS I will have to learn everything again. Plus....the price scares me also I'll admit that. 500 euro is a lot of money. Can you imagine how many kits I can buy here for that money!

I think I've seen a discount on PS directed at users switching from PSE... but I have no idea if it was valid for Europe (I'm inclined to think it wasn't, but who knows). But if you're happy with PSE, I wouldn't change either, I still wince when remembering the PS price.

[BrattyMeg]

I know you decided to stick with PSE (which i have never used) but I was going to say with Bridge/MiniBridge I've been known to have 2-3 windows of Bridge open with different folders. You don't have to stick with just 1