PSP vs PSE....Help

[JuliaM]

I've been using PSP since...well...forever, it seems. I've been considering swithcing over to PSE, though. I've got a few things that I'm wondering about before I make that jump, though. I wouldn't want to get it and then have it just sit there and never be used.

I guess my two biggest questions are: What can I do with PSE that I can't dow in PSP? and Am I going to be tearing my hair out trying to figure it out? I've had a copy of PS CS2 and never quite got the knack of scrapping in it...it also doesn't get along so well with my Windows 7 either. As a minor question, would actions/styles that I got for PS CS2 work in PSE? That could go a long way toward swaying me one way or the other.

Thanks for the help.

[jessica31876]

I bought PSE just to use actions from My Four Hens. I rarely open it. PSP is just sooo much easier to use IMO. I started back with version 5 I think? I am on 14 now...or X4 I suppose.

ETA: Some actions work in PSE and some dont. I think you would have to check the place you bought them. I know M4H has some that work in both and some that are just for photoshop

[JuliaM]

Thanks for your input. I can't even remember what the first version of PSP that used was. It had to be a good 10 - 12 years ago, though. I'm up to X4 now as well. It took a while to get used to it. I installed it, used it, decided I didn't like it, uninstalled it and then a couple of months later decided to try it again...and I've been sticking with it.

I downloaded the trial of PSE 11 and I've tried some of the actions and styles I have and, so far, they've worked. I think I'll play with it more and wait 'til the 30 days trial is up to make a decision one way or the other.

[jessica31876]

The only complaint I have about X4 is the changes to the type tool (not sure what to call it LOL) I liked it better when it popped up a box to type in then it went into the layout. It is a lot harder to adjust the numbers to get the tracking and kerning and all that right for my fonts. Better yet I wish all fonts had the exact same settings so I did not have to adjust them to make them look right. I journal a lot and sometimes only have a little space to do it I cannot have half an inch between lines

[JuliaM]

I'm not fond of the changes to the text tool either. When it was the box that popped up, you could click for it to remember what you typed. I rarely, if ever, journal but I put dates on everything. I know it's a little thing, but when I was doing a lot of layouts from the same date, it was so easy to just click where I wanted the date to be and it would be there without having to type it.

I also have issues with kerning and tracking. It seems if I type in the number I want, it never takes it.