NoBs Digital Dogbowl

Photoshop vs. Photoshop Elements for Pros.

Adobe puts out two image processing programs, Adobe Photoshop Elements, a consumer directed program and Photoshop the big dog in the image processing world. Many pros, who are now into digital, think that with expensive cameras they should also purchase the most expensive and powerful software to go with it. The only problem with this is Photoshop has a very steep learning curve which leads to even more frustration than the whole digital crossover.

Some have looked at Elements but remember that somebody once told them that it will not work for pros because A: It is just not powerful enough or B: Real Pros only use Photoshop. In answer to A: both Photoshop and Elements are built with the same software and the same tools and commands. In fact many who started with Elements have a much easier time transitioning to Photoshop. Elements can do about 85% of everything Photoshop can do and a few things that even Photoshop CS 2 can’t do. Two things Elements can’t do are work in CYMK for some printers and run Actions. CYMK can be an issue if you only use some high end printers but even this is becoming less of an issue with many of them converting over to RGB printing. However since both Elements and Photoshop are built on the same program you can save any image with all the layers and adjustments and send it over to Photoshop for converting.

For many pros, the Actions drawback is important since they may have huge number of images that need color correction or copyright symbols embedded and a few clicks and a cup of coffee later it is done.

So does this mean only Photoshop should be used in studios? I know a number of pros who have smaller operations or even have staff members who pre process images with Elements then later the images are worked over in Photoshop. Elements Quick Fix editor is an excellent global editor for color and exposure for a few images and you can email out from it with just a few clicks where the program does all the resizing and uses your email program. Think about that when you have an art director breathing down your neck and you can send out computer proofs and get back to work. Elements is also a non destructive editor. By that when it saves it saves a copy linked to the original what this means is you can always go back to original if you want to do something else. Elements uses the same RAW editor as Photoshop so if you shoot in that you can do all the RAW corrections and work them later with layers and effects.

Speaking of layers you also have the most of the same adjustment layers and with Elements 5 a more powerful black and white converter for images than CS 2. Elements are also Adobe’s proving ground for new tools that end up in Photoshop. I see a number of the tools from Elements 4 and 5 now showing up in the Beta CS 3.

Is there just one tool that will work for everyone? That is like saying that everyone should have just one type of camera or lens. Both of these programs can create wonderful images for clients with no problems in having labs printing them or right from your own desktop. Though new comers to the digital world should think about easing into learning curve with Elements before taking on the big dog. Along with the much smaller price tag for Elements, once you are in the Adobe family you can upgrade to Photoshop at a lower price tag too.

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