PSE v CS for a Photographer?

[russellsnr]

Hi, Now this maybe a question that has been delved into before but!!
Discarding the price between PSE and CS for a novice,amateur or even a semi pro photographer what is there to gain from using CS over PSE 9 if the use is just for photographic manipulation to make your photographs say "Hey!! look at me". I no that a pro photographer/Graphic guru needs CS and a lot more but an ordinary photograher what can CS offer him?
Anyone feel that you can get the same results from PSE as you would from CS on a correctly exposed and composed photograph?
Is CS a waste of money for the photographer who does not need things like video manipulation for stills?
There is probably other questions as to the for and against these two applications but others may like to ask them.
Thanks
hope you don't think it's a bit of a loaded question
Russ.

 

[specialman]

Have only used really old versions of PSE so can't comment in that respect. However, I've used full PS for many years and TBH, for photographer, IMO it's not as relevant these days because we now have the likes of Lightroom and Aperture that act as one-stop editing, cataloguing and purporting tools in such a clear concise fashion. I still use CS3 for intricate brushwork, cloning and layer work, but day-to-day, LR always gets first look in.

I've not had a play with CS5 but judging by how things have gone incessant versions, PS is now more a tool for photo editing for print and web than anything else because of the way it works with illustrator, InDesign and the rest of the CS programmer. For people who's main aim is to produce good photos, LR is pretty hard to be in the Adobe portfolio and probably PSE will provide all you need from full PS to go about those daily chores.

 

[Oggy]

The later versions of PSE will provide all of what 90% of photographers need at a fraction of the price.

 

[Trev4]

The later versions of PSE will provide all of what 90% of photographers need at a fraction of the price.

I absolutely agree. I have PSE 9 and CS5, both excellent programs, but Elements at a fraction of the price of CS5 does 90%, if not even more that you will need, plus it has a rather good organiser that you dont get with CS5. Unless you have very specialist needs, Elements is the way to go.