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sawicksted · 09-30-2011, 05:14 AM

Hey Guys

Where do I start? I am relatively new to PP and was wondering where to go first. PSelements is about 130 and PSP is about 70. Is there even a comparison or what's the deal.

Most articles in magazines end up discussing PS elements or the full version so it is easy to follow along with the "tutorials" if you have the same software. Worthy of consideration for people new to PP I feel but....

Is it really worth spending the extra for PSelements? I have the silky pix, and GIMP, and I demo'd PS for a month so.....

Any thoughts on which to go with?

JHD · 09-30-2011, 08:01 AM

I bought them both but haven't tried either. I also have LR but haven't opened it up either.

Some people say PSP is supposed to be almost as capable as PhotoShop. I bought it because it was on sale (same with PSE & LR).

**boriscleto** · 09-30-2011, 08:03 AM

Why would you buy a PlayStationPortable to edit photos

**Lowell Goudge** · 09-30-2011, 11:12 AM

I have PSP, now version X4,

It is quite powerful, but also has some areas where it lags behind.

Most specifically the areas lagging are in relation to lens correction, CA removal and distortion correction.

sawicksted · 10-01-2011, 11:11 AM

Originally posted by Lowell Goudge

I have PSP, now version X4,

It is quite powerful, but also has some areas where it lags behind.

Most specifically the areas lagging are in relation to lens correction, CA removal and distortion correction.

Hey Lowell

So does PSP do layers and support HDR? I would like to try to work with these things as it seems that every article in Photo magazines deals with these topics.
Thanks for the tip.

atupdate · 10-01-2011, 02:27 PM

PSP does layers and I believe the latest version does HDR (I'm using PSP X - no HDR). There are a ton of PSE tutorials that are easy to mimic in PSP.

Here is a Photoshop to PSP Dictionary.

And a bunch of other PSP resources.

Tim

sawicksted · 10-02-2011, 01:47 PM

Originally posted by atupdate

PSP does layers and I believe the latest version does HDR (I'm using PSP X - no HDR). There are a ton of PSE tutorials that are easy to mimic in PSP.

Here is a Photoshop to PSP Dictionary.

And a bunch of other PSP resources.

Tim

Hey Tim

Thanks for the links. I'll have fun checking out the translations!!
I also found the new free trial version of PS10! I am trying to download it now and go play for a month. Then I'll bite the bullet and purchase something and stop looking fro a while.

Scott

**Lowell Goudge** · 10-02-2011, 01:52 PM

Latest version is PSP x4 and does support HDR as well as layers

For me the biggest weakness is the CA correction. It is a fringe removal tool, but real CA correction rescales the layers to correct and it increases sharpness over fringe removal

For CA correction ps tax photo lab is much better

dmfw · 10-02-2011, 09:43 PM

Download the trial demos for PSE and PSP X4 and decide what you like.

sawicksted · 10-05-2011, 05:57 AM

Thanks guys for the advice and links.

The free trial versions are pretty good. I'll try the PSE this month and then PSP next month. I had fun working with layers in PSE so far as it was new to me. I was even able to remove an unwanted kayaker from a landscape photo I took last summer and it would be hard to tell they were even there unless you magnified the photo a lot. THere are some neat tools available for that king of work.

Both programs sound very good and are likely more than I'll get into over the next couple of years but everynow and then I get a day at the cottage and have all day to just play on the laptop so.......hopefully the learning curve is steep and not flat or a heaven forbid a downhill slide!!

**fs999** · 10-05-2011, 07:07 AM

You can use Photoshop modules in PSP...

**klh** · 10-05-2011, 07:56 AM

I have used PSP since version 6. I recently bought version 14 (X4) which is at Target stores in the USA for only $40. I don't know if you can find that pricing on PEI or elsewhere in Canada.

My typical workflow is neutral RAW conversion in Raw Therapee 3, then into PSP, using noise reduction with Topaz Denoise 5 Plugin, followed by typical adjustments.

The new HDR module in PSP is great in my opinion, but I'm no HDR expert. I can get very realistic looking HDRs using PSP alone.

I haven't tried RAW conversion in PSP, but supposedly that has been improved as well.

While it may not be as advanced as PSE, I don't think you can beat it on value for money.

As others have said, try the 30 day free trial. It's fully functional (until the time runs out), so you'll know if PSP is right for you.

SpecialK · 10-05-2011, 10:09 PM

Elements 10 is out now, so you may be able to find v9 on sale. I think it cost me $59 (or $79?) after rebate a few months back. It does layers and opens K-5 PEFs. Easy to correct tilting photos :-)

cats_five · 10-06-2011, 12:23 AM

PSP is very good at some things and very bad at others - I have PSP X and colour managed workflow was a bit of a nightmare compared to PSE and PS. However the version of PSE I have (a very old one) didn't have a channel mixer. There's a good PSP group on Flickr where you can find out the shortcomings of PSP:

Flickr: Corel Paint Shop Pro

There is probably an Elements group as well, but I never looked for it.

I started to save all my images in PSD format rather than PSPIMAGE, though when I moved to CS4 for my editing I found PSP had a handy batch convert that I used on the remaining PSPIMAGE files.

In the end I got CS4 as I wanted 16-bit functionality for all the processing (PSP X claimed it but didn't seem to support it for what I wanted to do), I wanted easier colour managed workflow, and CS4 brought along some new functionality that makes revising edits far easier. As I was a part-time student at the time I was able to get a student version - I also did that with Windows and Office.

Whatever you get, you need plenty of RAM in your PC and also plenty of HDD storage, plus at least one backup onto a separate device.

**fs999** · 10-06-2011, 01:59 AM

PSP X4 has 16 bit functionality on most commands and the raw conversion is way better, I use now the standard settings without opening the dialog...

09-30-2011, 05:14 AM	#1
sawicksted Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2011 Location: Prince Edward Island Photos: Albums Posts: 194	Which to buy - PSP or PS elements 9 Hey Guys Where do I start? I am relatively new to PP and was wondering where to go first. PSelements is about 130 and PSP is about 70. Is there even a comparison or what's the deal. Most articles in magazines end up discussing PS elements or the full version so it is easy to follow along with the "tutorials" if you have the same software. Worthy of consideration for people new to PP I feel but.... Is it really worth spending the extra for PSelements? I have the silky pix, and GIMP, and I demo'd PS for a month so..... Any thoughts on which to go with?

10-05-2011, 05:57 AM	#10
sawicksted Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2011 Location: Prince Edward Island Photos: Albums Posts: 194 Original Poster	Thanks Thanks guys for the advice and links. The free trial versions are pretty good. I'll try the PSE this month and then PSP next month. I had fun working with layers in PSE so far as it was new to me. I was even able to remove an unwanted kayaker from a landscape photo I took last summer and it would be hard to tell they were even there unless you magnified the photo a lot. THere are some neat tools available for that king of work. Both programs sound very good and are likely more than I'll get into over the next couple of years but everynow and then I get a day at the cottage and have all day to just play on the laptop so.......hopefully the learning curve is steep and not flat or a heaven forbid a downhill slide!!

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09-30-2011, 08:01 AM	#2
JHD Veteran Member Join Date: Jan 2010 Photos: Albums Posts: 1,406	I bought them both but haven't tried either. I also have LR but haven't opened it up either. Some people say PSP is supposed to be almost as capable as PhotoShop. I bought it because it was on sale (same with PSE & LR).

09-30-2011, 08:03 AM	#3
boriscleto Loyal Site Supporter Join Date: Dec 2009 Location: North Syracuse, NY Photos: Gallery Posts: 16,477	Why would you buy a PlayStationPortable to edit photos

09-30-2011, 11:12 AM	#4
Lowell Goudge Site Supporter Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Toronto Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 17,892	I have PSP, now version X4, It is quite powerful, but also has some areas where it lags behind. Most specifically the areas lagging are in relation to lens correction, CA removal and distortion correction.

10-01-2011, 11:11 AM	#5
sawicksted Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2011 Location: Prince Edward Island Photos: Albums Posts: 194 Original Poster	Originally posted by Lowell Goudge I have PSP, now version X4, It is quite powerful, but also has some areas where it lags behind. Most specifically the areas lagging are in relation to lens correction, CA removal and distortion correction. Hey Lowell So does PSP do layers and support HDR? I would like to try to work with these things as it seems that every article in Photo magazines deals with these topics. Thanks for the tip.

10-01-2011, 02:27 PM	#6
atupdate Pentaxian Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: Dayton, OH Photos: Gallery Posts: 4,724	PSP does layers and I believe the latest version does HDR (I'm using PSP X - no HDR). There are a ton of PSE tutorials that are easy to mimic in PSP. Here is a Photoshop to PSP Dictionary. And a bunch of other PSP resources. Tim

10-02-2011, 01:47 PM	#7
sawicksted Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2011 Location: Prince Edward Island Photos: Albums Posts: 194 Original Poster	Originally posted by atupdate PSP does layers and I believe the latest version does HDR (I'm using PSP X - no HDR). There are a ton of PSE tutorials that are easy to mimic in PSP. Here is a Photoshop to PSP Dictionary. And a bunch of other PSP resources. Tim Hey Tim Thanks for the links. I'll have fun checking out the translations!! I also found the new free trial version of PS10! I am trying to download it now and go play for a month. Then I'll bite the bullet and purchase something and stop looking fro a while. Scott

10-02-2011, 01:52 PM	#8
Lowell Goudge Site Supporter Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Toronto Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 17,892	Latest version is PSP x4 and does support HDR as well as layers For me the biggest weakness is the CA correction. It is a fringe removal tool, but real CA correction rescales the layers to correct and it increases sharpness over fringe removal For CA correction ps tax photo lab is much better

10-02-2011, 09:43 PM	#9
dmfw Senior Member Join Date: Dec 2009 Location: Dallas, Tx Photos: Albums Posts: 159	Download the trial demos for PSE and PSP X4 and decide what you like.

10-05-2011, 07:07 AM	#11
fs999 Loyal Site Supporter Join Date: Jul 2008 Location: Luxembourg Photos: Gallery Posts: 8,650	You can use Photoshop modules in PSP...

10-05-2011, 07:56 AM	#12
klh Loyal Site Supporter Join Date: May 2009 Location: West Lafayette, Indiana, USA Posts: 827	I have used PSP since version 6. I recently bought version 14 (X4) which is at Target stores in the USA for only $40. I don't know if you can find that pricing on PEI or elsewhere in Canada. My typical workflow is neutral RAW conversion in Raw Therapee 3, then into PSP, using noise reduction with Topaz Denoise 5 Plugin, followed by typical adjustments. The new HDR module in PSP is great in my opinion, but I'm no HDR expert. I can get very realistic looking HDRs using PSP alone. I haven't tried RAW conversion in PSP, but supposedly that has been improved as well. While it may not be as advanced as PSE, I don't think you can beat it on value for money. As others have said, try the 30 day free trial. It's fully functional (until the time runs out), so you'll know if PSP is right for you.

10-05-2011, 10:09 PM	#13
SpecialK Pentaxian Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: So California Photos: Gallery Posts: 16,482	Elements 10 is out now, so you may be able to find v9 on sale. I think it cost me $59 (or $79?) after rebate a few months back. It does layers and opens K-5 PEFs. Easy to correct tilting photos :-)

10-06-2011, 12:23 AM	#14
cats_five Veteran Member Join Date: Nov 2010 Location: Fife, Scotland Posts: 835	PSP is very good at some things and very bad at others - I have PSP X and colour managed workflow was a bit of a nightmare compared to PSE and PS. However the version of PSE I have (a very old one) didn't have a channel mixer. There's a good PSP group on Flickr where you can find out the shortcomings of PSP: Flickr: Corel Paint Shop Pro There is probably an Elements group as well, but I never looked for it. I started to save all my images in PSD format rather than PSPIMAGE, though when I moved to CS4 for my editing I found PSP had a handy batch convert that I used on the remaining PSPIMAGE files. In the end I got CS4 as I wanted 16-bit functionality for all the processing (PSP X claimed it but didn't seem to support it for what I wanted to do), I wanted easier colour managed workflow, and CS4 brought along some new functionality that makes revising edits far easier. As I was a part-time student at the time I was able to get a student version - I also did that with Windows and Office. Whatever you get, you need plenty of RAM in your PC and also plenty of HDD storage, plus at least one backup onto a separate device.

10-06-2011, 01:59 AM	#15
fs999 Loyal Site Supporter Join Date: Jul 2008 Location: Luxembourg Photos: Gallery Posts: 8,650	PSP X4 has 16 bit functionality on most commands and the raw conversion is way better, I use now the standard settings without opening the dialog...

Which to buy - PSP or PS elements 9

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