Photoshop – CS5 or Elements?
February 1, 2012
Question -
From Frank S. in Weymouth, MA: “From a photographer’s standpoint, what are the differences between the full version (i.e., CS 5) and the Elements version of Photoshop, and which would you recommend?”
Answer -
The biggest consideration in deciding which version to purchase, of course, is price. The full version (CS5) costs around $700, versus $100 for Elements – a considerable difference.
If cost is not a major issue, then I’d strongly recommend you invest in the full version – the “learning curve” is essentially the same between the 2 versions. That being said, Elements is not just “Photoshop Lite” – It’s quite powerful for the cost – but it has its limitations.
So, what are you missing if your budget only has room for Elements, and what can you expect when you upgrade to the full version at a later date?
16-bit vs 8-bit Workflow -
Elements does not support a complete 16-bit workflow (let’s leave aside for another discussion the technical reasons why you should eventually be using a 16-bit workflow). If you are new to digital photography / digital imaging, working in Elements (in 8-bit) is probably not a major concern initially – - However, if you are an experienced shooter, you understand the power of a 16 -bit workflow, and probably won’t be satisfied with this limitation.
File/Image Browser -
The file Browser that comes with Elements, called the “Organizer”, is confusing at best – - Unlike “Bridge” (which is a great program that comes with the full version), Organizer is not worth the trouble. Unless you use Adobe Lightroom or Apple’s Aperture, I’d look into a free program such as Google’s Picasa.
Other Differences –
This is certainly not a complete list, but the functions / tools that I really miss having when using Elements include: Curves, Masks Panel, Actions, History Log, and Soft-proofing.
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By the way, because there are differences in the 2 versions of Photoshop, my new Photoshop book comes in two “flavors” - One book specifically for the Full version, as well as one for Elements - Check it out!
Cheers,
Posted in 
Gamut Warning in Photoshop
January 30, 2012
Question – from Ken Johnson: I have read some very confusing things regarding the effectiveness of the “Gamut Warning” when soft proofing in Photoshop. Is the Gamut Warning of any value when editing RGB images for photo-based ink jet printers and, if not, what is the best way to detect and deal with out of gamut colors?
Answer: Thanks for an interesting but complex question – I’ll try to avoid being overly-technical …
The answer applies to both “Soft-Proofing” (viewing the effects of your printer profile on your image) and “Gamut Warning” (viewing the range of colors that your color system can display or print):
I only use either of these functions when working with bright electric colors, mainly the three primaries (Red Green and Blue). I use them more for “informational” purposes, knowing that my bright red may look a certain way on the screen, but because of Tonal Compression (the inevitable reduction /degradation of the original scene from your eyes to the print – it’s pure physics), lighting conditions, and other variables won’t necessarily look that way on the print.
Bottom Line? No color system is “perfect”, and you certainly want to eliminate as many variables as possible (the purpose of the Color Management PDF mentioned in the previous post) – that being said, I find it infinitely more useful to make a small test print or two of my image, focusing on the basics of color management, rather than get involved in the overwhelming minutiae and infinite variables of the whole process.
By the way, I cover this subject (and MUCH more) in detail in my new Photoshop book – check it out! – Click here for more …
Cheers,