New Mac User Question on Elements

[marble157]

i've been a pc user up to this point, i've always wanted to make the switch but never got up the nerve. i've had photoshop cs2 on my pc and now that i've got my mac i'm needing to get the mac version. the only problem is that i really don't feel like spending the cash right now to get the full photoshop. i'm not a professional user, it's more of a hobby. so my question is, will i feel very limited by going with elements? anyone have experience with both? TIA

GBR

 

[haydn!]

I've just had the same dilemma! I've just laid out £1350 for my a brand new 15" MacBook Pro (it's coming on Wednesday!!) and cannot afford the CS suite yet.

I've purchase a copy of Elements to keep me going a few months. I've had elements on the PC before and it's always been fairly decent editing suite with a fairly solid sandbox mode too for creating your own graphics.

I'm hoping it will fulfill my design needs until I can save up the cash for the full design suite.

 

[marble157]

nevermind, i didn't realize that adobe had such huge education discounts, thats pretty BA

GBR

 

[mofunk]

You can still use iPhoto. It's not as good as PS but it works for basic editing.

I got my MBP and then about 3 months later purchased CS4. I stopped eating out and traveling a lot. lol But I got the student/teacher version which saved me a lot of coins. That's another option. If you are only editing photos, you might want to try Lightroom 3 Beta 2. You can use the Beta version until June 30. LR3 works very well with RAW images and noise.

The way I see it.. Make PS work for you. Edit your photos, sell your photos. Then PS will pay for itself.

Upgrade is $350. Lightroom $299. iPhoto free with new Macs. Aperture $199. PS extended you get more.


http://www.adobe.com/products/photoshop/photoshopextended/upgrade/?view=compare

http://www.adobe.com/products/photoshop/compare/