Emma
03-12-2005, 03:21 PM
Curious for those of you considering like-priced programs, Paint Shop Pro or Photoshop Elements, or those who have both, how you think they compare.
My experience is that to make elements, I prefer PSE. It's faster and easier with better results in the time taken because of all the layer styles. I have a huge collection from One-click Wow, downloaded, or I make them myself in Photoshop and save to put into PSE. With the free Grant's Tools, I find PSE rivals PS in almost every way except for making presets (brushes, custom shapes, gradients, etc). However, the PSE brush options are horrible. Very limited.
PSE is a little easier to learn, and easier to quickly assemble layouts using premade elements.
If I want to do a heavy painting layout, I use Paint Shop Pro. The brush options are vast, and I can do a lot of great montages or painted backgrounds. PSP 9 Art Media Tool really expands on this, and in many ways makes painting in PSP better than even Photoshop. I also love how easy it is to work with patterns/textures in PSP as opposed to PS/PSE. It's so customizable too, with the locations of all the tools, toolbars, and more. I find PSP often has little hiccups like tools freaking out, that doesn't happen in my other software. I also am often disappointed in my ability to create elements using it as they usually take a lot longer and don't look as good as those I make in PS/PSE.
PSP does a great job assembling layouts using premade elements, though perhaps not quite as easy as a simpler program.
So both PSE and PSP have great strengths. To decide, it's important to know what your style is. If you plan to do a lot with brushes, PSP is the way to go. The only drawback there is the PS/PSE brushes for download are much more copious, but the PSP brushes online downloads are becoming a lot more vast. If you look around, you can find a lot.
Any other thoughts on these two softwares?
My experience is that to make elements, I prefer PSE. It's faster and easier with better results in the time taken because of all the layer styles. I have a huge collection from One-click Wow, downloaded, or I make them myself in Photoshop and save to put into PSE. With the free Grant's Tools, I find PSE rivals PS in almost every way except for making presets (brushes, custom shapes, gradients, etc). However, the PSE brush options are horrible. Very limited.
PSE is a little easier to learn, and easier to quickly assemble layouts using premade elements.
If I want to do a heavy painting layout, I use Paint Shop Pro. The brush options are vast, and I can do a lot of great montages or painted backgrounds. PSP 9 Art Media Tool really expands on this, and in many ways makes painting in PSP better than even Photoshop. I also love how easy it is to work with patterns/textures in PSP as opposed to PS/PSE. It's so customizable too, with the locations of all the tools, toolbars, and more. I find PSP often has little hiccups like tools freaking out, that doesn't happen in my other software. I also am often disappointed in my ability to create elements using it as they usually take a lot longer and don't look as good as those I make in PS/PSE.
PSP does a great job assembling layouts using premade elements, though perhaps not quite as easy as a simpler program.
So both PSE and PSP have great strengths. To decide, it's important to know what your style is. If you plan to do a lot with brushes, PSP is the way to go. The only drawback there is the PS/PSE brushes for download are much more copious, but the PSP brushes online downloads are becoming a lot more vast. If you look around, you can find a lot.
Any other thoughts on these two softwares?