Paint Shop Pro vs. Photoshop Elements?

[NerdyMomBriggs]

Until about 6 months ago, I had used Paint Shop Pro (PSP) exclusively for scrapping, with version 9 being my latest purchase. However, for work purposes, I acquired Photoshop Elements 3, and I have been playing around with it since then. And now I am confused...

I have not fully exploited either program fully, and I am ready to take the plunge and really learn how to do very cool, more advanced stuff with either program. But I am concerned that I will be spreading myself too thin by trying to learn both programs.

What I'd like to find out is, what does PSP9 do better? what does PSE3 do better? Are there things I just can't do in one that I can do in the other?

Is anyone who uses PSP concerned about the near total world domination of Photoshop? especially with regard to books written about advanced techniques? Is anyone who uses PSP concerned about the acquisition by Corel, and PSP's future?

Does anyone who is currently using PSE3 feel like they will have to, at some point, upgrade to the "big" Photoshop? Personally, I can't imagine spending that kind of money, but I'm sure there are things that Photoshop can do that Elements just can't.

Any kind of opinion/information would be welcome.

Thanks! and have a great Memorial Day weekend.

[Emma]

Here's a thread on the topic.
http://www.digitalscrapbookplace.com/forum/showthread.php?t=4043

There are a lot of things PSP can do that PSE can't do, notably a lot of brush options, vector tools, text options, and more. I prefer painting in PSP, way better brush tools and options, many of them better than even Photoshop

PSE has some cool things that I prefer for making realistic elements, like layer styles. I use Photoshop and make a lot of these things for use in PSE, so I can squeeze a lot more out of it. But I include most of the stuff in my PSE classes, like extra brushes preset with all the cool PS options on them, custom shapes (can't make those in PSE, but can in PS and PSP), and layer styles.

So it is a toss-up, and I think learning both is fine. Lots of people use both.

I'm not too concerned about Adobe vs Jasc vs Corel. I think it's important to have professional software standards. The same argument exists in every industry, like IBM Rational Rose for software development, or MS Windows in operating systems, etc. As long as it's not unfair or illegal competition. I like to use the pro standards because of the vast resources out there.
PSP is growing in that respect, or at least I've found more on it. There are some great sites, books, classes, and tutorials for doing advanced things in PSP.

Do what you like in PSP and do what you like in PSE. Ask questions, read lots of tutorials. Especially with those of us who know both, we can all translate for each other.