# Digital photo mavens, Paintshop Pro or Photoshop Elements? **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [November 26, 2001, 8:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/digital-photo-mavens-paintshop-pro-or-photoshop-elements/95349 "2001-11-26T20:21:25Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![SPOOFE](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/c5a1d2/32.png) [@SPOOFE](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SPOOFE)\ **Post date:** [November 27, 2001, 11:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/digital-photo-mavens-paintshop-pro-or-photoshop-elements/95349/21 "2001-11-27T11:42:49Z")
Y-Babe… > [@](#): > > Oh no no no. Not PSP. Not that it’s bad, but Photoshop IS the industry standard, and the sooner you succumb, the better. Trust me on this. And if I were in the industry, succumb I will. But I’m not. So I won’t. 😃 I’m saying that, outside of Photoshop (which the OP stated he can’t get), PSP is the program to get. Less than a hundred bucks by now (I saw it going for $70 over the weekend) for something that’s “almost as good”. Sounds like plenty of bang for the buck. Tech’ems… > [@](#): > > SPOOFE will you marry me? Nobody else would be good enough for me, darlin’. 😃 ---
**Author:** ![techchick68](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/ea5d25/32.png) [@techchick68](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/techchick68)\ **Post date:** [November 27, 2001, 12:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/digital-photo-mavens-paintshop-pro-or-photoshop-elements/95349/22 "2001-11-27T12:12:38Z")
> [@](#): > > You know, I worked as a professional photo retoucher for several years, and I know photo retouching pretty well. I worked with photo dyes and paintbrush (I didn’t do the airbrushing, but another coworker did.) But I had a lot of contact with the “digital” department at work, and they all used Photoshop. Photoshop is it for any photo lab of any merit, as far as I know. End of story. And I have used Photoshop as well, more than many, more than most on this board and I still think that for **Padeye’s** needs that Paint Shop Pro will suit him well. PhotoShop requires a huge learning curve and for what he will be using his “photo” program for, I think that PSP will suit him well. I have done supreme photo manipulation with my PSP. I don’t doubt that most “art departments” use Photoshop, aka in the MAC area and I know this first hand, but this does not tell me that he should buy a $600 program when PSP will suit him well hun. You are a MAC person, I appreciate that, but he’s on a PC and having dealt with graphics on PCs since 1997, I think I can give him a good summary of what PSP is all about. $600 is not in the cards. PSP is cheap, it’s easy and has a lot of the capabilities for reasonable price. He can even download a 30 day trial before he decides whether it’s for him or not. Look, Photoshop is damned expensive, and it’s the “standard” amongst those that are in the Mac world and serious graphic artistic people’s…great but I am also in the realm of graphics people, have created some awesome print work with PaintShop Pro, believe it or not. What I am telling Padeye is to check out PSP before he spends shit loads of money on Photoshop like I have. I know many, many, web artists that use PSP and poopoo Photoshop big time. I have Photoshop and it’s a pain in the ass to learn. It’s had a huge learning curve with regards to it, virtually anything it offers, and PSP is a great program for what I think Padeye needs. It’s a simple learning curve and has the features that he wants to make his photo manipulation easy as pie. Sorry, but I have Photoshop, PSP, Illustrator, Picture Publisher, etc…and Paint Shop Pro is his best bet. For what he wants to do it is the most cost effective program, and again it’s easy to learn…shit I have had Photoshop for 4 years and I still don’t know all the ins and outs, it’s too complicated for the person that wants to play and have fun, PSP, one can master that in a matter of hours. [http://www.jasc.com](http://www.jasc.com) it’s a free download for 30 days. Sorry yosemitebabe, but for the average person and even those that prefer to have some control without a huge learning curve, PSP is the standard…I think Photoshop is on it’s way out, expect among the die hards. Anything that I can do in Photoshop I can do more in PSP. I have done a lot of beautiful work in PSP and I know my fellow webmasters have too. I hate to say it, but Photoshop is the standard but it’s on it’s way out, just like Quark and it’s standards. It’s the ebb and flow of the field, soon the tide will change and Photoshop will be the secondary part of graphics. SO I think…I could be wrong but don’t down PSP, it’s been a strong graphics programs amongst web people and we are changing things a lot. ---
**Author:** ![DougC](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/7feea3/32.png) [@DougC](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DougC)\ **Post date:** [November 27, 2001, 1:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/digital-photo-mavens-paintshop-pro-or-photoshop-elements/95349/23 "2001-11-27T13:20:21Z")
- - - I own PSP and have used Photoshop a lot, but don’t own it–yet. PSP is easier, but both take time to learn to use. One _big_ drawback to PSP is that it can’t handle the huge image files that Photoshop can: in PSP, the program and the image both have to fit into your computer’s RAM, where in Photoshop they do not- it can place the image in virtual memory (on the HD) while it works with it. - What that means is that editing web images is easy enough in PSP because due to their normal compression they aren’t real big, but if you ever want to do detail work on a full-page image, you’re screwed. A cheap scanner can scan a full page at 1200x1200 DPI and a cheap printer can print a full page at 1200x1200 DPI, but I found that with 320 megs of RAM, using two layers (minimum for editing) of 24 bit colors (PSP’s maximum, photo-quality), I could only do about one-fourth of a page at a time. This is the _only_ complaint I have about PSP, but it’s the killer as far as I’m concerned. There’s no JASC “fix” available for this problem, except buying more RAM. Had I know this before, I wouldn’t have bought PSP. ~ - If you’re a student (or know someone who is), you can get Photoshop for about half price. - DougC ---
**Author:** ![KellyM](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/57b2e6/32.png) [@KellyM](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/KellyM)\ **Post date:** [November 27, 2001, 1:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/digital-photo-mavens-paintshop-pro-or-photoshop-elements/95349/24 "2001-11-27T13:30:46Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Padeye \* > \*\*I can’t justify the cost of full blown Photoshop so I’m deciding between the poor man’s alternatives, Paintshop Pro 7 and Adobe Photoshop elements. I haveent learned to do heavy manipulation with either but find them both easy to use and powerful. I particularly like the multi-thumbnail browse feature in PSP but I can see the advantage of being able to use Photoshop plug-ins with the Adobe product. If you had $100 to spend, which product would you get? \*\* Personally, I’d buy neither. Rather, I’d spend a grand total of $0 and get a copy of [the GIMP](http://www.gimp.org). Of course, I’m biased: I helped write it. 🙂 The GIMP completely blows PSP away; there is no comparison. With the exception of color matching and CMYK separations (which are important for doing prepress work, but of little or no relevance for regular digital photography), the GIMP is highly competitive with Photoshop. (We don’t do color matching mainly because of patents on the process that we can’t get licenses for.) And I’m comparing with **full** Photoshop, not one of the eviscerated versions that they push on people as attractive nuisances. ---
**Author:** ![techchick68](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/ea5d25/32.png) [@techchick68](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/techchick68)\ **Post date:** [November 27, 2001, 1:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/digital-photo-mavens-paintshop-pro-or-photoshop-elements/95349/25 "2001-11-27T13:34:20Z")
> [@](#): > > One big drawback to PSP is that it can’t handle the huge image files that Photoshop can: I beg your pardon…I can do as much in PSP as I can in Photoshop and then some. I handle very large files in PSP, and I have both programs. I have dealt with some huge ass files in PSP…with great results. What I want to impart to Padeye and he knows me, is that he can get great results with PSP with tons less money. Screw the Photoshop LE, get PSP. Photoshop is for those that can spend the money on it, I got mine with a web package…I told a customer that I would do a web design project if they bought me Photoshop. For what we were doing, it was a bust. Sorry, but for what Padeye needs, PSP is perfect for him, quit talking him into spending $600 for a product he will never use. PSP is perfect for his needs, egads. I have seen so many web projects and even print projects in PSP…but you 'all keep pushing Photoshop, I have it, it’s not better for him, I believe this. ---
**Author:** ![VeraGemini](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/e9bcb4/32.png) [@VeraGemini](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/VeraGemini)\ **Post date:** [November 27, 2001, 1:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/digital-photo-mavens-paintshop-pro-or-photoshop-elements/95349/26 "2001-11-27T13:40:13Z")
My opinion is that Photoshop is “industry standard” because: a) Computer graphics used to be the exclusive domain of the Mac b) It came first c) Earlier versions of PSP weren’t capable of the nifty things like layers and channels (now it is) d) Lots of companies have invested a ton in Photoshop and are loathe to change I use PSP for everything. I’ve played with Photoshop and couldn’t find anything about it PSP wouldn’t do. You can’t beat the price on the GIMP, but it’s really not user-friendly, and the Windows port is a little buggy. ---
**Author:** ![techchick68](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/ea5d25/32.png) [@techchick68](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/techchick68)\ **Post date:** [November 27, 2001, 1:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/digital-photo-mavens-paintshop-pro-or-photoshop-elements/95349/27 "2001-11-27T13:51:16Z")
> [@](#): > > I use PSP for everything. I’ve played with Photoshop and couldn’t find anything about it PSP wouldn’t do. You can’t beat the price on the GIMP, but it’s really not user-friendly, and the Windows port is a little buggy. Pardon me not user friendly? Oh you are talking about something else other than PSP…shoot me please, I am trying to keep my house warm right now as the forced air gas heater isn’t working…I am terrified to leave the heater downstairs on. Oh BTW, it’s industry standard BTW, I deal with a lot of graphics people and they always need me to have my graphics available in either Photoshop or Illustrator…hence my need to have the programs. They can usually send me something in a psd file and I can open it, convert it to something for the web. I spend about $700 a year now just to to convert graphics in the right way. ---
**Author:** ![Daikona](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/8baadc/32.png) [@Daikona](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Daikona)\ **Post date:** [November 27, 2001, 8:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/digital-photo-mavens-paintshop-pro-or-photoshop-elements/95349/28 "2001-11-27T20:10:51Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by VeraGemini \* > \*\*You can’t beat the price on the GIMP, but it’s really not user-friendly, and the Windows port is a little buggy. \*\* Granted, the Windows port isn’t perfect, but I use it on a fairly regular basis and almost never have a significant problem. I’m really not sure what’s not ‘user-friendly’ about it either. I picked it up fast enough, and I don’t think I’m any sort of super-genius… ---
**Author:** ![KellyM](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/57b2e6/32.png) [@KellyM](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/KellyM)\ **Post date:** [November 27, 2001, 8:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/digital-photo-mavens-paintshop-pro-or-photoshop-elements/95349/29 "2001-11-27T20:39:03Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Daikona \* > \*\*Granted, the Windows port isn’t perfect, but I use it on a fairly regular basis and almost never have a significant problem. I’m really not sure what’s not ‘user-friendly’ about it either. I picked it up fast enough, and I don’t think I’m any sort of super-genius… \*\* Ok, as a GIMP developer I’m entitled to comment on this. The GIMP’s interface was designed for the UNIX environment. As a result, there are a lot of places where things don’t work the way a Windows user intuitively expects them to work. This is frequently confusing for the average Windows user. I find using Windows GIMP confusing because I’m used to the UNIX interface. The fact that GIMP is not an MDI application probably compounds this issue. (Photoshop is an MDI application.) There are issues with the GUI but IMO it’s no more confusing than Photoshop. And the ability to arbitrarily rebind keyboard shortcuts on the fly is incredibly useful. We’re working on GIMP 1.4 now (we’re at 1.3.1 currently, although please don’t try to use 1.3.1 unless you’re seriously masochistic as we’re working very hard at breaking it into tiny bits right now) so if you have specific issues, complaints, requests, demands, etc. please make your feelings known through the appropriate channels (the [gimp-user](http://lists.xcf.berkeley.edu/lists/gimp-user/) or [gimp-devel](http://lists.xcf.berkeley.edu/lists/gimp-devel/) mailing lists or the [bug tracking system](http://bugzilla.gnome.org/)). (You can also post complaints here, but I might not see them, and even if I do seem them I might not bother doing anything about them.) ---
**Author:** ![pulykamell](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pulykamell/32/3166_2.png) [@pulykamell](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pulykamell)\ **Post date:** [November 27, 2001, 8:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/digital-photo-mavens-paintshop-pro-or-photoshop-elements/95349/30 "2001-11-27T20:42:25Z")
Just out of sheer curiosity…I’ve used Photoshop since the 2.0 version and have never found it anything but easy to use for the standard day-to-day photo work one does. I’m not really sure why people think it’s a freakin’ mystery to use this program. I’ve always found it very natural and intuitive. Never read a manual for it in my life. I’ve never ever actually had to buy a copy, but I’m curious, other than price, are there any real advantages to PSP vs Photoshop. ---
**Author:** ![DougC](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/7feea3/32.png) [@DougC](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DougC)\ **Post date:** [November 27, 2001, 9:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/digital-photo-mavens-paintshop-pro-or-photoshop-elements/95349/31 "2001-11-27T21:56:34Z")
> [@](#): > > …I beg your pardon…I can do as much in PSP as I can in Photoshop and then some. I handle very large files in PSP, and I have both programs… - techchick68 > [@](#): > > …A cheap scanner can scan a full page at 1200x1200 DPI and a cheap printer can print a full page at 1200x1200 DPI, but I found that with 320 megs of RAM, using two layers (minimum for editing) of 24 bit colors (PSP’s maximum, photo-quality), I could only do about one-fourth of a page at a time… - Me - - - I pointed out that I’ve tried this several times, this is what happened every time, I wrote JASC about it, and JASC told me that the program (version 7.2) and the image file always both have to fit into your RAM. PSP 7 doesn’t use virtual memory. ~ Editing a 1 Gig+ image might sound silly, but if you cannot use the program at your printer & scanner’s maximum size, maximum color and maximum resolution, -that, to me, is a serious drawback. _Particularly_ if one is doing photo-editing, and not primarily web graphics. - DougC ---
**Author:** ![SPOOFE](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/c5a1d2/32.png) [@SPOOFE](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SPOOFE)\ **Post date:** [November 27, 2001, 10:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/digital-photo-mavens-paintshop-pro-or-photoshop-elements/95349/32 "2001-11-27T22:39:43Z")
DougC… I was not aware of that limitation. The largest I’d ever had an image at was probably 400X400 DPI, and that was just a silly little personal project. It did run a bit slowly, but I also had several other programs running in the background… Anyway, I don’t consider the RAM limitation to be that extensive, since RAM is dirt cheap. I can go drop $150 right now and end up with 1.5 gigs. ---
**Author:** ![Hanna](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/b3f665/32.png) [@Hanna](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hanna)\ **Post date:** [November 27, 2001, 11:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/digital-photo-mavens-paintshop-pro-or-photoshop-elements/95349/33 "2001-11-27T23:59:19Z")
Another vote for PSP here. I have PhotoShop LE, but for what I do PSP fits the bill, and at a better price. ---
**Author:** ![handy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/b5a626/32.png) [@handy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/handy)\ **Post date:** [November 28, 2001, 12:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/digital-photo-mavens-paintshop-pro-or-photoshop-elements/95349/34 "2001-11-28T00:08:38Z")
What type of camera? If you get a digital camera you get software with it to do digital photography on your computer. Are you using a Mac or a PC? Photoshop is nice, you can get a used copy cheap at [ebay.com](http://ebay.com). I prefer Ulead PhotoImpact, under $100. But then as I said, when you buy a digital camera you already get the software. ---
**Author:** ![handy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/b5a626/32.png) [@handy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/handy)\ **Post date:** [November 28, 2001, 12:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/digital-photo-mavens-paintshop-pro-or-photoshop-elements/95349/35 "2001-11-28T00:11:00Z")
Some notes about GIMP from their website: 1. Is a program for UNIX and X (there is a windows version they say) 2. The current development version of Gimp is loaded with tons of bugs, as Bugzilla will show you in the list of open bugs. ---
**Author:** ![KellyM](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/57b2e6/32.png) [@KellyM](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/KellyM)\ **Post date:** [November 28, 2001, 1:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/digital-photo-mavens-paintshop-pro-or-photoshop-elements/95349/36 "2001-11-28T01:14:52Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by handy \* > **1. Is a program for UNIX and X (there is a windows version they say)** GIMP was developed originally (and primary development continues) in the UNIX environment but it works as well in both OS/2 and Windows. The Windows port is relatively stable, but lags behind the > [@](#): > > \*\*2. The current development version of Gimp is loaded with tons of bugs, as Bugzilla will show you in the list of open bugs. \*\* Of course there are bugs in the development version; that’s why it’s a development version. Of far more interest to the general user are the bugs in the **stable** version. The GIMP, like most open-source projects, is released in two different versions: a development version, which is likely to be rather buggy but have more features, and a stable version, which is older and more mature. For the GIMP, the current development version is 1.3.1 (as of this afternoon), and the current stable version is 1.2.2 (according to the current development director, Michael Nattering). ---
**Author:** ![yosemite](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/y/3ab097/32.png) [@yosemite](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/yosemite)\ **Post date:** [November 28, 2001, 6:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/digital-photo-mavens-paintshop-pro-or-photoshop-elements/95349/37 "2001-11-28T06:45:16Z")
This is cool. This is great. We are going to have a full-out debate over image editing programs! Phooey on these wimpy-assed “Pro-Life vs. Pro-Choice” debates, or “Creation vs. Evolution”! Pshaw! Nothing compared to duking it out over _image editing software!_ 😃 > [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by techchick68 \* > > And I have used Photoshop as well, more than many, more than most on this board and I still think that for **Padeye’s** needs that Paint Shop Pro will suit him well. It probably will, and I know that it is a fine program. But I am thinking in the long-term. And in the long-term, I think Padeye might have his eye on even better equipment, and better software. With PSP, it’s it. It is all it is. With Elements, there is the potential to upgrade to the “full” version of Photoshop. And Photoshop is full-bodied, and with levels and layers of complexity that may end up really paying off for him as his skills become more sophisticated. If he decides down the road that he needs to afford the Industry Standard ™ then why should he have to learn a whole new interface, when he can already get in the door with an Adobe product? And already be used to the Adobe interface? > [@](#): > > PhotoShop requires a huge learning curve and for what he will be using his “photo” program for, I think that PSP will suit him well. I have done supreme photo manipulation with my PSP. I am sure PSP is fine. Hell, I _started out_ on PSP, on my first computer, a little Pentium 75. I have read the reviews. PSP is very nice, but just not quite as nice as Photoshop. And _not_ the “Industry Standard”. > [@](#): > > I don’t doubt that most “art departments” use Photoshop, aka in the MAC area and I know this first hand, but this does not tell me that he should buy a $600 program when PSP will suit him well hun. You are a MAC person, I appreciate that, but he’s on a PC and having dealt with graphics on PCs since 1997, Could we please not make this a platform issue? Because it’s not. [NAPP](http://www.photoshopuser.com) (a Photoshop organization I belong to) recently did a poll, and it turns out that their members are split just about down the middle - half use Mac, half use PC. Photoshop is certainly _not_ a “Mac” thing, by no means. And by the way, I am a Mac **and** PC person. I own and use both. There’s this beige box sitting a few feet away from me, and last I checked, it was a PC running Photoshop. Yep, still there. And, I might add, I started on PCs in late '97. I _know_ I am not as proficient as you, but I have come a long way. And having worked as a photo retoucher has given me a particular valuable perspective on this. And, like I mentioned before, _I started out on a PC, with PSP._ I _have used_ PSP. I still have it installed on my PC. (I have version 6 - I never bothered to get version 7.) > [@](#): > > Look, Photoshop is damned expensive, and it’s the “standard” amongst those that are in the Mac world and serious graphic artistic people’s See my reference above about Photoshop and Macs. Adobe would starve if it didn’t sell many copies of Photoshop to Windows users. Photoshop is quite popular among Windows users. > [@](#): > > What I am telling Padeye is to check out PSP before he spends shit loads of money on Photoshop like I have. I know many, many, web artists that use PSP and poopoo Photoshop big time. And I know many artists who swear by Photoshop, and will settle for nothing less. I know that when I got into Photoshop, I never looked back. And I _started on PSP._ > [@](#): > > I have Photoshop and it’s a pain in the ass to learn. It’s like anything else. You have to read the manuals. Speaking of manuals, I checked Amazon’s listing of Paint Shop Pro 7 books, and it came up with 7 books. A simular search for Photsohop 6 brought up a listing of **75** books. There appears to be lot more support for Photoshop out there. It’s great to have 75 books to choose from. There’s bound to be something for everyone. (I personally like “Photoshop 6 Down and Dirty Tricks”, which had step-by-step tutorials on some great effects. It made learning so fun, and I felt I was really getting somewhere, fast!) > [@](#): > > It’s had a huge learning curve with regards to it, virtually anything it offers, I have to go with pulykamell here - Photoshop just _isn’t that hard_. I decided to dig in, got some books, made myself work on it, and I soon found things falling into place. Sure, there’s a lot more to learn, but that’s always the case with something this deep and full-bodied. I found PSP hard to learn, but I think that had to do with my attitude (I was just intimidated) rather than the program itself. > [@](#): > > PSP is a great program for what I think Padeye needs. Yes, it _is_ a great program, and most assuredly will fulfill Padeye’s needs for now, but down the road, he may end up regretting he didn’t jump on the Photoshop bandwagon much sooner. It is a killer tool for portrait photo retouching. (That’s what the photo lab I worked at specialized in - portraits. And they used Photoshop, on Mac and PC.) > [@](#): > > It’s a simple learning curve and has the features that he wants to make his photo manipulation easy as pie. No doubt. But I hear that Elements has a lot of hand-holding features too, which should make it easy to learn as well. > [@](#): > > Sorry, but I have Photoshop, PSP, Illustrator, Picture Publisher, etc…and Paint Shop Pro is his best bet. Illustrator does not belong on this list. It is a different animal. It is a vector program (and _waaay_ cool) but just cannot be compared to Photoshop or PSP. It should be compared to Freehand. (I have both - and have decided I prefer Illustrator.) > [@](#): > > For what he wants to do it is the most cost effective program, and again it’s easy to learn…shit I have had Photoshop for 4 years and I still don’t know all the ins and outs, But that’s the whole point! It’s like an onion - with layers and layers of nifty features. You learn as you go along that it can do this, and that, and you go “Wow! I didn’t know it could do that! COOL!” I do that all the time. It’s wonderful. It’s not a bad thing! > [@](#): > > it’s too complicated for the person that wants to play and have fun, Nonsense! Ever play with Styles or Layer Effects? Easy easy easy, and _waaaay_ cool. And all the filters! _Waaaay_ fun! And what about “droplets” or “actions”? Too too cool. (That “Down and Dirty Tricks” makes Photoshop tinkering to be fun, fun, fun, and it is written so that _anyone_ can complete the tutorials!) This whole idea that Photoshop is _so_ daunting is a myth, IMO. I ought to know. I’m a “newbie” who just plunged in a learned it. True, books helped, but frankly, they help with any computer application. > [@](#): > > I think Photoshop is on it’s way out, expect among the die hards. 🙂 It is to laugh. Tell all the computer book publishers that. Photoshop may eventually go out of fashion, but that day is not yet. Not for a while yet. > [@](#): > > Anything that I can do in Photoshop I can do more in PSP. I think most of the reviews and digital experts don’t agree with that. I do believe that PSP is just excellent, but Photoshop is a powerful, powerful program, and PSP just isn’t quite up to that. I have never heard any reviewer or expert claim otherwise, even the ones that adore PSP. > [@](#): > > I have done a lot of beautiful work in PSP and I know my fellow webmasters have too. Yes, indeed you have done a lot of beautiful work in PSP. No doubt about it. And I have done a lot of beautiful work in Photoshop and Illustrator. So have many other artists I know. ---
**Author:** ![yosemite](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/y/3ab097/32.png) [@yosemite](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/yosemite)\ **Post date:** [November 28, 2001, 7:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/digital-photo-mavens-paintshop-pro-or-photoshop-elements/95349/38 "2001-11-28T07:02:59Z")
Oops. I made an error. I looked at Amazon again. PSP has 18 books to Photoshop’s 75. ---
**Author:** ![yosemite](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/y/3ab097/32.png) [@yosemite](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/yosemite)\ **Post date:** [November 28, 2001, 7:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/digital-photo-mavens-paintshop-pro-or-photoshop-elements/95349/39 "2001-11-28T07:08:09Z")
Now, Amazon’s just confusing me. It now yields just 5 book listiings for PSP 7. The amount of 18 is for anything with “Paint Shop Pro” (with no version number specified). When I search for “Photoshop” (with no version number specified) I get 358 entries. I spend too much time at [Amazon.com](http://Amazon.com), apparently. ---
**Author:** ![Hanna](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/b3f665/32.png) [@Hanna](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hanna)\ **Post date:** [November 28, 2001, 7:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/digital-photo-mavens-paintshop-pro-or-photoshop-elements/95349/40 "2001-11-28T07:10:43Z")
Yeah, but (I love yeah buts…) PSP is \<$99, PhotoShop is $600. That’s the big advantage PSP has. If you are absolutly sure you need PhotoShop, go for it. If you aren’t sure you need it, isn’t it a lot easier to spend $99 instead? [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/digital-photo-mavens-paintshop-pro-or-photoshop-elements/95349.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/digital-photo-mavens-paintshop-pro-or-photoshop-elements/95349.md?page=3)