Gimp or Photoshop Elements?

Question

I know gimp is free, but I hear that it has a steep learning curve, which I don't necessarily like. I've read that Photoshop Elements is easy to use and is similar to Photoshop, which I might use later on.

Which do you recommend?

yes triple, i'm just a hobbyist photographer.

Answer 1

Learning curve depends on the features you use.

I recomend Photoshop Elements because the features, and the tools and controls to use them are the same as full version Photoshop. If you intend to ever advance to the fuller, richer Photoshop and other tools in the Adobe suite of products, starting with Elements means not having to "relearn" many of the steps and functions.

Please, also, keep in mind that the current version of Elements is very similar to the full version Photoshop of just a few years ago.

Answer 2

If you want to explore the world of Adobe Photoshop without spending the big money for the full product, get Photoshop Elements. It is a tremendously powerful program and it only sells for $99.00. You can get it at http://www.adobe.com or any of the usual places you buy software. I am still using Photoshop Elements 5.0, but PE 6.0 is now out and Adobe claims that it has enhanced Brightness/Contrast tools, Clone tool and Black and White Conversion tool. The other enhancements seem to deal with merging photos (panoramic stitching) and organizing your photos.

You can use it practically right out of the box with the "Quick Fix" option and then you can advance into the full program, learning TONS about the Photoshop world as you go. Frankly, I think most casual users would never explore the full capabilities of Photoshop Elements. If you are ever ready for more, you will already know much of what you need to know about using "real" Photoshop.

Just go here http://www.adobe.com/products/photoshopelwin/ and click "Free Trial" for a 30-day free trial.

Almost every single image on my Flickr site was processed with Photoshop Elements 5.0. Some have from zero to barely any post-processing at all and others have considerable amount of perspective alterations, saturation changes, etc., and these are specified under the picture most of the time.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/samfeinstein/

Answer 3

Use GIMP. It's the same program on Vista and Mac, the difference is the source code was built on the Unix-based Linux (Macs are also Unix-based, so the program will run perfectly. Windows computers use an installer built for the program.) Photoshop Elements is stripped down and consumes lots of system resources. GIMP is better and free-er.

Answer 4

I am a HUGE fan of the older version of Adobe elements. It was a little like photoshop but you didn't get access to channels and the like. The new version reminds me of aperture which is still good, but doesn't do a whole lot in the way of creation. But between the two, Elements. I just don't like Gimp.

Answer 5

Yeah, GIMP does have an interesting learning curve. I would definitely go with an Adobe Product. YOu can try it out online at adobe.com for 30 days to see if you like it, then you can just buy directly online if you want to keep it!

i think a better question to ask is, what are you planning to do with the software? Is it for digital photo editing? Or other creative endeavors? If your a hobby digital photographer, I would definitely go w/ elements.

Answer 6

Get Elements!

It's so good - for less than $100 - that you may never find the need to upgrade. In fact, most people don't.

Answer 7

photoshop elemets. always use adobe products.

i don't even know what Gimp is

Answer 8

Duno? What you using it for? I use photoshop for everything! Its not exactly what i'd call easy but it certainly works!