Software Deifference between Photoshop and Photoshop Elements?

Right I'm trying to move to more "legal" software, so I need to get me either Photoshop or Photoshop Elements. (Sorry but GIMP just isn't for me). Now not being too loaded atm I've been considering just picking up a copy of Elements, but I'm curious to know what the real difference is between the two.

I gather Elements does have as many features as Photoshop, but I'm wanting to know if it removes a lot of useful features or just obscure stuff I'd rarely use. I mostly use my not so legal copy of CS2 for light imaging editing and creating the odd digital image nothing too fancy.

So if anyone could tell me the difference that would be great.

 

Afaik there is no adobe camera raw and no hdr in elements. Neither of which are a problem if you use things like RSE and Photomatix. The only important ones i find missing are the curves tool and the channel mixer, both of which are available as action scripts for pse 1,2,3. Not so sure about support for v4,5.

I personally have no issues using elements to process most of my images, although a lot of my post process is done in RSE.

EDIT: Apparantly there are curves/mixer actions for v4, but no v5 yet:
http://www.cavesofice.org/~grant/Challenge/Tools/index.html

 

Ah righto, thanks for the info. Doesn't sound like I'd be missing too much.

 

It really depends how much you want to do, i'm sure theres loads missing, but i only really use overlay layers / adjustment layers / clone tool etc

 

It might be worthwhile looking at Jasc/Corel Paintshop Pro, it cover 80% of what Photoshop can do for about 1/8 of the price.

 

Or paint.net? It's free and has some of the basics like layers and such.

 

Or take a look at Pixel

Multiplatform, does all the levels, curves, blah blah that PS does, even HDR, but costs $38.

Roadmap also has support for Photoshop *.PSD files as well as Photoshop plugins, but neither are yet stable.

Gotta be worth the free trial download? Especially at only 12MB.

 

If you're just doing mostly tweaks and you've still got a Mac around (can't remember... you had a mini, but I thought you sold it for a Macbook or something), you might want to consider Aperture. Aside from adding my borders in ImageWell (free unless you want batch processing support and a couple other odd things, and that's only $15 or so), all of my photos for the POTM contest and whatnot never touch Photoshop. Only time I ever need to use PS now is when I'm doing product shots or the like, where I need to delete out the background (example), or actually create stuff (logos, etc), from scratch.

May or may not work for you, but I'd certainly give it some consideration. Then again, iPhoto might be nearly enough as it is.

 

Yeah I still have the mac mini (macbook had to go back long story), I was mostly looking to stick with Photoshop as I'm getting pretty decent with it and past the long part of the learning curve.

I'll take a look at what everyone else suggested.

Edit/ Aperture is definitely out, it's nearly twice the price of Photoshop at £219 vs £100 for CS2 student edition.

 

Had not realised the student version was that cheap, im almost tempted to shell out