[Charlotte]

I ordered a couple of books on Elements 5.0 which came pre-installed on my laptop. I've just discovered an offer to buy CS3 at half-price (because Elements came with my laptop), which of course I snapped up, before the offer expired!

I had already ordered a couple of books on Elements (before I knew I was getting CS3), + the books have now arrived (they look very good). I have to either pay for them or return them within the next day or so. Now to my question .........................

Are the principles of CS3 the same as Elements, only there's (obviously) more to CS3? i.e. Should I keep the Elements books - will the advice + processes still work the same on CS3?

Urgent advice on this please 'cos, altho' the books look very good, I don't want to keep them if they don't relate to CS3.

TIA.

[Markulous]

Well, in principle, seeing as they both come from the same software house (and Elements is a cut-down version of PS), they both work in the same way.

Personally, I neither own, nor use, any books on PS, so I can't check, but I'd want books on the software I was actually using (aside from the fact that it's the differences/additions that make it better anyway!)

[Dabhand16]

If you can return the books at no/little cost, I'd do that and get a dedicated CS3 book.

[HHRC]

I would return the books too. you will find some functions overlap, but to get the most out of the software it is better to have the correct book. Besides you will find CS3 has lots of added extras and features that will act as short cuts to what your books will be showing you some long winded process - like panoramas for example, CS3 can do this as an automated process.

[fionaB]

return the books and go for this......
Photoshop Insider » Just Finishing Up My “Photoshop CS3 Book for Digital Photographers.â€�

[Dave Canon]

While some of the basics are similar there is a lot more to CS3. I wopuld return the books and buy Adobe PhotoShop CS3 for Photographers by Martin Evening.

See Sample Pages - Martin Evening - Photoshop for Photographers CS3 - Focal Press

[Dabhand16]

Another thing that has just occurred to me is that earlier versions of Elements did not have layer masks (don't know if PE5 has), so required a work-around.

CS 3 will have this facility, (and stacks of others) so no work around needed.

If you are pleased with Martin Evening's book on Lightroom, his CS3 one will be a good buy.

[Dave]

Return em

[silkstone]

Yep, return 'em and get Paint Shop Pro.

[Dave]

Originally Posted by silkstone

Yep, return 'em and get Paint Shop Pro.

CS4 has been re branded already

[Charlotte]

Thanks for the advice everyone, which unanimously suggests that I should return the books

Thanks for the suggested titles + links as well.

Er, I haven't read Martin Evening's book on Lightroom yet Graham In fact, I have somewhere around 8 books on photography + digital imaging that I've bought but haven't read yet I seem to have a thing for buying these books, but don't actually get down to reading them Oh + I've also got 9 similar books out of the library at the mo' ... had these for about 6 months - that's a lot of renewals

Edit: Silkstone, I have Paint Shop Pro ... and Elements ... and Serif PhotoPlus ... and now CS3 ... I seem to have a thing about collecting photo editing software too

[Soupdragon]

I wish I could afford cs3!