[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!

[dogdots]

CS3 is fun and really good. I got mine on sale for $300. in the US. Alot of money, but hoping its money spent well.

[RichW]

Another vote here for Martin Evening's book on CS3. Really useful

[silkstone]

Originally Posted by dogdots

CS3 is fun and really good. I got mine on sale for $300. in the US. Alot of money, but hoping its money spent well.

Unfortunately it's more like the equivalent of $1200 over here. If we could get it for £150 or even £200 I wouldn't feel so bad about Adobe.

[dogdots]

I just don't understand why its like that in cost difference from country to country for the same program. North Dakota sits right next to Canada and just buying a car in the U.S. for Canada is hard. And they want to buy because they are cheaper here by the thousands of dollars.

[brian wright22]

Anyone tried Elements 6 yet?. There,s one or two interesting "extras" like face recognition and merging of several shots of the same group of people.
May be useful to get them all smiling at the same time!!.

[Charlotte]

Re: the retail price of CS3, I too can't understanding the pricing of it in UK ... official exchange rates seem to play no part at all, in that it's roughly dollar for pound for CS3 over here, which doesn't make sense Luckily I got it for less than half price as a special offer to upgrade from Elements 5 which was pre-installed on my laptop, otherwise I'd never have bought it. IMO Adobe are worse sharks than MS will ever be! Have you seen the pricing of their other products as well

Well, the two Elements books were collected today for return to the book club ... thanks for advice in that regard I did keep the 3rd book I'd ordered from them, which is Adobe Photoshop CS3 A-Z by Philip Andrews (hadn't bought CS3 yet, but figured it'd be useful for Elements), so that should give me an overview of the tools + features to get me started. I'm also hoping it's not going to be too different from using Serif PhotoPlus, just with more features I hope. Haven't used CS3 yet, but I'm sure I will enjoy it.

Oh, had a little go with Elements 5 (just to crop an image) but wasn't very impressed.

[ballymenaboy]

Originally Posted by 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!)

Suggest you also look at books by Scott Kelby-they are super and generally easy
to follow with many many tips

[morlandroger]

Running CS2 cost me just £150 inc. p&p from ebay. Genuine sealed with manual etc. Not student version. I presume old stock when 3 came out. Seller had a few at the time and huge positive feedback. i say am but sadly laptop died on Sunday so stuck with elements 2 which is on the home computer. A lot of my finished pics on laptop but fortunately all original RAW pics on external drive. Remember not only Jesus needs to save!

Anyway the point of my rambling is that there are work arounds in elements even geriatric versions. CS2/3 just makes it easier.