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Post by michelb on Oct 24, 2017 12:37:15 GMT
I think it's good to know which Elements versions are used today by our members.
To keep things simple, the poll will show you a single choice for versions up to PSE15 and one for every newer version.
If you have several versions installed and ready to use, check each of them, we'll assume you are using the most recent one.
You are welcome to answer this post and comment on your answer:
- your OS and OS version, 64 or 32-bits
- availability of other softwares like Lightroom, CC or third party add-ons
- thoughts about Elements and your hardware (display, printer, calibrator)
- your reasons to upgrade or not... the more comments, the better.
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Post by Major Major on Oct 24, 2017 12:59:31 GMT
Win 7, 64-bit. Epson RX-585 printer. Plenty of add-ons and other software.
I passed on v. 12 because I didn't think there was enough new in it. Probably going to do the same for 2018. Kind of a disappointment, this new one.
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Post by whippet on Oct 24, 2017 13:33:10 GMT
My newer one is 11. But I put 2 back on because I find it easier when starting, then building layers. With 2, I can open an image, then open a second one, and it comes straight on next to the first image, and I can easily move it across to put it on top. I still have problems at times with 11. Open an image, make it into a layer. Open another image, which parks itself over the other picture etc. etc.  |
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Post by Sepiana on Oct 24, 2017 15:08:56 GMT
My first version of Elements was version 4 (Windows XP). Now I have Elements 7 and Elements 10 through 2018. They are all installed on two machines (Windows 7 Pro 64-bit and Windows 10 Pro 64-bit).
My copies of Elements are bloated with a wide array of add-ons (plug-ins, actions, layer styles, custom shapes, gradients, etc.). I would need a calculator to tally them!
Elements is set up as the additional external editor for Lightroom Classic CC, with Photoshop CC 2018 being the primary editor.
I use both combos -- Elements + Lightroom and Elements + Organizer. The former combo is used mostly for personal use; the latter is used mostly for things related to this forum.
My reason to upgrade is a very simple one -- to better help our membership. Due to all the changes made in Elements throughout the years (complete overhaul in version 11; removal of several tools/features in version 12; and changes in shortcuts, tool location, feature/command location, etc.), I find it to be easier and more effective if I have hands-on experience in the same version being used by a given member, especially when it comes to troubleshooting.
As to Elements 2018, . . .
I agree with Craig. It is somewhat of a disappointment. I would like to have seen more "serious" features added to this version rather than "fun/cute" features. (I was hoping for a Smart Filter feature.)
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Deleted
Deleted Member
Posts: 0
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Post by Deleted on Oct 24, 2017 18:29:48 GMT
Imac OS Sierra and a Canon A3+ printer.
My 1st Elements was V.6 and currently use Pse 14 as my main external editor to LR6 perpetual ( which sadly will not be supported after the end of the year ).
I've not upgraded to newer Elements versions as there has been nothing new for my purposes.
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Post by Sydney on Oct 24, 2017 21:15:38 GMT
I have PSE v13 with the Elements+ plugin on my small notebook and PSE v15 with the XXL plugin on my larger more high powered laptop. From all of the commentary and reviews I have read and videos I have watched I won't be upgrading to Elements 2018.
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bobharron
Junior Forum Member
Posts: 131 
Open to constructive criticism of photos: Yes
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Post by bobharron on Oct 24, 2017 21:17:39 GMT
I use LIghtroom 5, PSE14 and elements+. For my purposes this works for me and I will probably stick with that combination. I use LR for most editing and move to elements for things like compositing and anything requiring layers such as adding textures and using blend modes.
Good to be back with the group after being away with knee replacement surgery.
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Post by Bailey on Oct 24, 2017 21:27:22 GMT
I am currently using PSE 14 with Elements+.
I also have PSE 10 installed but I didn't add it to the poll because I only use it on the rare occasions I want to add lighting effects which sadly were removed from later versions.
I won't be upgrading to PSE 2018 any time soon as I don't see any new "must haves" in it for me.
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Post by cats4jan on Oct 25, 2017 17:27:48 GMT
I have 14 for Mac sitting in the closet waiting for my new computer - which I never got around to purchasing. By the time I get my new Mac, I will need 16. DUH
I think 9 is sitting on the PC, but I haven't used that computer for years.
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alexr
Established Forum Member
Posts: 555
Open to constructive criticism of photos: Yes
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Post by alexr on Oct 25, 2017 18:26:35 GMT
I run PSE 11 on a Mac with OS X El Capitan (10.11). I would have upgraded my OS but too much of PSE will stop working. This is the one thing that will drive me to upgrade PSE as I am happy with the functionality that I have already got.
I use Lightroom 6 as my primary cataloguing and editing programme (I don't particularly want to go down the subscription model) and whereas a couple of years ago I did everything in PSE, I find I only use it very occasionally nowadays, mainly when layers are the only way of doing what I want.
For HDR images I use Aurora 2016, for mono conversions I use Nik.
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Post by dandc on Oct 25, 2017 20:40:41 GMT
I'm running PSE9 on a Windows 10 laptop. I've not upgraded because I've not really seen any additional features that drive me towards that, and because I'm not sure if all my actions would run on the newer versions without a hiccup. Once PSE contained Content Aware for photo clean-ups I've been happy ;^) I was actually surprised that this old version still ran fine on Windows 10 when we got a new laptop - yet another point that kept me on PSE9.
I do have the Nik Collection, but use it sparingly, which works within PSE9 just fine as well (I use the HDR module as a standalone).
I find myself using Perfect Effects from On1 more than anything else though - even more than PSE.
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Deleted
Deleted Member
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Post by Deleted on Oct 25, 2017 21:55:46 GMT
I started with PSE 9 (on a disk), then upgraded to 11 and then 13. PSE 9 has since found a new home with some friends, and 11 has not been opened since 13 came along. I have a large number of Topaz plug-ins which I purchased during the years I used PSE. Somewhere along the line I moved to using LR starting with version 5. For the past 2 years I have not used PSE other than for creating the Creative Effects Challenges I have posted in this forum.
I also have some version of On1 (cannot remember which), but apart from trying it out, I haven't really used it, as for one reason or another I didn't really like it at all. Thankfully I didn't pay for it, so no great loss on my end.
These days my starting point is LR CC for importing, organizing and most adjustments; anything more complex gets done in PS CC. While it was a steep learning curve going from PSE to PS I enjoyed the journey and am still learning.
The Topaz plug-ins have really not been used since I learned to use PS, which is a shame, but I still have them installed in case I want to venture into them again. I currently use a Windows 10 laptop, 64 bit and have a Canon MG7700 printer, although any serious printing gets done through a third party locally.
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Squirrel2014
Established Forum Member
Where's that cup of tea ... ???
Posts: 685 
Open to constructive criticism of photos: Yes
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Post by Squirrel2014 on Oct 27, 2017 20:01:13 GMT
I have v14 installed on PC (Win 10, 64-bit) I have 11, 12, 13 and 14 on Laptop (Win 10, 64-bit) Generally, I use v14 on PC but a couple of gentlemen and myself meet monthly +/- and the gents have v12 and v11 so I tend to use the same version, depending on what we are working on. I decided I'd get confused if I got Elements + or XXL when using PSE with the gents. I didn't want to be showing them something that they then can't do because of extras. I have enough problems remembering just within the different versions  |
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Fauxtoto
Established Forum Member
Quebec, Canada
Posts: 440
Open to constructive criticism of photos: Yes
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Post by Fauxtoto on Oct 29, 2017 13:54:46 GMT
I started digital photo and digital photo editing in jpeg with a point and shoot camera and Elements 7. After a while, I bought a DSLR crop sensor Canon 60d, which was not covered by the Adobe Camera Raw version contained in Elements 7. Because I wanted to try RAW format, after a period of DNG conversion, I bought Elements 10. Now I have Elements 14, and Lightroom 6, perpetual license version. I use Widows 10 on a recent desktop computer and mainly shoot in RAW.
I never keep older versions active, since I find I have plenty to deal with in one single version. I like to keep relatively updated, wishing a version can last a few years. I have no need for mobility oriented applications, automatic people recognition or geographical localization, although I must acknowledge the trends of the day.
I stay in Expert mode most of the time. I am in the process of learning Lightroom and adapting my workflow to its use. I am surprised that people do not seem to use Adobe Carmera Raw that much. I found that it was powerful and useful, even for regular jpeg processing.
I think the Organizer is ffective to manage pictures. All mines, about 6000, are tagged, in the Organizer as well as in Lightroom, where I have reproduced my tag hierarchy.
I feel I am all set for a good while. I expect that when the time comes for renewal, I will have to consider cloud applications.
Voilà.
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Post by BuckSkin on Nov 7, 2017 19:27:59 GMT
Currently four machines connected up and running; two identical powerful DELL towers with numerous performance modifications, both are Windows 7 Pro; a HP desk-top Windows 7 Home Premium; and, a HP laptop with Windows 7 Home Premium.
We have Elements 7 with Elements 7+, and also Elements 12; both my wife and myself very much prefer Elements 7 and may go three months or longer without ever opening Elements 12.
I got E12 specifically for two features, content aware spot-healing and that refine-edge business that is supposed to separate whispy strands of hair --- but try-as-I-may --- I have not yet been able to make it work like the guys on the You-Tube videos; thus far, it has only been a frustration.
A couple years ago, I managed to get full-scale life-time license Lightroom for free and have maybe played around with it twice.
After giving it a hard run for it's money, we finally gave up on the Organizer and have been using the free program digiKam instead for all of our tagging, geolocating, albuming, and such; digiKam doesn't corrupt the timestamps and add weird mysterious suffixes to our files like the Organizer was so prone to do, nor does it lose connection to files for no good reason, plus it is lightning quick to find whatever I tell it to.
We definitely use free FastStone by far more that any of our other MANY image editing/organizing programs and have FastStone set such that images selected in FastStone can be sent to any of our other programs.
Among numerous other excellent features, FastStone has by far the best renaming, the best web-sizing, the best time-stamping, the best EXIF data editing and is the quickest to find and show a file of any other program I have used.
As for RAW editors/converters, we managed to get FULL-VERSION lifetime license DxO Optics Pro 9 Elite for free; once I sort of got it figured out, DxO Optics Pro "Prime" has revolutionized the way we handle our pictures from now on; RAW files go to DxO first and many of them are ready to go with no further manipulation necessary.
Elements 7 is then used for any cropping and any layered editing I may wish to do; stuff like removing the person who is photo-bombing an otherwise perfect shot, or removing the light-pole that is growing from someone's head.
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