A question for all those who DIDN'T upgrade from 3 to 4

[Bayla]

So tell me, are you going to upgrade to 5? I thought long and hard when version 4 came out, tried out the demo for a month and came to the informed decision to stick with version 3. I know I'm not the only one who went down that road. So now I'm reading all about version 5, watching the videos and having to think all over again....the truth of the matter is that I'm happy and comfortable with version 3, and feel I've come a long way with a long way still to go. And if those of you using Macs are managing without PSE5 then I don't see why I can't as well:) I'm more worried that the tutorials will become more and more centred on PSE 4/5 and those of us using earlier versions will be left behind.

Bayla

[Jodi Frye]

...not that this matters but I've always been one to 'skip' a version...so I buy every other version....regardless of software manufacturer...basically because there never seems to be that much difference in programs when they are brought out so close together...jumping from elements 3 to Elements 5 proves a big difference and it would be worth it...besides...who wants to be left in the dust ? You would still have Elements 3 loaded if you wanted to keep it...the installation does not install over previous versions.

[Wendy]

Hi Bayla ...

I guess that some tutorials are going to be specifically about the new features of PSE5 but I suspect that the great majority of the others are going to work in 3, 4 or 5. So I really wouldn't worry about that aspect ...

Regarding if you should update or not, why not wait until the demo is released and then try that out ... you can then decide once you have played around with it.


Wendy

[freezeframe]

I'm not sure I qualify to respond, but I have been using elements 2 & am just now making the leap. I do feel like I'm getting left behind & the video for elements 5 looks pretty good! I hope I don't have too big a learning curve, but I figure it's only going to get bigger & bigger! It does seem like they came out with 5 awfully quick after releasing version 4, but it does seem like there are more features/changes from 4 to 5 than from 3 to 4. I think I agree with Wendy's advice! (And I must say that I have been able to do most of the tutorials/videos from this site, even using elements 2!)

[AngelicKim]

Bayla, I didn't upgrade to 4 because I had just gotten 3 a couple weeks before it came out. I am just starting to learn 3 but I am considering getting 5 because then I probably won't be so lost trying the new one, I'm still a little lost now. But, I am going to wait for the trail version first to make sure I am ready for the upgrade. I have seen somethings in v. 5 that look worth but I will wait for the trial to see if I think I would actually use them. Probably be my luck the discount won't be available but oh well. I figure my birthday is in 2 months and Christmas a month after that and my husband never knows what to get me so if I like it, then thats what he can get me:D

[Ward Grant]

I'm going to do the same as Kim, except my birthday is in April and me having a husband is not even a possibility!

[Wendy]

Ward ....

:eek: :eek: :D :D

Wendy

[Pauline]

Bayla I never upgraded to v4 because it didn't have enough that appealed to me. I continually have read that a lot of people upgrade every other time because it makes more of a difference and given how quickly these are pumped out, I have a tendency to agree with it. v4 didn't interest me at all but v5 does look appealing. I also have cs2 which I just purchased. It's fantastic, but doesn't have all the 'home user' type stuff that is appealing when you are doing up stuff quickly. I use the organizer and love the e-mail feature since I use that a lot.

I guess I'll just wait and see.

[Wags374]

I'm with Jodi - I almost always skip and upgrade cycle. Although I did get 2.0 and then 2 months later upgrade to 3.0 because someone I trusted said it was worth it. I've got to wait until Chanukah to get 5.0 (hope it is "early" this year!) so I will be reading everything I can get my hands on and probably downloading the trial version too before hand.

It can be a bit of a pain going through a new learning curve - but as my grandmother used to say - "when you quit learning you might as well be dead!"

[AngelicKim]

Ward, ditto what Wendy said.
:eek: :D :eek: :D

[Diana]

I'm still using version 3.0 and it does everything I need it to do for now. I'll wait and read the input from those who are upgrading to 5.0. I'd hate to give up some of the plugins and addons I use if they won't work with the newer versions. For me, I see no point in spending the additional cash right now.:)

Diana

[Mary]

I didn't upgrade to 4 but will certainly try v5 if they give a trial period. I feel that Elements is heading for more and more automatic consumer hobby type things. Even the color curves they have added this time are more presets than curves. I have never used the Organizer because I want to manage my own files. (I was able to disable it in V3 and everything speeded up). A folder system is so easy to set up in Windows or Mac and then you always know where your files are and backing them up is easier and far surer than trusting the feature in Elements. I also have purchased PS CS2 and I think that will better suit the path I want to travel. I need the direct to DVD feature when I do slide shows and I also want to be able to maximize my computer resources. All those features in the Organizer (mapping, Flash based photo galleries, animation, drag and drop, automatic grouping etc) have to be running in the background somewhere ready to be called up. That drags down available resources when you are just editing. The Adobe Bridge in CS2 doesn't start until you fire it up. I love what I am able to accomplish with what I have now and I haven't even begun to learn everything in my books and tutorials I already have. :)

[Winsunn]

I've upgraded every time since Elements 2, and even bought the upgrade to Photoshop CS2. I still use Elements 3, mostly because of Grants Tools. I hope they are built into Elements 5, or that I'm able to download them as plug-ins, because I'm really dependent on all of them.

[Dorrie H.]

Well I have both E3 and E4, but I only use the Edit portion of E4 and not the Organizer, and I have not had any problems with E4. I still use E3 for the Organizer though.

Version 4 was a gift to me ,so I am considering getting V5 because I for one learn better when I don't have to deviate form the tutorial, like for a different version. It looks to me like v5 will have everything v4 has and more so the tutorials will probably not change too much, and I have noticed that the more recent tutorials really do not mention much as to how it's done in an earlier version.

I will most likely uninstall ver.4, keeping ver.3 and install ver.5. Ver.3 still has some Actions that I like, which I'm sure Ver.5 will have the same issue and V4 on installing Actions.

Anyway, it will give this old brain something to keep it from going to dust.:D:D. I'm still up for a challenge.:rolleyes::)

[kim2900]

I am a E3 user and noticed that when the tutorials here were used for E4, there were a few differences in techniques between E4 and E3 that made me quite frustrated, since they would often forget to mention the "work-around" for E3. I will definitely upgrade to E5 but maybe not for a few months, as I'm leary of the "bugs" that always seem to be in new software.

Kim

[mrod]

I, too, stayed at 3. V.4 didn't have enough extra to warrent the $$. As for v.5, I don't know. The main reason I jumped into PSE was because I needed to teach it to my middle school students as part of the Computer Applications classes I teach (a lot of you already know this--sorry--just some brief background). This year, the decision was made (not by me) to use Paint Shop Pro instead (BTW, I've been contracted by our district tech department to write all the trainings, tutuorials, and videos for PSP, and also to teach some of the training classes--yikes! More work!). So I don't have the work requirement of learning and keeping up with PSE versions.

SO...I'm not sure about upgrading to v.5. I have CS2, and I may just continue to look for work arounds for any v.5 tutorials using either PSE3 or CS2.

We'll just have to wait and see...

Mike

[mayva]

I have V4 and I was just wondering if V5 still has the features of V4 or did they do away with some and replace them with others?

I remember when V4 was introduced they had a section on what's new in V4 vs V3 and it was easier to decide.

I saw the videos on the new features of V5 but they didn't say anything else about the remaining features of the program.

Just Curious.

Anna

[twoaussies]

I do hope Wendy will continue to write her tutorials for PSE3 for those of us who are not going to make the leap. Jean

[Wendy]

Hi ...

When they bring out a new version they add things too it ... they don't tend to remove existing things :)

As far as my tutorials ... the sort of things I do tend to be able to be done in any version so I don't think that you need have any concerns about ones I do in the future :)

Wendy

[kevq]

Hi,
I'm worried that they may do in 5 what they did with 4. Will Grants tools be available, will Jodi's styles still work, I use them both quite a lot. So I will be waiting on the side lines before I jump in.
Kev.

[rtronick]

I too got v3 right before v4 was released, so I didn't upgrade at that time. I have all ready pre-ordered the upgrade download of v5. I will keep v3 on my laptop, so I can use plug-ins that won't work with v5.

Randy T

[willpresley]

What a situation to be handed. Yes I'm impressed with V-5 features, but I do so like my layer masks in V-3 -- so I guess I'll try the trial version before I jump to 5. Then again I may just switch to GIMP as it doesn't cost anything other than download time.

[Jodi Frye]

Will, ya but GIMP is touch and go...some users have no problems with the program while others experience major crashes and data loss. There is a reason why it's free ;)

[Chris Bishop]

I'm sticking with v3 and Richards Hidden power tools.
However, apart from the wrong date support and lack of FULL DNG support I like the Organiser. It appears better than what I have seen/read of Bridge.

[Wendy]

Hi Chris ...

PSE4 still has the organiser ... as did PSE4. Its only the Mac version of PE4 (and Photoshop CS2) that has Bridge :)

Wendy

[lindajay]

I'm still using PE3. When 4 came out they didn't have a Mac version for awhile (I'm Mac), and by the time the Mac version came out, there was lots of talk about not being able to use all of Grant's tools, etc., and I didn't see an advantage to upgrading. Now 5 is coming out, and once again no Mac version :-( I have to say that I'm becoming disenchanted with Adobe in their consideration of Mac. (One thing I'm NEVER disenchanted in, however, are all of you wonderful forum people.)

So . . . I'll stay here using 3 for now. I haven't felt disadvantaged in doing any of the tutorials so far.

[willpresley]

Jodi -- but Adobe doesn't support LINUX and I'm learning that OS for something to do -- so GIMP is all that I would know to use in that case. I don't have GIMP for Windows -- but it does offer some fascinating options.