CS3 equivalent to PS Elements?

[SpX]

What program or programs in CS3 would be the equivalent to PSE?

Specifically, what CS3 program(s) would I use to create slideshows like PSE can do - with pan/zoom and transitions, etc? Also, which CS3 app does the picture tagging and organizing like PSE?

Any reason I would need PSE if I purchase CS3 Master Collection?

Thanks
Kevin

[ATR]

My best response to your overall question is for you to head to the product literature.

But, I will try to suggest some avenues to follow with regard to the CS3 Slideshow via its Bridge.

Go to the following Adobe Creative Suite Podcasts link and watch “Take Advantage of the Enhanced Slideshows in Bridge CS3”
http://creativesuitepodcast.com/

In the comparison between Photoshop CS3 and Photoshop Elements, Photoshop Elements is way to go for slideshows for Pan & Zoom (Photoshop Elements 4.0 and 5.0) as well as for music track and other things. In the podcast cited you will note that the slideshow options in CS3 do not include a Pan & Zoom Effect and do not include an audio feature. In addition to setting transitions you can check off a “zoom back and forth feature”. That will alternate zooming in slightly on one slide, followed by zooming out slightly on the next slide, and so on. Some transitions look OK with this feature checked, some do not. The Lightroom slideshow feature appears to have some advantages over that offered by Photoshop CS3 with regard to music.

As far as I can tell, the output of the CS3 slideshow is just as PDF file, like CS2. The CS3 slideshow is marketed as enhanced slideshow, not new.

There is a lot more in the comparison between Photoshop & Photoshop Elements....check out creating Actions, Pen tool/Paths, Channels, Curves, Layer Styles, Vanishing Point, Layer Groups, Layer Comps, Layer Masks, etc...... but I hope this will get you started with your search.

ATR

[ATR]

You might want to take a look at the following Russell Brown video tutorial
CS3 Extended
Creating Slide Shows With Sound
http://www.russellbrown.com/tips_tech.html

This afternoon, if I get a chance to do a hands on with a Photoshop CS3 Extended, I will let you know my results. I would have to do some more homework to find out what "CS3 Master Collection" includes. But, it sounds like a lot of money!!! Check out current retail for Photoshop Elements 5.0 with or without Premiere Elements 3.0 for a reality check.

ATR

[NickLewis]

Any reason I would need PSE if I purchase CS3 Master Collection?
I'd have thought buying a copy of PSE would be down in the noise in a decision to purchase CS3 Master at a preorder price of $2500........ :)

Anyway, you'd get a copy of Premier Pro in the bundle, which presumably would handle anything you could conceivably want in a slideshow. (I've only ever used Premiere Elements.......:( )

Nick

[SpX]

Thanks for the GREAT responses! So how does Premier CS3 compare with PSE/PE in its slideshow creating ability?

[NickLewis]

I'm afraid I haven't the faintest idea, except to say that PE is perfectly capable of producing good slideshows, given that it's not a dedicated piece of slideshow creation software - it's a video editor. So unless Adobe have left huge chunks of relevant PE functionality out of the Pro version, it'd be fine.

And I can't see how they can have, without crippling Pro as a video editor.

But I've got to admit that I'm completely baffled by your original question. CS3 Master is a hugely capable and complex package on many fronts. If you need or want its functionality in other areas, like web design, vector graphics, etc etc, then I can't see how slideshow production would be a showstopper. PSE/PE isn't going to replace those other parts of the package.

And if you don't need that functionality, then Master is a very expensive way to go, even at upgrade/discount prices.

Nick

[SpX]

So, it looks like I've lost a few people with my question. Let me see if I can get it back on track.

I'm going to purchase CS3 Master Suite - I've already purchased the Design Premium and will pay the difference when the Master Suite comes out in July.

So the question is really about how GREAT the PSE Organizer is at, well, organizing pictures and how GREAT the slideshow creator is within PSE.

What I don't see (yet?) in CS3 is something to take the place of PSEs Organizer and slideshow creater.

Or, do I need something outside CS3/MS to get that great functionality? i.e. Lightroom?

Lacking a better answer, I've installed PSE just so I can get the Organizer and slideshow creator. Works fine, but I wanted something that was as well integrated as the CS3 apps have become.

[NickLewis]

OK - well, perhaps somebody who uses CS3 can comment, because I'm not familiar with Bridge and what it can do in organisational terms. But my understanding is that the nearest equivalent in Adobe's pro packages is provided by the organisational aspects of Lightroom.

I don't think there's any equivalent to PSE's slideshow creator. The slideshow facilities in CS3 and Lightroom don't appear to be targeted at the same market. Unsurprisingly, given the target market of CS3 itself, they are aimed rather at presenting a professional portfolio, without tricks like pan & zoom.

But I still think Premiere will do the job if you wanted to go that route.

Nick

[Wendy]

Hi Kevin ..

Because CS3 is aimed at the Pro market then I suspect that the slide show that comes with Elements wasn't considered appropriate for that market ...

So really you need to know what people who have CS3 use, now some people here are CS3 user but not a great many ... so it maybe better to ask the question on the NAPP forum or if you are not already a member of NAPP try the Adobe Photoshop forum:

http://www.adobeforums.com/cgi-bin/webx/.ee6b366/

They can be a little abrasive on the Adobe forum but I am sure that someone there will be able to help ... both with the slide show issue and on which program they use to organise images :)

Wendy

[ATR]

SpX

Most of the comments that I have seen rank lst Lightroom, 2nd Adobe Bridge, and way down the line 3rd the Photoshop Elements Organizer when it comes these products.

Additional recommended viewing for CS3 Extended Features:

CS3 Extended "Making a .mov or .flv file movie" tutorial by Rafael Concepcion aka RC
NAPP TV (formally Photoshop TV) iTunes Podcast
Episode 83, May 28, 2007
Check out at http://www.napptv.com or free subscription route at i-Tunes.

You never did say how you intend to output these slideshows. That will make a big difference in determining which of these programs approaches trying to meet your needs.

ATR

[SpX]

You never did say how you intend to output these slideshows. That will make a big difference in determining which of these programs approaches trying to meet your needs.

ATR

Good question. Slideshow -> Premier Pro & Flash

[NickLewis]

Well, if you want Flash output, then PSE alone can't meet your needs. You've got to have at least Premiere Elements, or whatever part(s) of the Master suite can output Flash.

Since PE can, presumably Premiere Pro can. But whether you can transfer a slideshow direct from PSE to Premiere Pro, in an editable form, as you can with the Elements version, I don't know. There's no indication in the PSE help file that that is possible.

Nick