Which photoshop elements?

[actionfinch]

Just getting into photography , i am looking at investing in Elements, but not sure as to which one to get.
I take it that the higher the number, ie 9, it means more functions on it?
Im not looking to do anything fancy but general editing on some photos.
Im running vista btw
cheers

[shenk1]

The easy question is what do you want to do with your pics?

Simple editing, use what comes with the camera/computer.

More complex ,try Gimp, its free.

I,ve got an older version of photoshop that I .....aquired, and apart from the basic cleaning up I don,t use that much of it . Unless you intend doing a fair bit of 'playing'with your pics try a freebie first

[earthdragon64]

I got the original Photoshop Elements as part of a bundle of software that came free with a camera years ago. I'm now running Windows 7 and it still works, I'd expected I'd have to upgrade and was surprised when it worked, it still does most of what I need. I also use Irfanview, which is a free download, which is better for batch re-sizing.

You can probably also download free trials of some of the commercial programmes as well, and I think I've seen free trial discs on the front of photographic magazines at times.

Regards, Audrey.

[loripo]

Paint.net is also a free download and has useful stuff like resizing. You can also experiment with layers. It includes sharpening tools, carves and levels to adjust colours etc. Worth a try.

[ChrelizG]

I went from Elements 2 (used mainly to prepare diagrams for whiteboard when teaching) to 9, when I bought my DSLR last autumn. The newer versions have much improved selection/editing features - though I try not to do much editing. What I didn't expect to use, as all my previous images from my compacts were in reasonably clearly labelled folders, but now use extensively, is the Organiser section, with tagging etc, as I'm generating so many more files nowadays, & I save edited copies in "Version sets" with the originals.

[Tringa]

I'd definitely try some of the free editors first before spending any money.

I use GIMP and Photoscape. As Shenk has said GIMP is complex but there is a learning curve with anything. However, it does, as far as I know, all the things paid for editors can do.

Photoscape is much simpler to use but as fewer features, but I often find it does all I want.

Dave

[nightshade]

Originally Posted by actionfinch

Just getting into photography , i am looking at investing in Elements, but not sure as to which one to get.
I take it that the higher the number, ie 9, it means more functions on it?
Im not looking to do anything fancy but general editing on some photos.
Im running vista btw
cheers

The Elements with the most features is Elements 9 one company is offering it at £65 and a very useful site to go with it is Elements Village - Powered by vBulletin

[Geoff F]

This discussion on a photo forum site may be of interest.

Older Photoshop Elements Versions

[actionfinch]

Thank you peeps for the ideas and suggestions and geoff for the link...
It would mainly be for getting rid of unwanted objects that are in frame , boosting color... so really not much. But your views are noted .
cheers again

[nightshade]

Piccasa the free google program may do what you want, if not pm me I think I have a copy of elements 5 here that is spare