You don't have to give up using PaintShop Pro to use Elements 5.0, they will both run on the same computer. In fact you may want to retain PaintShop Pro for some of the tools and processes it has that are not the same in Elements 5.0.

I totally concur with Mr. Brooks. PSP has a whole lot of functions it does far better than even the full-blown version of Photoshop - and vice versa. I use both daily.

Fundamental photo processing, and specially if using RAW format, Photoshop and Elements gives superb control with ease that just is not in PSP. However, for a beginner, PSP has a Smart Photo Fix function that makes a pretty good guess about what is needed and has sliders for fine tuning.

PSP is very strong on graphics functions and offers a fantastic screen capture feature. If I am doing a Photoshop tutorial, I am doing all the captures in PSP as well as adding text and graphic elements.

The keys to their personalities is in the names - Paint Shop Pro and Photoshop. PSP provides superb support for pressure sensitive tablets, while painting in Photoshop is discouraging. I find them highly complimentary, rather than rivals. Yes, there is an overlap in features, but when you get to know them they are very different programs and each has great strength in some areas. Together they will do just about anything your imagination can require.

Larry,

I think we are on the same page as far as image editing is concerned. However, I would not go as far as you saying "specially if using RAW format, Photoshop and Elements gives superb control", as from my tests of a variety of converters last year, the results actually put Camera Raw close to the bottom of results from the competing conversion processes. (And to a large extent that is why there are some Advanced adjustment controls in the Photoshop CS2 version of Camera Raw, to compensate for the shortcomings of the conversion.)

As some have noted here and elsewhere the camera manufacturer software usually (there are exceptions) produces a cleaner and better output image file from Raw conversion compared to Adobe Camera Raw. In addition my tests of DxO, Bibble and Lasersoft SilverFast DC Pro produced cleaner, better output files from raw conversion than did Adobe Camera Raw.

These difference are not dramatic, but do produce noticeable differences particularly if the final output is a large, high quality, archival, inkjet print.

The greatest disadvantage Camera Raw has is that it does not identify and remove color casts in Raw files either automatically or manually. Color casts are a color artifact most associated with scanned film images, but color casts also effects digital camera images especially if the exposures are made in certain atmospheric conditions like smog and in environments with complex secondary light sources.

Thank you all for the info. I like the idea of having both programs at hand on the same computer. To work a photo on both programs, what would the prefered file format be?

Again thanks for all the info

The universally recognized uncompressed format is TIF.

As Larry mentioned, both PSP and PS recognize the uncompressed Tiff file. In addition, you can use the Photoshop psd format in 8 bit, but not in 16 bit. The use
of multiple layers in the psd format however, is limited between the two programs.

The two programs will not interfere with each other and will install with no problems. I presently have 2 versions of P/S and 2 of Elements installed as well as 3 versions of PSP all living happily together, plus 3 versions of Corel's Photopaint.

Great info. Thanks again for all your help.

I have just purchased Photoshop Elements 5.0. It's a nice program and I am having a lot uf fun learning it. As someone stated above, I will also keep my copy of Paint Shop Pro X and learn them both. I like the idea and the price is right for someone like me, who is new to digital photography. Thanks to you all, for all the great information and help.