Photoshop CS3 (16 bit images) vs. Photoshop Elements 6 (8 bit images)

RA
Posted By
Robert_A._Lehrer
Mar 15, 2008
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309
Replies
4
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Closed
I’ve got a copy of Photoshop 7 on my computer that I want to upgrade or replace. I’m trying to decide whether to upgrade to Photoshop CS3 or to buy Photshop Elements 6.

I didn’t see too many differences between the two for an amateur until a guy recently told me that Elements cannot use the all important clone tool on 16 bit images. You must first convert to 8 bits, and lose a bunch of data in the process.

Let’s say you’ve got this great picture that you shot RAW, or a negative that you scanned as a big tiff file and the picture has a little problem like dust on your sensor or on the scan that must be fixed. He said that In Elements you can only fix this by first converting to 8 bit. Doing this you will lose detail in shadow and highlight areas.

He said that he didn’t really fully realize this until he starting scanning b+w negs and noticed a big difference in shadow detail of images he had converted to 8 bit in order clone out a few dust spots.

Was he doing something wrong to get that reduction of quality or do you believe his explanation to be true?

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RK
Rob_Keijzer
Mar 15, 2008
Robert,

There should be no visible difference between 8 and 16 bit if you do nothing further to the image.

However if you’ll be editing the image, particularly stretching the tonal range with steep curves, then the advantage of having been in 16 bit, from capture onwards, becomes evident.

PS7 is the least version you need to be able to upgrade to the current version (CS3).

Once CS4 gets released (whenever that may be) you’ll have to buy the full version.

Consider the price difference between PS upgrade and Elements full.

Rob
JJ
John_Joslin
Mar 15, 2008
In any case, all files are reduced to 8 bit for printing so if you don’t worry about the things Rob mentioned, go for Elements – it does most of what the average photographer needs.

You just need to decide before CS$ is released, probably later this year.

You can always trial each one for 30 days.
EG
Ed_Grenzig
Mar 17, 2008
Robert
Check this link comparing PS vs PSE

<http://thephotofinishes.com/adpsel6b.htm>
G
Greg
Mar 17, 2008
wrote:
I’ve got a copy of Photoshop 7 on my computer that I want to upgrade or replace. I’m trying to decide whether to upgrade to Photoshop CS3 or to buy Photshop Elements 6.

I didn’t see too many differences between the two for an amateur until a guy recently told me that Elements cannot use the all important clone tool on 16 bit images. You must first convert to 8 bits, and lose a bunch of data in the process.

Let’s say you’ve got this great picture that you shot RAW, or a negative that you scanned as a big tiff file and the picture has a little problem like dust on your sensor or on the scan that must be fixed. He said that In Elements you can only fix this by first converting to 8 bit. Doing this you will lose detail in shadow and highlight areas.

He said that he didn’t really fully realize this until he starting scanning b+w negs and noticed a big difference in shadow detail of images he had converted to 8 bit in order clone out a few dust spots.

Was he doing something wrong to get that reduction of quality or do you believe his explanation to be true?

You asked this same question on the PicturesToExe forum some days ago, and I gave you basically the same answer as Rob Keijzer gave you above.

You hadn’t the courtesy to reply to my post there, and now you appear not to be acknowledging the help you got in this thread.

Your net manners need polishing somewhat.

Colin D (cjdnzl)


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