Here's a question to those of you who have PSE 5. I am thinking of upgrading to it, but I'd like to know if the new version has any of these features:

Text:
ability to place text on a curve
ability to have text fill a shape

Brushes:
ability to adjust texture settings

Now, My BF has CS2 and is constantly telling me I should be using it. But I've always been faithful to PSE, and I've used it since version 1.0!! I love the photo bin MOST of all, and I didn't see that in CS2. BUT, I know it has all the other features that I'd like to have.

Anything grand and dramatic thoughts for me? ((grin!)

Blessings!

Julie

Julie,

PSE 5.0 - No text on a curve, no text to fill a shape - sorry.

I haven't seen a texture setting on PSE 5.0. You could download the free 30 day trial...

Does have: new frames that make it easier to do scrapbooking; better B&W converter; dumbed-down curves; new sharpening features; alignment tools; other scrapbooking stuff.

Took away: You cannot turn of global lighting in layer styles anymore; no undo/redo buttons on the short cuts bar (big hubbub about this over at adobe forums) - but you can always use keyboard shortcuts, menus, or the history pallet.

-Trish

I have a question too! Can you use actions in photoshop elements 5?

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Shawnery Mathis

You can use SOME actions in PSE 5.0, but not all. Atomic Cupcake has a whole slew that work in PSE 5.0. And "Grants Tools" have been rewritten to work in PSE 5.0. Graffi also has a bunch that work, so it can be done. But, no guarantees - they have to be designed using the right steps.

-Trsih

My favorite enhancement of PSE 5 is the flexibiltiy of drop shadows over version 4. Prior to that I was making all custom shadows. Really haven't used much of the "scrapbooking additions" except it really does have some awesome vintage frames. Don't think PSE 5 has a photo bin? Not sure what that is or even if it was in PSE 4.

The photo bin is the area underneath the editors workspace - it shows all the files that you have open, currently. And, yes, it is there in PSE 5.0. You can hide it or turn it off, but it is there.

-Trish

Thanks Troush - have it - use it-just didn't know what to call it! What I have discovered since getting PSE 5 is that if I drag an item from the photo bin into my LO-- the name of the file shows in the layers palette which is really handy when I'm going back through to get credit info. But if I drag it from the workspace over to my LO then it just gives it a Layer number. Maybe I could have done that in4 too but jsut didn't "discover" it. Also some other little tricks I have encountered in 5 that I didn't in 4 but never went back and tried to see if it could also be done in 4. Who knows what else I will discover-the fun of playing around!

The file name showing up is new to PSE 5.0. I love that feature. Makes it so much easier to remember what you used. I think that's why they did it.

-Trish