Hi,
This is the first time I've posted in here so I hope I'm in the right place! Please go easy on me if I'm not. 
I have just started out designing scrapbooking things. I'm using paint.net at the moment with numerous plugins. I have been told that if I'm serious about doing this then I should get photoshop. When I looked it up, I stumbled across photoshop elements which is obviously cheaper.
Despite googling for England I can't work out if photoshop elements is sufficient enough to do scrapbooking stuff.
For those of you who use paint.net, photoshop or photoshop elements, could I please have your opinion before I splash out on elements only to find I'm limited.
Thank you. 
Donna
A lot of people successfully use Photoshop Elements to scrapbook. As you said, it's a lot cheaper, and the functionality is more limited than Photoshop, which if you're a beginner may actually be a benefit. I haven't used Elements at all myself, but I imagine it would work for most things. If you're serious about getting into designing, then you may want to upgrade to the full Photoshop, but you can always do that later when you have a better feeling for everything.
Other opinions?
Thank you for replying so quickly Marisa
I look forward to seeing what others think too. I've been told today (good old school gate conversations!) that it is possible to get an online trial of photoshop so I may look into that tomorrow. Must dash to sort dinner! x
Photoshop Elements is a scaled down version of Photoshop.
Photoshop contains a lot more tools that many may never use. It does require a lot more computer resources to use.
What ever is learned in Elements can be carried over to Photoshop.
The bigest difference is the cost. How much do you want to spend. As a starter Elements may be all you need, but if you intend to do some heavy designing you may want to go with Photoshop right from the start and start learning how to use the program.
One definite drawback to Elements is vectors ... you can't create shapes or open vectors in elements and your filters are more limited. Most have a set level and then you go in and change them with sliders but that's it so less design capabilities. But generally it's a really good piece of software for a decent price and it's still on disc form which means you can reload it if needed as many times as you want.
to me... it's simple... I can do a whole lot more "playing" in Photoshop.
LoL
Thank you all for your replies.
Well, I had a look at the Elements software but wherever I found it for sale, it would say in the description "1 user for 1 year". So I assume from that, that I can't buy that outright either?
I looked at Adobes site and it seems if I want to have the regular photoshop then I need to subscribe to the cloud for a monthly fee. I had naively assumed I could just pick up an older version (or new!) of photoshop, install it and have it for life. Duh, lesson learned!
So, for now I shall plod along with paint.net and all its plugins. Once I'm up and running, if I find I am actually earning (fingers crossed!) enough then I shall subscribe to the creative cloud.
Thank you once again. This is a very helpful community.
x
Take a look at ebay.com or amazon.com - sometimes you are able to find older versions. At the moment it is Photoshop CS6. It was just this past year that you can only get Photoshop through the cloud.
There is another option. You can go to serif.com. They offer a whole suite of software. The PhotoPlus can be downloaded for free. The free version is an older version, but you can try it before deciding if you like it. You can do everything in PhotoPlus that you can do in Photoshop.
The drawback to the new subscription for Photoshop service is obviously that you will never own it, but a monthly fee is do-able for me rather than the huge up front cost that it used to be.
I use Photoshop, but I have taught classes using Elements and I have not found very much that I can not do in Elements that I can in Photoshop. One big thing that some scrapbookers will use is the feature of being able to type on a path (make your text follow a shape, or even fill a shape). You can't do that in Elements.
Look again at Elements, last I checked it was not subscription but maybe I'm wrong.
If you look on Ebay for an old copy, make sure it is CS2 or above. I had issues even installing an old CS software after they quit supporting it. The current Photoshop available for service would be equivalent to CS6 or so.
And yes, Adobe makes almost all their software available for a free 30 day trial. It's the full software and they won't pester you to buy it unless you attempt to open it and use it after the 30 days.
You should still be able to get a copy of an older version...I would go for CS6 if possible to afford.
Here are a couple I found that are from websites not E-bay but I did see several listed on Ebay from 255 and way up in price...
Here's PS CS6 the latest version that was available pre-creative cloud. $465
Here's Elements 13 on BH Photo $85
--Good Luck
Thank you all. I forgot to say that I'm in the UK. The thing with me is that I daren't buy software from ebay because I've been caught out before when I got sent a forged copy of something.
This link for example is one of the places selling Elements 13. It says in the description next to the picture "1 user for 1 year". Seems very unfair that you have to then pay again (I assume) each year.
I think you are right about the subscription. When I weigh up the upfront cost against subscribing, it makes more sense. It is a lot to spend in one go if I then decide to leave the whole idea. At least by subscribing it will cost me less if that happened.
I shall take a look at serif.com also.
Thank you everyone.
x
I'm confused on the link I shared to BH Photo... They are one of the most trusted sites out there for buying very expensive camera equipment from. I know many people who have. And On that link I shared for $85 I don't see ONE year. It's an actual CD you get to keep and load to your PC or Mac yourself. Just thought I'd let you know. Neither is the one I shared for PS CS6 for $465 They are both CD. But I guess if you don't want to pay shipping to UK then that is different. but they are neither for ONE year only they are as long as you own CD and computer.
I hadn't realised that Shawna. I had ruled them out because every time I buy something from America, they slap on a massive fee on my doorstep because I could have bought it here. I ended up sending one item back because to accept it on my doorstep cost me twice as much as the item cost me to buy! I will still keep them in mind though, thank you.
It looks like you can download Elements, straight from Adobe.com for $99. It's yours for life. http://www.adobe.com/products/photoshop-elements.html?promoid=DJDWS
Sign up for their emails and wait for a sale/coupon.
And you know you don't have to get the whole Creative Cloud right? You can do Photoshop only for $9.99/mo. https://creative.adobe.com/plans/photography
@Donna... Yeah Once you said the UK I wondered if the shipping might be really bad. I just was trying to find you a hard copy so you wouldn't have to pay a membership all the time since you said you wanted to permanently own it.
That's why I haven't upgraded... especially since I had just saved enough money to buy CS6 about 5 months before the subscriptions started. I figure I gotta get about 4 years out of it to break even with the $10/ month. LoL So I will probably be behind several "releases" before I do the subscription myself... since I paid about $475 
Good Luck with finding something fair and affordable
I know that frustration all to well when my hubby was without a job almost 2 years. So glad he's been back to work over 3 years now. It took a while to get back just to normal... 
It was very kind of you to help me on the hunt for it. Thank you.
I'm still plodding on with paint.net and installing about 50 plugins. I'm amazed at just how much it can do once you add on plugins. I just hope what I'm producing is good enough! I discussed it with hubby and he said if I can prove this is a viable money maker then he will get it for me in 6 months. He has more faith in what I make than I do. lol
I'm glad all sorted itself out for you in the end. x
@Donna: You are welcome. Yes, Hubby's can be the best source of encouragement!
I know mine usually believes in me more than I do myself most of the time. 
I talked to mine because he's a computer guy and he does some web design, part time. He plays with PhotoShop a lot at home since we personally own it but at work... He uses a FREE version of GIMP and he says it does TONS of stuff that PS does. Although he's not sure if there are as many type of tutorials user friendly for us scrapping creative types. It might be an option if you start to find that paint doesn't do everything you want it to. Looking forward to seeing some of your work as you get everything going. 
Thank you Shawna
I just need to take the plunge and upload. I'll get there one day. Once I've solved my new worry about Gamut. lol
By the way, I just saw your message locking my other post but obviously couldn't reply. Sorry about duplicating a question. I now have bookmarked the method for searching the forum via google so will use that in future. I did genuinely read titles of several pages before posting it. Anyway, sorry.
Donna
ooo... no worries to the double post... it happens a lot we just tend to direct people with links towards the others and then lock it so if someone sees the question asked later on they can find it too... it is one of the things that's been a issue for a while in searching the site but so many other things have taken major precedence for them. we were in beta just a tad over 2 yrs ago and have grown to almost 70K members and so the two owners stay very busy especially since Marisa is a designer with most of her time I'm sure so Jordan has a ton to do. I figure when he gets to the search feature we will all throw a big party. hee hee
you will find it very useful especially wanting to learn as much as you do. 
i use the google search all the time to find the answers for everyone.
Yes, I confesss I am a bit of an absorber when it comes to new things. I study and and research and swot and absorb everything possible before actually getting going. lol
I'm exactly the same as you, Donna - I also do all the research before I do something, too!
I'm glad it's not just me!
My husband bought me a new laptop for my birthday and told me, "I wanted to get you Photoshop for it too, but I had no idea which one to get." So he's set me on the task of picking it out myself! I was also curious about the difference between the full version and Elements, so I was reading over what you'd already posted here. I still have a few questions...
I use My Memories to do my main scrapping and I'm happy with making pages there, but for three things: it can't handle non-system templates, it doesn't have a huge amount of flexibility in recoloring items, and it can't use brushes or masks.
My question to you lovely folks is - if I just want to be able to sometimes do those things, and continue using a different software for the bulk of my page-making, is Elements sufficient? Please chime in and help a girl out!
Elements does use templates, brushes and allow to change color. It is a scalled down version of Photoshop. It costs a lot less and does not have all of the tools that Photoshop has. Tools that you may never use. You can find the link to download a trial of PSE here: http://www.adobe.com/downloads.html
Try for yourself and see if you like it or if it will do what you want
Thanks, Judy! I will definitely check out a free trial of PSE since it does the three things I'm hoping to use it for.
It's good that sites allow free trials of their programs - it really can help you to make up your mind!
Donna, There are so many questions similar to yours on this site that have outlined all the software. Judy has this one https://www.digitalscrapbook.com/forums/digital-scrapbooking/software-specific-questions/recommendations-for-software. but I agree that the best thing to do is use the free trials and try all of them out when you have the time and that way you can see what actually is best suited for you.
Sorry Brenda.
I was new to the site when I posted it and back then there wasn't a search feature. I've since been told a method for searching this site via google which is why I haven't posted so many questions. Sorry for repeating a question. x
I personally love Photoshop, though I do have Elements too, but never really use it. If you can, go with PS from the start.
Also, you can still buy the "real" PS (not the cloud version) on Adobe here is the link. They are the fifth and sixth one down on the list.