Photoshop or Photoshop Elements First? Learning From Scratch ...

[Guest]

How should I start learning Photoshop from scratch? Do I start with Photoshop Elements or go right into Original Photoshop. My concern is that if I start with Photoshop Elements and then switch to Original Photoshop; that might create problems later.

[Marja de Klerk]

Photoshop Elements and Photoshop CC are two different apps. So you're right, switching from Elements to CC might create learning problems. Photoshop Elements has a lot of features that walk you step by step through many operations. It is easier to learn. Photoshop CC is designed for professionals and it has lots of features, more than you'll ever need. 

Where are you going te use Photoshop for?

[Guest]

Some of my lower reply was meant for you as well. Thank you.

[michelew83603738]

If you want to learn Photoshop then that is what I would start with. Elements is really a program for those that want a lot of automation and isn't really aimed at the professional market. If you are doing this professionally, start with Photoshop. It has a learning curve for sure, but is well worth the effort.

[Guest]

Thanks for the reply. I am wanting to make extremely good family photos at first; almost professional grade. Then get into small business photography, like family portraits, etc. Then when I graduate from that, get into possibly full blown weddings. My thought process was to start out easy with Elements and switch to CC later thinking that maybe CC is just more feature rich but identical in base structure. However, if Elements is going to handicap me and my true understanding of the software by creating a thinking crutch. I may need to bypass Elements and struggle with the learning curve of CC until I fully understand it so that whenever I do weddings in the future I will know what I am doing and can create the most magnificiant photos possible.

Would you say family photos, portraits and weddings professional grade and mainly for CC or should someone just stick with Elements?

[michelew83603738]

I would think if your aim is to do wedding photos then you would do Photoshop.