Let's take a look at the differences between Photoshop and Photoshop Elements. Firstly, for those of you who don't know what Photoshop is all about - it is a product of Adobe, a photo editing software and tool. Photoshop is very advanced when put to comparison with other photo editing software. Its sister software is Photoshop Elements, which is in actual fact a tuned down version of Photoshop. It doesn't have the expansive features of Photoshop, but for this reason it is also considerably lower in price - about 1/6th.
So the main difference between the two programs is what they are capable of - Photoshop being far more advanced with its tools and features. The second most notable difference is the cost. In Photoshop for example, you are instantly upgraded to the full color management tool which is otherwise far more simplistic in Photoshop Elements.
For professionals in particular, they desire the CMYK color models which are needed to print their photos off in the highest of quality - a feature that only exists in Photoshop. Furthermore, Photoshop is able to generate images by using more than one exposure with its high dynamic range. Then there is the advanced text formatting which allows Photoshop users to get creative with the text layout on any given photo image.
It could be said that the idea behind Adobe's Photoshop Elements was to reach out to those people who are more casual photographers and without much knowledge on the activity of photo editing. This is currently quite a large percentage of the population. The people who fit into this category would have no desire to learn the in-depth features of Photoshop and would probably never use it to its full capacity. Some of the typical things that the average user will be looking for is a tool to get rid of the evil red-eye in photographs and a simple interface to get photo-editing done quickly and with ease.
There are more differences still between the two packages - the more advanced Photoshop can be expanded as and when the user feels fit. Plug-ins are available for a lot of forward-thinking technologies and Photoshop is no exception. The possibilities to update the software and enhance its features are never ending - a real bonus to the professional photographer who wants to stay on top of the game.
So to sum all of this up:
· Photoshop is like the full version and Elements is simplified to give easier usage to amateur or casual photographers.
· Photoshop Elements is a 1/6th of the price of Photoshop
· Photoshop Elements have simplified settings such as an Automatic red-eye removal and the Cookie Cutter.
· Photoshop has High Dynamic Range and CMYK, whereas Elements doesn't.
· Photoshop has advanced color management, Elements is far more simplified.
Unless you are a professional in the field of photography then you would probably be best off starting out with Photoshop Elements which is great value for money. If you find that you want to improve your photo editing skills later down the line then you can always upgrade to Photoshop.