coming to PSP from PhotoshopElements, if you have same path

[hp2]

I have been an Elements user for several years and have reached a certain level of creative ability with it. I am a photographer so my work is narrowed to that primarily. However, I do build composites.
Most of the work that I post on Flickr or Facebook is a composite of two or more pics to tell a story that is original.

I only shared the above in hopes that there are some of you who also came to PSP from Photoshop and you may understand my questions and how it affects my learning curve.
For instance, at first glance, it appears that layer masks are more complicated to apply in PSP, but it may be that seeming complication is also just flexibility and serves creative functions.

So, this post is a fishing expedition. If you came from PS elements and have some info to share or links that may expedite my transition. If you do certain things in PSE and others in PSP, I would like to hear your story.

At the moment I seem to get better results from basic adjustments from Elements, but that is probably because I am just a novice/beginner with PSP and I know exactly what I want to do and how in PSE.

I am committed to learning PSP and making sure I know how to apply its tools, so I am not here to make a quick assessment. I want to learn it and then I will decide what works for me.

Thanks.
Chuck

[rondo]

I find layer masks easier to do in PSP than Elements, as well as Selections and Adjustments. I didn't care for the organization of tools in Elements, and find it faster and easier for my workflow in PSP. in PSP there are many more tools and options in how to use them.

Take the time to view some tutorials on YouTube or the Corel Learning Center- I think it's just a matter of getting used to the differences in PSP.

http://learn.corel.com/photo-tutorials/

[JoeB]

Further to what @rondo said, when it comes to organization of tools PSP beats most other programs (particularly Adobe ones) hands down. You can customize the toolbars AND dropdown menus (add, reorder and/or move buttons or menu options), create your own custom toolbars for specific types of projects, and save different workspaces with different customizations for different types of projects. You can create scripts (similar to PS actions but easier and more flexible), bind them to buttons and add those button scripts to toolbars and/or menus for one click access to run the script.

With time, research and practice I think you'll find that you can do virtually anything with PSP that you could do with Elements, and likely more, given that Elements is a stripped down version of PS. And PSP can do most of what most people need that PS can do, often easier, particularly once you have customized your workspace.

[hp2]

Thanks rondo and JoeB for your hearty vote for PSP.

Do either of you have online galleries where I can see some of your work?

Thanks again.

Chuck

[Jean-Luc]

it appears that layer masks are more complicated to apply in PSP,

If you give us a specific example, I'm sure some users here will explain how to achieve the task in PSP.