However, if you already own the previous version then the question is if it’s worth the cost for the additional features. The answer lies in how you handle your workflow. There are certainly a lot of “improved” features but the big deal in this version is the organizer. That’s not an issue if you typically shoot some pictures, pick out the ones you want to print or send to a web page, and then move on with your life. However, if you maintain a library of 10,000 images and need to find specific shots based on a number of criteria like subject, date shot, location, your rating, lens used, etc, then you need some kind of organizational capability. (The pros and other people wanting to sound important call this Digital Asset Management or DAM.) That’s what’s been significantly enhanced in PSE8.

A great suggestion (someone who I now respect called that) is to go to the Adobe site and download the fully functional 30-day trial of this (or the entire creative suite) and see if it meets (or exceeds) your needs.

FWIW, I prefer to use Acd Systems ACDSee Pro Photo Manager 2.5 – Windows for DAM (I want to sound important) and use PSE for when I have to move bits around.
Rating: 3 / 5

On to Elements 8 itself. As an upgrade, and if you’re moving from version 6 or 7, this software simply isn’t worth it. The couple of bells and whistles which Adobe have bolted on are not that good, and if you can look beyond the two minute gee whizz period (and two minutes is all the gee whizz factor there is – believe me), then version 8 is very much the same as version 7 and version 6. Even assuming you avoid the hassle I went through, trust me there simply isn’t anything at all worth spending a few dollars on to upgrade for, never mind the exhorbitant pricing demanded by Adobe.

If you’re new to photo editing, or looking to make the switch, then Elements 8 is an excellent editor. I have recently completed 30 day trials of PhotoImpact and PaintShop Pro, and in my view Elements stands head and shoulders above them. If you want to do a quick fix, then Elements does it superbly well, if you want to do some very powerful editing then Elements will get you there too. The only caveat I would offer is that you should budget $30 or so on an accompanying book to allow you to get inside the program.

I do have a grumble with Elements, a significant one. I cannot stand the Organizer – why on earth they can’t make it work like windows explorer I’ll never know. Move a file from one location to another and can Organizer work that out? No way. Honestly, it offers such a twisted and convoluted way to work with files that it should be consigned to the trash can of history. That said, Elements is still a great editor, just don’t try to do anything other than edit photo files with it. For me I use ACDSee 3 Pro as a photo manger and edit with Elements. From ACDSee I can switch to Elements instantaneously and I now have a very powerful combination of superb photo manager and very good editor. By the way for those looking for a competent editor check out ACDSee 3 Pro, the tools for controlling lighting and color are the best in the business – in fact for some it may be all you need for all your photos.

Two stars for Elements 8. As an upgrade it’s shockingly poor, and Adobe’s upgrade policies need to be revisited, but as an editor Elements remains very good.
Rating: 2 / 5