Should I upgrade Photoshop Elements 2.0?

[Pixel_Outlaw]

I know a few people here use Photoshop. I've been pretty happy with elements for some time now but what really annoys me is the lack of a pen tool. The vector shapes and line tool always want to be anti aliased which is horrible for working in a predefined color palette. I don't want to pirate CS3 so chances are that I would be purchasing Photoshop Elements 6.0. It seems there is very little information of the different between photoshop elements and the standard product. I'd use it mostly for making sprites so I don't need all the latest features. I would like to have a pen tool though. Elements 2.0 is pretty basic. I'm just wondering what I should do.

I've tried all of the normal raster options, Paint.NET, The Gimp, Pixia, D paint, ect... I just think the Photoshop interface is cleaner.

[hellfire]

there is very little information of the different between photoshop elements and the standard product

What about a free trial ?
Check the educational versions, too.
For working in palettes, other tools might be more useful.

[Clyde]

Im not familiar with Photoshop and Photoshop Elements. I'm a Paint Shop Pro 7 fan myself.

One thing I have noticed due to the increasing popularity of Mobile Phone Picture taking and Digital Cameras, is that a lot of graphics packages concentrate more on stuff geared towards photos and improve effects and tools in that department.

Pixel art is still do able, but not a busting lot has changed in that area.

[Pixel_Outlaw]

Thanks guys. Just found out that ALL versions of Elements lack the pen tool (only tool that doesn't make anti aliased shapes). Looks like I'll stick with what I have. I tried the demo of the newest Elements version and it is almost identical to the now 8 year old program I have. Nothing worth writing home about. Now I just have to take this 500 MB demo off my HD. 

[Jim]

Are you sure there isn't a tolerance/anti-alias setting that changes how that tool works?  That's certainly the case on Photoshop.

Jim

[Pixel_Outlaw]

Yes Jim, I have Photoshop Elements 2.0 which was watered down 8 years ago. The Elements product line is missing some tools and features.

[Clyde]

If there's some tools missing in Elements ( eg an option to turn off AA ), might be a good Christmas present to get Photo Shop; it's only around the corner, so wouldnt have to wait very long.

[mind]

you should try grafx2 imo.. old pixeling program for dos, currently beeing ported to win32 with most features are up and running.. this was my editor of choice back in the day when i did pixel graphics.

http://code.google.com/p/grafx2/

[Shockwave]

Hmm, yes Hellfire posted grafx2 as well.
It seems very much like Dpaint (a good thing!)

But then P_O seems to have tried Dpaint and not liked it which is a pity, I always loved it back in the old days.

[Pixel_Outlaw]

The notion of layers has spoiled me...

[Shockwave]

The notion of layers confuses me