Photoshop Elements

[unicorn]

How good is the new Photoshop Elements? Up till fairly recently a lot of computer applications came with a 'free' copy of Photoshop LE, which is a cut-back version of Photoshop 5. Compared with its bigger brother (or should that be 'sister'?) quite a few vital features for digital photo editing are missing.

Now we see the new Photoshop Elements, which is a low priced sibling of Photoshop 6. I consider Photoshop 6 an excellent program but it's overkill if it's mainly to be used for the editing of digital photographs (and it is certainly too expensive for quite a few of us).

Is Photoshop Elements an improvement over Photoshop LE? Is Photoshop Elements lacking in editing features that can be found in Photoshop 6?

I'd love to hear the opinions of other Photoshop users.

[James]

Hi Unicorn,

I have downloaded a free 30 day eval of the Elements Software.

You can get it here at http://www.adobe.com/products/photos...html?awe_2210#

So far I enjoy it, however I am not a proffesional, I expect others in the group will be able use the power of the full version 6.0 to it's potential.

Check it out and see if you like it.

[Mike K]

Here is a review of Elements:

http://www.zdnet.com/products/storie...0709%2C00.html
and a second less positive review:
http://www.cnet.com/software/0-42962...7-1205-4934833

Having used PS5.0 LE for 6 months I would say that Elements is easier to use. Many of the photoshop LE features are renamed and repackaged to reflect photographic lingo whereas the the full PS 6 is designed more for graphic artists. Some actions are "automated" like the "rotate and crop" pair, as it was desigend to support photo scans. They can be performed separately too. While others like "Auto Levels" are prominent while the manual version of "Levels" is a few layers lower down the menus. "Adjust Backlighting" and "Fill Flash" are simple single slider versions of "curves". Easier to use but not nearly as flexible. The additional features of color management, red eye removal, multiple undos, the stitching feature and simplification of the size reduction (viewing) for web posting are significant improvements. Compared to the instructionless 5.0 LE version, the detailed approx 270pp instruction book that comes with the PS Elements CD is the best improvement of all! It tells you how to activate and change each feature. However it does not give a tutorial function as to how to put the various actions together in a workflow. There are still some things missing too; lab color and many are griping that it doesn't print several different pictures on the same page, only multiples of the same picture. For those like me used to 5.0 LE its a mixed bag, but more positive than not. For those not initiated to 5.0 LE it would be a much faster learning curve than the PS 5.0 LE supplied with the G1.
I'm still learning to work all the buttons, if my opinon changes I'll give an update.
Regards. Mike K

[DanS]

I'm unsure if this is a problem with the D30's USB driver 3.6.1 or with PS Elements?

When I attach the D30 to the USB cable, it auto starts and up comes a window asking for an application selection. Zoom and Kodak Imaging will launch, but Elements freezes my computer to the point I have to use hard restart.

Is this some type of settings problem, or are PSE and USB 3.6.1 not getting along?