Adobe Photoshop Lightroom

The Bottom Line

Photoshop Elements is Adobe's photo-editing software for amateur photographers, digital imaging enthusiasts, and small business users. As the name implies, Photoshop Elements is built around core elements of Adobe Photoshop, excluding some of the more advanced, professional-level features and adding its own unique features specifically for photo-hobbyists. Photoshop Elements includes a fully featured photo editor, a powerful, integrated photo organizer, project layout templates, artwork and themes, and a number of sharing options.

Pros

• Expertly bundles photo organizing, editing, and sharing into a complete package.
• Balances ease of use and flexibility. It's beginner friendly but not oversimplified.
• Based on 17 years of Photoshop development by Adobe, the leader in digital imaging software.
• More quick fix options are available right from the Organizer.
• Undo/Redo buttons are back in a prominent position.

Cons

• Sluggish performance when switching modes and drawing screen elements.
• Some may not like the dark interface.
• Some problems converting catalogs from older versions.
• Poor success rate with the automatic red eye detection and correction feature.

Description

• Photoshop Elements has everything most people need to organize, edit and share digital photos.
• The Organizer and Editor are divided into activity-based tabs where you can Organize, Fix, Create, and Share photos.
• Organizer lets you organize your photos with keyword tags, then search and share them in Creations.
• Creations include slide shows, video CDs, cards, email, calendars, Web galleries, and photo layouts.
• Quick Fix lets you crop, fix red eye, adjust lighting & color, and sharpen with a before/after view.
• Standard editing tools for correcting and enhancing photos, drawing, painting, selecting, and adding text.
• Support for multiple layers, layer styles, and adjustment layers provides editing flexibility.
• New: Quick Selection tool, B&W conversions, Photomerge Group Shot, Photomerge Faces, Smart Albums, Sharing Center.
• Enhanced: Photomerge accuracy, artwork palette, clone and healing tool overlays, brightness/contrast adjustments.
• Printing options: Contact Sheets, Picture Package, labels, single prints, and online services.

Guide Review - Photoshop Elements 6 for Windows

Photoshop Elements incorporates many of Photoshop's powerful features without being too overwhelming to the novice user. A guided editing mode helps users get started, and automated features simplify many tasks, such as posting online photo galleries and stitching multiple photos to create panoramas. The user interface is friendly to beginners, but not "dumbed-down" to the point that it frustrates experienced users. Photoshop Elements also includes a powerful photo organizer, drag & drop photo creation layouts and artwork, and many sharing options, which makes it a perfect all-in-one solution for photo hobbyists.

Version 6 offers several new features including:

• Redesigned User Interface
• Guided Editing Mode
• Quick Selection Tool and Refine Edge Dialog
• Photomerge Group Shot and Photomerge Faces
• Convert to Black and White
• Smart Albums
• More Quick Fixes in the Organizer
• New Project Templates and Artwork, Larger Thumbnails in the Artwork Palette
• Improved Slide Shows

If you're considering an upgrade from an older version, take a look at the new features added in Photoshop Elements 5 and Photoshop Elements 4. You'll also want to see my notes for upgraders.

With version 3, Photoshop Elements took a giant leap forward in both features and ease of use. Versions 4 through 6 have introduced smaller but useful enhancements. It's a shame that sluggish performance continues to afflict this product, but Elements keeps getting better and I still find the draggy performance is worth putting up with. All in all, Photoshop Elements remains a powerful photo suite that every photo hobbyist should have.