I needed a software program that would help me convert images from one format to another. I also wanted to be able to edit my digital photos and, perhaps, do a little adding someone or something to them. Explicitly, I wanted to make Oval cutouts, insert pictures in eye-catching frames, etc. I also wanted to take some .Gif files and give them the transparency I wanted for Powerpoint Shows.

I have used several digital editing programs, but found myself totally frustrated trying to achieve the results I was looking for. So, I went down to the corner to Staples and examined their software.

Hmmm. They had a good variety, some names were familiar, some were updates to my unsatisfactory programs, and then I saw Adobe® Photoshop. A knowledgeable clerk came up and I discussed it with him, asking for his recommendation.

A Staples’ Clerk Recommended Adobe® Photoshop® Elements 2.0

I was amazed. It was only $60.00, with a $30.00 rebate offer, and he assured me that, according to my experience with digital editing, it would do everything I wanted.

I was sold. I picked up the pretty yellow and white box, purchased it, and ran home to get started. Incidentally, it’s for the PC and also for Macintosh.

Did I say experienced? Oh, my. But that’s getting ahead of my review. Installing the program was a breeze, registering online was simple.. I have Windows XP Home Edition and it practically installed the program for me. I went online to Adobe.com and downloaded two updates for my version, installed them, and I was set to go.

A New World to Me

And I thought I was experienced! Suddenly I’m confronted with a new vocabulary, from pixels to opacity to layers and masks to contiguous, and everything in-between, ending up with Gaussian blurs. LOL

The workspace is very, very friendly. Tools are in a panel down the left side of the screen with tool tips, and you bring your picture into a pallet right where you’d want it. There are many choices on the toolbar, plus a pallet holder at the top right where you can pull out different pallets to use on the workspace.

There's an Undo Pallet, for backing up to where you were before you made the error, a color pallet, a layers pallet, etc.

But if you’ve never worked with these things before, it’s a learning period that won’t end. The program comes with a manual, a tool chart showing shortcuts, and there’s a huge Help file in the program (if you know what you’re looking for) and also an interactive tutorial that introduces you to the basics. And, believe me, I needed basics.

The Tools

Marquee ----------Rectangular or elliptical selection tools
Lasso -------------Also to select by tracing around an object.
Selection brushes--
Paint bucket------ To pour paint into a selection
Custom Shape tool –Applies shapes and/or patterns
Brush-------------- This has about 50-100 soft or hard brushes to choose from. And more which I haven’t utilized yet.
Eraser--------------To erase pixels – the magic eraser will erase pixels according to color value – either contiguous or selected.

Actually, I’m not going to list them all here. There are so many of them, and most of them can be set at different sizes, different pressures and they are marvelously sensitive to your wishes as you set them up. I love the Clone tool – select what you want to replicate and stamp it where you want it to appear. Terrific.

There are filters like you wouldn’t believe, blur, liquefying, impressionist, etc.

You can achieve special Effects like lights (even headlights & spotlights), apply Frames, do Textualizing

For the normal digitizing work you can, of course, crop, rotate, enlarge, enhance, and duplicate. Whatever you want to do in editing a picture, it’s there for you in Photoshop Elements 2.0.

My early Experience

It’s been a learning curve. If you’re an amateur, please don’t think you’ll be able to sit down and achieve all these things overnight. If you’re experienced, then I know you’ll be pleased with this program. I’ve met many professionals online who rave about this program. The one line I keep remembering is: If you can think it up, the program can do it!

There are many free tutorials online to help a person learn to use Photoshop Elements. If you put your request into Google.Com for free tutorials on it, you’ll find them.

Adobe® has a great Web Site and a Users’ Forum that is so friendly, knowledgeable, and helpful that I’m thrilled to be part of it.

There are also many free add-ons available online which give Elements many of the Adobe® Photoshop® 7.0 featured tools. Like I mentioned before, it’s an entirely different world, this world of Digital Imaging.

Requirements

Macintosh
PowerPC processor
Mac OS 9.1,9.2.x or OS X v.10.1.3-10-2
128MB of RAM with virtual memory on
350MB available of hard-disk
Color monitor capable of displaying thousands of colors at a resolution of 800x600 or greater
CD-ROM drive

Windows®
Intel Pentium processor
Windows®98, 1st, 2nd editions, Millenium, Windows2000,or Windows XP Home/Professional
128MB RAM
150MB of available hard-disk space
Color Monitor capable of displaying thousands of colors at a resolution of 800x600 or greater
Internet Explorer 5.0,5.5,8.0 (Updated with service packs)
CD-ROM Drive

What I think of Adobe® Photoshop® Elements 2.0

Can I say that I’m CRAZY over it? I think I can because I truly am.

In 4 weeks time, I’ve already achieved all that I wanted to achieve, and MORE! I’ve put clouds into boring skies, added people to different scenes, improved my pictures so people may think I’m a good photographer, and I’m even learning to make animated .Gif files.

I’ve scanned pictures right into Elements from my HP Scanner so easily that it scared me! I’ve e-mailed directly from the program.

I’ve bought two books from Amazon which have tutorials and explanations that are invaluable to me. There is so much help online in Digital Imaging that it’s staggering.

I highly recommendAdobe® Photoshop® Elements 2.0 to anyone interested in Digital Imaging, amateur or otherwise.

Other photo editing programs had left me stumbling around and frustrated because they were so haphazard in their approach and confusing in their directions.

But this program is different. If you start out with the basics and try out the elements, you’ll be surprised what a difference it will make to you and your Digitals. The results are so amazing, it inspires you to continue learning new facets of the program.

I’ll get back with you in two years and let you see how professional I have become by then. I figure that’s how long it will take me, but it will be worth it – and it’s ALL in this one Software Program - Adobe® Photoshop® Elements 2.0

Remember: If you think of it, you can achieve it with Photoshop Elements 2.0.

Thanks for reading my review. Leave comments if there’s something I haven’t covered or if you’d like book recommendations or have any questions.

Till tomorrow

Lorace ©2003

www.Adobe.Com




Recommended: Yes