Photoshop Elements 4.0 -- tips & tricks?

[cbass]

My wife gave me a copy of Adobe Photoshop Elements 4.0 as a holiday gift. I have never used this kind of image editing software before and I am eager to get started. Any experienced users care to share your tips or tricks that could make learning the program easier? Anything I should be aware of before I install the software?

I'll be using the program on a MacBook running OS X (version 10.4.11). Thanks in advance.

 

[charjohncarter]

http://www.earthboundlight.com/phototips/more-black-and-white-photoshop.html

http://www.earthboundlight.com/phototips/photoshop-elements-curves.html

http://www.earthboundlight.com/phototips/black-and-white-photoshop.html?search=channel+mixer&bool=and

Here are some Curves and Channel mixer Plug Ins for Elements. Check to be sure that they work for PSE4.

And here is a whole bunch of others stuff some for Elements.

http://www.earthboundlight.com/phototip-archives.html

 

[charjohncarter]

I have PSE3 and use the Channel mixer and Curves plug ins. For me, I don't need to turn someones hair green. So I either use PSE3, Gimp or LightZone for all my post processing. I convert RAW either with PSE3, Pentax Lab, or Raw Threapee. I don't need all the stuff that PS has. You will like PSE4 and it will provide everything that you need unless you want of do weird stuff with color images.

If you want a plug-in for B&W conversions here is one that does Channel Mixing.

http://www.photo-plugins.com/index.php?option=com_docman&task=cat_view&Itemid=43&gid=68

 

[Graham Line]

Philip Andrews wrote "Photoshop Elements 4.0," published by Focal Press, a very accessible guide to getting the most out of Elements, set up as a series of projects. It also has a decent index.

I'm using Elements 4.0 on a PC and all of my photos you see here and on Flickr have been through PSE. Start by learning the brightness, contrast and levels controls, then move on to the sizing, save for web and sharpening/unsharp mask functions. That will be enough to get you started.

http://www.booksamillion.com/ncom/books?pid=0240520114

 

[kuzano]

Be careful.... 4.0 on Mac.... 6.0 on PC

Be careful.... 4.0 on Mac.... 6.0 on PC

I am a PC consultant and teach elements classes. However, I am not knowledgeable on Apple-Mac. I presume the functions (other than the key strokes) for the Apple version 4 are similar to the 6.0 on the PC.

But make sure your literature deals with either the Apple, or both. Photoshop 6 precludes about 97.4% of the need to ever own either $300 or $600 worth of Photoshop CS3, unless you want to sacrifice shooting time to sit with your computer.

Most Community Colleges that teach community education classes are adding Elements to round out their Adobe classes. The classes are often either in scheduled attendance and/or OnLine participation at your leisure within certain time frames.

Elements has so rapidly evolved over the last two versions 4,5 and now 6 on the PC, and whatever on the Apple/MAC/powerbook/etc, that it is way too easy to get old training books. Shop carefully.

If you want to edit photos most efficiently, learn every capability of your new Elements program before ever considering CS2. Unless you are a full time professional, I suggest the your new Elements, combined with Aperture, the Apple equivalent of Lightroom on the PC, will fill all your needs.

Also, for those of the Masochists out there who do want, or perhaps need, Photoshop CS3, If you attend most community college community ed courses you can buy the full featured academic discount from your college bookstore for $299. At least that's the way we do it, even if your only registered for a few hours, or an online course. The academic discount does not imply any less features than if you buy the product off the retail shelves or from Adobe at $600 (last time I looked).

 

[wgerrard]

I believe 4.0 is the current version for the Mac. I use it.

It's a straightforward port from the PC version, and, hence, a little un-Macish in parts.

If this is your initial venture into photo editors, there is certainly no need to rush to full-blown Photoshop. More than enough to keep you busy in Elements. It may not have some of its big brothers capabilities (especially CYMK and things geared to professional hardcopy graphics) but it is far from a simple program.

Get a couple of good books that focus on the basics. Avoid the "1001 Ways to be a Power User" stuff for the time being. You want to learn why you might adjust levels, or play with saturation, or fiddle with channels. Too many books just tell you how to use techniques and avoid explaining why you might want to do that in the first place.