How Photoshop Elements has Changed Throughout the Years

As I read the discussions in various forums and Facebook groups, it is apparent that many users continue to use older versions of Photoshop Elements. Many users are even using older versions than PSE 11, released in the Fall of 2012. This version is significant, because Adobe changed the complete look and feel of the program in that version.

One of the most commonly asked questions from users of older versions is whether or not it is worthwhile to upgrade to the then current version. The answer for a given user depends upon their circumstances. It is often driven by changes in the computer they use, its operating system, and/or the camera they use.

Today, we are probably about half way through the product life cycle of PSE 2020. If history repeats itself, PSE 2021 will be released sometime this Fall. So the question many users ask is should I upgrade to the latest version. Adobe has a excellent table that compares PSE 2020 features with previous ones going back to PSE 15. You can access it at the link below:

For several years now I have maintained my own table. It is more detailed than the one in the above link and goes back to PSE 11. The link below is to my current version. It is an Excel spreadsheet. 

Feature Comparison PSE 11 Through PSE 2020

If you have been struggling to decide whether to upgrade or not, I hope you found this information helpful. If so please star-rate it or Like/Share the post. Also, I am always open to comments.

Until next time…

Addendum: Some were not able to open my spreadsheet. I have converted it to a PDF file. The link to it is below.

Photoshop Elements Feature Comparison PSE 11 through PSE 2020 PDF File.

 

Creating High Contrast Landscapes Images Using Photoshop

In this post, I am going to demonstrate how to bring out detail in landscape photos using traditional/legacy commands in Photoshop.

In more recent versions of Photoshop, we have new commands such as Clarity and Texture that essentially do this. But sometimes it is fun to revert to the old way. Besides, there is always that potential to better control the final result.

In this demo, I will be using Photoshop 2020, but the same techniques can be used using Photoshop Elements as well. I learned this technique from Dave Seeram in a magazine article he wrote several years ago.

Click on the figure below to view the tutorial.

If you found this AppTip Sheet to be helpful, please give it a star rating, or click on the Like or Share buttons at the bottom.

Until next time…

Photoshop Elements & Premiere Elements 2020 Released!

Adobe has released their latest version of Photoshop Elements and Premiere Elements. They have continued their march to add improvements each year to both programs that make organizing and editing your photos and videos easier.

Applying advanced techniques to your photos and videos that typically take multiple steps have been reduced to either a single click or a few well of well defined steps called Guided Edits. Photoshop Elements 2020 now includes 55 Guided Edits, and Premiere Elements has twenty-three.

In the coming weeks I will highlight some of the new features, but in the meantime, check out the Adobe website for multiple short videos highlighting the capabilities of both programs.

Click on the figure below and scroll down to see several videos describing new and existing features of Photoshop Elements 2020.

To see the features included in Premiere Elements 2020 click on the link below.

Check back here soon for additional demonstrations of the various new features in both programs.

Until next time…

Maintaining and Protecting Your PSE 2019 Catalog

In this post I will highlight some tips for maintaining and protecting your PSE 2019 Catalog. They are contained in the AppTip Sheet that is linked below. Over the years I have presented tutorials on how to use the Backup/Restore commands that our built into PSE. Even though these tutorials were written for previous versions, the steps and screens are virtually the same in PSE 2019.  

Click on the link below to open the PDF file that describes how to protect and maintain your PSE 2019 Catalog.

Using the tips described in the AppTip Sheet will ensure that you spend your time doing the fun things that PSE 2019 allows, rather than troubleshooting problems with your Catalog.

Until next time…

Postscript to PSE 2019 Auto Creations Video

A couple of weeks ago, I posted a video on the new hub and Auto Creations feature. You can review that post here.

Here are a couple of things I did not emphasize, but should have. To begin with, Auto Creations uses AI to analyze your photos and videos to automatically identify and create slideshows, video & photo collages, or even just selecting/extracting some interesting images from your videos.

When it is activated, as described in the video, it works in the background to produce these creations, even if PSE 2019 is not running. It can create a maximum of 40 of these editable creations, and then stops. You can delete any or all of these creations or incorporate them into the Organizer. Once the number gets below forty, new Auto Creations are produced. If the Catalog has not changed with new imports, they may be repeats or similar creations previously generated.

Here is how I use this in my workflow. I generally turn off Auto Creations, since it appears to impact the performance of my PC. It may not have any impact  on yours. I review and either incorporate/edit the Auto Creations generated, or delete them. I can do this either with the Auto Creations on or off.

Now when I take a new set of photos perhaps from an event or just a photo shot, I import them into the Catalog, and then I turn Auto Creations on again. After a time, PSE 2019 has produced new creations from my recent imports. I even get a Notification on my desktop in Windows 10 telling me that new creations have been produced. I review the new creations and then turn Auto Creations off again. This process works well for me.

I suspect that Adobe will enhance the Auto Creations feature in future versions of the program. I suspect one of those improvements will be to better identify the events and other information about the photos and videos selected for the creation.

If you found this and the original post helpful, please star-rate it and or share it with others. Thank you.

Until next time…

Using the New Hub and Auto Creations in Photoshop Elements 2019

Have you ever taken a series of photos and videos at an event of some sort and would like to quickly and effortlessly turn a few of them into a an interesting presentation? But you are fresh out of ideas, and maybe time.

Maybe what Adobe has added into the newest release of Elements is just what you need. PSE 2019 now comes with a new home screen or Hub, where you must start if you want to go to the Organizer, Photo Editor, or Premiere Elements, if you have it installed. Included in the Hub is Auto Creations. Built into the Hub is a new feature in PSE 2019, Auto Creations.

To give you a brief overview of the new Hub and what Auto Creations are all about, I have added a new YouTube video. You can find it at the link below.

PSE 2019’s New Hub and Auto Creations Video

As I describe in the video, you have the option to turn Auto Creations off, but not the Hub. This is Adobe’s version of Auto Creations, and I will expect it to improve and evolve in future releases. 

That’s all for now. Until next time,

Happy Holidays! 

New Webpage With Links to my Photoshop Elements Tutorials

Over the past couple of years I have been blogging tutorials on Photoshop Elements. When I started the latest version was PSE 15. When it was replaced with PSE 2018, I used screen shots from it for subsequent tutorials. I did the same when PSE 2019 was introduced.

Almost all of the tutorials are based on updated versions of my class handouts I used when I was teaching Photoshop Elements. The links are to PDF files for the most part which can be downloaded and printed if desired. There are also a few videos included. The tutorials cover both the Organizer and Photo Editing using Elements.

Click on the image below to go to the webpage that has the complete list.