Conquer Photoshop - Master the Elements

When it comes to editing digital photography, there is hardly a photo-editor which is as effective and as diverse as Photoshop is. However, given the plethora of options it offers and the myriad functions it is loaded with, Photoshop may not always be the most amiable software to grapple with as a beginner in fact, working your way around some of Photoshop's more complicated maneuvers may be a very daunting task and is even disheartening if you aren't too conversant with the way this software functions. And to combat this disadvantage that many novices around the world have to deal with, Adobe has devised and developed a more scaled down version of its full-fledged software, which is aptly named Photoshop Elements.

As the name suggests, Photoshop Elements allows you, the user, several of the most enticing features that Photoshop has to offer, without being bogged down by an overload of functions and techniques. And yet, it is still proficient and flexible enough to allow you your creative freedom, without making the process frustratingly simple. This software is a very popular choice with amateur photographers and digital imaging enthusiasts who are working their way up to the more complicated editing tools. The software has been designed bearing in mind the core elements of Adobe Photoshop and leaves out the editing tools only professionals have use for. It includes an efficient photo-editor, an integrated photo-organizer and a number of templates and themes you can use to correct and enhance your digital images.

Photoshop Elements also facilitates the process of editing by letting you accomplish some of the more common functions of photo-editing, with just one simple function, instead of having to plod through endless steps and routines. For instance, one of the most common problems that plague a majority of photographers is the red-eye effect, which ruins the best of photographs by cropping up at the most inopportune of moments. Getting rid of this effect can be very tedious with Photoshop per SE, but with Photoshop Elements, you can use the automatic Red Eye Removal feature and let the software do the laboring for you. Even better, the Quick-Fix functions let you crop images and adjust the light and color with the Auto Smart Fix and the Auto Contrast and Crop options, while also letting to take a look at the before and after versions.

To make it easier for you to find your way around the interface, the software also efficiently coordinates the functions under activity-based tabs. So, if you are looking for a specific function that has to do with 'Organizing', 'Fixing', 'Creating', and 'Sharing your Photos', all you need to do is go into the category dedicated to each of these functions and make your selection. The selection tool also allows a significantly lower level of accuracy than the more scrupulous version of Photoshop would permit. By simply painting over the part of the image you want to select, you can have the tool clip out the section by itself, after which you can smooth, contract or expand the selection edge with the 'Refine Edge' dialog.

If you think that your image would look a lot better in its black and white version, you can effortlessly give your photograph that vintage facelift, while also adjusting the intensity of the effect you are looking for. And for those last-minute hurried searches through the mounds of images you've stacked up on your desktop, simply go into the 'Organize' section and click on the feature which says 'Smart Albums'. This will let you scan through your images as per the date you've last worked on them, or even as per the camera you've captured them with. The Elements interface is also a lot easier to navigate as the icons it displays are larger and more prominent than most other editors. You can also source an amazing number of tutorials and add-ons off the internet, which let you make the most of your software, and progress in leaps and bounds in your application of the tools.

And once you're satisfied with the magnum opus you've created, you will obviously want to showcase it in a way that's just as spectacular. And to do this, Elements lets you pack your images into slides hows, display them in web-galleries and even print them out on contact sheets. You can also click and drop a frame of your choice, or even a background, from the eclectic assortment that Elements has in store.

Photoshop Elements is a very useful resource by itself, or even a valuable stepping stone for your endeavors at mastering the complete version of Photoshop. And if you aren't quite sure about which version you should opt for, you can even download the fully-functional trial versions that the website offers, for a limited amount of time, which will allow you to compare and contrast the two versions before you make up your mind. All in all, if you're looking to make your first foray into the fascinating world of image-editing as hassle-free as possible, then Photoshop Elements is undoubtedly an option you can't afford to pass by.