Cameras
Camcorders
Cell Phones
Components
Desktops
HDTV
Home Theater
GPS
Laptops
Monitors
MP3 Players
Networking &
Printers
Storage
Digg
Twitter
Facebook
More…Many image editing applications claim to offer the power of Adobe Photoshop but at a far friendlier price. Nearly all fail. But in an ironic twist, Adobe's Photoshop Elements 6 adds beginner-focused features that seem very similar to those in one of its main competitors, Corel's Paint Shop Pro Photo X2. Elements 6 has a couple of new features for people who have used the software before, but the main focus of this update seems to be a serious attempt to attract new, novice users--a strategy that rival image editors such as Paint Shop usually pursue. Elements 6 is a better choice for novices than Paint Shop, but if you've used Elements before, you may be disappointed with this version of it.
Adobe Adobe Photoshop Elements 6
PCWorld Rating, October 18, 2007
8 User Reviews Add your own »
$68.99
From 1 Vendor
Get Best Prices »
- Lab Tested
- How We Test Multimedia »
Pros
Great new edge-refining tool
More attractive interface
Cons
New editing modes add clutter
No photo-blogging conduits
Bottom Line
Prettier, but beginner tools get in the way of experienced users.
Adobe Photoshop Elements 6
Adobe Photoshop Elements 6 Review, by Alan Stafford October 19, 2007
The latest editions of Elements and Paint Shop cost the same: $100. Like Paint Shop, Elements 6 has a darker default interface than its predecessor, though Elements 6 won't let you adjust the shade to your preference. But the most striking similarity between this program and Corel's is in the packages' lead-you-by-the-nose editing modes, Express Lab in Paint Shop and the new Guided Editing in Elements 6. You can perform more functions in Elements' mode, including lightening shadows and darkening highlights, touching up scratches and blemishes, and removing color casts, and it provides helpful text describing each adjustment's function. But it lacks the Preview box found in most Photoshop functions (it does offer an option to see before and after versions of your image, but I prefer the Preview button because toggling it shows your changes on the same image--you don't have to look left and right).
Unlike Express Lab, Elements' Guided Editing lets you edit multiple images at a time: Just highlight as many images as you want, and select a fix. However, if you decide you like the effects on one image but not the others, you have to undo your work on all of them.
Of course, if you don't find Guided Editing sufficiently powerful, you can choose Full Editing, which gives you all of the application's tools with no hand-holding. And in case you find neither Guided Editing nor Full Editing to your liking, you can choose Quick Editing, which has four general editing areas that overlap with features from the other modes. Adobe says the revised interface is "streamlined," but I think the multiple modes add to the clutter.
Adobe has added the Quick Selection tool it first made available in Photoshop CS3 to Elements 6; the tool can make creating a selection (a roped-off section of an image to which fixes are limited) pretty easy, but since it has no tolerance (sensitivity) setting, it can be useless on some images. On the plus side, the Refine Edge feature I loved in Photoshop CS3 came along, too. It isn't quite as sophisticated as CS3's, but it does a fantastic job of cleaning up the edges of selections so you don't have to spend as much time handling stray pixels.
Elements 6 still has no photo-blogging conduits, so to post images on your blog, you must export your image using a 'Save for Web' command, and then manually upload through your blogging platform's tool. Adobe says its surveys indicate that its users aren't interested in blogging--but how would they know if they haven't tried it?
My overall impression of Elements 6 is similar to my impression of Adobe's new Premiere 4 video editor; Adobe expended great effort trying to make the application accessible to novices who have never laid hands on it, and in doing so, diluted some of the program's power and flexibility. I think that move will likely irritate users of older versions who have already learned how to use the app. Personally, I'd be perfectly happy using the previous version.
--Alan Stafford
Show Less 
0 Comments | 0 Topics | Print Only This Review
User Reviews
Average User Reviews for Adobe Adobe Photoshop Elements 6
3 Reviews Add your own »
- Latest User Reviews 3 reviews
-
Reviewed by: irish14500
Duration of ownership: 2 Months
Strengths: runs some automated commands such as 'actions' found within Photoshop. Like the Edit, create and Share portion of the application.
Weaknesses: interface is a bit kindergarten-ish expecially the round startup credit circle. Would have hoped more textures and styles and layer styles would have been created for the application. OR just added a seperate layer style to the the toolbar like within Photoshop.
Overall: I upgraded from version 2 and see really no difference other than the black interface and the ability to import .abr files from Photoshop 7 to CS 3. Loads slower than version 2 even with an external folder for all of my plugins.
-
Reviewed by: richardhein
Duration of ownership: 2 Days
Strengths: Functionality same as version 5: No noticeable improvements.
Weaknesses: Poor color choice for the workspace. The dark Charcoal grey color is hard coded in the software and cannot be changed by the user. Very hard on eyes.
Overall: The Adobe design team did an injustice to the Organizer and Editor workspace color. The background is a very dark gray charcoal color which makes using the menues and tools very difficult to see. This dark charcoal background cannot be changed and is hard coded into the software according to the tech support team from Adobe. What is also disturbing about the new interface as dark as it is when switching to or from the help system which uses a very light background is very harsh on the eyes. After much discussion with the Adobe support team I was forced to return the product and revert back to my version 5 Elements that has a much more eye appealing user interface background.
-
Reviewed by: Andante51
Duration of ownership: 8 Years
Strengths: Much of the power of Photoshop in a more accessible package, especially in terms of price.
Weaknesses: A steep learning curve for many.
Overall: As a long time Adobe PhotoElements user who loves using it, I do have to take issue with the reviewer of this latest Version 6 upgrade who seems to feel that the hand-holding Adobe has incorporated is rather a turn-off. They have probably done their market research and learned what I have observed firsthand during several years of teaching digital photo classes at a large suburban library -- that the vast majority of users very much need and want that hand-holding, and that if Adobe doesn't provide it, their market share will suffer. Free and easy to use photo editing tools like Picasa (a mere toy compared to PhotoElements) far better meets the needs of a vast horde of users. As long as Adobe provides we geeks the more robust editing tools we crave, I have no problem with them incoporating hand-holding modes to make the product more accessible to many.
Review Now! Already own it? Tell us What You Think
User Reviews From Around the Web
-
Reviewed by: kgivens
Strengths: Comes close to actual Photoshop in its power; more than enough for a serious amateur
Weaknesses: Crammed with features that you will never learn to master unless you get some actual teaching
Overall: I like the charcoal-colored background when in "light table" mode, but beyond that cosmetic change, I don't see any earth-shaking feature upgrade compared to version 5. Still the most full-featured, widely supported and affordable alternative to Photoshop proper.
-
Reviewed by: s_scott_mcclure_1161660644
Strengths: Much simpler user interface (compared to Elements 2.0); guides available to assist you with common image issues (red eye reduction, sharpening, etc.); Magic Extractor function is neat
Weaknesses: Runs more slowly than earlier version; still some complexity associated with certain program functions
Overall: I bought Photoshop Elements 2.0 when it first came out and found that it was quite powerful but had a steep learning curve. With Photoshop Elements 6.0, Adobe has greatly simplified many of the program's more common functions to reduce that learning curve significantly. Adobe has really improved the functionality of Photoshop Elements, and I strongly encourage those of you who are still using PE 2.0 (as I was) to pick up this version. You won't be disappointed.
-
Reviewed by: brettlandman
Strengths: Easy-to-use interface. Intuitive.
Weaknesses: Slow start-up time.
Overall: I recently upgraded PC to Vista and, like everyone else, I was surprised to realize that I needed to upgrade all my software. This upgrade was relatively painless, though. This newest version of Photoshop Elements is quite similar to my previous 3.0 version. I am not a photo software expert. I purchased this primarily to enable loading my photos on my iPod. This program does fine in that respect and has more than enough functionality for what I use it for.
-
Reviewed by: stevenyc1
Strengths: Best photo software in its category
Weaknesses: lacks user manual
Overall: It is my first photo software and it seems to have about everything a home user would need and then some. However, since it is not really intuitive a user manual should have been included. Learning curve is quite steep. A separate manual beefs up the price by about 20-30 dollars, depending upon the place of purchase.
-
Reviewed by: vicar280
Strengths: Good imaging editing options for the money.
Weaknesses: Online help files, some learning curve issues if not familiar with Adobe Photoshop.
Overall: If you don't want to spend upwards of $600 for the full Photoshop product, but want some good image editing options, this is probably all you need. Integrates well with my Canon scanner software.
Shop for the Adobe Adobe Photoshop Elements 6
Multimedia similar to the Adobe Adobe Photoshop Elements 6
We recommend these Multimedia for their similarities to the Adobe Adobe Photoshop Elements 6 in features, specs, ratings, and user interest.
 |
|
|
 |
|
|
 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
- Related Charts
- Web-Based Photo Editors
People who looked at the Adobe Adobe Photoshop Elements 6 also looked at:
Pricing
$68.99 From 1 Vendor Get Best Prices »
Start New Topic Don't see the answer to your question? Ask it here!
