Adobe Photoshop Elements 9 (Win/Mac) [OLD VERSION]
by Adobe
![Adobe Photoshop Elements 9 (Win/Mac) [OLD VERSION]](/images/Adobe-Photoshop-Elements-9-Win-Mac-OLD-VERSION-B003YGMEAQ-L.jpg)
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Software Summary
Manufacturer: AdobeBrand: Adobe
Audio: English (Original Language)
Format: DVD-ROM
Release Date: 2010-09-28
Platform: Mac OS X Intel, Windows 7, Windows Vista, Windows XP
Model: 65089532
Product features:
- Make every photo look its best with easy-to-use editing options in Adobe Photoshop Elements 9
- Make photo books, cards, calendars, and other creations that look just the way you want
- Quickly share photos in fun, interactive Online Albums and on mobile devices
- Automatically organize all your photos and video clips from one convenient place
- Enjoy automatic online backup with 2GB of free storage; access your photos and videos virtually anywhere
Software Reviews of Adobe Photoshop Elements 9 (Win/Mac) [OLD VERSION]
Customer Review: Without A Doubt, The Best Photo Editor
Summary: 5 Stars
It seems like just yesterday that Adobe first introduced Photoshop Elements to the enthusiast market. In fact, it's been almost a decade, which is right around the time I bought my first digital camera. With the introduction of the digital camera in the mid-90s and widespread adoption in less than 15 years, the demand for an easy-to-use, but powerful photo-centric program for enthusiasts was inevitable. Adobe met that demand with great fanfare, though version 8 disappointed some users. Will Photoshop Elements 9 quell the unsatisfied voices of the previous version?
PROS:
- Amazing tools to manipulate photos
- Keyword tags allow quick searches & easy organization
- Editor supports layers
- Good help tools and tutorials
- Solid, stable performance
CONS:
- Organizer import is finicky
- People recognition sometimes misses
ORGANIZER
The organizer is a highly integrated part of the Photoshop Elements 9 experience. It's not just a tool for organizing your photos, but also the hub for fixes, creative projects and easy sharing.
Organize Tab:
If you're like me, then you probably already have a sizable library of photos. Mine consists of over 18,000 photos, taking up nearly 80GB of space, from a wide variety of sources including several different digital cameras, mobile phones, scanners, and webcams. Until about five years ago, I used to just organize them within my file system (windows explorer) and managed to get by okay. Then I had kids.
An explosion of photos followed and it was becoming impossible to manage, so I enlisted the help of Google's free Picasa software. PSE9's organizer has many of the features and capabilities of Picasa including people recognition, multiple album support, tags, geotags with maps, rating, cropping, simple fixes, effects, creative projects, and sharing. Most of those features tend to be more advanced or more flexible on Photoshop Elements. For example PSE9 has an auto-analyzer feature that will use Smart Tags to allow you to distinguish your photos using some preset tags like, photo quality or contrast. The people recognition feature worked about as well as Picasa, though I preferred PSE9's because I could name the faces quicker and easier in PSE9 than Picasa. Some photos were completely ignored though, even if they had clear, unobstructed faces in them. Interestingly, Picasa and PSE9 both missed the same photos.
Overall, I preferred working within PSE9's organizer. Unfortunately, I won't be giving up Picasa as my primary organizer because of a major issue I had importing my photos. For some unknown reason, the PSE9 organizer failed to import my photos. I selected a top level directory and told it to scan subfolders. After a few thousand photos, I got a message saying that the import failed and none of my photos showed up in the catalog. I resorted to importing individual folders and began to notice that it was hanging up on importing photos I had taken with an LG Dare phone, though it didn't have any problems with photos taken with a Blackberry or Android phone. If it had been one or two photos, I would have been okay with omitting them from the catalog, but not ALL of them. Until I can figure out why those particular photos were rejected, I can't stop using Picasa in favor of PSE9's organizer, which is too bad because I would prefer to settle on one organizer so I don't have to double up on tagging.
Fix Tab:
Fix Tab Within the organizer, there are a few options for fixes, though they are all auto fixes, except for the crop feature. I love the crop feature because you can free crop, or use one of the preset aspect ratios. For example, if you wanted to crop a photo using the 4×6 preset, PSE9 locks the ratio so you can't use an odd ratio that won't print on 4×6 paper. Most novices will be reasonably happy with the auto fixes available but for advanced users, you can also launch the full blown editor from the fix tab. A cool touch is the ability to also launch a different editor of your choosing.
Create Tab:
Create Tab Within the create tab, you have the ability to create projects like photo prints, photo books, greeting cards, calendars, etc. It's a neat touch to allow users to create the projects from within PSE9, then print them locally or use a vendor to have the project printed. The problem for me is the limited number of third-party vendors to choose from. If you happen to use Shutterfly or Kodak Gallery, I guess you're okay, but I use Costco and they are not an option. Ideally, Adobe would make available every major photo site there is so that users have choices and can use their preferred print provider.
Share Tab:
Share Tab The share tab allows you to upload photos, create discs, or email them. The built-in share sites include Flickr, Facebook, SmugMug, and Kodak Gallery. Some of the features are only available if you happen to also have Premiere Elements 9, which can be purchased separately or as part of a bundle with Photoshop Elements 9. Again, more choices for sharing sites would have been awesome, but Flickr and Facebook are probably two of the biggest photo sharing sites around so it's a good start.
EDITOR
When it comes down to it, the meat of Photoshop Elements 9 is the editor. If you just wanted the organizer, you really could just get by on cheaper or free alternatives, but what really sets PSE9 apart from the others is the editor. A really nice feature of the editor is that you can use it in three modes: Full, Quick, and Guided. The full editor provides full control over all the editing while the quick editor focuses on a few specific areas of editing -- lighting, color, balance, and sharpness. The guided editor is a very nice feature for inexperienced users. It basically guides you through the process of making all kinds of edits, enhancements and effects, while explaining each change in detail. It is so useful for learning that I'd recommend everyone but the most experienced users try the guided editor at least once to learn everything that's possible with PSE9.
I can't possibly go over every single effect, tool, and feature of the editor. I would however, like to show an example of one of my favorite tools -- the spot healing brush tool. Since most of my photos tend to be of people, the ability to touch up a person's face (usually my own) is really cool. Hey, not everyone can look beautiful all the time, right? I still have an occasional breakout now and then but with the spot healing brush tool, it's like it was never there. You can take it a step further and use it to repair old damaged photos or even remove objects from a photo.
The photo I uploaded was taken from the fire escape of my old apartment in San Francisco. You can see the large black cable/wire across the top that sort of ruined an otherwise nice photo of the San Francisco skyline. The spot healer did an amazing job removing it from the photo and the whole process took me less than a minute to complete! Blown up on a computer screen, you can tell where the cable was, but on a 4×6 print it'd be very hard to spot. The spot healing brush tool is one of many useful, interesting, and fun ways to edit your photos using Photoshop Elements 9. With this kind of creative control, you can snap your photos without worry because PSE9 can remove unwanted clutter, enhance lighting, add cool effects, and much more.
PERFORMANCE & STABILITY
My computer is no slouch, but it definitely can't compete with computers you can buy off the shelves today. That said, I had no problems maneuvering around Photoshop Elements 9 and did not once experience a crash during my week or so of testing. Other than when running the auto analyzer and when PSE9 was busy building thumbnails from huge imports, I found it to be quite responsive.
My system:
Windows 7 64-bit
Intel Core 2 Duo E4500 (2.2GHz)
Nvidia GeForce 8600GT (256MB RAM)
4GB system RAM
MISCELLANEOUS
I am not a fan of launch screens. When you launch PSE9, you get a welcome screen that's used to log in to your Adobe ID and or launch the Organizer or Editor. I prefer to have separate shortcuts for each than having to go through a two-step process for getting into whichever part of PSE9 I want to use. You can configure it to automatically launch the editor or organizer, but after it launches, you still have to close the welcome screen.
If you sign up for an Adobe ID, you get 2GB of free storage at Photoshop.com and access to basic tutorials. That's twice the storage of Google's Picasaweb. For an additional $49.99/year, you can upgrade the free account to a "Plus" account that allows for 20GB of storage and more tutorials as well as access to more backgrounds, frames, and artwork for projects.
For more help on using PSE9, go check out The Missing Manual series from O'Reilly.
CONCLUSION
Photoshop Elements 9 is a fantastic photo editing tool for enthusiasts. The organizer in PSE9 could still use a couple of improvements, but mostly needs to stop being so finicky about importing photos. In all honesty though, even if Adobe removed the organizer altogether, the editor itself would be worth the asking price. With its solid performance and an array of powerful editing tools, it looks like Adobe's Photoshop Elements is back on track as being the best photo editing program for enthusiasts, not just the best selling.
Adobe offers a full 30-day trial and I recommend it if you have any doubts.
* Review license courtesy of Adobe Systems
Description of Adobe Photoshop Elements 9 (Win/Mac) [OLD VERSION]
Now enjoy a complete solution for photos whether you use Microsoft® Windows® or Mac OS. Check out the Adobe Photoshop CS5 Elements 9 Upgrade Software!Simply unlimited! The newest version of the #1 selling consumer photo-editing software, Adobe Photoshop Elements 9 delivers powerful yet easy-to-use editing options that help you tell your life stories in amazing ways. Make every photo look its best. Quickly share your memories on Facebook; in Online Albums; and in printed photo books, cards, calendars, and more that look just the way you want. And automatically organize and help protect all your photos and video clips.
Now enjoy a complete solution for photos whether you use Microsoft Windows or Mac OS.
Do It All With One Powerful Yet Easy-to-Use Product
Use Adobe Photoshop Elements 9 software for all your photo needs. Manage, edit, and enhance photos; make photo creations that look just the way you want; share in print, on the web, and on popular devices; help protect photos with automatic online backup and 2GB of free storage; and view photos virtually anywhere you are.
Experience the Ultimate Media-Management Hub
Quickly organize all your media in one convenient place. Find your best photos and clips--or photos that feature specific people--fast, thanks to automated options. Then dive into a full range of creative activities and start enjoying your memories.
Go From Flawed to Phenomenal in Seconds
Get just the photo fixes you're looking for with one-step shortcuts that whiten teeth and make skies a vibrant blue. When you perform one-step photo adjustments--including color, contrast, and lighting--you can quickly choose the best result from a group of adjustment previews. And instantly unclutter a photo and beautifully blend in the background.
Dramatically Transform Your Photos With Easy-to-Use Options
Convert your color originals to elegant, nuanced black-and-whites, or use color curves adjustments to get the perfect exposure.
Count on Step-by-Step Assistance
Want to easily fix a scratch, create a reflection effect, or design a scrapbook page? Get help with key steps to get the results you want fast.
Easily Create the Perfect Photo
Take advantage of amazing Photomerge technology to easily match the style of one photo to another; create fuller panoramas, perfectly lit shots, and great group shots; and combine elements of different faces for entertaining results.
Get Creative Inspiration
Bring your ideas to life with relevant how-tos that appear just when you need them. New how-tos help you explore creative possibilities.
Show off Your Creativity With Flexible Layouts
Make amazing printed photo creations like scrapbook pages, photo books, calendars, and cards. Choose your level of control: Create in minutes using professionally designed templates, or let your creativity run wild and access every photo-editing option from directly within your layout. Get fun, fresh looks with new artwork and templates.
Share Experiences in Fresh, Exciting Ways on the Web
Show off your photos in one-of-a-kind Online Albums with your choice of animated templates, including all-new options for sharing photos and videos together with music. Adobe Flash technology lets viewers interact with your photos for an entertaining experience. And share via public or private galleries--friends and family won't have to register to look.
Top New Benefits
Instantly Unclutter or Repair Photos
Is your photo cluttered with telephone wires, tourists, or passing cars? Make unwanted elements vanish with one stroke of the enhanced Spot Healing Brush, which beautifully blends even the most complex background. Also instantly fix old or torn photos so you can make new prints.
Easily Match a Favorite Photo Style
Want to imitate a favorite photography style, like a dramatic high contrast or a beautiful color tone? Photomerge Style Match analyzes the stylistic qualities of any photo you choose and then automatically applies those qualities to another photo.
Create Fuller Panoramas
Easily create your best-looking panoramas yet. With its enhanced blending capabilities, Photomerge Panorama fills in jagged edges as it automatically stitches together multiple horizontal or vertical photos.
Create Stunning Photo Effects
Easily create stunning effects that enhance your photos with professional style. New Guided Edits help you create pop art masterpieces, reflection effects, perfect portraits, and more.
Create Richly Layered Photos
Bring new sophistication to your photos. Reveal one portion of a photo through another photo by using layer masks to control the transparency of specific areas.
Create the Way You Want
Make photo creations the way that works best for you thanks to Basic and Advanced design modes that let you choose your level of control.
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