Customer Reviews

Adobe Photoshop Elements 3.0 (Mac) [Old Version]

5 star:		(5)
4 star:		(6)
3 star:		(8)
2 star:		(2)
1 star:		(6)

 

 

If you already have version 2 of Photoshop Elements, don't waste your money upgrading to version 3 unless you want to pay the full amount to use a healing brush insted of the cloning stamp.

Most of the new functionality is geared towards Windows users with the new Organizer and its cataloging, scrapbooking, cards, and calendars features. The Organizer is NOT available to Mac users. Photoshop Elements remains great software for digital darkroom work, but Adobe has elected to leave Mac users out in the cold with respect to providing tools to easily do something creative with the pictures once they have been digitally processed.

I trashed Elements 3 in an earlier review and went back to Elements 2. Apparently I can't change the 3 star rating above. So at this point, its 2 stars and a waste of money.

The following is the update:

I bought Elements 3 to try to obtain better browser performance than Elements 2. The program had so many idiosyncrasies that I ignored it until I had sufficient time to attempt to learn it.

This program has too many issues:

The window size cannot be changed if the pallet bin is open. It takes up the entire screen. When closed it leaves a border right down the right side of the screen where my task bar is and constantly gets in the way. If its accidently clicked, the pallet bin opens covering everything I intended to get to.

I assume it cannot work with OS X permissions. Any file created or modified in Graphic Converter cannot be saved in Elements. The files come up as locked, even though they are not.

Working with files that originated on different computers (web downloads) are an exercise in frustration.

These issues appear on both our 10.3.9 and 10.4.3 Mac's.

Elements 2 is fine. Does as good a job on editing as 3 without the problems. For browsing, just about any OS X compliant photo browser will run circles around Elements.



The following is my original review:

I'm on a Mac and have used Adobe Elements 2.0 for years to edit photos. I just upgraded to 3.0.

For editing both are very similar and good.

My major reason for upgrading was to improve the performance of the image browser. I had been using Graphic Converter to browse and Elements to edit (at the same time and a pain). Unfortunately 3.0 is no improvement in browsing. Its slooooow, it can't deal with large folders (500 pix+) and it dies/crashes on anything but a perfect file (no end of file will crash it). For those with images downloaded off the web, its a pain to use.

Back to Graphic Converter.

A good package for editing but the browser is still pretty useless.

I had 2.0 and was quite happy with it. When 3.0 came out, I went for it although not knowing much about half the things they said they were improving.

What I can tell you is that the auto features have visibly improved: auto color, levels, contrast etc., and the addition of "auto smart fix," "adjust smart fix" [with a slider] and "shadows & highlights." These improved/added features make it worth it to me, and I think to most advanced [non-pro] digital photo users. So if you're using iPhoto and aren't satisfied with the results, I would strongly recommend it. I don't even use iPhoto, because I find that if I'm going to send out a picture, I want it to be properly edited, and that means PE3 for me.

It's true what some other reviews have said--documentation is sparse, and help online can be confusing. But I haven't seen anything out there for near the price [for Mac] that is capable of making such dramatic improvements to your photos. It's simple enough to start with right away and teach yourself as you go, and complex enough to handle 95% of what you'd want to do with your pictures regardless.

There are all kinds of books out there to help you get the most out of it--and I'm sure I'd benefit by reading them. But my style is more self-taught, and you can definitely teach yourself on PE3.

To be more specific on the difference the upgrade makes from PE2, it is most noticeable when you go to "Save For Web:" when I did that with 2, I'd have to overcompensate with saturation/contrast etc. as it would noticeably degrade those elements by about 15-20% in the process. Now the Save For Web feature produces a result that is uncannily close to the original, even when at "50%" quality compression.

Purists, pedestrians, and professionals will have numerous things to point to as failings. I think the vast majority not in those categories have much to appreciate about the program, and its' improvements over 2.0.

I recently returned from a Photoshop seminar (run by digital photo professionals with no interest in sales of software). I am a home user and I use PSE to edit family pictures. The main reason that I am getting v3 is the 'Shadow and Highlight' tool. I learned in this seminar, and had this confirmed elsewhere, that this is the best way to edit skin color and brightness. Far better than other tools such as levels adjustment and especially Brightness or Contrast adjustments which give unnatural results.

PhotoShop Elements 3.0 is an outstanding value! I used PhotoShop Elements 2 for more than a year, and I've recently upgraded. Like its predecessor, version 3 sports a very user-friendly interface and offers impressive features. I've not had any compatibility problems, and I've definitely been putting the program through its paces. It works seamlessly with my Canon scanner, does a great job merging images into panoramic scenes, and its improved auto-fix tool (Auto Smart Fix) does a great job. I really like the new Quick Fix mode (you can now switch between a streamlined Quick Fix mode and Standard Edit mode). The Spot Healing, Healing Brush, and Cookie Cutter tools are terrific additions in version 3. Although, I do wish there were a History Brush in Elements.

I recommend PhotoShop Elements to my students, friends, and family, and I've been very pleased with my upgrade to version 3. If you want an affordable, easy to use program with impressive features for digital imaging, get this program! You'll be glad you did.

I have several graphics programs, each one being "best" at some feature. Hoping to find some program that is best at everything, I was eager to try Elements 3.0, since I had read several good reviews of it.

It installed without a problem and opened up fine. The first step it automatically took was to catalog the existing photos on my hard drive. It was at this point, about 3 seconds into the procedure, that I received an error message, followed by another one, which I clicked on to see the error code. I printed out the error messages by using a print screen program, as the Elements program was locked by then.

I telephoned Adobe for help and was told it would be free if the software had a problem, otherwise, I would have to pay about $39. I thought surely the problem could be the software. After I was transferred to the technician, he said I would be charged to continue the conversation, so I terminated it. I returned the product.

I am familiar with installing new programs, and I closed down all my open ones before starting the installation. I am terribly disappointed in the lack of service by Adobe and in not being able to try their new program. Yes, I could have paid a special support subscription fee which would have covered any questions I would have had for the year, but I really think the product should install and open itself without any problems without my paying extra.

I'm afraid that Adobe doesn't realize the importance of support. I'll be afraid to try their products again.

If you have Photoshop Elements 2.0 for Mac, you probably should just keep it. Version 3 adds little in terms of functionality, but changes a lot of things just for the sake of being different. Unfortuately being different means it tries to look more like a Windows Program and less like Mac one.

I would recommend getting the newest version of iPhoto over this

I highly recommend Photoshop Elements 3 for editing and enhancing your digital photographs. Cost and quality of Photoshop Elements 3.0 makes this an excellent program for learning how to use the professional Photoshop tools.

Our Rhode Island Apple Group, President, Mark Rafferty, showed us the simple ways that Photoshop Elements 3.0 can be used for editing photographs from our digital camera. Mark Rafferty's previous Saturday classes on digital photography were outstanding. I am looking forward to more of Mark's Saturday classes at his home.

What is new about  Photoshop Elements 3.0?

You can share photos with friends. Photoshop Elements now has dynamic slideshows that include music and special effect transitions.

Photoshop Elements 3.0 also adds new photo editing features and editing tools. This allows you to remove flaws, transform photos with effects and filters and correct the photo's color and lighting.

How to Work with Photoshop Elements 3?

I set the Preference in Photoshop Elements. I can change: General, Display and Cursor, Transparency, Units and Rulers. Next, I can change the Photoshop Elements' Grid (includes snap to Grid), Plug-ins, Memory and Image Cache and File Browser.

The feature that works well for me is the QuickFix module. This allows me to automatically correct the color, sharpness, auto levels and contrast. The Process Multiple files allow me to resize my photo images. Also, using the QuickFix module, I can convert my photos to various formats such as Photoshop Raw, jpg and psd.

The Photo Bin feature allows me to move from photo to photo. This is easy when I  click on the various thumb nails icons. This is a time saver since I know instantly what photos I have opened in Photoshop Elements.

I use Photomerge in Photoshop Elements 3.0 for making a panoramic photograph of a bridge. Photoshop Elements stitches the five to seven photographs of the bridge into one large picture. My favorite photo collages are made in Photomerge. I manually stitch together the photo images in Photoshop Elements' program.


Pro Reaction

*     The redesigned user interface provides an ideal balance between ease of use and flexibility.

*     Photoshop Elements 3.0 now includes many new tools from Photoshop CS.

*     The user interface has three work areas: Photo Browser, Quick Fix, and Standard Edit.

*     Photoshop Elements has a Healing brush, cookie cutter tool, RAW & 16-bit support, divide scanned photos and photo filters.

Con Reaction

*     Missing is the Extract tool and layer mask.

*     I noted that Photoshop Elements 3.0 is slow in opening, closing, and switching modes.

*     You have to study and work with the manual to enjoy full use of Photoshop Elements tools.

Final Notes

I find that using Photoshop Elements 3.0  is all I need to organize, edit  and share digital photos. I now have very good editing tools for correcting and enhancing photos, drawings, and paintings. Photoshop Elements has several printing options: Contact Sheets, Picture Package, labels, single prints, and online service.

In 1998, I purchased a computer, printer and scanner from HP. The scanners software included Adobe PhotoDeluxe 3.0 with Intellifix by Extensis. About a year ago, I became the family genealogist and I scanned hundreds of old family photos from the 1860s to this year. Many of the photos were in poor condition with tears, rips and discoloration. APDHE 3.0's Repair Old Photo's cloning tool worked absolutely great. Instead of upgrading the old Win 98, I decided to buy a new computer. After studying what computers are now available, I switched to a Mac. I am happy that I did but I had to buy some software. I purchased Adobe Photoshop Elements 3.0 for Mac. I heard so much about the "healing brush." But, although PSE can do many more things much quicker than PDHE, the healing brush was a great disappointment. I doesn't work as well as the old cloning tool. PSE works very well if the photos are in good condition but the healing brush cannot repair damaged photos which is what I was looking for. I no longer use PSE at all. I'd gladly trade it for a PDHE for Mac. I have had to keep my old Win 98 with the printer and scanner so that I can continue repairing thousands of old photos. One box down and 29 boxes of photos to go. Now, I am looking at the Amazon site trying to find another software that can repair my old photos using the Mac.

I had difficulty installing the program and the support specialist was not very helpful. He e-mailed me information to work out the problems I was having installing the program, which I did not find very helpful.
The program is difficult to get into and the instructions are vague. I stll don't know how to download my pictures from Apple's Iphoto after having read all the instructions and several hours of trying. I have no doubt the program is a good one, but it will take alot of time and experimenting to get it down.