2863 This is exciting news for fans (like this writer) of Adobe's relatively inexpensive but very powerful consumer bitmap image editing application. It's been nearly two years since Adobe Systems Inc. released Version 4.0 of its No. 1 Selling Photoshop Elements Consumer Photo-Editing Software for the Mac, while Windows users have had Elements 5.0 for some time now. Mac-using Elements aficionados have been getting restless, but the long wait is just about over.

In a press release Adobe Systems Incorporated today announced the highly anticipated Adobe Photoshop Elements 6 software for Macintosh (looks like version 5 is going to be skipped entirely for the Mac) is now available for pre-order at http://www.adobe.com/go/buyphotoshop_elements_mac . Photoshop Elements 6 software for Mac combines power and simplicity so consumers at all experience levels can easily achieve outstanding results with their digital photos. In advance of its early Q2 2008 ship date, the Macintosh community will get its first peek at the new product features during the Macworld Conference & Expo, Jan. 14-17, 2008 in San Francisco (Booth #S1302).

"We're excited to showcase a brand new version of Photoshop Elements at Macworld," said John Loiacono, senior vice president of Creative Solutions at Adobe. "In this release, we've focused on going beyond the basics to make everyday and advanced tasks even easier to achieve. Photoshop Elements 6 for Macintosh allows people to organize and find photos quickly, unleash powerful editing tricks without any heavy lifting, and creatively share photos that give them all the bragging rights."

Make Photos Look Their Best

For editing and correcting digital photographs, I've found the previous Photoshop Elements 2.0, 3.0, and 4.0 to be without parallel (discounting Photoshop CS itself) in affordable bitmap image and photo editing software. It's a digital virtual darkroom on my PowerBook without the mess, chemical fumes, and hassle of working in the dark. The fact that it sells for under 100 bucks is amazing. If you're at all serious about digital photography and getting the best out of your photos, you need this application.

Photoshop Elements is intended to be a complete, end-to-end software solution for anyone using digital photography, whether they be a consumer amateur or even many a professional. It is designed to offer a user-friendly approach to fixing common photographic flaws and in enhancing digital images by way of a few clicks.

New features in Elements 6.0 based on proprietary Photomerge technology let users easily combine the best facial expressions and body language from a series of shots to create a single, perfect group shot.

The new Quick Selection Tool reduces a once time-consuming select-and-adjust task to a single click. Photographers - beginner to expert - can choose from one of three edit modes, each geared toward a different experience level. A new Guided Edit mode helps walk users through the steps of improving a photo. Photoshop Elements 6 software streamlines editing with clean, uncluttered screens that draw focus to the photos, with new tabs providing simple access to the many capabilities of the program. Additional enhancements include an improved conversion tool that dramatically converts color images into elegant, nuanced black-and-whites.

New features in PSE 6.0:

• Easily create perfect group shots with new Photomerge Group Shot


• Batch apply one or more adjustments to multiple images simultaneously


• Take advantage of Guided Edit mode for assistance with key steps when editing and making creations


• Count on flexible layout options to create scrapbook pages, CD/DVD labels, and more


• Select objects in your photos more easily than ever with the new Quick Select tool


• Create and fine-tune rich, dramatic black-and-whites with ease


• Get the perfect exposure with new tools for fine-tuning color, brightness, and contrast l


• Combine features from different faces for entertaining results

Create and Share Photos

Photoshop Elements 6 software offers customizable layouts to let users create scrapbook pages, photo books, greeting cards and burn to CD/DVD for high impact sharing which requires no previous experience. Additional sharing options include ordering prints, creating personal online albums for sharing photo creations on the web, printing photos into real U.S. postage stamps, and showcasing creations on a CEIVA Digital Photo Frame.

Extra Info From Gary Coyne About Photoshop Elements 6.0

My Applelinks colleague Gary Coyne has some more information on PSE6. Gary writes:

Hi Charles,

I attended an on-line briefing of Elements 6, it was good. Some extra info that you may want to incorporate in any fashion you wish:

1) It comes with Bridge, the image browser application that ships with all of the other professional design applications from Adobe (it is a bit limited in that it does not have links to Instant Meeting, Adobe Stock Photo, etc.) but otherwise is the same Bridge that comes with CS3 applications.

2) It is Universal, this was a concern to one of your readers.

3) Elements 6 has the same RAW engine as Photoshop does. Thus you can manipulate RAW images as much as you want.

4) It is designed to be integrated with iPhoto. Thus, from iPhoto you can either select iPhoto or Elements 6 manipulate the images (and with Bridge you don't really need iPhoto--a big plus if, like me, you can't stand iPhoto).

5) Many of the programs new features are taken directly from Photoshop or even enhanced to make the easier to use. The example you provide of the Photomerge for creating better group shots is much easier than it is in Photoshop. Also, the Photomerge for creating panoramas is the exact same as it is in Photoshop and you may want to reference that section of my Photoshop review for people to begin to appreciate how utterly fantastic this is.

6) and the greatest bit of irony: When CS3 was announced, people were screaming to the hill on how Adobe had "destroyed" the beautiful icons by switching over to what is often called the "Elements" look for icons. Now, here with Adobe elements, they do NOT USE an element icon for the program.

I'm sure you will enjoy working with this, I look forward to your review.

Best,
Gary Coyne

Thanks Gary!

CM

System requirements:
Adobe Photoshop Elements 6 for Macintosh will run on Leopard, (Mac OS X v 10.5), as well as previous versions of Mac OS X starting with 10.4.8.

Adobe Photoshop Elements 6 is immediately available for pre-order at http://www.adobe.com for an estimated street price of US$89.99. You can also upgrade from earlier versions for US$69.99 up. Free shipping until March 24, 2008

The software will later be available at Amazon.com, or from one of the following retailers: Apple Stores, Best Buy, Staples, Costco.com, Fry's, Circuit City, Microcenter, J&R, Buy.com and NewEgg.com. Information about other language versions, as well as pricing, upgrade and support policies for other countries is available on http://www.adobe.com/go/photoshopelmac .

*Source: The NPD Group / Retail Tracking Service (April 2002 to November 2007) based on units sold.

For more information, visit:
http://www.adobe.com

For my full review of the previous Photoshop Elements Version 4.0, click here.

Charles W. Moore

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