elements 2.0

[drcrown]

Very beginner...have elements 2.0..would it make sense to upgrade to 5.0 or 6.0..need to get an easier tutorial to make the use of the software more friendly and easier to understand..any suggestions

[Byron Gale]

Would an upgrade make sense? It depends...

PSE2 is certainly no less capable than it was when it first hit the shelves. Subsequent versions have added to the capabilities, but whether those capabilities make up a compelling reason to upgrade - only you can decide.

One big change which began with v3 was the inclusion of the Organizer module. (This was formerly a stand-alone program called Photoshop Album) So if you want that, then an upgrade is a must.

Each successive version brings changes and additions to the feature set, so a current version will logically have more abilities out-of-the-box than v2. If those abilities are something you require, then an upgrade is a must.

You could also decide to explore the version you already have, and develop your expertise. You can always buy a new version, at a later time.

I am not sure what you mean by ...need to get an easier tutorial to make the use of the software more friendly and easier to understand...What tutorial are you currently using? Of course, the tutorials in the Subscriber Area on this site are recommended.

Byron

[drcrown]

Hi,
Thanks for the reply..I am currently trying to use Photoshop Elements for Dummy"s...although, I strangely find it not all that easy to understand..perhaps a DVD would be a better tutorial...

[Martha]

Hi,
I started with Elements 2 which came on my computer. I really started learning a lot after I purchased the "In Easy Steps" (www.ineasysteps.com/books) book from Barnes and Noble (only $9.99) . They had only for Photoshop but I was able to learn a lot about using the tools from it even thought I could not do everything. They have photos you can download to follow along with the lessons.

Also, subscribing to the newsletter after getting my free one helped tremendously! The free issue I recieved had a tutorial for making a globe and I was able to do it.
The helpful people in the Forum, the newsletter, and the tutorials available here have been the best teachers I could have.

I have PE5 now but keep PSE 2 since with it I can make a contact sheet of photos on a cd without having to load them onto my computer.
The "Missing Manual" books are great too!
Martha

[Wendy]

Hi ...

... and welcome to the forum :)

I still like PSE2 and whilst upgrading is an option you could carry on using PSE2 until you decide if you want to upgrade ...

Wendy

[winwintoo]

I like to know how to do things and also why it works. If you learn to use PSE v2, you won't be tempted by all the quick fixes that were introduced in later versions and you'll have a better understanding of why things are done the way they are.

I always recommend one of the "Teach Yourself Visually" books by Maran Graphics - there are a few still available from Amazon for version 2. Search Amazon for "photoshop elements maran"

I see it often when someone is new to this whole image editing stuff. It's hard to imagine what is possible, never mind how to get it done. A book that has one page tutorials (like the Teach Yourself Visually books) SHOWS you what can be done and provides an introduction to the method. Then you have a better idea of what questions to ask.

Take care, Margaret

[Karin Sue]

I am still using PSE 2 and PSA 2 on windows xp. It is usually not too difficult to figure out how to do things on PSE 2 from a tutorial written for another version. Of course I also jump between PS 6 on Mac OS9.2 and PS 7 on windows 98 as well and am used to having to stop and think "how do I do that on this computer?" Using the Help feature does help.

If you have problems people on this forum are quite responsive and friendly. You can post a question how to achieve something in 2.

One nice thing about PSE 2 is that it is so old you can get the "how to" books very cheaply on Ebay, half.com, amazon, etc. These will be written for the exact program you have and you can get several for the price of just one book written for the current version.

I really like Album, the precursor to Organizer, and at level 2 it is still an independent stand alone program. If you go online searching for PSE 2 books you might want to keep an eye out for a good buy on PS Album 2 and "The Adobe Photoshop Album 2.0 Book" by Michael Slater.

I do plan to upgrade eventually. I know some tablets, printers, and scanners come with PSE bundled, so I will probably end up with whatever is in the bundle when I get a tablet--on my list of toys I want. I just finally subscribed to PSE Techniques this summer. My next expense will be upgrading to system 10 for my Mac, and maybe adding more memory.