Starting from Scratch

[tcs]

Hi,

I bought PSE 6 this week to go along with my first DSLR and started to upload/download pictures to PSE.
Once I got in it started asking about Albums/FOlders etc and I realised that it was a bit more complex than I thought. I had a quick look at the help files but they didn't really answer my questions for example:
Is an album a folder?
DOes it matter what folder structure I have if I then use albums?
What is the best way to store/organise your folders/albums?

So after kinda ignoring the organising I went straight to the guided edit and really liked the quick nature of the tools, the side by side comparison etc. But again it raised a whole series of questions:
WHen I am editing - how do I keep the original 'safe' in case I make a right balls up?
once I am happy with an image I save it but there were loads of options, including versions when I save - what should I do/use?
Is there any information on what the actual guided tools are doing (so that if I want to do it manually later I can learn/understand what does what?)
Can I see what settings the 'Auto' function does so again I can learn?

SO I came looking on the web for help and ended up here!
My other questions are - will the online training help me even though they are not for Elements 6? I have taken a quick look at the PSE 6 guides (e.g. the guided edit) and was wondering if there was anything in more depth for PSE 6 or will tutorials for 5 or 4 work for me?

Any help guidance or assistance is greatly received.

Tom

[RobertSchuldenfrei]

Hi Tom,

Welcome to the friendliest place on the Internet. You will find people here will fall all over themselves to help you. You asked quite a bit in your post, so I am going to suggest that you slow down a bit and learn things step by step.

First off, I have not yet received my Photoshop Elements (PSE) 6.0. It should arrive today or tomorrow. But, from what I have read, it is not much of a change from 5.0 or even 4.0. You did start with one of the new features, Guided Edits. You also started in the right spot, the Editor. I am sure you will get a lot of advice in a few hours. Almost everyone will tell you to become a subscriber and the over 200 tutorials (called tuts here) are fablous and a great way to learn. Personally, I like traditional book learning. If you are a beginner with image processing software, like PSE, I would buy the Beckham book described below. If you have used another brand of image processing software, like Paint Shop Pro, I would go with either the Kelby book or the Andrews books.

Here are my recommendations:

Barry Beckham:
The Digital Photographer's Guide to Photoshop Elements 4.

The reason for my choice is that Barry, a fellow Brit by the way, uses a step-by-step procedural style that I like very much. If you follow the steps you get the results. Concepts, like layers are not a separate chapter. On page 21 he introduces the concept. He then uses it over and over in his presentation. For example, on page 33 he talks about adjusting contrast. He uses the Adjustment Layer to illustrate the concept. Do not be put off by the fact that this is for PSE 4. Very little has changed since 4.0.

I suggest the two books by Philip Andrews:

Adobe Photoshop Elements 5.0
Advanced Photoshop Elements 5.0

I highly recommend Scott Kelby's book:

the photoshop elements 5 book for digital photographers

Not only does Scott NOT capitalize his title, but his sense of humor takes some tolerance on the reader's part.

Good luck and welcome aboard,

Bob