Learning Elements 6.0

[photodij]

Hi from downunder. I'm new to the village and to Elements software. I've just purchased and installed ver 6 and have little idea of where to start. As many of you already know, when you search the web for useful links on learning and using elements 6 there are thousands to select from but which one to choose. Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated.
:confused:

[Kenneth]

Hi, Photodij and welcome to the forum, I also am a total newbie, to photoshop elements and this forum. Ihave found that by just getting in the program and trying different things, dont be afraid you wont break it. Also this forum has many answers to your questions if you just read thru the posts. I also use a book called the Missing Manual for Elements 6.0 avaible at most Brand Book stores, May I suggest you try using the guided edit part of the program, you will be surprized what you pick up. Good Luck:)

[RobertSchuldenfrei]

Hi from downunder. I'm new to the village and to Elements software. I've just purchased and installed ver 6 and have little idea of where to start. As many of you already know, when you search the web for useful links on learning and using elements 6 there are thousands to select from but which one to choose. Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated.
:confused:
Hi,

A few days ago someone asked the same question. While your style of learning may be different, I like the organized way of starting with page one and moving down a path. Random walk is fun, but not always efficient.

Welcome to the friendliest place on the web for all things Photoshop Elements (PSE). The same question was asked yesterday by Susie in a post called "101." Here was my response:

Welcome to Elements Village (EV), the right spot on the 'net for all things Photoshop Elements (PSE). I prefer to advise people to pick up a book and learn PSE step by step. Although many people plow into layers right out of the box, but be warned, this is one of the most difficult concepts a beginner could tackle.

This concept is not intuitively obvious. I might suggest that you pick up a good beginner's book on PSE and work your way through it step by step. Most people here have a favorite. For step by step learning I like Philip Andrews' Adobe Photoshop Elements 5.0, A Visual Introduction to Digital Photography. This book needs to be updated to 6.0. A lot of folks here like Barbara Brundage's Photoshop Elements 6.0, The Missing Manual. I have that book on my shelf, but have not yet had a chance to read it cover to cover. Since you have 6.0 it might be a better choice.

Let us know what direction you choose.

Cheers,

Bob

[twoaussies]

Hi Photodij: Welcome from one Aussie to another. Where are you in Australia? We now live in Florida, but just spent three months in Oz.
Where do you start? Right here on this forum. I print out all the tutorials on subjects that interest me. Have a 6x4 card system for the shorter pieces of information. Also when you do anything new, write down how you did it. Two years from now you will find a great photo you corrected and will have no idea how you got there.
You will be more amazed every day with what you can do with Photoshop. Just have fun and resist throwing the computer out the window!!!! Jean (originally from Sydney)

[Kirst]

Hi Photodij

I am also new to PSE6 although I only have the demo version because I have to prove to my boyfriend that it is worth getting for me. I just have no idea where to start. What I would like to know how could you find out about what each tool does as a description of each. I wonder if anyone would be willing to do that? I have start going through the manual but I am so lost at the moment but I am sure I'll get there soon.

[Wendy]

Hi Kirst ...

Try this link ... its pretty old but most of it still applies and it walks you through all the tools :)

http://www.arraich.com/elements/ref2/aatoolbar2.htm

Just click on the tools on the right hand side and all the info about that tool comes up.

Wendy

[jojo99]

Welcome to the Village!
I got version 6 for Christmas and got the Missing Manual by Barbara Brundage with it.
I'm hoping to read it cover to cover, just a few pages each day.
I would also recommend joining in with the Photo Theme and Creative Homework threads each week.
The more you do, the more you learn :)
Jo

[photodij]

Jean - currently living in Adelaide just a big country town really after living Geelong/Melb. Henk

[John Richardson]

Hi, I found "Photoshop Elements for Dummies" real good reference book, easy to understand and brocken down into sections:).

[photodij]

Thanks John - I bought the PSE 6 for dummies and it is a very good way to start. Regards Henk from Adelaide Australia

[cats4jan]

I learned Elements by using a digital scrapbooking book. By following the projects, the way the tools in Elements worked suddengly came clear.

hummiesworld.com has a lot of scrapbook tutorials.

Even if you do not plan on digi-scrapping, the knowledge that comes from the projects is universal to Elements usage.

[RobertSchuldenfrei]

Hi Photodij,

Let me echo what Jan just said. The secret to learning a complex computer based system, and that is what PSE is, is to use it every day. Start some project. For Jan it was scrapping; for me it was tuning up my photography. Work your way through your chosen media: book, video, etc. and stay with it. When you have a question, the good folks here at EV will provide the answer within minutes, or worst case hours. Before long you will be answering questions, not just asking them.

Cheers,

Bob

[koalaWA]

Hi there, I have just registered and am impressed with the friendliness and helpful attitude I find here. I have PSE6 and love it. From total confusion I jumped in with trying to create scrapbooking pages. They were very simple to begin with but as I learn new techniques, some by accident, they are becoming more involved. I am less confused but know that I am still only scratching the surface of the programme. I look forward to learning much here and hope to be able to give back at some point.

By the way, I too have deleted effects and will have to run a reinstall to get them back. All part of the learning process.

Thanks,
koalaWA

[NMarti]

Koala
A lot of us here learned advanced techniques for scrapbooking at Scrappersguide.com . Linda has some excellent CD's geared specifically to different versions of Elements teaching the advanced steps. Be sure to post some of your layouts in our gallery. We would love to see them.