Curves Tool vs PE4

[Sepiana]

Hi everyone,

I've been trying to do some tutorials about how to apply artistic effects to images (Impressionist, Fauve, Van Gogh, etc.). They are listed in the book Photoshop Artistic Effects Cookbook and most of them require the use of the Curves Tool. I use PE4. What do I do to get around this roadblock?

Thank you very much in advance. Help is really needed here.

[TonyW]

Get Smart curve from here:

http://www.free.pages.at/easyfilter/curves.html

It's free and works well in all versions of Elements.

Tony

[Sepiana]

Get Smart curve from here:

http://www.free.pages.at/easyfilter/curves.html

It's free and works well in all versions of Elements.

Tony

Hi Tony,

That was quick! Thanks for your help. You can't imagine how frustrated I was getting. I kept moving from one tutorial to the other, looking for one that didn't require "Curves". Now I'll have something to keep me busy during those rainy days down here in Illinois--an almost daily event. It seems that "the rain in Spain (correction: the USA) falls mainly on the plain."

[ljameso1]

You can also do enhance>lighting>highlights/shadows on a duplicate layer when something calls for a curves adjustment.

[Sepiana]

You can also do enhance>lighting>highlights/shadows on a duplicate layer when something calls for a curves adjustment.
Hi Linda,

Thanks for the tip. I didn't know that. This one is pretty handy.

[ljameso1]

If you mostly would like curves to darken highlights or lighten shadows, this is a good substitute. i found I didn't miss curves so much when I found out about that. PSE 6 has added color curves back in if you are interested,

[Sepiana]

Hi Linda,

I'm going back to the tutorials I put aside because they required Curves and I'm going to try both the Smart Curve suggested by Tony (I already downloaded it.) and your technique.

I didn't know PE6 had brought Curves back in. I use PE4. Those colors in PE6 deterred me from upgrading--my eyes couldn't take them. I'm seriously considering upgrading with the next version of PE. Hope they have Curves and more user-friendly colors, or should I say "eye-friendly"?

[TonyW]

In fact both PSE5 and PSE6 have curves although it's a much simplified version of the full Photoshop ones. You'll find Smart Curve is much better and you'll be able to do everything you want with it - and more :). In the Info that comes with it there are two excellent links on how to use curves or post here if you get stuck. Also if you find Photoshop curve presets that you like you can use them in Smart Curve (or save your own when you get something you like). I'd put it in the category of a must have add-in and it works in all versions of Elements (but sadly it's only available for Windows)

Tony

[Sepiana]

Hi Tony,

Perfect timing. The question of which one to use was already racing in my brain. I noticed the info that came with the Smart Curve and I'm beginning to check it out. I'm not sure how difficult it is to use Curves. I hope I can handle it.
Thanks a lot.