Skins!!

[coaster]

I have PSE 6, so maybe this has already been added in #7 (not familiar w/7), but I find the PSE 6 (Win) interface to be difficult to use. I can hardly read some of the text. Please give me customizable skin so that I can make the user interface look like how I want it to look. You'd think a graphics program would be the first kid on the block to have that feature.

[Sepiana]

I have PSE 6, so maybe this has already been added in #7 (not familiar w/7), but I find the PSE 6 (Win) interface to be difficult to use. I can hardly read some of the text. Please give me customizable skin so that I can make the user interface look like how I want it to look. You'd think a graphics program would be the first kid on the block to have that feature.

Hi Coaster, welcome aboard!

Your wish came true -- in PSE7. In this latest version, one can adjust the interface brightness, with independent adjustments for the Organizer and the Editor. And the best part of it? No need to restart PSE7 -- the changes take effect at once.

[Wendy]

Great news for PSE7 was that Adobe listened to all the complaints :)

Wendy

[coaster]

That's good!! That's a small first step (and good they listen to customers) but what I have in mind is the capability to create and load a completely new skin. Now that would be really something, yes? :)

[Sepiana]

That's good!! That's a small first step (and good they listen to customers) but what I have in mind is the capability to create and load a completely new skin. Now that would be really something, yes? :)


Oh, I see what you mean! The way one can create or download skins for Windows Media Player. That's a big dream!:)

[coaster]

Yes, I guess it is a dream. When I google "custom skins photoshop elements" all I get are hits on fixing skin problems (as in that stuff that covers me all over). There's probably a way to do it with any version, because Windows provides hooks into the Windows GUI to allow that sort of thing. Microsoft calls them "Themes." But you can't do it without also knowing the Photoshop code, since they don't use standard Windows "parts." And their code is proprietary closed code, so they're the only ones who could pull off such a feat.

[Sparky263]

I have just upgraded to PrE7 from PrE3 and I have to agree with you that it is almost impossible to see the interface in PrE7. The interface turns what was a relatively simple to use program into an eyeball's nightmare. Who was the genius who decided that light grey on medium gey was an easy to use interface? And a a black-on-black file save box with type that you have to highlight to make it come out in white so you can read it!!? Perhaps we could start up an advocacy group to push for a viewable interface for PrE (and PhE which I also tried and did not go for for the same reason), choosing to upgrade my Photoshop Full version, even though I don't need it all. Adobe really slipped up on this one. I think I'll just have use Sony Vegas, which is easy use and more powerful anyway, and only go back to PrE for the one unique thing it can do that you need and that Vegas can't do, which is export to Flash.

[coaster]

I know exactly what you're saying, but a funny thing happened: I got used to it. Now, it almost seems like that's the way it should be.

[Sparky263]

Interesting response. But how do you get used to the black on black file save box in the export to flash for example. It just seems they have created something very difficult to use when it could have been made simple like in so many othe adobe programs, like PSFull and from what I can see from a screen shot, Premiere Pro. I just find it very difficult to see black on black type. Am I missing some setting or something?

[coaster]

Well, it's not exactly "black on black" it's white text on dark gray background for enabled items, and with lighter gray text for disabled items. If it looks black to you, perhaps your monitor needs adjustment, or cleaning.

Real customization would be nice, though; surprising it's taken so long to get even the simplest into the premier graphic program.