Another newbie

[tinner18]

I'm a Canon shooter, loving photography. I shoot a 50D and an XSi. I need help learning the finer points of sharpening, layer masks and ESPECIALLY skin smoothing. Seems that the solution to the smoothing problem would be to use my student discount and procure a copy of CS4, and altogether remove PSE7 from my library. The lack of a true adjustment layer in PSE7 is causing me grief. I hope that I find a solution here. But for $185, maybe I'll just give up on little brother and go with the big dog. I hope you can restore my hope, I loved this program when I got it a few months ago, now the limitations are rearing thier ugly heads and I'm feeling discouraged. Thanks in advance.

[Diana]

Photoshop Elements does have Adjustment Layer capability... the icon is at the top of the layers palette and looks like a half black/half white moon. What Elements doesn't have is a Layer Mask, but there are several free add-ons available in the form of an action that will add Layer Mask capability.

The most popular one with Elements Village forum members is included in Grant's tools. You can download a PSE7 version here:
http://www.elementsvillage.com/forums/showthread.php?t=41180
[see post #13]

Diana

[Wendy]

Hi Tinner ...

... and welcome to the Village :)

Elements can do many of the things that Photoshop can do especially if you use an addon tool set to give you more flexibility. These addons are really just actions which access the Photoshop Tools that are buried deep within Elements.

However if you think that you may need Photoshop at some time in the future then using your student discount to get it is a great idea :)

Wendy

[jjvera00]

Another great set of actions is Elements+ (http://simplephotoshop.com/downloads/index.htm#elem+) from SimplePhotoshop.com. You can try the demo set before buying the full set.

As for your questions of Elements itself. Many thing that Photoshop CS can do, you do on Elements. What are the "limitations" that you are experienceing? As Diana mention, there are adjustment layers in PSE, but no Layer Mask. But you can get it by getting either Grants Tools or Elements+. Also, PSE has Layer Styles, but not to the full extent that PS has. So what problems are you having?

But if your Student discount can get you PS for the price you mention, then DO IT!!! I don't that I could pass up that offer if I was you.

[tinner18]

I really DO NOT need the rendering abilities of, say CS4. I only edit photos. I want the ability to use layer masks, smooth skin and merge pictures. That's it. I need ACR to open RAW files. PSE7 suits most of my needs, installing "Grant's Tools" seems like an option that might work, but even after viewing the "hidden files and folders", I'm still having trouble finding "Workflow Panels" in "en_US". En_US shows up in the folder, but there is not a folder titled "workflow panels". I'll continue the search. Thanks for the insights and thoughts. I'll get to where I need to be. I run Vista 64 bit and having trouble installing the tool kit... :)

[Wendy]

Hi ...

You lost me on the workflow panels ??

Try these instructions:

http://www.elementsvillage.com/forums/showpost.php?p=449242&postcount=24

Although they are written for XP just change the beginning of the path to C:\ProgramData\Adobe\Photoshop Elements\6.0 (the the rest of the path as shown for XP) and it should work just fine :)

Wendy

[jjvera00]

If you have are having trouble installing Grants Tools, then download the demo version of Elements+. It is self installing and contains the same actions as Grant's Tools.