Is it me?

[DesertScrapper]

or is PSE6 for MAC harder? Maybe it's because I'm new to MAC? I just finally got around to finishing a page. It seemed like it was much faster and easier for me when I was using PSE6 for PC.

My main issue was trying to bring photos into PSE. It seemed to take forever. I used Bridge to do it, but I think I'm doing it all wrong. I mean, nothing came up with errors or anything of the like, it was just all time consuming was all.

The other issue I had was switching from one window to the next... like to go from this website (I have some messages in my inbox that I refer to for help), back to PSE, to Bridge to pull in photos to PSE... I couldn't just smoothing switch from one window to the next.

Did you have trouble with PSE for MAC when you first switched over or is it just me? If it's just me, that's okay you can tell me. I'd rather know the truth.

Ugh, I don't even make much sense writing this. I don't even know how to explain the issues I'm having. But I feel like today was my very first day doing a layout on PSE.

Sigh..... I'll just keep at it. Hopefully it will get smoother.

[frank abramonte]

DesertScrapper, give yourself a little time and you'll find that the Mac is so much easier than the PC with it's organizer.
Here's a few of helpful hints.

Right click or click F3 and it will spread all your open files and documents across the desktop so you can choose the one you want.

To bring a photo into PSE you can either locate it with the finder and double click it or Once you find the photo you want in Bridge just double click on it and it will open onto your desktop.

If you have your browser, PSE and Bridge open just click on the application icon in the dock and it will bring that window to the front.

[pacfam]

Hi DesertScrapper! I have PE6 for Mac. I have had a Mac for not quite one year. It is a whole new ball game, but I love it. Where are you trying to bring photos from? Do you use iPhoto? Try making a folder on your desktop to hold photos and things you are currently working on. It's much easier than trying to use iPhoto with Bridge. You can then use Bridge to open photos from your desktop. Also, are you using the Mac Dock? I also like to be online while I am working in PE, too! I just use the Dock icons to switch from my browser to my PE6 workspace. It certainly isn't easy at first. After about 30 years on pc's, it's weird to get used to a new system :). Hang in there! Post back . . .

[Zeria]

Hi DesertScrapper,

I'm on an older iMac (G4) and I've never used PSE on a PC so I can't comment about ease or speed differences.

Regarding accessing different windows on the Mac, I like to use Expose (System Preferences>Dashboard & Expose). Expose allows you to instantly view and choose any open window. This can be done with a keystroke or a designated "hot corner". I use a "hot corner"--- when I drag my cursor to the designated corner, all open windows instantly appear. The image below is a screenshot of my desktop where Expose shows five open windows (Bridge window, Browser window, System Preferences window and two open images in Elements). A click of the mouse chooses which window will become active. I also have a second "hot corner" which hides all open windows revealing (and making accessible) my desktop.

http://www.pixentral.com/hosted/1alu1GkQmEFxLr4V7DkIB2h8NQkmwG0_thumb.jpg (http://www.pixentral.com/show.php?picture=1alu1GkQmEFxLr4V7DkIB2h8NQkmwG0)

Hope this helps.:)

[Wendy]

Hi ..

If its a new install then it could be that the thumbnail cache in Bridge is still building ... that can take a while but once it is done then things will speed up.

Another thing is make sure that in Elements prefs>General you have Fill Workspace Background unchecked ... that gives you back your floating desktop and means that you can access other applications through the "gap". PSE6 was the first version of Elements for the Mac where this background was added ... thankfully (after a little persuading) Adobe gave us the option of turning it off :)

Wendy

[DesertScrapper]

Thanks for helping me! Im so glad that you all were able to understand my mumblejumble!

Ok, so I did as Wendy suggested about unchecking the fill workspace thingy. We'll see if that makes any difference, although I honestly haven't a clue what that means.

I also tried the F3 thingy that Frank suggested, which literally made me laugh out loud at myself because when I hit F3 and the screens all changed I said very loudly "WHOA!!" ... ahahahaha. I was in shock. I never knew it did that. That was very cool! Now, with that I have a question...... Zeria talked about using Expose, which was another shocking when I read the post and saw the screen shot because I haven't ever used Expose and didn't know it did THAT. But my question is..... when you use Expose and you click on a window to make it active, will it bring it forward and the others minimize like they do when you do F3?? Guess I could answer this myself by just trying it.... think I will do that in a few mins.

Pacfam, indeed I do use iphoto. Or rather, I attempt to! :-) One of the things I noticed, and was annoying to me (but Im sure its because I did something wrong) was that when I brought in photos via Bridge from iphoto to PSE, I would have down in my dock a whole bunch of icons being added for each picture I was bringing in.. instead of them only being dropped into PSE. They were in PSE too. What is the difference between bringing them in from Iphoto using Bridge and bringing them in from a desktop folder via Bridge? I guess I'm not following you on that one.... Im assuming it just makes it easier because your not having to search for your photos that your wanting to use? I also bring them in from my external storage drives via bridge.

[frank abramonte]

Pacfam, indeed I do use iphoto. Or rather, I attempt to! :-) One of the things I noticed, and was annoying to me (but Im sure its because I did something wrong) was that when I brought in photos via Bridge from iphoto to PSE, I would have down in my dock a whole bunch of icons being added for each picture I was bringing in.. instead of them only being dropped into PSE. They were in PSE too. What is the difference between bringing them in from Iphoto using Bridge and bringing them in from a desktop folder via Bridge? I guess I'm not following you on that one.... Im assuming it just makes it easier because your not having to search for your photos that your wanting to use? I also bring them in from my external storage drives via bridge.

I'm not sure what the benefits of iPhoto are over Bridge.
I don't have thousands of photos and don't use iPhoto.
Using iPhoto means that you have to get the photo in and out of iphoto, whereas, if you rely on Bridge you can have access to all your photo directly without going through iPhoto. This eliminates the extra steps required by iPhoto.
Bridge will also allow you to open any document in any application by double clicking on the icon.
I set up a folder named "Photo Archive" within this folder I save my photos in folders named by date, event, family member, etc. (July '09 Picnic) (Ella's Graduation 2008) (Grandma's 90th Birthday), etc.
A 2nd folder named "Holidays" in which I save holiday related material.
A 3rd folder is named "Greeting Cards", this folder holds all the greeting cards I created.
A 4th folder is named "Books", and of course it holds all the books I created.
You can add as many folders as necessary.
I search what I want with Bridge. Once you locate the photo or document in Bridge you can view it, launch it, or move it.
If you notice, there are a number of ways to display the files in Bridge. Check the lower right hand corner.
This link will explain Bridge.


http://www.vtutorial.com/videos/Adobe_Photoshop/Adobe_Bridge_In_Detail

[Wendy]

Hi ...

One of the advantages of iPhoto is that you can use it like you would a photo album ... in fact I use multiple iPhoto libraries and have ones for holidays, scrapbooking etc.

When you have things in iPhoto you can create a folder pop the images in it and then do a slide show with music ... and you can also export them from iPhoto to iDVD or iMovie and make a slide show DVD with all sorts of fancy themes :)

Wendy

[frank abramonte]

Hi ...

One of the advantages of iPhoto is that you can use it like you would a photo album ... in fact I use multiple iPhoto libraries and have ones for holidays, scrapbooking etc.

When you have things in iPhoto you can create a folder pop the images in it and then do a slide show with music ... and you can also export them from iPhoto to iDVD or iMovie and make a slide show DVD with all sorts of fancy themes :)

Wendy
Thanks for the explanation, Wendy.
I have no interest in slide shows. I'm aware of iPhoto having book templates, but I create my own book designs and greeting cards.
Your explanation, I hope, will help clarify the subject for DesertScrapper

[Zeria]

Hi again

Perhaps I should I stated that I am using "Tiger" ---- Frank is probably using "Leopard" and it is possible that we are both referring to Expose. With the Tiger version of Expose, clicking on a selected window brings that window forward and then the others cascade behind.

Regarding iPhoto and Adobe Bridge ---- Adobe Bridge is not meant to replace iPhoto. iPhoto is Apple's database that can store and catalog your images. It also offers many other features. Adobe Bridge is a media manager that allows you to organize, browse, locate and view all types of files. Both are great applications---I say play with both and eventually you may decide on one. Then again, you may find a need to use both (in different ways).:)

[Wendy]

Hi Frank ...

I didn't mean book designs I meant the slide show templates in iMovie they are so cool. I have started doing slide shows of family occasions instead of just passing around the photos :)

Wendy

[DesertScrapper]

When I click on Expose (Im using mac mini, 10.5 leopard) it doesn't do anything at all. It's on my dock but it literally does absolutely nothing. Im not sure if Im doing something wrong or if something goofy is going on with my computor today.... I say that because when I was in PSE this morning, I realized that my effects don't work either, when I click on one it should open other options like it did in PC version but it literally does absolutely nothing. Maybe the two issues are related or maybe not... Hmm.

Oddly, this morning when I brought in photos via Bridge (from iphoto) it put them into PSE and it didn't make all those annoying icons for each of them on the dock. So Im happy for that.

[ljameso1]

In iphoto you can set the preferences to open the pic in PSE with a double click. No need to use bridge. It also works to drag the pics to PSE icon in the dock. I do suggest you make a desktop folder and use save as to save edited pics, then use iphoto's import feature to bring them in, to make sure iphoto knows where they are. I use bridge to browse my card reader so I only open the ones I'm going to keep.

[Zeria]

Hi

In OSX Tiger, I go to System Preferences>Dashboard & Expose. Here I can customize Expose.

As you can see, I have two of my screen's corners active (as Expose triggers). When my cursor goes to the lower left corner, all open windows can be seen (as shown in previous image). Also, the lower right corner triggers Expose to hide all windows and reveal only the desktop.

Also, the keyboard can be used and customized to trigger Expose actions. For instance, selecting F9 allows me to see all open window..... etc

Mouse button shortcuts can also be customized.

That's it ---- you do not need to do anything else.

Leopard should be similar. In case, here is a link (http://www.macworld.com/article/60821/2007/11/tco_spaces.html) that may help.

http://www.pixentral.com/hosted/1hwiPbwRluLjYNG35fOnKuwEL4UtDm0_thumb.jpg (http://www.pixentral.com/show.php?picture=1hwiPbwRluLjYNG35fOnKuwEL4UtDm0)

Keep posting any questions about your new Mac, there are a number of experienced Mac users who can help.:)

[Wendy]

I'm learning a few new things too :)

Wendy

[victry1]

Hi all,

I use Expose, but, more frequently just Shift-tab to cycle through open apps. I use that particularly when I am only working in 2 or 3 - like when working on a challenge-goes back and forth between the tut and PSE quickly.

iPhoto has some great points as people have pointed out. One thing I like is it so easy to tag photos, make albums and that if you made a change to a photo in iPhoto (using iPhoto to make the change)you can always go back o the original in one click. I know if we save layers in PSE you can do that also, but I don't edit every pic in PSE. It's also super easy to make notes or add info to multiple photos by using Batch change. Plus, its integrated with the other software such as iMovie, Pages, Keynote, Numbers,iWeb etc. I also find it very easy to find photos, etc.

A couple things I don't like about it, but I've written enough. :)

You'll get your own system going, so be patient.

[DesertScrapper]

Sorry that it's taken me awhile to get back to this. I've been dealing with my son's illness, in and out of the hospital, and so I have had to use my "free" time a little more wisely, but I have been reading the advice and putting it all to good use :-)

I think I have Expose figured out now. Loving it! It gets used each and every time I am on the computor.

Sometimes I use just a simple "tab" and that cycles through them. Victry1, when I click shift-tab, it doesn't work for me. Instead it takes my cursor backwards to another location on the screen. If I just TAB only, it cycles through. Interesting.

I have also become a little more familiar with Bridge and Iphoto and how they work and when to use them. I feel a little (a LITTLE) more comfortable with it all now. It's not taking me forever and a day anymore to do a layout. One thing I have learned about PSE is that if I drag and drop a photo (regardless of where it's coming from) onto the PSE on the dock, and then add it to my layout from the project bin, it comes out on the layout REALLY small. However, if I do a "place" in PSE onto the layout, it comes out it's actual size, and then I just make it smaller from there. I wonder why this is, but it's not a big problem for me.

I appreciate all the help you have all given me. I have used just about every piece of advice given, and have learned so much in the process.

[Zeria]

Hi

Check this thread (http://www.elementsvillage.com/forums/showthread.php?t=48869), it deals with the photo bin and "small" images.:)

[DesertScrapper]

Thanks Pete, your a big help!

[cookingmylife]

Going back to your original ? re easier on a Mac or in Windows. I had PE4 on my MacMini and then imported it to my Imac because that was all there was. I had a hard time following the tutorials on line etc but plodded on, and that is what I was doing. Frustration reigned chez moi. :-P

When PE6 came out I bought it, and life seemed easier. It probably was also due to the fact that I had been plodding for almost a year. Then we went on a long trip, and I got the trial version of PE7 for my dh's old laptop so I could use it that month.

I don't think the windows PE7 was any easier or harder than the MacPE6. They seemed equal in my experience. ymmv Learning how the program works was what helped me most, and practice, practice and some darn good online tutorials.

[victry1]

Hi Desert,

I'm sorry - it's Command + Tab. But glad to hear you are getting familar with everything. There is a slight learning curve from PC to Mac. The more you do, the more you'll learn, just have patience-you are not alone in your experience. If you recently bought your Mac, Apple offers ProCare which I found to be a big help. I've had my Macs for a while but there are things I wish I could go back to ProCare to learn more about. They also have free workshops-not for PSE but their OS and other software.

Just keep posting - there's lots of help here. :)