Best elements version for editing old photos

[Lindaarbor]

Hello,

I recently purchased an Epson 4490 Photo Scanner and it came with Photoshop Elements 2.0. Initially I was very excited until I learned that 2.0 is an old version. I am not a digital photographer, but would like to scan in analog family photos and very old photos. I'd really like to "fix" some of the very old and fading photos. Some of them are in a sepia form (I think that is what they are). Would you recommend updating to 3.0 or all the way to 4.0. I'm an average at home user and while I would love all the bells and whistles I don't want to be overzealous. I don't see that the tutorials discuss repairing very old photos - either very old color or those not in color.

Also is the Scott Kelby book - one of the versions that would be best for an average user - or would you recommend another?

Thanks so much for any suggestions. I will really appreciate the educated advice.

Linda

[Carbone]

Hello Linda and welcome to the forums!

Version 2 is more than capable at fixing pictures. So you might want to familiarize yourself with it, see if you like the software and if so, then perhaps later download a tryout version of the lastest release, version 4.

Scott's book are excellent! If you're interesting in photo restoration in particular, I believe there's a book specific on that subject. I'll let the other members jump in here because I don't do a lot of photo restoration.

Hope you'll enjoy this forum and feel free to ask all your questions here. We're a happy group always looking to help!

Ray

[Chuck S.]

The pacesetter reference in this area is Katrin Eismann's Photoshop Restoration and Retouching, now in its third edition. It's written for full Photoshop, but much of its content is usable in Elements either directly or with workarounds (including Grant's tools). I have the first two versions and will be buying the third (which is aimed at CS2 users) shortly. Excellent book, great explanations and examples.

Chuck

[kayser]

Hi Linda and welcome!

I received both Scott Kelby's book for PSE4 and Barbara Brundage's Missing Manual for Christmas, and they both have sections on photo restoration. For example, in Scott Kelby's book, there is information on colorizing, removing spots, repairing washed out parts, repairing rips... Ray's right, though, I'm sure people who focus on photo restoration will have recommendations for specific books JUST on that subject.

I'm relatively new to PSE4, and I've started to go through the books and just learn ways to work with pictures. I've also used a lot of the ideas on this forum and in the subscriber area (video tutorials, etc.) You'll find a lot of useful information here!

[Wendy]

Hi Linda ...

... and welcome to the forum :)

As Ray said PSE2 is more than capably of restoring old photographs ... if you need any help then just ask and one of us will assist you :)

Wendy

[Lindaarbor]

Thanks, Wendy, Kayser, Chuck and Carbone for all of your advice. :)
Chuck, I will definitely look up Eismann's book. Thanks for the suggestion.
I didn't realize I could download a trial of 4.0, but that is a very good idea. My daughter and I noticed that Elements 3.0 has a "healing brush" and of course we thought that would be the "magic" brush for everything. But perhaps there are ways to clean up spots and blemishes as easily with 2.0.

This forum is very encouraging!

Thanks again,

Linda

[GaryK]

Hi Linda

Welcome to the forums.

Katrins book seems to be the one to have around here. I just got if for Christmas and have had just a quick peek. It seems great (I have a few other pressies to read first).
The healing brush is a very good tool, mind you some careful cloning could probably do just as good a job. The PE4 trial is a 30 day trial so keep that in mind before trying it. I have downloaded and installed a few trials, and then got too busy with other stuff to actually try the trial.:rolleyes:

One other thought (from another thread) is to buy a tablet that has PE3 included in the bundle, you practically get the program for free.

[Jodi Frye]

I'm just going to say ' 3 ' .

[CarolLHB]

I agree with Jodi-and your idea about the tablet is a good one-I just got the Graphire 4 and am having an absolute blast with it! I already had PSE3, so I gave it to my son who was using 2-you'll really enjoy the tablet!

[Lindaarbor]

O.K. Now you will know what a real novice I am.

What is a tablet? I always thought it was some paper to write on. O.K. quit laughing everyone. :D

And what are Grant's tools?

Thanks again,

Linda

[Carbone]

Linda,

A tablet is a pad with a pen and a mouse. What's particular is that the tablet reacts to the pressure of the pen (Graphire has 512 pressure levels), just as a real brush would. Both the pen and the mouse are cordless but work only on the tablet.

http://www.wacom.com/graphire/index.cfm

Grant's tools are add-ons for Photoshop Elements which brings functionality that Adobe left in the Photoshop Elements but removed the easy access to (menu).

Ray

[CarolLHB]

Linda-yeah, what Ray said!:D
I'm just learning mine, but it has become such a great tool for making selections!

[Carbone]

I'll add this : if you're serious about photo restoration, a tablet is almost a must. It makes any touch up work so much easier. I've had one for years now (in fact, I'm with my second!) and wouldn't work without one.

Besides, it's also good for general PSE and graphics work, it ease tension on your wrist and hand as holding a pen is more natural (to certain person, me first!)

Ray

[Lindaarbor]

Thanks Carol and Ray. I just checked out the tablet and it does look like a fun too. That really would be good to keep in mind before upgrading since it has 3.0 included. Can you load the 3.0 onto the computer as well? That might have to be on my list for a birthday or next Christmas gift.

[Michellene]

I received both Scott Kelby's book for PSE4 and Barbara Brundage's Missing Manual for Christmas, and they both have sections on photo restoration.

I have devoured Scott's book. I have noticed that it is lacking in some regards. The step by step instructions (or destructions as my 8-yr old would say) are great but when you want to go to the next step it is missing something. For instance, when doing a photo collage/montage I wanted to add text. Well every time I did add to the collage it would not show up...then realized I had to merge the layers for the text to show up. Maybe that was the wrong way but I couldn't figure out any other way. :)

Well that was along story...

I am wondering if it's worth the money to purschase other PSE4 books that are not Kelby.

Do you like yours?

Michellene

[Carbone]

Yes, Linda, you can have several versions of PSE on your computer, no problem there.

Ray

[kayser]

Hi Michellene,

I like both of the books, and I would recommend the Barbara Brundage book even if you have the Scott Kelby book. I'm just starting to work through both of them, but I like the style of her book; she explains why things work (or don't). The format is also easy to read, and it's not overwhelming. I think you would find it beneficial.

[Lindaarbor]

Michellene,
I only have 2.0 but purchased the photoshop elements 4 book by Kelby from Barnes and Noble because it was 40% off and one of the very few they had in stock on elements. Unlike you though, I probably would not figure out how to connect the dots. That's when I would get very frustrated, but hopefully this well informed group will help at that point. I think I have learned through in other areas of interest that no one book does it all. Darn.
Thanks for the heads up -

Linda

[CarolLHB]

Michellene-
You shouldn't have to flatten your image to add text. Did you check the foreground color at the bottom of the tool pallette? Could be you're typing with a color that can't be seen. Also check where your text layer is appearing in the layers pallette-you should have the top layer active when you select the text tool-that way the text layer becomes the upper most when you select the text tool. I can't tell you how may times my layer order has been messed up!:)

[Wendy]

My guess is layer order too :)


Wendy