overwhelmed newbie to PSE4

[sharlmitch]

I feel overwhelmed!!!
I just bought PSE4 two days ago, I upgraded from PSE2 which I only knew how to do a few things on anyway. now I've upgraded and I have no idea of where to start. I put some photo's into the organizer, but does that mean they are now in all my photo files on my computer? I have a lot of pictures and if they are all duplicated how much more space does that take up? The work area is all different and I know I probably sound really stupid but, like I said I don't know where to start.:confused:

Sharon

[Scraptastickat]

Hi Sharon and welcome to the forum...

I would highly recommend becoming a subscriber. Once you are a subscriber you get a newsletter sent 8 times a year, over 90 video tutorials in the subscriber area as well as pdf document tutorials. It really is worth the money.

As far as the organizer is concerned, I have played with it a little and dont think it duplicates the file it just creates a catalog of the photos already in folders. I am sure that one of the more senior organizer users will give you better information than I can.

Dont worry, I was in your shoes not more than a month ago and cannot believe how much I have learned by watching the video tutorials and learning from everyone here.

[Jodi Frye]

Hello ! It's fine...you aren't alone....Have you stepped into the 'Editor' portion of the program yet ? Alot more to Elements than just the Organizer...as Kat says...the suscription here is worth it's weight in gold...anyone would be a dummy not to do it.

[Karin Sue]

The Organizer is a database that operates like a library card catalog. It just points to the location of your images. If you import from files/folders it makes note of location. If you import from camera/card reader/scanner it will copy them into a folder. I think the default is a subfolder in the Adobe folder it puts in My Pictures. It will not let you import the same picture twice.

Be careful not to import from a temp folder (as can happed with emailed photos). Do not move or rename your images or image folders in Windows because Organizer will lose track of them.

To get started try the free tutorials on this site. (Lots more available if you decide to subscribe) The free exerpts of the organizing book at photofanatic.com are also quite helpful. I have heard the online training courses offered here are very good.

The people on this forum are very helpful. Try to be specific about what you are trying to do, and what you have already tried when attempting it. Give more detail than you think is necessary and it will save you time as you will get fewer responses asking for more info before they can help.

You can post images of your photos or your screen here for people to view and offere suggestions. The most often sites used be people who aren't using their own webspace seem to be imageshack.us and pixentral.com.

[sharlmitch]

Thanks guys,
I know I really should subscribe, I'm just not sure how much I would use it. Are the training tutorials in video like in the learning center, or are they a step by step read thing? I'm a hands on learner so the video's are more helpful for me than a manual.

Sharon

[kayser]

Shaon,

Most definitely! I think there are close to 100 tutorials now, and they're mostly videos. I think you would get a lot out of them; I know I do.

[Wendy]

Hi Sharon ...

... and welcome :)

Most of the tutorials in the Subscriber area on the site are Video tutorials ... only a very few are written ones. So I am sure that your would gain a lot of benefit from them ... have to admit that I mucvh prefer Video tutorials as I find things easier to understand if I see them rather than just read about them :)

Wendy

[Vesta]

Welcome Sharon,:)

Not more than maybe two weeks ago I was hearing those same words. I downloaded the try before you buy PSE4. It was good for 30 days I think, I have about 16 left. I joined the subscriber area and don't even own PSE 4 yet. The videos are so good...I started with layers as a basic. Last night I watch the film strip #1 and will do #2 tonight. I start ..watch ...stop.. and then practice what I learned.. just keep restarting and watching till I get it. The folks here are so patience with us.
P.S. It is addictive!:D
Enjoy
Vesta

[mom to 4]

Hi Sharon!

I went from PSE 2 to PSE4 at Christmas, and I know how you feel. I think you should just jump in and start to play. I bought a couple of books: Photoshop Elements Solutions and one by Scott Keilby (sp) can't remember the name right now. They were a big help. Then just the beginning of this week I joined the forum, and two days later became a subscriber. You will have a ball. Everyone is extremely helpful. I would just use one picture to play with , save your original....don't make changes to that ..... just use one as a play picture....that way you won't ruin the original and you don't care if you mess up the play picture. Not that I am even close to being an expert, but that is just the way I started to figure things out!

Good luck.....be talkin' ta ya on the forum!

[Jodi Frye]

Vesta, so after the free trial days are up are you going to leave us and move on ?? :D

[pythagoras]

I know the feeling! Having read all the tutorials & looked at the video's I was still needing something more basic. Bought or borrowed all the books I could find then settled on "The Missing Manual". That's the one :) . Now the tutorials & Mark's video's make much more sense. As a newbie I don't know if I'm allowed to recommend a book so if the Admin blank it out send me a PM. I also invested in a tablet (or at least Santa did). Why did we ever have a mouse!

The Real McKay

[Wendy]

Hi there ...

... and welcome to the forum :)

You are quite OK mentioning books ... in fact one of the forum members MikeH did a review on that book for the site. although it was done a while ago and for the previous version of Elements.

If you go to the home page, scroll down to the bottom and click on Product reviews you should find it there.

What sort of a tablet did Santa bring ?

Wendy

[Jodi Frye]

Speaking of those reviews...I wrote my software review and sent it in last June...still hasn't been posted :( ...But a few of the original staff during that time are no longer there so perhaps it got lost somewhere... Oh well, i hated that picture I sent them of me anyways...i looked so awful in it but I thought i was on a time schedule :rolleyes: Maybe if they find the review and decided to post they can mail me first for a better picture...please :)

[Carbone]

Same thing here, the review I did never got posted. Last Summer too :(

Ray

[Vesta]

Jodi,

I'm afraid you are all stuck with me; I have been looking on line for a place to buy PSE 4. I found it on Nothingbutsoftware.com for $79 and a $20 rebate and didn't have time to order it then. Do you know of any other places? Adobe had it for $79 and no rebate.

Hey Jodi I have to stay I subscribed already for a year.

I'm getting kinda attached to all of you.

Vesta

[Wendy]

Vesta ...

:) :)

Wendy

[sharlmitch]

I bought PSE4 at Costco on Tuesday thinking I would get a $20.00 upgrade rebate which was offered if I ordered it online from Costco. Since I have a Costco just about 2 miles from my house I thought I would just pick it up there and not wait for delivery. However, I found after my purchase the rebate was only online. What a rip! :mad: Oh well live and learn I guess.

Sharon

[Wendy]

Hi Sharon ...

... Oh what a shame ... but at least you have got it and will be able to use it straight away :)

Wendy

[Hamlet 77]

The trick is to accept ignorance is bliss, I had PSE 3 and was delighted with the fixing, cropping and printing, heck I even made a couple of rather gratifying (at the time) collages, paint effects and line dranwings. If I did experiment I was not happy with my results so I filed stuff away as 'not for me'. BUT I have started hanging round here a little bit too often the last couple of weeks or so, so much so my sister told me get off my computer at 8 p.m. last night and all I was doing was seeing what a few layer and filter effects did to one part of a photo I had created. I have two scrapbooks and at least 2 slideshows on the go at the moment (suitable music is the problem) and have become obsessed with film strip effects, even to thinking about it before I went to sleep last night..... And to be honest I am itching to get off here to try at least three ideas I have for this one effect, and probably not have any intention of using anyway.......

And the problem is I haven't even scratched the surface of some stuff, mostly I will pick an effect, filter or something else and throw it willy nilly at a photo and be highly dissatisfied when it doesn't look 'just so'. The instructional videos are no help, you check one out to try to work out a) how to do something b) find something different to try and end up watching three videos, twice each, second time pausing every time sommat get's even a little complex, and DON'T even mention the short cuts..........

At least before I started to try things out I was reasonably happy with what I was doing, BUT NOW, well let's just say I am becoming obsessed.

[pythagoras]

Hi Wendy... Intuos 3 tablet. Started using it for PSE4 but now use it for everything.
On the Costco subject:mad: :mad: :mad: . My experience was like Sharlemitch only I did buy it, sent in the receipt etc & it was refused as "receipt illegible"! After 8 weeks in their possession I am not surprised but it was readable when I sent it. So I paid the full Costco price but they lose a customer. The cut up card is on it's way to them.

The Real McKay

[Wendy]

Oh that is such a shame ...

Still you do have Elements and that is going to give you hours of fun :)

Wendy