Photoshop Elements Techniques

[Cyberguy]

Has anyone received the October (first) issue yet?

I suscribed for a year, and haven't received anything yet. Just wondering if we are all waiting, or if i'm the only guy on the block to get missed <grin>.

[southpaw]

I haven't either.

[editor]

The first issue is about to begin mailing now - it is considered the Oct/November issue.

[This message has been edited by editor (edited 11-08-2004).]

[southpaw]

editor,

Thanks.

southpaw


[This message has been edited by southpaw (edited 11-12-2004).]

[JRKROGH]

I received my issue (Vol 1 Number 1) on the 10th.

John

[Cyberguy]

Received my issue on Nov 12. Worth the wait!

[Wendy]

I haven't received mine yet http://www.photoshopelementsuser.com/ubb/frown.gif


Wendy

[southpaw]

I have not either.

Southpaw

[kerriann85]

Received my freebie today. "Premiere Issue. Volume 1. Number 1. No month. Is this the same as the paid subscription? I thought it would have more pages.

[Foxhound]

I know what you mean. I just received my free edition too. I'm not about to put out $50 for 8 issues that only contains a few pages. Yes, it's filled with helpful information but you can buy Scott Kelby's book for half that price.

I'm dissapointed !

[Cyberguy]

mmmmmm....

Well, here i go again... (just my opinion)

I like the newsletter. First, it has good information, and will continue to provide good information. And, at least for this issue, there is no advertising! That would have increased the pages by a factor of 3 (minimum <grin> ).

I see PSE3 as a breakthrough... yes, i have owned and used PSE1 and PSE2, but this is a giant step forward. In keeping with that i want to learn as much as possible, including the best features and shortcuts and how to use them.

Didn't have to look too far to find out the DVD and book by Scott Kelby would be the quality material to get me going. Then the newsletter to supplement them. I purchased all three. Scott Kelby is fantastic. Great instruction and i'm learning quickly.

The book and the DVD are static. The excellent information in there will remain the same. It may take me awhile to assimilate it, but it won't change. The newsletter, this site, the tutorials, these forums are dynamic. They will change. New information all the time....including when new books and DVD's are released.

Perhaps i'm being greedy, but i want it all!! And for this outstanding application, as well as the DVD, Books, and Newsletter/Web Site to support it, i feel i am receiving value for every dollar i am spending.

I'm a happy user!!

[Mtnsummit]

I recieved my first issue last week with much anticipation. My thoughts - I already learned how to do something quickly - layering one photo on top of another - fun to do and I am amazed at the results. Thanks you. Although the instructions on how to do left off an important task you must do - holding the alt key down when using the move tool - unless I am missing something.

I agree with others, that at $50.00 a year, I would have expected more content, although I agree with no ads there is less pages, but 16 pages for the price is skimpy.

I also would rather buy a book or two for that price, as the book(s) will offer the ability to go right to what I am needing or looking for.

Either increased content or less price would edge me to signing up.

[jcm1229]

I too expected more than a 16 pager. Will there be more content in the full subscription issues or is this typical of what you'll get for your $50 subscription?

Thanks!

[editor]

As I'm sure you're all aware, publications like this newsletter are financed in two ways: by subscribers and advertising. We chose to create a newsletter that was cover-to-cover content and not to take up valuable tutorial pages with advertising. That means that the cost of publishing, printing and mailing has to be covered only by subscriptions.

Our plan has always been to launch the premier issue with 16 pages and move to 20 pages for subsequent issues (and perhaps more as our subscriber base increases). Our commitment is to pack those pages with as much real-world, practical content as possoble.

Also, this web site will soon be changing to a subscriber-only site for the majority of the content, That will become an extremely important part of the subscription price: access to additional tutorials, weekly video tips, downloadable images, contests and more. The content of the web site has and will continue to grow on a weekly basis.

Also subscribers will be offered special prices on books, DVDs and other special promotions.

Here's one other thing to consider: the “typical” Photoshop Elements user has invested a substantial amount of money in a digital camera, camera accessories, printer, paper, etc. We truly believe that our subscription is a small additional amount to spend to learn how to take full advantage of your investment.

I hope you'll take another hard look at subscribing.

Dave Crossl

[Foxhound]

Thanks, Dave, for your much needed and appreciated response to this thread. Thanks, also, for the heads up regarding the upcoming subscription to this website in order to gain full access. There's nothing I hate more than to wake up one day to discover a price tag on something I had been getting for free. I now have time to mull over this prospect and really ask myself the question, is this what I'm willing to pay for? So far, so good! I was thinking that this site was just too good to be true (free).

Yes, I have a pretty hefty amount of Jack invested in my photography simply because I'm a professional. As I'm sure others who are in the same boat can attest to the constant "nickle and dime" effect all professionals face with no apparent end in sight. I have resolved myself to such fate but I was really hoping to have found something FREE. Such is life and I'll get over it soon enough. I'll just have to convince my business manager (Wife) that this is another justifiable expense, not from the business, but from my own personal pocket http://www.photoshopelementsuser.com/ubb/wink.gif

Because you personally responded in such a tactful, yet straightforward, manor I will consider paying (ouch) for both subscriptions and will certainly enjoy the content you put out for us to benifit from.

[Cyberguy]

Whoa!!!

Foxhound, I think Dave is telling us the Newsletter subscription includes access to this website.

He also advises us of this fact in the "From the Editor" page in the Newsletter.

Direct quote from Dave Cross.

"... it's important to note that your subscription to Photoshop Elements Techniques also includes access to the accompanying website (www.photoshopelementsuser.com)"

[Foxhound]

Whoops, your right Cyberguy !

Now THAT's a good deal. I'm going to slip over to the newsletter page and subscribe right now!

[bubba]

I got mine..was hoping that there was a little more!

[toeknee1]

Am I the only cheapskate here? I'm not a professional so I can't justify the additional charge as the cost of doing business. I've already paid $100 for a great product but one that came with a manual that is pretty much useless. The only thing I can figure is that it was cheaper to use the manual for box filler than bubble wrap. I already purchased the recommended manual and DVD to supplement the lack of a product user manual, which hopefully will finally arrive in the mail today.

I was terribly disappointed until I found this website. I thought this website was Adobe's method to supply a much superior "living manual", one whose content is actually determined by user need. I assumed that this website was funded as part of product support. Now I find that it's going to cost me more to figure out how to use a product that I already paid for?

Being the cheapskate I am, what's wrong with a little advertising to defray the cost of the magazine?
If the product is only 16 pages, then it's easily printed at home. Why not make it a PDF, downloadable, and save the cost of publishing, printing and shipping? Why not offer your subscribers a choice of how they want to receive the content, hardcopy or softcopy?

I already subscribe to the online version of Consumer reports, so I'm already used to carting my laptop into the bathroom to read the latest issue.

I'll probably subscribe anyway.

[editor]

Just in case it's not clear, the newsletter and this web site are not created by nor funded by Adobe. We have a couple of "sponsors" - including Adobe - which really means swapping promotional banners etc. The sole support (for now anyways) of the newsletter and the web site is subscribers.
Down the road we may include a very (VERY) limited amount of advertising, but we really want to keep the newsletter as full of content as possible.

Also to be 100% clear, when you subscribe to the newsletter you get access to the subscriber-only portion of the web site.
Thanks
Dave Cross

[Mtnsummit]

I think Toeknee1 has a great suggestion regarding a subscription to a PDF version - seems like the postage and printing cost savings would be big. Thanks to Dave Cross for answering this thread in such a professional manner.

Increasing the pub to 20 pages would help.

[toeknee1]

Dave, I had no idea that the website was not owned by Adobe. I just assumed it was since I found it from the Adobe site.
Now I can understand the reasoning for subscribing. For those of us that are cheapskates or nonprofessionals or have far too much paper clutter already or all three(like myself), please consider offering an online only subscription. Thanks for a great website and I look forward to becoming a subscriber.

[kerriann85]

How 'bout this idea:
All of us that are here now, first to experience the joys and sorrows of PSE3 and this web site, get a complimentary subscription (at least to the web site). Everyone who comes in "later" has to pay. http://www.photoshopelementsuser.com/ubb/biggrin.gif

[mjpost]

I enjoy the website and the free premiere edition of the newsletter. Much of the newsletter was devoted to an overview of the program and material found in the book. I bought the book and the DVD and these were money well spent.

I doubt that most users of Elements 3.0 will subscribe to the Newsletter at the current price if they have reviewed the initial edition. I enjoyed it but probably would not pay $50 for eight issues. If folks were going to spend more money they might have elected to go with Photoshop CS as opposed to Elements.

I hope you will reconsider your decision to make the website open only to paying members. I think you will find that the number that will subscribe will be small. There are a number of sites with much information on Photoshop (most are free) but few like this one that devote their space to Elements.

As I indicated I enjoy your work and purchased the book and the DVD and thought these were excellent value. I think you may be off the mark a little on the newsletter and charging for the website. At least with the book you can see what you are getting before you buy it. With a newsletter you have to wait and see whether the content will justify the price. Time will tell. One of us will likely be able to tell the other I told you so. There is little satisfaction in that.

[This message has been edited by mjpost (edited 11-17-2004).]

[Cyberguy]

Geeeez!

Isn't this great? I mean isn't this exactly the way it is supposed to be?
Knowledgeable people expressing opinions, pro and con, on various statements, proposals and ideas.

In so doing are we not pursuing excellence?
I, for one, don't want to miss any of it.

Yes, i paid Adobe $79 for the PSE3 Upgrade. And i paid Peachpit $50+ for Scott's Book and DVD. And $49 for the Newsletter and future access to the paid portions of this website.

So about $200 to set me on the path to excellence. Not onerous, in my opinion.
And this is where the action is!

I don't want to pay $649 for Photoshop CS because it may be too much for me.

So, with respect to all who have posted and will continue to post, my vote is "keep on truckin'". Lead me to the knowledge and i'll try to keep up.

ps: Dave and Scott - please, please, please don't take ads from Norton Anti-Virus or aol or i'm afraid i'll just cry!!

pps: Hope Wendy stays around because she has REALLY helped me!

[southpaw]

Hey kerrian,

I like the way you think, lol. :-D Free website for use first forum users and 'testers', LOL.

Hey Cyberguy,

You are absolutely right. Wendy is as neccessary to the success of this forum as the editor's decisions are to the success of the magazine. You hear that Wendy? You're indispensible.

Hey Y'all,

I think the combination of 2 to 3 video tips added monthly, extra downloads added now and then, and new tutorials added now and then, plus a bi-monthly magazine subscription is a worth 49 dollars a year. I may want more, but I do think the price is worth it. Hopefully the forum is kept free though, people should be ask questions and post whether they paid for a membership or not. I have the same opinion on the Glossary. After all, http://dictionary.reference.com and http://thesaurus.reference.com and http://dictionary.reference.com/translate/text.html and http://dictionary.reference.com/wordoftheday/ and http://dictionary.reference.com/ and the various others linked at http://dictionary.reference.com/others/ are all free, and their database is much larger, so it seems like it would only make sense to keep that free if for no other reason, but online impression.

Now I personally think that both the 'organizer' should be covered in magazine tutorials and 'iPhoto 4.03' should be covered in magazine tutorials. They both do the same thing, that is organize photos, but in different ways, where one is Windows and the other one is Mac. So, if any of you agree with this opinion to have both treated some what equally in the newsletters to follow, please post that you agree with this, because one person that asks for a feature isn't all that strong standing by himself.

I do want to stress to you all, that these techniques in these magazines are universal. They may not work on windows paint or iPhoto 4.03 mini editor, but all major apps out there from Macromedia, Adobe, and Open Source can do the same things in the same ways, with the exception of at the moment proprietary tools, like the healing tool. What this means, is that whenever any of you decide to go to the full version of Photoshop, or go to Fireworks, or go Open Source, the techniques given in this magazine will work there too. And that makes the magazine even more valuable to some of us. That, and not having to go through four pages of advertisement to get to the table of contents, so we can read an article that invitably is going to say continued on page 76 or something. And that in itself, is nice.

I'm glad the magazine exists, and I'll likely subscribe as I've said before. 20 pages sounds better than 16 anyway, lol.

Southpaw

[This message has been edited by southpaw (edited 11-19-2004).]

[Wendy]

Thanks for the vote of confidence you two ... it really made me smile ... what me indispensible..

I just like answering questions http://www.photoshopelementsuser.com/ubb/smile.gif


Wendy

[This message has been edited by Wendy (edited 11-18-2004).]

[toeknee1]

Wendy, I agree with Southpaw and Cyberguy

"You are absolutely right. Wendy is as neccessary to the success of this forum as the editor's decisions are to the success of the magazine. You hear that Wendy? You're indispensible. "

I only wish I would of said it first. Thanks for your help

[kdsmithjr]

I just bought my copy of PE 3.0. And i haven't been in the forum for a few years. i'm glad to see the the i won't be recieving the promised issue for a while.
<BLOCKQUOTE><font size="1" face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica">quote:</font><HR>Originally posted by Cyberguy:
Has anyone received the October (first) issue yet?

I suscribed for a year, and haven't received anything yet. Just wondering if we are all waiting, or if i'm the only guy on the block to get missed <grin>.<HR></BLOCKQUOTE>

[arteest]

Just want to say that this area of the website is terrific whatever the price. I don't know if I'd ever have found the answer to my problem if I hadn't looked at another topic discussed here.
Thanks, too, to Wendy for her responses. She is indeed a big asset to this site!