Photoshop Elements 6 for Mac - Underwhelming?

[wlaidlaw]

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I purchased today the update for Photoshop Elements to version 6 for Mac, which was released on Monday. I have bought the upgrade from PSE4, as PSE6 will be a pre-requisite either in Mac or Windows for the digital photo courses in France this summer, where I am one of the teachers.

 

I have to confess at first look, to being a bit underwhelmed. Yes it is prettier than PSE4, with the currently fashionable dingy grey background; yes it runs much faster on an Intel Mac; yes it has a few more toys but basically it is the same old tool. I was expecting or hoping that it might have the flashy organizer that you get on the Windows version but no, it still leans on either the clunky Bridge or iPhoto. If you have another photo-editing program in the computer (I have CS3), Bridge is a nightmare to switch backwards and forwards and iPhoto irritating. Disappointingly, PSE6 will not drill down into the packaged files of iPhoto and you have to open images from iPhoto's edit facility. Many of PSE6's tools, filters etc still don't work on 16 bit files. I am guessing that they still want Mac buyers to shell out for CS3 and with both on my Macs, I can see that there remains a big gap between the two programs. Not least the print module on CS3 seems much more sophisticated. I am glad that the upgrade was only £47 and even that does not seem particularly well spent.

 

Wilson

[andybarton]

Many of PSE6's tools, filters etc still don't work on 16 bit files.

 

That's the same for the flagship PSCS3 too...

[santila]

I am currently in a debate about PS E2 that I am still using with PS 5LE. Of course this are 8bit program but will do what I need to do, therefore will not upgrade. Adobe keep writting updates and new versions that one can't upkeep with them.

I also have PS E4 that came with the V1.

What is your recommendation for a decent not too expensive PS program?

While we are on the subject, can I run TLR Digital Velvia which is an .atn file under PS E2. I have installed the files in the "Action" folder but it is not recognized.

[andybarton]

If you are using a Mac, it might be a Windows version of the Action (apparently, there is a difference)

 

Try doing a Google search for "Velvia Action". There are loads of free ones available out there.

[wlaidlaw]

I am currently in a debate about PS E2 that I am still using with PS 5LE. Of course this are 8bit program but will do what I need to do, therefore will not upgrade. Adobe keep writting updates and new versions that one can't upkeep with them.

I also have PS E4 that came with the V1.

What is your recommendation for a decent not too expensive PS program?

While we are on the subject, can I run TLR Digital Velvia which is an .atn file under PS E2. I have installed the files in the "Action" folder but it is not recognized.

 

I would still recommend PSE as the best of all the small photo-manipulation tools. It was just that I was expecting more from the update, since the Mac version had jumped two numbers.

 

You cannot run actions (atn files) on any elements version. You need the full version of Photoshop e.g. CS2 or 3 to do that. There may be a hack out on the Interweb to get PSE to run actions. One of the actions I run quite a lot (or I used to until my son decided his need for my underwater camera was greater than mine) was the action to correct the colour balance for underwater shots taken without a flash or with a weak one.

 

I think you will find that Alien Skin does a set of plug in filters to emulate various films, colour negative, positive and B&W, which should work on PSE.

 

Wilson

[andybarton]

Well spotted, Wilson.

 

Adding Alien Skin to Elements is, however, a bit like dropping that Rover V8 into the Morris Marina... you no longer have a "not too expensive editing program"

[wlaidlaw]

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Well spotted, Wilson.

 

Adding Alien Skin to Elements is, however, a bit like dropping that Rover V8 into the Morris Marina... you no longer have a "not too expensive editing program"

 

....and here it is - Made by BL special products engineering for Foden, I would assume as a silly publicity stunt.

 

Wilson

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[Ruhayat]

Yes, it's weird that Elements are not the same on the Mac and PC. I had been using the copy that came with my Leica D-Lux 3 on my Powerbook for almost a year. When I recently bought a dual core Windows XP workstation, I installed the PC version from the same disc on it and was surprised to find that it was so much better than the Mac version.

 

It's a shame that Elements 6 is still not much of an improvement on the Mac. But ever since I got my Windows workstation, I've decided that Windows is better at managing photos anyway -- faster and more tools available -- so I'll probably be upgrading to that instead of shelling out for Lightroom, since I hardly work in RAW.