Adobe Announces Photoshop for the Amateur Photographer!
By
Kim Brady, The Imaging Resource
(Friday, February 16, 2001 - 18:20 EST)
Finally, a Photoshop program specifically designed for the photo enthusiast! Ranking second in features among Adobe's image-editing software programs, Photoshop Elements provides more creativity than Adobe ActiveShare or PhotoDeluxe, but lacks the high-end Photoshop applications that most users outside of the graphic arts or prepress fields don't need.
Many Elements features are similar to those found in the professional version of Photoshop, but they include more detailed help menus to assist the novice retoucher. For example, the start-up screen gives six options for opening files: New, Open, Paste, Acquire, Tutorial, and Help (which provides immediate access the program's extensive Help system). This is a good example of taking the same options that are available in Photoshop's professional version, but arranging them so they are more easily accessed.
The Vertical Tool bar on the left side of the Element's editing screen has some additional options that are not found in other Photoshop products, such as a Red Eye Brush, Impressionist brush, Background Eraser tool, and a Sponge tool for adjusting color saturation. Whenever one of the tools is activated, an options bar appears across the top of the screen to make settings adjustments. On the right side of screen is a selection of menu tabs displayed in a "palette well." These pop-open tabs provide easy access to many of the special features unique to Photoshop Elements, plus a few familiar features that have been simplified for the inexperienced user.
The following are some of the more notable of Photoshop Element's special features and palettes:
File Browser -- allows you to view thumbnails of stored images.
Recipes -- a series of step-by-step interactive "recipes" to help users learn sophisticated editing techniques.
Filters -- enables the user to choose from more than 95 special-effects filters and apply them to images simply by dragging and dropping them onto the photograph.
Effects -- one-click access to sophisticated techniques that would normally require multiple steps.
Hints -- provides context-sensitive illustrations and tips that explain how to use the program's tools.
Save for Web -- compresses files for posting on the Web.
Photomerge -- automatically resizes, skews, and blends portions of multiple images into one seamless image. Similar to a panorama tool, but more versatile.
Web Photo Gallery -- enables the user to create photo Web pages without a separate Web authoring program.
Web-based photo printing -- allows users to enhance and upload images to Shutterfly.com for ordering prints, personalized greeting cards, and other photo-related products (available in U.S. only).
Positioned to replace Photoshop LE (the abbreviated version of Photoshop currently supplied with many consumer digital cameras and related products), Photoshop Elements is scheduled for release in second quarter 2001. List price is $99 for all Windows and Macintosh platforms, with special pricing listed in the attached press release.
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Original Source Press Release:
| Adobe Introduces Photoshop Elements to Deliver Affordable, Easy to Use Image Editing for Photo Enthusiasts ORLANDO, Florida, (February 11, 2001) (Nasdaq:ADBE)--Adobe Systems Incorporated today announced Adobe® Photoshop® Elements, a new product designed specifically for amateur photographers, hobbyists, and business users who want a powerful yet easy to use digital imaging solution. Based on Adobe Photoshop software, the world-standard image editing solution, Photoshop Elements delivers unique, new features that give users access to many of the same, advanced tools used by graphics professionals. With enhancements that simplify capturing and editing photos, Photoshop Elements software makes it easy to prepare images for both print and the Web. The product will be publicly unveiled today at the PMA tradeshow.
As sales of digital cameras and scanners accelerate, photo enthusiasts are increasingly seeking the power, quality, and creative freedom offered by professional image-editing tools but also want ease-of-use at an affordable price. With powerful tools, an intuitive interface and an affordable price, Adobe Photoshop Elements combines the power of Photoshop with customized features that enable users to freely explore their creativity while mastering the elements of digital imaging.
"Mid-range image software users, those who need more than basic editing tools but don't require professional-level operations, represent one of the fastest growing segments of the digital imaging software market right now," said Janet Kauffman, research analyst at InfoTrends Research Group. "This is a great space for Adobe to be in, and Photoshop Elements provides a great blend of functionality and usability. Combined with the Adobe brand and its reputation as the software leader in professional image editing, this product will appeal to a lot of users."
Accessibility, Creativity, and Flexibility for Web and Print
Photoshop Elements software delivers powerful features for quickly performing the necessary steps to retouch images while mastering the essentials of using professional image editing tools. The unique Hints palette provides context-sensitive illustrations and tips that help users learn to use the sophisticated Photoshop tools and palettes. The exclusive Recipes palette interactively teaches more complex editing techniques for task-oriented activities and can be updated with fresh content over the Web.
Photoshop Elements satisfies users' creative urges with more visual access to existing features, as well as useful new capabilities not available in competitive products. For example, Adobe® Photomerge™ technology automatically arranges and blends multiple photos into panoramas by resizing and skewing any portion of the images to fit seamlessly together into a single image. The Filter Browser lets users visually scan the 95-plus special effects filters then drag and drop the desired filter onto an image to apply it. Previews save time on trial and error by letting users immediately see the effect of a filter on an image.
Photoshop Elements software also provides flexible image capture and output options. Users can work with images from digital cameras, traditional cameras and scanners and prepare them for posting on the Web, ordering prints online, or ouputting their images to a desktop printer. For posting photos to the Web, the Save for Web command and Web Photo Gallery help users optimize their photos for screen viewing. In the U.S., customers can also use the integrated, award-winning Shutterfly service to take advantage of Web-based photo printing and send high-quality, personalized prints and photo greeting cards to friends and family. When printing to the desktop, Photoshop Elements saves time and money with its unique Picture Package feature that maximizes the use of expensive photo-quality paper by formatting multiple copies of a photo on a single page.
Pricing and Availability
In the United States, Canada, and Europe, Adobe Photoshop Elements for Windows 98, 98 Release 2, ME, 2000, NT 4.0, and Macintosh OS 8.6, 9.0, 9.0.4 and 9.1 is expected to ship in the second quarter of FY01. The estimated street price is $99 (U.S.) for all platforms. Registered users of any version of Adobe Photoshop LE, PhotoDeluxe®, or selected competitive digital imaging software products are eligible to receive Photoshop Elements for $69 (U.S.) if purchased through Adobe Direct or a $30 (U.S.) mail-in rebate if purchased elsewhere.
French, German, and Japanese versions of Photoshop Elements software also will be available in the second quarter of FY01. Information about the other language versions, as well as pricing, upgrade, and support policies for other countries is available on adobe.com. For more information, customers can call 1-800-492-3623.
About Adobe Systems Incorporated
Founded in 1982, Adobe Systems Incorporated (www.adobe.com) builds award-winning software solutions for Web and print publishing. Its graphic design, imaging, dynamic media, and authoring tools enable customers to create, publish and deliver visually rich content for various types of media. Headquartered in San Jose, California, Adobe is the third largest PC software company in the U.S., with annual revenues exceeding $1 billion.
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� 2000 Adobe Systems Incorporated. All rights reserved. Adobe, the Adobe logo, Adobe After Effects and Illustrator are either registered trademarks or trademarks of Adobe Systems Incorporated in the United States and/or other countries. All other trademarks are the property of their respective owners.
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