App Store Edition of Photoshop Elements Delivers High-Impact Photo Editing Without the Organizer

SAN JOSE, Calif. -- July 20 -- Adobe Systems Inc. today announced the immediate availability of Adobe Photoshop Elements 9 Editor in the Mac App Store, providing Mac users with powerful yet easy-to-use photo-editing tools for creating extraordinary photos via Apple's new distribution method. Based on the industry-standard Adobe Photoshop software, Photoshop Elements 9 Editor helps users take their photos from ordinary to phenomenal in seconds, the company said.

Photoshop Elements 9 Editor for the Mac App Store does not, however, include the Elements Organizer application available with retail edition, which is available online at the same price as the Editor in the App Store.

"The powerful capabilities in Photoshop Elements 9 Editor complement iPhoto perfectly, for users who want to take their photos to the next level with advanced compositing and stunning effects," said Winston Hendrickson, vice president of Digital Imaging Products at Adobe. "Photoshop helped pioneer creativity on the Mac, so it's appropriate that this special edition of Photoshop Elements is Adobe's entry into the Mac App Store."

Photoshop Elements 9 Editor includes the same popular editing features available in the full version of Adobe Photoshop Elements 9, including Guided Edits, the Healing Brush, Group Edits and content aware fills for Panorama stitching.

Guided Edit includes instructions in the left panel with tools that come to you as you need them

The Healing Brush can erase unwanted objects from an image

Guided Edits offer easy-to-follow, step-by-step instructions for creating artistic effects such as Out of Bounds for making photos leap off the page, Pop Art for creating retro-style images or Perfect Portraits for easy retouching. Users can instantly remove clutter from photos or repair imperfections with one stroke of the Spot Healing Brush, which uses powerful content-aware technology adapted from Photoshop CS5.

Group Edit can substitute a better face with nothing more than a squiggle to select it

Filled Out Panoramas use content-aware fills to flesh out the image

For the perfect group shot, Photoshop Elements 9 Editor combines the best facial expressions from a number of different shots into a single perfect photo. And, the new Adobe Photomerge Style Match analyzes stylistic characteristics of any photo, such as contrast or color tone and automatically applies them to another photo. One-step shortcuts provide quick fixes such as whitening teeth or creating vibrant blue skies and automated layout options quickly showcase selected photos. Users can also create and print customized calendars, cards and photo books right at home.

We asked the company to comment on a few issues regarding the new release. Following are its responses to our questions.

Q. This isn't a new product. It's a new distribution model (the App Store). What are the advantages to Adobe?

A. Introducing Photoshop Elements 9 in the Mac App Store is a new opportunity for Adobe to reach a wider audience of Mac users.

Q. The Organizer was only recently added to Photoshop Elements for the Mac. So easily discarded to distinguish the App Store version (there's no PSE Organizer for the App Store, after all)?

A. The Organizer is an important part of the full Photoshop Elements product and will remain part of Photoshop Elements on both platforms.

Q. Was any thought given to a Premiere Elements for the App Store?

A. Photoshop Elements 9 is the No.1 consumer photo-editing software and we wanted to offer Mac customers the ability to quickly and easily access the powerful photo-editing capabilities of the Editor. Based on consumer reaction, Adobe will decide in the future if it makes sense to offer additional products such as Premiere Elements in the Mac App store.

Pricing & Availability

Adobe Photoshop Elements 9 Editor can be downloaded immediately for U.S.$79 from the Mac App Store.

The full version is available via the Imaging Resource Amazon affiliate program as well.