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harold_cronin's profile
harold_cronin
100 Points

1 Message

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170 Points

Wed, Jul 20, 2011 1:11 PM

Photoshop Elements: Where can I find some good basic tutorials?

I was using PS Elements 1 and PS Album. Then I upgraded to Windows 7 and PS Album was incompatible, so I bought PSE 9...primarily for the Organizer. After all this time I still do not understand the basic concepts of Photoshop i.e. Palettes, Panels, Layers. All your tutorials assume we were born with this knowledge. Adobe needs to start tutorials at a more basic level. Explain some of the thinking behind what's going on. I am retired now but for the last 15 years of my career I managed a group of engineers and programmers. They were very smart people and solved complex problems. However, very few of them could clearly explain what they were doing. I think Adobe has the same problem

Question

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Updated 

9 y ago

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16

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Official Solution

JeffreyTranberry

Adobe Administrator

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15.9K Messages

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295.3K Points

10 y ago

Here's a general list of tutorials you may find helpful:

Free Photoshop, Lightroom, Elements, and Photoshop.com Learning Resources

Of course, the user manual is a good place to learn the product: HTML | PDF

NOTE:The basics are the same whether you have Elements 9 or 10.

For basics, I'd start here, specifically:

Photoshop Elements key concepts

Then, I'd watch these step-by-step video tutorials:

Learn Photoshop Elements 9

Photoshop Elements 9 How Tos

Photoshop Elements 10

You could also check out Jan Kabili's videos Photoshop Elements 9 Essential Training, Up and Running with Photoshop Elements 10 at lynda.com and a few courses offered at Kelby Training.

Third Party Websites:

Tips And Tricks For Photoshop Elements

Photoshop Elements User

Elements Village

Sr. Product Manager, Adobe Digital Imaging

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eric_belanger

1 Message

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62 Points

10 y ago

Some people have the PhotoShop Elements 9 where I work and they all say the same thing as the BestBuy employee I talked to - Using Elements is not easy. People claim that the instructions are lacking. Is this what I should expect? I am hesitating on installation.

This reply was created from a merged topic originally titled
Elements 9 instructions difficult?.

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adrienne_burrows

1 Message

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62 Points

9 y ago

Im new to Photoshop and I just purchased Elements 10. I am finding this program to be extremely frusterating. The forums arnt helping with the basic navigation of the program. Ive watched the videos but they dont cover many of the questions I have. Can someone recommend a tutorial or book that will cover a beginners questions? Im surprised that there isnt more information for someone who doesnt have prior experience using this program...

This reply was created from a merged topic originally titled
Photoshop Elements: Recommend tutorials or books for a beginner?.

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connie_briney

1 Message

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62 Points

9 y ago

how do I insert a picture int another on photoshop or can't this be done

This reply was created from a merged topic originally titled
inserting a picture into another picture.

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JeffreyTranberry

Adobe Administrator

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15.9K Messages

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295.3K Points

Sr. Product Manager, Adobe Digital Imaging

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9 y ago

0

susan_scimeca

3 Messages

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82 Points

9 y ago

I just recieved PSE 9 about a month ago (figures they would upgrade to 10 now) and I have tried using it a few times. But I am feeling over whelmed by it complexity in its use and almost thinking I'll never figure it out. I have tried the guided area but just seems like so many steps to do some simple processes. Don't want to give up as I know this program is capable of helping me improve on my photos. Any suggestions how to make this learning experience a little easier?

This reply was created from a merged topic originally titled
Newbie here and over whelmed.

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yvonne_slater

1 Message

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62 Points

9 y ago

I purchased Photoshop because I heard it was the best way to organize, share and everything else with my photos. I am so frustrated with it I could almost cry!! I have purchased 2" thick books (for $50!!!) that are supposed to tell me, but find them useless because they don't really answer my basic questions. Everything assumes I know how to do it. I DON'T!!! I NEED simple Hand-Written instructions. (By the time the 'helpful' tutorials are over, I can't remember all that!) I want to share and make a calendar and now it says some of my photos are missing and can't be found in the system! Where are they when I can still see them?? How do I send photos to shutterfly or anyplace else???

This reply was created from a merged topic originally titled
Photoshop Elements: where can I find more basic tutorials?.

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vaishali_ahuja

209 Messages

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2.9K Points

9 y ago

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lyle_norris

1 Message

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62 Points

9 y ago

How do I find a beginner tutorial on PSE 10?

This reply was created from a merged topic originally titled
PSE 10 beginner tutorial.

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laurie_anspaugh

4 Messages

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92 Points

9 y ago

Using Adobe photoshop elements has been a nightmare. The tutorials on-line and the help in the program are terrible!!!! Only part of the information you need to perform a function are included in the help areas. I am computer literate and had I known the help features were this difficult to navigate I would not have purchased this product.

Does anyone know of a more comprehensive help tool that I can use that includes ALL of the information necessary to use the tools?

This reply was created from a merged topic originally titled
Photoshop Elements: Help Features Frustrating and Difficult to Navigate.

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JeffreyTranberry

Adobe Administrator

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15.9K Messages

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295.3K Points

Hi Laurie, are you accessing the same items I have listed above?

Sr. Product Manager, Adobe Digital Imaging

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9 y ago

0

laurie_anspaugh

4 Messages

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92 Points

My frustration is similar to the above comments. When I look for a tutorial I expect the information to be easier to navigate. An example problem is when I am trying to remove an item from the background on my photo. It says to select the layer in the layers panel. I only show one layer and can not figure out how to get "layers" to show. Then under the Background Eraser Tool it says to drag the eraser over the item you want removed. When I finally figured out how to do this part, I did what was suggested but can not find directions on how to apply the function. I have pressed every button available to get the "eraser" marks to be removed from the photo (and the background item to go away) and still can not get it to work. The directions on the internet appear to be made for experts of the program. Why aren't the instructions complete? Background eraser show's 3 steps...but never tells you how to execute the command...and layers never explains how to make them show...

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9 y ago

0

laurie_anspaugh

4 Messages

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92 Points

And yes I am trying to use the tools listed above, but I do not find them helpful or logical...my layers don't show so nothing else matters and it never tells you how to show them if they are not automatically there.

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9 y ago

0

susan_scimeca

3 Messages

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82 Points

9 y ago

Laurie, I am struggling too. I wanted it primarily for learning how to layer. I still can't figure it out. Easier just to go to Picnik and use there textures.

I have a friend who has told me this: " Use "Teach Yourself Visually Photoshop Elements 9" by Mike Wooldridge. Lots of step by step pictures on how to do one thing at a time. I use it constantly. The video tutorials are also very helpful. If you are on Facebook, you can "Like" Photoshop Elements, and they have lots of tutorials also. Kim Klassen also has good ones on textures."

I have used simplier "free" editing and graphic programs that give me lots of looks with out all the complex manuvering that PSE9 makes you go through. I believe it is NOT user friendly and am sorry I even purchased it..wish I could take it back. Maybe someone would like to buy my program cheap.....I'll just stay with Picnik and Picasa for my editing. PSE9's hype is far over blown.

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laurie_anspaugh

4 Messages

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92 Points

9 y ago

Thanks Susan! I will try any and all of the above...I appreciate the suggestions, I've never heard of Picnik but at this point I am willing to try anything.

I hope you have a Merry Christmas and best of luck with your editing. :-)

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susan_scimeca

3 Messages

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82 Points

9 y ago

Picnik is through Picasa (do a search for it) Its free. Once you get to Picasa you will see a button in its menu. If you click on that it will take you to Picnik. Picnik is free for -some- of their things, but premium features cost $25 for the year. I signed up for that and am glad I did. Having much more fun using that and not as frustrated as I am with PSE9. I can use PSE9 for editing my photos, that doesn't seem to hard, but I would like to use it more but the program is confusing at times..especially how to layer.
Give those two free programs a try..they are lots of fun.
Good luck too and Happy Holidays.

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JeffreyTranberry

Adobe Administrator

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15.9K Messages

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295.3K Points

9 y ago

Laurie,

You work with layers using the Layers panel found under Window>Layers.

It sounds like you struggle with images that come into Photoshop with a Background layer and no other layers. You add layers by clicking the "Create New Layer" button at the bottom left of the layers panel.

To make the background layer a floating layer, either double-click it, or select Layer>New>Layer From Background.

If you click the entry titled "Learn Photoshop Elements 9" there is a tutorial in the list called "Working With Layers"

I'm curious if you were able to find this video and, if so, was it helpful to learn how to work with layers.

The following topic may also help:

http://feedback.photoshop.com/photosh...

Sr. Product Manager, Adobe Digital Imaging

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maryfhillyer

2 Messages

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72 Points

9 y ago

I would like a USER GUIDE to be able to print, study, bookmark, highlight & use as a reference. I see tons of piecemeal help subjects & turtorials and I cannot get a sense of what this product I have bought can do & how. Photos seem to just load into organizer without my doing anything & it's 90% full with 3% of my photos. NOW what. And wher can I print a USER guide? Unheard of not to have one available. Thanks

This reply was created from a merged topic originally titled
Photoshop Elements: Need a USER GUIDE. I don't even know where to start..

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kirsti_2290522

4 Messages

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90 Points

9 y ago

Hi, Mary,

You can print the Photoshop Elements 10 Help guide here:
http://help.adobe.com/en_US/photoshop...

And the Photoshop Elements 9 help guide here:
http://help.adobe.com/en_US/Photoshop...

You can access the printable PDF on the top of Help pages (see the top right corner of any pages.

Kirsti
Adobe Community Help & Learning team

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