Photoshop Elements Books

[F, Calla & Luca]

Following all the good advice, I just bid on a new Photoshop Elements 8 on Ebay. Now for further brain picking, any recommendations on instructional books for this.

[Sue]

I just bought Elements 8 too. I haven't even opened the box yet though. The best book for elements 8, I have heard is Scott Kelby's "The Photoshop elements 8 book. I checked it out from the library. I will be looking at the book more tonight.

[Jane, Guinness and Murphy]

I bought a few books, including Photoshop Elements For Dummies. They were okay, but I got the most out of the online course I took, because I could ask questions as I did each "project". If you search local (or non-local) community colleges you may find something similar to what I did. I could go at my own pace, and I learned so much more than I did from any of the books. Of course, we're all different, but I loved having someone (online) that I could go to with all my questions. It was inexpensive...I think I paid $99 for the eight week course.

[F, Calla & Luca]

Thank you everyone for all the feedback!

[Candy & Hudson]

I love the idea of an online course, I am going to see if any colleges near me offer something like that. I have had Element 8 since Christmas and being my first ever editing program it overwhelms me! I know it can do so much more than I can do with it.. thanks!

[Richard Crowe]

I have used the Photoshop CS2 and Photoshop CS3 books by Scott Kelby and found them excellent. Scott has a Photoshop Elements 8 book:

http://search.barnesandnoble.com/The-Photoshop-Elements-8-Book-for-...

I have not used this book but, if his CS2 and CS3 books are any indication; this book should be great.

I was browsing in a Barnes and Noble store the other day and found the following book which I like very much. I have ordered it from B&N online. I have a B&N card which allows me 10% off purchases and free expedited shipping. I have begun to purchase from them instead of Amazon. Amazon also offers these books and may be cheaper if you don't have the 10% off B&N card.

http://productsearch.barnesandnoble.com/search/results.aspx?store=B...

I am not sure however, that this book would be the comprehensive manual needed to effectively use PSE-8.

I have been working with various Photoshop programs for years (PS 7, CS2 and CS3) because the capabilities of the earlier Photoshop Elements did not suit my needs. I am however switching to Photoshop Elements 8. I was using the Adobe Creative Suite CS3 which I got at a student discount when I was taking a Photoshop course at a local community college. However, I cannot just upgrade the Photoshop portion of the Suite and would need to upgrade the entire Suite to CS5. The cost of that upgrade is about $500. That is just too much for a program to edit photos since I no longer make money with my camera.

I downloaded Elements-8 on a trial bases and I am quite impressed with the capabilities of that program. The PSE-8 program seems to do everything I can do with Photoshop CS-3 and then some. Take a look at this video. It would probably be posible to do this with Photoshop CS3 but, I am not at the level of proficiency that would enable me to do so...

http://www.photoshopelements.net/index.php?option=com_content&v...

PSE-8 is available from COSTCO for $50 after a $30 instant rebate. I am going to my local COSTCO to see if they have it in stock. If not, I will buy if from COSTCO online:

http://www.costco.com/Browse/Product.aspx?Prodid=11495740&searc... elements 8&Mo=1&cm_re=1_en-_-Top_Left_Nav-_-Top_search&lang=en-US&Nr=P_CatalogName:BC&Sp=S&N=5000043&whse=BC&Dx=mode+matchallpartial&Ntk=Text_Search&Dr=P_CatalogName:BC&Ne=4000000&D=photoshop elements 8&Ntt=photoshop elements 8&No=0&Ntx=mode+matchallpartial&Nty=1&topnav=&s=1

COSTCO also has the Photoshop Elements 8 packaged with Adobe Premier for video editing at a good price. I use another video editing program so I am just purchasing the PSE-8 alone.

By the way, I just found an excellent site for PSE-8 training videos: PSE.net. This is the site where I found the above vdeo. It is a pay site but, the first week is free.

http://www.photoshopelements.net/index.php?option=com_content&v...

I like PSE.net so much that I may consider enrolling for six months or so - at least until I have a decent handle on working with PSE-8.

There is a plethora of PSE-8 information and tutorial videos on the Internet. Do a Google search using "Photoshop Elements 8" as your search parameters.

[F, Calla & Luca]

Thanks for all the information. I may need to fully retire before I get into all this : ) I got the Photoshop Elements for $51, I think, on Ebay. I installed it but that's as I got so far. I bought a book called something like the Missing Manual but it's unopened. My reach exceeds my grasp as of now.

[Richard Crowe]

I just received the copy of "Top 100 Simplified Tricks & Tricks for Photoshop Essentials"... I was wrong in thinking that this is a specialty book which is not a basic manual. This book takes you from basic concepts like opening your images and saving them through more complex evolutions including editing and compositing images as well as preparing images for printing and sharing online in various ways.

It shows how awesome the power and sophistication of PSE-8 can be and what you can do with this program...

Each section is well illustrated with what your screen would look like while you are working with the various corrections, etc.

I am an experienced photographer and relatively experienced in photo editing. However, I have attempted to look at this book from the aspect of a person without much photo or editing experience and it seems like the book would also be of great benefit in that case.

It is the only book that I will need to work with my Photoshop Elements 8 program.

[F, Calla & Luca]

Thanks again for the information!

[Linda and "Toby"]

Adobe.TV has WONDERFUL video tutorials. Here are a bunch on Elements 8 to get you jump started: http://tv.adobe.com/search/?q=elements+8+tutorial&product=Photo...

[F, Calla & Luca]

Thank you.