Ziza Loc: USA

Please note this. I had posted it earlier.

I am afraid this is not correct. You can go to the Adobe site and download PSE 12 one month from now, you will be getting exactly the same version released last September. Adobe doesn't go around updating their server so that we can download the latest version of PSE 12. There is no such a thing. Throughout the "life" of a given version of Elements the only updates are the Camera Raw ones. PSE 12 was released/shipped with ACR 8.0 last September. There have been some ACR updates since then; the current one is ACR 8.3 released last December. If you download PSE 12 today, you are not getting it with ACR 8.3 installed. It is your job to go to Help>Updates and update it.

LFingar Loc: Claverack, NY

Since the Mac version is for an entirely different operating system I doubt that you actually even installed anything when you inserted the Mac disk. If your Windows version is operating OK then I wouldn't worry about it. If you are concerned you could go to Start then Programs and see if it shows up, or open up your control panel and look for it under Add Or Remove in Windows XP or, I think, under Programs or Program Control in Vista and 7.

LFingar Loc: Claverack, NY

I bought a Canon 70D in early Dec and found out that I couldn't open my RAW photos with Elements 10, and couldn't update to ACR 8.0. Decided to upgrade to Elements 12. Still couldn't open teh Canon RAW. ACR 8.3 is required. Glad you mentioned that it has been released since I haven't checked lately. Now I can work on RAW again. Both Elements 10 and 12 worked fine with the RAW shots from my T3i but Canon changed the software in the 70D.

RedIris Loc: MN, USA

This is not true. You only need to create a Adobe ID when you are installing the program. You do not need to sign in to your Adobe ID to 'use' it on your computer.

From Photoshop Elements User Forum
http://forums.adobe.com/thread/1302723?tstart=0

Question: Does this mean I must be connected to the Internet each time I want to use Photoshop Elements 12, since I have to stay logged into my Adobe ID?

Answer: (Barbara B. from Photoshop Elements User Forum)
No, basically it means that creating an adobe ID is part of the activation process. After the first time you use PSE you can stay offline permanently, if you don't care about access to revel or the stuff in the graphics panel.

Ziza Loc: USA

I am afraid you misunderstood my previous post, the member’s question in the Adobe forum, and the reply by Barbara Brundage (author of the book series, Photoshop Elements: The Missing Manual). The member's question (paraphrased) was:

"Since I have to say logged in, do I also need to stay online?"

My answer is the same as Barbara's -- NO! However, if you want to use some of the items in the Graphics panel, you need an Internet connection. Why? Because some of the items in this panel are not installed on your computer when you install Elements 12. Adobe keeps them stored online. If you want them, you need to go online to get them. Once they are downloaded onto your computer, you can use them anytime you want without any further need to go online. You also need to be connected to the Internet if you want to use Revel.

There is a difference between staying online and staying logged in as far as Elements 12 is concerned. The first time you start Elements 12, you are asked to log into your Adobe ID or create one. Once you are logged in, you will stay like this until you yourself go to the Help Menu, scroll down to SIGN OUT, and select this option. Once you choose to log out, you will get this message on the screen.


When you install Elements 12, you also need to activate this program. Activation is the process by which Elements gathers information about the computer on which you have installed it and sends this information to Adobe. Adobe uses this information to "keep an eye on you", to make sure that you are not going to try to install this program on a third computer because your installation is physically tied to the computer on which Adobe collected this information. As you know, Adobe lets you install your copy of Elements on two computers. Consequently, if you want to install it on a third computer, you will need to deactivate this program on one of the two computers first. The restriction to use Elements on the maximum of two computers is nothing new but in earlier versions Adobe could not really prevent you from installing it on more than two computers. With the activation/deactivation process, Adobe can "police" the situation in a more efficient way.

This activation/deactivation process is nothing new; it has been around for a while. However, it went through a little change starting with Elements 12. This may be why you are a bit confused. In earlier versions, the process was to go to Help>Activate/Deactivate; in Elements 12 it is Help>Sign In/Sign Out. This is why I said in my previous post.


If you ask: "Do I really need to bother activating Elements 12 when I install it? I don’t want Adobe watching over my shoulder".

My answer is : "No, not really. But if you don’t activate Elements 12, this program will run just as a 30-day trial. At the end of the 30 days, that will be it (unless you activate it). There is no escaping Adobe’s eyes on you."

Ziza Loc: USA

IMPORTANT NOTE TO USERS OF ELEMENTS 12:

Please accept my apologies. I was not too specific in my previous post and I feel I need to clarify this statement of mine.


Unlike previous versions, Elements 12 will activate itself. It will do so by checking in with Adobe and making sure everything is valid when you sign in with your Adobe ID. If you ever log out, you will also be deactivating Elements 12 and this program will stop working in 7 days. This is why you always have to stay logged in with your Adobe ID.

RedIris Loc: MN, USA

OH.. ....

I cannot find where it says that anywhere on Adobe web sight. could you post the link to where is says that, specifically?

LFingar Loc: Claverack, NY

I haven't logged into Adobe in several weeks and my Elements 12 works fine. Used it twice this morning. No problems.

Ziza Loc: USA

I was at Barnes & Noble bookstore yesterday and I found this information about logging out, deactivating, stopping working in 7 days in Photoshop Elements 12: The Missing Manual by Barbara Brundage. I did have paper and pencil with me so I wrote down the information. I can't remember the page exactly. I am going back there later on today and I will check it. Also, I am going to check with some Adobe sources to see if this information is posted somewhere online.

By the way, when I first installed Elements 12 I remember a message flashing out on the screen about a 7-day period. I just didn't pay too much attention to it.

Ziza Loc: USA

Are you talking about going to the Adobe site and logging in with your Adobe ID? This is NOT what we are talking about. The 7-day period I talked about in my earlier post relates to signing out of Elements 12 by going to Help>Sign Out.

LFingar Loc: Claverack, NY

Page 594. I have the book on my Nook. It states that you have to create an Adobe ID OR sign in (and be online), or Elements will stop working in 7 days. Apparently, as long as you have already established an Adobe ID the program will recognize that fact even if you are not online. I don't know how you can be online and sign in without an ID, so my guess would be that the only actual requirement is that you have an ID. The only statement in the book that I could find requiring you to be online was during installation.

Ziza Loc: USA

Thanks so much for setting me straight! I am the one now who is confusing everyone else. YOU GOT IT! The program stopping working has to do with the first sign-in (when you install Elements 12). That's why you have to be online when you install this program. Afterwards you need to go online only if you want to use Revel or if you want to download items from the Graphics panel.

I sincerely apologize for the confusion. Don't take this as an excuse on my part but it is very hard to keep up with all these changes Adobe introduces in Elements. Now imagine trying to teach this program when people in the class are using different versions (10, 11, and 12). This is the situation I have to face.

Ziza Loc: USA

I am trying to redeem myself for giving the erroneous information. The information below does not apply to Elements 12. It applies to Elements 11.


In the case of Elements 12, LFingar is the one with the right information.


To make the story short,

Elements 11: No activation > program will run as a trial version for 30 days only.

Elements 12: No signing-in (or in another words, no activation) > program will stop working in 7 days.

LFingar Loc: Claverack, NY

Glad to be of help. No one knows everything about pretty nearly any computer program, much less something as complicated as the photoshop family. Years ago I took a basic Photoshop course. The instructor, who seemed quite competent, was showing us how to use layers. She had us switching layers by clicking on something in the menu or someplace at the top of the page. I discovered that if I clicked on an element in a layer other then the layer I was working on that it would take me to that layer. I asked her why we couldn't switch layers in that manner. She wasn't aware of that feature. So, as I stated, nobody knows it all. Especially me. That's the only thing I remember from the class!