Elements 2022: on a scale of 1-10 how user friendly is this program. I had an earlier version (2013) and it was difficult for me. I am at a point where I need more editing than mac...

paige1209

on a scale of 1-10 how user friendly is this program. I had an earlier version (2013) and it was difficult for me. I am at a point where I need more editing than mac has. Don't want a subscription. I would appreciate your thoughts.

koratcat

With the three editing modes (Quick, Guided, and Expert), I don't think you can get much friendlier unless maybe you have a live teacher standing next to you to talk you through what you're trying to do. Also, most, if not all, things you can click have a small pop-up that explains what the click will accomplish.

All editing programs I've tried seem to have on-line and/or printed help, but with Elements that help is also built right into the program. I'd rate it at 10 for user-friendliness compared to other standalone editors that I've tried. Elements 2022 is what I use for most of the editing I do.

Ysarex Loc: St. Louis

paige1209 wrote:

on a scale of 1-10 how user friendly is this program. I had an earlier version (2013) and it was difficult for me. I am at a point where I need more editing than mac has. Don't want a subscription. I would appreciate your thoughts.

What do you need to edit? What do you shoot and what kind of adjustments do you need to make? Raw files or camera JPEGs?

pbcbob Loc: Delray Beach, FL

IMHO no good editing program is simple or really intuitive. They all require long hours and discipline to master. 20 years using PaintShop and still learning new tricks.

Longshadow Loc: Audubon, PA, United States

pbcbob wrote:

IMHO no good editing program is simple or really intuitive. They all require long hours and discipline to master. 20 years using PaintShop and still learning new tricks.

Linda From Maine Loc: Yakima, Washington

I agree with koratcat about the ease of PS Elements, especially because of those three tab choices for the workspace: basic, guided, expert. My first was 2013 and recently I bought 2022.

There are a ton of YouTube videos available. Just take one task at a time 'til you're comfortable with it. Don't let yourself get to the point of frustration. There is always tomorrow. Or try again after you'ved enjoyed a nice sangria with fresh fruit. Always works for me

CHG_CANON Loc: the Windy City

The interface layout will be changed from 2013 to PSE 2022, but still overall, the same level of complexity. Use utube for video training. That's how I finally learned and started using my copy of PSE 2013, now almost 10 years later.

Bill_de Loc: US

Linda From Maine wrote:

I agree with koratcat about the ease of PS Element... (show quote)

+1

I started with the single digit versions and now have 15 and 20 on my laptop. The guided workspace can be very useful. Under the Help menu there are links to a whole lot more, including "Getting Started".

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Harry0 Loc: Gardena, Cal

paige1209 wrote:

on a scale of 1-10 how user friendly is this program. I had an earlier version (2013) and it was difficult for me. I am at a point where I need more editing than mac has. Don't want a subscription. I would appreciate your thoughts.

You have to do some tutorials!
Youtube is full of freebies.
EVERYthing is easier if you know what you're doing!

One of my favorite sayings from the '60s:
I can talk all day on how to play a piano, but
until your hands are trying out the keyboard
you ain't really learning!

TonyP Loc: New Zealand

koratcat wrote:

With the three editing modes (Quick, Guided, and E... (show quote)

I don't do a lot of editing. Having said that I agree with you for all the reasons you list. As most of my pics (the keepers) are for my website which in the main has a less than critical audience, I shoot jpegs (max quality) and RAW for any pics I might want to get printed.
I'm no expert at working in a lightroom but Elements 22 works for me.

mwsilvers Loc: Central New Jersey

paige1209 wrote:

on a scale of 1-10 how user friendly is this program. I had an earlier version (2013) and it was difficult for me. I am at a point where I need more editing than mac has. Don't want a subscription. I would appreciate your thoughts.

Any software of any kind with as much functionality as Elements has is going to require some degree of a learning curve regardless of how user friendly it is. Having said that Elements is much easier to use then the overwhelming majority of post processing software available and is probably a good choice for you. If you can wait, the 2023 version will probably be available in a month of two. The Guided mode will likely be what you will want to use as you start to learn Elements.

Bill_de Loc: US

Corel Paint shop Pro is another user friendly program. When learning it can be set to provide popup instructions for almost every operation. Once you are comfortable that you understand it, you selectively turn off the help popups.

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Architect1776 Loc: In my mind

paige1209 wrote:

on a scale of 1-10 how user friendly is this program. I had an earlier version (2013) and it was difficult for me. I am at a point where I need more editing than mac has. Don't want a subscription. I would appreciate your thoughts.

I find it very easy.
Open in raw adjust the sliders, then open button and crop and rotate if desired and done.
There are other things and guided takes you through step by step like panorama.
You just have to take a photo and explore with it.
Again, very easy.

dpullum Loc: Tampa Florida

For $12 Elements Plus will open doors in PSE that make it more powerful as an edit program.
https://elementsplus.net/

However Affinity is an excellent choice. My update, after owing Affinity for 5 y was free.
https://forum.affinity.serif.com/index.php?/topic/86848-free-updates-for-life-or-until-another-major-release/

Sidwalkastronomy Loc: New Jersey Shore

I'm just getting time to learn my elements 2020 because I have a new epison eco tank printer 8550. I have to learn a simple easy way to resize my crop sensor images from Canon rebel 77D to different size for printing as I notice them being croped in printing process.
I print them to 8.5 x 11 or 11 x 14 and there must be easy way which is my first step.
What would I look for on you tube? Is there a technical name for this process that would make searching easier.
I took a photoshop class 10 yrs ago and never kept up due to life. Now I'm retired and have time I want to start post processing.
I vaguely remember hold down a key or too while cropping to keep proportions while croping.
Can someone point me in right direction.
I was going to make a new topic asking this but I saw this discussion.
Thanks in advance for help