For instance, if a user purchases Photoshop Elements 8 for its editing and slideshow capabilities, will they intuitively know that the "Full Screen" button is one of two ways to create a slideshow; especially when there's no clear indication of that until after you click the button? And without a clear "import" button, how many will figure out that the "get photos and videos" option is located under "file"? How awkward is it that imported files aren't categorized by the day they were imported or that if a user imports two files twenty minutes apart, only the last import is viewable in the import window?
This is the man "hub" of the Organizer. From here you can pretty much find and do everything - except import files.
Depth of Options
Photoshop Elements 8 comes with quite a few new features and enhancements. Three of the features that I was most interested in were the Auto-Analyzer, People Recognition, and tags feature.
As the name implies, the Auto-Analyzer automatically analyzes imported photos and then applies tags according to image quality, type of focus, number of faces, number of objects, contrast, brightness, blur and framing. As for the tags feature, it provides an extra level of order for those unsatisfied with just creating libraries, and when used in conjunction with the "cloud" feature, an aggregate of all of the previously used tags is created, with the most used appearing as the largest text.
Libraries can be easily converted into slide shows via the Full Screen mode, which also allows on-the-spot access to basic editing tools such as levels, contrast, red eye reduction and sharpening tools. Music and transition effects can also be easily selected and applied.
Easily two of the best features of Photoshop Elements 8 - the side-by-side comparison and preview grid really make photo editing a breeze.
Another nice feature is the online synchronization. As part of the installation and authorization process, an Adobe ID is created and the user is provided with 2GB of online storage space (upgradeable to 20GB at an additional cost). Rather than having to carry storage devices, this feature allows for the backup and storage of files saved in the Elements Organizer via the host computer; allowing the user to access their files from any computer with an internet connection and Elements 8 installed. This online capability also allows the user to create slideshows and presentations that are easily transferred via email.
Photoshop Elements 8 also offers a "Quick Edit" feature, within the Organizer, that allows users to edit files using before and after comparisons, as well as a 9-stop, preview grid; which shows the result of the applied edit before applying it. While not as robust as the "Full Edit" mode, "Quick Edit" does offer basic color, contrast, temperature, tint, and sharpness editing.
