Pixels for the people: new software for photo hobbyists

By Peter Zschunke Oct 17, 2010, 4:06 GMT

Berlin - Computer photo programmes have always represented a sort of virtual darkroom for hobby photographers.

But now, with manipulating digital photos getting easier all the time, tasks that were once best left to the professionals are now common parts of home photo finishing applications. That means, it's time to let your creative juices run free.

In its newest version, Adobe Photoshop Elements packs some applications that used to be the exclusive domain of professional programmes like Photoshop.

For example, there's the Layer Mask, that lets change be laid like a mask upon the original, which remains unaltered. Or there's a correction tool, which can be used to remove unwanted elements. The empty spaces are then filled in with a background matching the rest of the picture.

But Elements is aimed at the home user, says Adobe advisor Sven Brencher.

'What's important is the balance between ease of use and comprehensive editing possibilities.' And there are new features to version 9, like a function for portraits and connections to social networks.

With a recommended price of 99 euros (138 dollars), Elements is in the mid-range of photo-manipulation programmes, which range from hundreds of euros to free open source alternatives like Gimp.

Gimp is certainly the cheapest option, says graphic designer Jens Warnke. 'But I think Photoshop Elements is better for beginners, since it's easier to understand.'

The Organizer function is there to make sure Photoshop Elements remains easy to understand.

If photos from another programme already come with identifying words, Organizer takes those on and displays all similarly identified pictures in a group. This lets users see which identifiers are used most commonly. Additional filters can further limit the choice of photos.

Additionally, all photos are automatically analysed based on criteria like lighting, contrast and sharpness and given so-called Smart Tags which point out which pictures are 'too dark,' 'wobbly' or have 'faces.' Depending on the results, the pictures are then sorted into three categories: low, medium and high quality.

The function is useful for a first sorting. But, if there are doubts, more sorting must be done manually.

When it's time to actually edit a picture, the programme supports amateurs with a variety of assistants, such as one for portraits.

Here, the user is taken step by step through topics like facial skin colour with options for editing. Small pimples can be removed with an editing tool, while eyebrows and eyelashes can be darkened. The whole face can even be slimmed down.

Out of Bounds is a new effect that gives the picture a frame, over which a part of the original spills.

Also new is the Lomo effect, named for the aesthetic of the legendary Russian camera. Another function allows one to pick a reference photo, so its colour composition and contrast can be carried over to a photo being edited.

Elements hits its limits when it comes to the colour palette. Only 256 values visible to the eye (8 bits) are available. In cases of major changes, colours may act irregularly. Those might not be so noticeable in a 16-bit programme.

Elements also does not allow geotagging, the practice of giving a picture a digital tag to the place on the map where it was taken. To make up for that, Google's free Picasa programme has that service.

An alternative for private use that also has 16-bit colour depth is Paintshop Pro X3 from Corel, which retails at 89 euros. For basic work like matching contrast and brightness, XnView is also recommended and it's free for private use. As a viewer, it supports 400 graphic formats.

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