Adobe launches Photoshop Elements software for photo enthusiasts

With powerful tools, an intuitive interface, and an affordable price, Adobe Photoshop Elements combines the power of Photoshop with customised features that enable users to freely explore their creativity while mastering the elements of digital imaging.

Photoshop Elements delivers powerful features for quickly performing the necessary steps to retouch images while mastering the essentials of using professional image editing tools. The unique Hints palette provides context-sensitive illustrations and tips that help users learn to use the sophisticated Photoshop tools and palettes. The exclusive Recipes palette interactively teaches more complex editing techniques for task-oriented activities and can be updated with fresh content over the Web.

Photoshop Elements satisfies users' creative urges with more visual access to existing features, as well as useful new capabilities not available in competitive products. For example, Adobe Photomerge technology automatically arranges and blends multiple photos into panoramas by re-sizing and skewing any portion of the images to fit seamlessly together into a single image. The Filter Browser lets users visually scan the 95-plus special effects filters then drag and drop the desired filter onto an image to apply it. Previews save time on trial and error by letting users immediately see the effect of a filter on an image.

Photoshop Elements software also provides flexible image capture and output options. Users can work with images from digital cameras, traditional cameras and scanners and prepare them for posting on the Web, ordering prints online, or outputting their images to a desktop printer. For posting photos to the

Web, the Save for Web command and Web Photo Gallery help users optimise their photos for screen viewing. In the US, customers can also use the integrated, award-winning Shutter fly service to take advantage of Web-based photo printing and send high-quality, personalised prints and photo greeting cards to friends and family.

When printing to the desktop, Photoshop Elements saves time and money with its unique Picture Package feature that maximises the use of expensive photo-quality paper by formatting multiple copies of a photo on a single page.

In the UK, Adobe Photoshop Elements for Windows 98, 98 Release 2, ME, 2000, NT 4.0, and Macintosh OS 8.6, 9.0, 9.0.4 and 9.1 is expected to ship in the second quarter of FY01. The product will retail at an estimated street price of 93. Visit http://www.adobe.co.uk/products/photoshopel/main.html   or call 020 8606 4001.