Photoshop Elements v3 for PC

But (and for me it's a very big BUT) it has some incredible bugs that leave me tearing my hair out with frustration. Other posters have suggested Adobe rushed this product out - I would agree - they have not tested this product thoroughly enough, and are not quick to fix serious bugs. The two big problems for me are:

1. The help system does not work with Windows XP SP2 - which is the version of XP that many people now use (all new PCs will come with this version of XP). I cannot get help to work at all from within the application.

2. The 'backup your image catalog' feature does not work if you backup to DVD. This is the feature that allows you to safely backup your precious images to removable media - pretty fundamental and important stuff. I have just spent several hours, and several trashed DVD disks trying to get this to work - it doesn't. I searched on the user forums on the Adobe site only to find many others who have found this bug - acknowledged by Adobe, but no fix at present.

I have applied the latest update to the product - to version 3.0.1.

My suggestion would be for existing frustrated users to vent their feelings in forums like this (I feel better already), and for prospective users to either look elsewhere, or wait for Adobe to get Elements 3 right.

Then came the digital revolution, which changed everything overnight. By the early nineties, there were a number of applications, "photo editing suites", available, each with their own strengths and weaknesses. It wasn't unusual for a professional to have three or four of these programmes installed and to use them all.

Or, if you were clever, you would get Photoshop, the undisputed champion, and an Apple computer, by which time you would be bankrupt. How things have changed.

Adobe has shown us why they are the market leaders: they know what the market wants, and then come up with unbeatable software. When Photoshop was released, it set a standard. It has been the benchmark since day one, and continues to be. But it is outrageously expensive and very, very complicated, even to full time users.

That is where "Elements" comes in. Created for amateurs, fit for professionals.

Elements 3.0 is GREAT for amateurs and hobbyists because:
* you get FANTASTIC value for money - Elements 3.0 compares very favourably with everything else available in terms of features;
* it was designed with beginners in mind - Elements 3.0 has an interface option where most of the things an ordinary person would want to do is automated. It is simple to use and works really well. Plus, the tutorials are really good, and a first time user will be able to achieve impressive results within an hour or so.
* it is the perfect stepping stone - if you decide to upgrade to the full Photoshop one day, you will already know how much of it works. Many of Elements' features are identical to Photoshop, because it is based on Photoshop, but easier to learn.
* you don't miss out on anything - if you are not a serious professional, you will not even miss the Photoshop features which were omitted from this "younger brother", as it has enough features to keep you busy for quite a while. (If you are in the printing trade and need to do stuff like colour seperations though, you will have to opt for the full version instead).

If you enjoy photography, or tinkering with photographs, this is the best way to see how the professionals do it without having to sell your house. We use this for all but the most demanding jobs in our professional studio, with great results. Do not even consider getting anything else because nothing comes close.

By the way: If you have Elements 2 but are considering upgrading to Elements 3.0, do it. There are enough improvements to justify the purchase -- get the demo from Adobe's website and see for yourself.

A worthy purchase which is bound to give you a renewed interest in photography.

The Quick Fix view works really well and I love the way I can view "before and after" versions at the same time to see the improvements my adjustments are making as I go along.

The Photo Browser is brilliant, full of options and for me it works just as well as expensive packages like Extensis Portfolio but is more user-friendly. I could rave about it all day.

The ability to create calendars, web pages and slide shows is a nice touch for those interested in that sort of thing but what I like is that I can archive my photos onto CD directly from inside Elements.

Oh, and I should mention that this is a nifty photo editor too! It doesn't have some of the high-end stuff of Photoshop CS, but then you shouldn't expect it for such a comparatively low price. Having said that, several of the features in Elements 3 aren't included in Photoshop CS, so I'll be happily making the most of both applications from now on.

All in all I'm really chuffed with Photoshop Elements 3 and I'm really glad I've been given the chance to discover what it can offer. HIGHLY recommended!