By Gadjo Cardenas Sevilla
Adobe Systems Incorporated recently announced Adobe Photoshop Elements 9 & Adobe Premiere Elements 9 for Windows and Mac, the newest release of their leading consumer photo- and video-editing software. We were invited by Adobe Canada to preview the new releases (video, above). We have our first impresssions and details.
Available as standalone products or as a single retail package, the Photoshop Elements 9 and Adobe Premiere Elements 9 bundle offers the most complete photo and video editing solution delivering two powerful yet easy-to-use products at a very compelling price point. This release also brings Premiere Elements to the Mac platform for the first time.
“For the first time, both Windows and Mac users can do more with their photos and video with Photoshop Elements 9 and Premiere Elements 9 bundle – a unified solution for all photo and video needs,” said Kevin Connor, vice president of product management for Digital Imaging, Adobe. “With industry-leading products like Photoshop and Premiere Pro in the family, Photoshop Elements and Premiere Elements are uniquely positioned to leverage the technology the pros use. Our goal is to deliver our customers intelligent and accessible features that do all the heavy lifting, empowering them to easily share high-impact memories with friends and family.”
Adobe's Colin Smith demos Adobe Photoshop Elements 9 and Adobe Premiere Elements 9Impressions
During a recent pre-release preview event, Adobe's Colin Smith previewed some of the new features of the Photoshop Elements 9 and Premiere Elements 9 bundle. We were impressed by the simplicity of managing complex photo management and editing functions as well as the applications' intuitive flow.
The use of content-aware fill technology that Adobe debuted in Photoshop works great with Photoshop Elements specially with removing distractions from photos as well as enabling stitched panorama images. Complex operations that would take multiple steps in the past now are quickly enabled and look incredibly professional.
Premiere Elements 9, now challenges Apple's own iMovie as a consumer video editing and distribution solution. We were particularly impressed by the Web DVD feature which allows users to replicate the experience of DVD menus, chapters and themes on a web-hosted version of the video. Look out for a more comprehensive review of both products in the coming weeks.
Create Compelling Photos and Videos with Groundbreaking Features
Photoshop Elements 9 and Premiere Elements 9 feature all the tools users need to make the most of their photos and videos. Adapted from Photoshop CS5’s celebrated Content Aware Fill feature, the content intelligence in the Spot Healing Brush analyzes what’s in the image and quickly de-clutters or repairs photos (like removing tourists from a crowded scene) with a swipe of a brush, magically filling in the background. Several new Guided Edit options walk users step-by-step through the process of achieving cool editing effects such as Out of Bounds, making an element of a photo appear to leap off the page in 3D, creating pop art masterpieces, or retouching made easy via the perfect portraits feature.
With Premiere Elements 9, users can create movies in just minutes with the help of intelligent tools that automatically fix audio problems, trim away bad footage, stabilize shaky shots and correct bad color and lighting problems. Any video can simply be turned into an animated film with Cartoon Effects, and optimized performance makes editing and viewing smooth, even in HD.
Improved Organization and Sharing
With Premiere Elements, it is easier than ever to upload and import from popular Flip Video camcorders and DSLR cameras. The Organizer allows users to tag and view photos and videos in one central place. The Auto-Analyzer helps users tag the best photos and videos and also identifies specific faces in photos. Users can quickly post photos and videos directly to Facebook, combine media together into dynamic interactive Online Albums, and create an online DVD-like viewing experience to share with friends and family. Users can customize flexible scrapbook and photo book layout designs, with drag-and-drop simplicity, for automatic placement of photos within a template or easy access to any Photoshop Elements editing feature from directly within the software. Creations can then be printed at home or through an online print service provider.
Plus Extends Software Capabilities
For added convenience, now Photoshop Elements 9 and Adobe Premiere Elements 9 Windows and Mac users have the option to purchase Plus, which offers 20GB of storage for automatic online backup and sharing (up to 15,000 photos or four hours of DVD-quality video), as well as ongoing deliveries of new tutorials, artwork and interactive online templates sent directly to the desktop software. A benefit to all Photoshop Elements users is virtually anywhere access to photos and videos online or via select mobile devices at Photoshop.com.
Pricing and Availability
Adobe Photoshop Elements 9 & Adobe Premiere Elements 9 software for Windows and Mac is available now at www.adobe.com, and will be available soon at retail outlets such as Amazon.com, Apple (Mac only), Best Buy, Costco, Fry’s, New Egg, Office Depot and Office Max. The bundle is available for a suggested retail price of US$149.99, and users can purchase Plus from within the product for US$49.99/year. Plus is available in the U.S. only. Photoshop Elements 9 and Premiere Elements 9 software for Windows and Mac are available as stand-alone products for a suggested retail price of US$99.99
Information about other language versions, as well as pricing, upgrade and support policies for other countries is available at www.adobe.com/go/psepre_bundle. For free training videos on Photoshop Elements and Premiere Elements, visit Adobe TV at http://tv.adobe.com.