Go ahead... don't be afraid... get creative!

My regular ol' rose photo became my sidebar graphic
using Adobe Photoshop Elements

I've had such positive comments about my new self-created blog template that I decided to share my "secret"--Adobe Photoshop Elements.

Now hold on... I can tell some of you are getting ready to phase out at the mention of the "scary" PHOTOSHOP!

Not so fast... take your cursor away from the back button.

I have to admit that even as a trained graphic artist, Adobe Photoshop Elements was the only way that I could get excited about the Photoshop product. There were two reasons:

1. Photoshop Elements was the only thing I could afford
2. The full version of Photoshop was just too dang scary (THERE! I said it!)

Adobe decided a few years ago to offer a less expensive and less "scary" version of Photoshop to users that aren't graphics and photo professionals. What they created was Adobe Photoshop Elements. It has the best features of the full version without the hefty price or intimidating interface. The developers made effects, borders, and frames available with one click of a button so that digital scrapbookers, artists, bloggers, and photo hobbyists could enjoy the great effects without the time-consuming learning curve.

A year ago, I got my copy of the software bundled with Adobe Premiere Elements (the scaled down version of their video editing software), and it cost me less than $100 USD (actually less than $50 USD with a sale and rebate combo I took advantage of). That took care of the first reason why I didn't have it.

Once I got the software home and loaded on my PC, it was so user-friendly that I could navigate around without feeling intimidated. Just by poking around and playing, I taught myself the software. I ventured into my own projects and learned as I went (I learn better that way).

After about a year of navigating my way around in Photoshop Elements, I recently ventured into the territory of its big brother/sister, Adobe Photoshop CS3. This week I've been immersed in self-training through book tutorials, CDs, online videos, and supplementary specialty publications. I'm so immersed that I'm dreaming in layers, palettes and menus.

Here's the funny thing...

I still go back to Elements. Here I am immersed in training on the "Mac Daddy" of photo editing software and just today I went back to Elements to create a new desktop (wallpaper) image for my computer. Why I feel guilty, I'll never know... they're both Adobe products. I'm not "cheating" on anyone.

Anyway...

The photo of my Abraham Darby rose that started out looking like this...

...turned into an image with a vintage/sun-faded look
(perfect for my computer desktop)
with just a couple of easy clicks.

So fun. So easy. So rewarding!

Okay, have I convinced you to be brave and create? I hope so. It's easier than it seems.

For Windows
or
Adobe Photoshop Elements for Mac