Photoshop Elements 2021 for Dummies (For Dummies (Computer/Tech))

Technically, the process of learning and using Photoshop Elements 2021 seems to be reasonably complete in this book. The list of contents, index and organization of material make this book easy to navigate and useful as either a learning tool or reference.My concerns are editorial. Having worked as a technical writer, editor and publisher for more than 50 years, my experience has been guided by unadorned, direct use of language to describe technical subject matter. Unlike books intended to entertain, the objective is to focus the reader’s attention on the point at hand. Factors that distract from reader comprehension are as follows:1. Informal, matter-of-fact style. Example (p.165): “It’s time for a seventh-inning stretch in this chapter on selection tools.” The sentence serves no purpose. Rather than an implicit break, the authors go on to describe another complex operation. Metaphors, clichés, trite expressions, general wordiness, they all need to be avoided. Perhaps this casual style is a requisite for Dummies books, but it distracts from the reader’s focus on the process.2. Lack of tool illustrations. The authors can use two or more sentences to describe the button for a tool, when a simple picture of the button would be better. A neophyte can’t make the association between a tool and its symbol, and often has to leaf through the book trying to find out what is being described. A picture is worth a thousand words – maybe even more for students.3. Often judgmental. This is generally favorable of Photoshop Elements features, ‘You’re really going to like this.’ However, the authors’ opinions can be misleading. For example, in describing the Magnetic Lasso tool (p. 159), “We aren’t huge fans of this Lasso tool…” Frankly, this reviewer found the magnetic characteristic to be particularly useful, especially if you lack a steady hand. Simply state the pros and cons of a feature and let the reader decide.The market value, hence the utility of this type of book is necessarily tied to the technology it covers, in this case a computer application. Next year a revised application will be available, and the value of all previous versions and their supporting documentation will diminish. Understanding this, the books must be prepared and published quickly. The wonder is not that they do it reasonably well, but that they manage to do it at all.

For a moderate user of Photoshop CS6, and Lightroom (6.14), I've using PS Elements 15 & earlier exclusively for importing my images & videos, tagging and grouping as they are imported. I recently upgraded to PS Elements & Premiere 2021. The programs are wonderful, but complex. This book covers so much on the images, with brief notes on the Premiere Video editing. With this book, I'm learning new things about the various options and features. Using the Kindle edition, it's easy to search and finding answers to different topics. My only issue, and it's not directly related to the book, is that the newer version of Adobe Camera Raw Ver13.0x is not covered, purely a timing issue, because the newer downloads of the PSE application includes the 13.0x version, and this book only covers Ver 12.x of ACR. It's a significant a upgrade from 12.xExcellent Chapter list after intro.

My husband needed an updated version of this book which he had been checking out of our local library. He is learning a lot.

I understand almost everything I read. Decent index.

Provides a comprehensive review of nearly every available feature in clear and easy to understand terms. Well organized and easy to follow. Well priced, too, and worth every penny.

Still more technical than I need. I need a take my hand and show me how to use photo shop.Will continue to look for a simple, very easy, not complicated help.

This sure came in handy when I was trying to resize a pic for sublimation..

This was a supposedly "used" book, but it's like brand new! Less expensive than new, but just as good.

I purchased Photoshop Elements last year and still in a learning process. I think this book is really going to help! Easy to understand lingo. Watching how-to videos works, but having a book really helps.

I was a fairly competent user of Photoshop back in the 90's. The technology has moved on enormously since then so after my retirement I bought Photoshop Element 2021. It's unbelievable how much the software has improved - and this is the simplified version!. If you are not a professional user I would suggest that this book provides a bottom line instruction for using the software. I'm still learning and would hope I can progress to the full version of Photoshop (If I can ever afford it) but as an initial introduction to what you can do with your photos, I highly recommend this book. In this lockdown climate I guarantee you will have many hours of constructive learning.

I found this easier to read than some of the earlier photoshop for dummies editions. I've looked up several things already - successfully.

Excellent well written book, Ideal for both novice and seasoned photographer. I have had several tutorial books on Elements but this is by far the best.

Very helpful written in an easy to understand way!