Review of Photoshop Elements 3.0
Top Deals on Digital Cameras
Photo Printing Services Current Sales & Discounts

Welcome to the latest issue of the Digital Photos 101 Newsletter.

Hope you had a fun and safe Halloween. Since we're heading into the holiday season with lots of picture-taking opportunities, I wanted to tell you about the newly-released Photoshop Elements Version 3.0. It is great software for enhancing and organizing your digital photos, and pretty easy to learn for beginners. There are also some good deals this month on hot new digital cameras and photo printing services.

Photoshop Elements 3.0 Just Released

Adobe Systems just introduced an upgrade to its extremely popular photo editing program, Photoshop Elements. The new 3.0 version still offers many of the features as the more expensive Photoshop software with less of a learning curve. Elements 2.0 was selected as Editors Choice among photo editing software in PC Magazine's August 16, 2004 issue, and version 3.0 will only enhance Photoshop Elements' position as a must-have for digital photo enthusiasts.

New features and enhancements include the Smart Fix function, which automatically detects and corrects color, contrast and lighting or you can use sliders and zooming to give you complete control. Other new features include a Spot Healing Brush and Healing brush, dynamic slideshows, web photo galleries, the capability for using RAW camera files, editable/searchable metadata, more.

A big improvement in this version is enhanced search and organization capabilities. Photoshop Elements 3.0 allows you to organize, sort, preview and rename your photos, with enhanced search using simple-to-apply keyword tags. In addition, you can select pictures to put in a Collection, which acts as your virtual photo album.

The new Photo Browser lets you view your images by timeline, folder location, batch (when you imported a batch of photos) and a "find by history" menu.

Photoshop Elements lets you easily import images from your digital camera, CD or scanner and capture individual frames from a video. With simple-to-use editing tools, you can crop, straighten, remove red-eye, correct the lighting, color or contrast. There are two especially helpful commands, the Fill Flash and Adjust Backlighting, to make tonal corrections. More experienced users can use the Levels dialog box for complete control over these functions.

There is a complete array of special effects filters, as well as editable Layer Effects such as glows and drop-shadows. Using the PhotoMerge stitching tool, you can blend multiple images into a panorama.

All in all, Adobe Photoshop Elements 3.0 is a powerful program with a good balance of features at a reasonable price that is sure to be a hit. Rating: of 5.

Resources to purchase Photoshop Elements 3.0:

Amazon - a $40 rebate brings the price to about $50, with FREE shipping-- a great deal!

Buy.com

Current Specials on Digital Cameras

OVERTURE.COM has great deals on digital cameras, many 30-50% off the list price: Digital Cameras

RITZCAMERA: no tax and free shipping on orders over $100
Rebate Offer: Nikon D70 Digital SLR (Body) - $100 mail-in rebate
Free Gift: Nikon - CoolPix 4100 Digital Camera - $249.99
Free Gift: Canon - PowerShot A75 Digital Camera - $199.99
Free Gift: Nikon CoolPix 3200 Digital Camera - New - $199.99
Rebate Offer: HP Photosmart 145 Photo Printer - Di - $149.99

CIRCUIT CITY: Free shipping on orders over $25
Free 128MB memory card: 4-MP & higher cameras
Save $100 + free 128MB card: Canon Digital Rebel

BUY.COM: $10 OFF $150 or more in Buy.com's Computer Store! New Customers Only. Expires 11-30 Includes digital cameras and software. Plus, buy any digital camera or camcorder and get a $25 certificate from Ofoto. Valid through December 31, 2004.

Digital Photo Services Sales and Discounts

OFOTO: Ofoto.com is offering a 25% discount on photo greeting cards. This is a great chance to get your own personalized holiday cards at a good price. If you are not already an Ofoto member, sign up now (it's free) and use Coupon Code FALL25 when you check out. Good through Nov. 17.

SHUTTERFLY: Shutterfly's Pre-Holiday Sale: 15% off orders and 15 FREE prints. Available through November.

That's it for now. Until next time...

Valerie Goettsch
www.digitalphotos101.com