Upgraded to Photoshop Elements 8

[NicoleScraps]

I am waiting for my computer to be fixed. I decided that when I get it back, I wanted to upgrade from Vista to Windows 7. As I was looking at the software in Costco, they also had PSE 8 so I grabbed that too. I use PSE 7, but I noticed that 8 has a new photo merge feature that looks like it might be for combining bracketed shots. Is anyone familiar with this? It looks pretty cool.
It also has that new recompose feature. I can't wait to get my computer back to play again. I am seriously having withdrawels!
Another question, does PSE 8 have a RAW processor? Or am I going to need to get the add-on plug-in thing from adobe?
Thanks so much!

[KingBubbaTruck]

I'm a really, really new PSE8 user, as I just bought and downloaded it on Friday.

On my machine at least, I was able to open up Canon Raw files without downloading anything extra (at least that I know of...).

Now if I can just figure out how to use this thing...

[LeeR]

Merging the same image with different exposures is what HDR does, however, Adobe calls it "Photomerge Exposure" in PSE8. In PS we combine several images like this using masks or "tone maps" but those tools are not available in PSE8. What they have given you instead is a rudimetary tool that will accomplish much the same effect, with the program doing most of the heavy lifting in the background. I found a really helpful video on YouTube that should point you in the right direction.

[NicoleScraps]

Originally Posted by LeeR

Merging the same image with different exposures is what HDR does, however, Adobe calls it "Photomerge Exposure" in PSE8. In PS we combine several images like this using masks or "tone maps" but those tools are not available in PSE8. What they have given you instead is a rudimetary tool that will accomplish much the same effect, with the program doing most of the heavy lifting in the background. I found a really helpful video on YouTube that should point you in the right direction.

Thanks! It's a starting point at least, even if it is rudimentary. Honestly, I am not too much in love with the HDR look. I think might utilize this feature if I were trying to photography a scene with difficult/ varying lighting more so than doing the intense HDR work.

It does process RAW though and I was super happy about that...until I pulled a RAW file off of my camera and saw that it was almost 20 mb. Good lord what am I going to do with files that big? Probably have to buy a half dozen EHDs.

[candidrachel]

Hey Nicole you and me seem to be on the same page. I upgraded to PS E8 not that long ago and I'd like to recommend The Photoshop Elements 8 book for Digital Photographers by Scott Kelby. Its a great book and he explains and walks you through in a really easy way most editing situations that you may find your self doing.