Photoshop Elements

[blacklabrador]

I have recently switched from iphoto editor on the Mac to Pshop Elements (latest version) on the PC.

Is it just me, am I using it wrong or is the retouch tool total crap? Instead of ending up with smooth skin it looks like they've had a skin graft! I get one freckle split in two and if I keep going I end up with multiple freckles. WTF? It is TOTALLY unusable. Before I go to town on it I will just check that I'm not somehow using it wrongly. I haven't seen such poor retouching since Picasa (a free program) and even then I think it was better.

[anniek]

I'm no help, but just wanted to say that I have the same problem with all of the programs I have tried - I think picasa is better, although you cannot get a straight line!

[Linda K]

when you are using it, how big is the area you are sampling from, are you doing it zoomed in on the photo - for any editing work like that, (I use full version, not elements, but assume that the process is the same), I am zoomed in to at least 200%, maybe more, depending on the area I am working on. I also use it at a low opacity first off, to work up the area, so I can see what I am doing and what I am changing. If you are going too over the top with the editing, yes it will look fake, that is why retouching should be done with a light hand (like most things in editing software - you want the person to see the photo afterall, not what a great cloning / saturation job you did)

[blacklabrador]

when you are using it, how big is the area you are sampling from, are you doing it zoomed in on the photo - for any editing work like that, (I use full version, not elements, but assume that the process is the same), I am zoomed in to at least 200%, maybe more, depending on the area I am working on. I also use it at a low opacity first off, to work up the area, so I can see what I am doing and what I am changing. If you are going too over the top with the editing, yes it will look fake, that is why retouching should be done with a light hand (like most things in editing software - you want the person to see the photo afterall, not what a great cloning / saturation job you did)

No I don't unless I'm doing some really intense concentrated work. I seriously can't correct a bloody freckle with this. I have been using a free program where I can do that easily.

I will give it a go though, thanks for the suggestion.

[Linda K]

with the free program, have you actually then ever printed up anything you have done the retouching with - as someone who works in the field, I have printed images up to 30" x 40" that I have used the clone tool on, and you cannot see where I have done it - I would never clone though wihout zooming in, you will do far too much pixel daage otherwise

[blacklabrador]

with the free program, have you actually then ever printed up anything you have done the retouching with - as someone who works in the field, I have printed images up to 30" x 40" that I have used the clone tool on, and you cannot see where I have done it - I would never clone though wihout zooming in, you will do far too much pixel daage otherwise

Yep no worries. iPhoto is an excellent program. When I say free, I mean it's included with the computer.