Does PS Elements have a "curves function"?

PS-Elements through Version 3 (I do not know about 4 & 5) did not have curves.

However, Richard Lynch’s book and CD plug-in "The Hidden Power of Photoshop Elements 3" adds access to the curves function as well as Masking, Color Separations, Channels, Clipping Paths and other functions. The package runs around $40 as I recall and greatly increases the range of power of PS-Elements 3.

ISBN 0-7821-4385-7

Also look at his web site: www.hiddenelements.com

HTH Lee

William-Charity Gourley wrote:

In an article on "Of Color and Composition" (Sky & Telescope magazine, April 2006, p. 94-96), the PS "curves function" is used to correct the off-balance color of astronomical images.

Does the PS-"lite" (Elements) have that function?

Yes, Photoshop Elements 5 does have a curve function, but it’s more limited than the one Photoshop has. You can only make general shapes using sliders, not every shape you want by using points on the curve.

—
Johan W. Elzenga johan<<at>>johanfoto.nl Editor / Photographer http://www.johanfoto.com

"Lee O." wrote in message

PS-Elements through Version 3 (I do not know about 4 & 5) did not have curves.

However, Richard Lynch’s book and CD plug-in "The Hidden Power of Photoshop Elements 3" adds access to the curves function as well as Masking, Color Separations, Channels, Clipping Paths and other functions. The package runs around $40 as I recall and greatly increases the range of power of PS-Elements 3.

ISBN 0-7821-4385-7

Also look at his web site: www.hiddenelements.com

HTH Lee

Lee, thanks for the prompt reply. I’ll follow Lynch’s site for awhile to see what I can learn. He is a busy man.
William

"Johan W. Elzenga" wrote in message

William-Charity Gourley wrote:

In an article on "Of Color and Composition" (Sky & Telescope magazine, April
2006, p. 94-96), the PS "curves function" is used to correct the off-balance
color of astronomical images.

Does the PS-"lite" (Elements) have that function?

Yes, Photoshop Elements 5 does have a curve function, but it’s more limited than the one Photoshop has. You can only make general shapes using sliders, not every shape you want by using points on the curve.

—
Johan W. Elzenga johan<<at>>johanfoto.nl Editor / Photographer http://www.johanfoto.com

Johan, thanks for the reply.
I wonder if there is a difference between a curve tool (used to draw curves) and a curve function (used to change the color balance of an image)? The function mentioned in the article I referenced is used to modify the color of images.

Thanks for your help.
William

In message <1hymekm.1mu0t7wm6xigsN%>, Johan W.
Elzenga writes

William-Charity Gourley wrote:

In an article on "Of Color and Composition" (Sky & Telescope magazine, April 2006, p. 94-96), the PS "curves function" is used to correct the off-balance color of astronomical images.

Does the PS-"lite" (Elements) have that function?

Yes, Photoshop Elements 5 does have a curve function, but it’s more limited than the one Photoshop has. You can only make general shapes using sliders, not every shape you want by using points on the curve.

Yes, I waited for Elements 5 (upgrading from v1) for the curves, and found them a great disappointment. Occasionally useful but not the panacea I was looking for.

Mike

[The reply-to address is valid for 30 days from this posting] —
Michael J Davis
http://www.trustsof.demon.co.uk
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William-Charity wrote:

I wonder if there is a difference between
a curve tool (used to draw curves) and a
curve function (used to change the color
balance of an image)?

Apples and bananas. The curve ‘tool’ is indeed used for drawing curved lines, while the curve ‘function’ is used to tweak the color balance.

I’m sure Mike "Curvemeister" will chime in here with some excellent advice. Keep watching this space.

Lee O.

William-Charity Gourley wrote:

Yes, Photoshop Elements 5 does have a curve function, but it’s more limited than the one Photoshop has. You can only make general shapes using sliders, not every shape you want by using points on the curve.

Johan, thanks for the reply.
I wonder if there is a difference between a curve tool (used to draw curves) and a curve function (used to change the color balance of an image)? The function mentioned in the article I referenced is used to modify the color of images.

In Photoshop you can indeed draw a curve, but that is something hardly anybody uses, I guess. The difference between Photoshop and Photoshop Elements is that in Photoshop you can give the curve any shape you want, because you can add as many points as you want. In Photoshop Elements you use sliders, which is the same as a curve where you can only add thee points, and those points are fixed at a 25%, 50% and 75% position. Also, in Photoshop Elements you cannot change individual color channel curves if I remember correctly. I do not know the article you are referring to, so I can’t judge if the Photoshop Elements curve can be used for that tutorial.

—
Johan W. Elzenga johan<<at>>johanfoto.nl Editor / Photographer http://www.johanfoto.com

"Lee O." wrote in message

William-Charity wrote:

I wonder if there is a difference between
a curve tool (used to draw curves) and a
curve function (used to change the color
balance of an image)?

Apples and bananas. The curve ‘tool’ is indeed used for drawing curved lines, while the curve ‘function’ is used to tweak the color balance.
I’m sure Mike "Curvemeister" will chime in here with some excellent advice. Keep watching this space.

Thanks for the mention. Yes, a good percentage of my customers are Elements folks. There’s a demo version and more info at the site. —
Mike Russell
www.curvemeister.com