Getting Started with Photoshop Elements

Follow this simple guide to begin your photo editing journey with Adobe Photoshop Elements.

1

Install Photoshop Elements

Download and install the software on your computer.

  1. Go to the Adobe Photoshop Elements website.

  2. Click on the "Download" or "Free Trial" button.

  3. Follow the on-screen instructions to download the installer file.

  4. Double-click the downloaded file to start the installation process.

  5. Follow the installation wizard to complete the setup on your computer.

  6. Launch Photoshop Elements from your desktop or start menu.

2

Explore the Interface

Get familiar with the main workspace and tools.

When you first open Photoshop Elements, you'll see two main workspaces:

Elements Organizer

This is where you can import, view, and organize all your photos.

  • Import photos from your camera, phone, or computer
  • Create albums to organize related photos
  • Add tags and ratings to make photos easy to find
  • Search for specific photos by date, people, or places

Photo Editor

This is where you'll edit and enhance your photos.

  • Three editing modes: Quick, Guided, and Expert
  • Toolbox with selection, retouching, and drawing tools
  • Layers panel for working with multiple elements
  • Effects, filters, and textures to enhance photos
3

Import Your Photos

Add your existing photos to Photoshop Elements.

Before you can edit your photos, you need to import them into Photoshop Elements:

Importing from Your Computer

  1. Open the Elements Organizer
  2. Click on "Import" in the top left corner
  3. Select "From Files and Folders"
  4. Browse to find the photos you want to import
  5. Select the photos and click "Open"
  6. Choose your import options (such as automatic red-eye fix)
  7. Click "Import" to add them to your catalog

Importing from a Camera or Phone

  1. Connect your camera or phone to your computer
  2. Open the Elements Organizer
  3. Click on "Import" in the top left corner
  4. Select "From Camera or Card Reader"
  5. Follow the prompts to select and import your photos

Tip: Create separate catalogs for different years or events to keep your photos organized and make Photoshop Elements run faster.

4

Try Your First Edit

Make a simple enhancement to one of your photos.

Let's try a simple edit using the Guided mode, which is perfect for beginners:

  1. In the Elements Organizer, select a photo you want to edit

  2. Click the "Editor" button in the bottom panel

  3. Make sure "Guided" is selected at the top of the screen

  4. From the right panel, under "Basics," select "Crop Photo"

  5. Follow the on-screen instructions to crop your photo

  6. Click "Next" to try another guided edit, such as "Brightness and Contrast"

  7. When you're happy with your edits, click "Save" or "Save As" to preserve your changes

Popular Guided Edits to Try:

  • Brightness and Contrast
  • Remove Red Eye
  • Recompose Photo
  • Perfect Portrait
  • Add Text to Photo
  • Restore Old Photo
  • Remove Unwanted Objects
  • Create Photo Collage

Next Steps

Now that you've completed the basic setup, you're ready to dive deeper into Photoshop Elements. Here are some suggested next steps:

System Requirements

Windows

  • Windows 10 or 11 (64-bit versions)
  • 2 GHz or faster processor
  • 8 GB of RAM (16 GB recommended)
  • 5.2 GB of available hard-disk space
  • 1280x800 display resolution
  • Microsoft DirectX 12 compatible display driver
  • Internet connection for installation and updates

Mac

  • macOS 10.15 through macOS 12
  • 2 GHz or faster processor
  • 8 GB of RAM (16 GB recommended)
  • 4.5 GB of available hard-disk space
  • 1280x800 display resolution
  • Internet connection for installation and updates