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Photoshop Element's main aim is to make it easy to take either digital or traditional photos and prepare them for print, email or the Web. It will not be replacing PhotoDeluxe, the template-based image editor that comes bundled with many scanners and digital cameras. Rather, Adobe expects customers who have outgrown the templates and guided activities in PhotoDeluxe, but for whom the professional version of Photoshop is out of reach, to upgrade to Photoshop Elements. However, the Mac version of PhotoDeluxe has not been upgraded since 1998, and it is likely that Elements will quickly become the image editor of choice for bundling deals, although none have been announced as yet.

As well as including a number of powerful Photoshop features such as darkroom tools, the history

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palette and support for Photoshop plug-ins, Elements has a number of unique, consumer-oriented features such as a red-eye reduction and colour cast correction tools. A Quick Start screen is displayed on launch providing users with easy access to frequently used features, and a Hints palette provides context-sensitive tips and illustrations.

The Adobe Photomerge feature automatically blends multiple images to create panoramas, and images can easily be uploaded to the Shutterfly.com web site where users can order prints and greeting cards. Elements also takes some of Photoshop's more consumer-oriented features, such as the warping tool, the magic eraser and the web photo gallery, which has been updated to allow customisable templates. Elements also includes GIF animation tools, 3D effects such as drop shadows, bevels and glows, and Web optimisation options.

As with Photoshop, the initial release of Photoshop Elements will not be Carbonized to run native in Mac OS X, owing to constraints caused by the release schedule of the OS, according to Adobe. However Adobe assures that it will run smoothly in OS X's Classic environment.

Photoshop Elements is due to ship in early April. The UK price has yet to be finalised but it is expected to be around £70, with a rebate for registered users of Photoshop LE and PhotoDeluxe.