The point of this publication is that you don't need to have extensive experience before starting out in the world of photo editing. That was the premise of the original Adobe application many versions ago, and today, that idea, with the introduction of so many new AI-driven features, is stronger than ever.

That said, it would be immensely useful to have a fundamental knowledge of how computers operate, including Mac or Windows operating systems, and perhaps an inkling of basic image editing, just to get started. Also, be prepared to experiment with your images as much as you have the time for. It's the best way to learn.

Develop a network of friends or mentors who might be able to help you if you get stuck. To do this, you may find that it's a good idea to join a camera club in order to get help with both your photography and post-processing questions.

Above all, have fun, and experiment as much as you can.

Download the color images

We will provide all the color images and screenshots/diagrams used in the book for you to practice. You can download it here: https://packt.link/mCdiK.

You can also find the image bundle here: https://github.com/PacktPublishing/Mastering-Adobe-Photoshop-Elements-2023-Fifth-Edition.

Conventions used

There are a number of text conventions used throughout this book.

Code in text: Indicates code words in text, database table names, folder names, filenames, file extensions, pathnames, dummy URLs, user input, and Twitter handles. Here is an example: "TIFF files can end up being larger than the same file saved in the .psd format."

Bold: Indicates a new term, an important word, or words that you see onscreen. For example, words in menus or dialog boxes appear in the text like this. Here is an example: "Start the program and from the Home Screen, click the Organizer button."

Tips or important notes

Appear in boxes like this.