We take a lot of photos of our pets. I mean, a LOT of photos. But all too often, the background isn’t right or the dog blinked or the cat decided to move before we could capture the perfect instant.
Over the years, I’ve become a little too reliant on my phone for photo editing. I’ve become a master at free online editing programs, but in the end, there are just certain times you need to use a heavy-duty program.
That’s why I was grateful for the opportunity to try out Photoshop Elements 2020. While it’s only $100 to purchase (only $69.99 at Best Buy), we didn’t want to invest in a massive program that we would only use once a year. I can say that after fixing a series of install issues, it’s a program that we will happily renew. But first, a little about why we say that.
Disclaimer: The reviewer has been compensated in the form of a Best Buy Gift Card and/or received the product.
Why a Hobbyist Needs Photoshop Elements 2020
With Photoshop Elements 2020, it’s easy to create your own media, organize photos, create a slideshow or make edits to your pet’s photos. But it can do so much more than that. Here’s a quick look at our favorite features.
Remove Background
You can easily remove a background and replace it with something else (a feature I find super useful when using a green screen or removing my very unattractive desert/dirt backyard from shots). Since we’re hours from snow, we used a green screen to take this photo, then added the snow from a later photo.
Auto-Select Subjects with One Click
This is another of my favorite features. With single touch autoselect, I no longer need to select each pixel of color to change the background of a photo. Add in a new one from any of their provided images or delete it altogether.
Add patterns
This is one way you can sprinkle some love into your next photo collection of cats!
Auto Edit
The easy fix function is phenomenal and allows you to change dozens of features on your photos with a single click. The program literally edits your photos for you.
Revitalize photos
Make people look their best with automatic skin smoothing. This function also works pretty well on animals!
New Auto Creations
I’m new to the Photoshop world, but I do love the new (to me) features that allow you to change the depth of field. This is especially nice for photos that are done against a green screen. You can also easily change out features like B&W Selection, Pattern Brush, Painterly, and Depth of Field effects.
New Guided Edits
Prior to this experience, I avoided Photoshop due to my unwillingness to learn yet another program. However, I found that the guided creations were incredibly simple and can now do nearly anything in the “quick edit” or “expert” modes.
Things to Know Before Install
If you’re a novice like myself, and if you are using Windows 10, there are a few things you need to know before starting with this program. In order to get the program working properly, I had to download, install and eventually uninstall then reinstall the program, along with a Visual C++ update since I run Windows 10. That was super irritating since Photoshop Elements 2020 is not a small program.
Another feature I wish it had is a mobile editing app – especially since nearly all of our HDR photos are taken with a phone.
In the End…
Once you navigate the program and get it operating properly, Elements 2020 is worth the hassle for anyone who is a photographer or influencer.
If you’re hoping to upgrade your instagram game or just want to create better photos for your collections, Elements 2020 may be the program for you.
Plan to spend some time digging through the tutorials and it will more than pay you back when you edit your photos.