How to Troubleshoot Adobe Photoshop Elements 6

Edit photographs you take with your film or digital camera.

Adobe created Photoshop Elements for those who wanted a paired down, simpler and cheaper version of Adobe's popular Photoshop editing program. Some people still use Adobe Photoshop Elements 6, though it was released in late 2007 and has since been replaced by newer copies of the program. Occasional problems may pop up while you're using the software to edit or save your photos. Troubleshoot such issues to help get the program working again so you can get back to touching up your photos.

Instructions

1. Verify that your computer meets the minimum system requirements for Adobe Photoshop 6 if you experience installation errors or if the progrma crashes repeatedly. The software needs Windows XP SP 2 or higher, a 1.3Ghz computer processor, 256MB of memory, 1.5GB of free hard drive space and a standards-compliant web browser like Mozilla Firefox.

2. Check that your camera is supported by Adobe for the direct importation of raw photos into Adobe Photoshop Elements 6 if you receive errors while importing photos. Adobe offers an online list of supported cameras (see Resources). If your camera isn't supported, you must first import your photos onto your computer using your camera's photos--check your specific camera's documentation if you're unsure of how to do this--before importing them into Photoshop Elements.

3. Modify your export settings when saving edited photos if you notice your saved photos have poor quality. Adobe Photoshop Elements 6 employs various methods of data compression, and certain settings are better for certain types of photos. From the export window, choose the option that best matches your final product. Click "CCITT" if you're saving black-and-white images; "ZIP" or "LZW" if your edited photo has large portions that are the same color; and "RLE" if you've created numerous transparent layers during the editing process.

4. Contact Adobe's Photoshop support line toll-free if you continue to have problems using Photoshop Elements 6. For installation problems, dial 800-833-6687. For general usage help, dial 800-833-6687. Representatives are available on weekdays from 5 a.m. to 7 p.m. PST.

References

• "Photoshop Elements 6 For Dummies"; Barbara Obermeier and Ted Padova; 2007
• Adobe: Photoshop Elements 6 Manual

Resources

• Adobe Support
• Adobe: Raw Camera Support