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banjar1
Participating Frequently
January 20, 2018
Question

Something ROTTEN about Photoshop Help

  • January 20, 2018
  • 4 replies
  • 590 views

Why on earth can't Adobe provide a reliable access to help files, that can be searched to actually provide responses to the questions you ask?  I'm SICK of searching for Photoshop (or AE/LR/etc) help and getting 5000 unrelated responses.  The help system can't even remember what APP you are asking for help with, much less give you an answer to what, for example, all the little tool icons mean....

And WHERE is the easily located pdf manual????

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    4 replies

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    banjar1Author
    Participating Frequently
    January 21, 2018

    That online page is not a substitute for accurate, concise help when you're in the middle of a project and need a quick answer.  That's also not the time to start a Google search to try and find an answer to something that is specific to a very complex piece of software.  If F1(Help) does not provide quick, concise help.  Help for Adobe apps is broken, and should be fixed.

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    banjar1Author
    Participating Frequently
    January 21, 2018

    You know, I understand the usefulness of 3rd party resources, but when we have to depend on them for the simple answers to the 'nuts & bolts' operation of an application, there's a problem.

    gener7
    Community Expert
    gener7Community Expert
    Community Expert
    January 21, 2018

    Being that this is a user forum, I can link you to the https://helpx.adobe.com/pdf/photoshop_reference.pdf which is 2015.5

    That is the most recent and better than nothing I suppose.

    But you have to go here to put in suggestions for the Product Managers: Photoshop Family Customer Community

    about their documentation.

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    banjar1Author
    Participating Frequently
    January 21, 2018

    .... Yeah, I get it, Dave.  That doesn't speak to my complaint about a usable help resource - something intuitive and responsive to the input you give it.

    I thank you, however, for your response.  If I was 'hung up' in a project, you would be the hero!  :-)

    gener7
    Community Expert
    gener7Community Expert
    Community Expert
    January 21, 2018

    There's a lot of fantastic handbooks, references and online resources out there. I rely on them for understanding the tool.

    The PDF has been replaced with this online page. Photoshop Help | Photoshop User Guide

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      banjar1Author
      Participating Frequently
      January 20, 2018

      Here's an example of what I'm complaining about:

      Hmmm, I'm not seeing the red-eye tool (Photoshop CC) - where's it hiding???

      Press F1 - launch Help

      Type 'Photoshop red eye' into the search dialog
      -- get a list of suggestions, pick the one that says 'red eye removal photoshop cc' - that really seems to make sense!!

      Responses (order of most relevant)
      1) Red eye removal with Lightroom Classic CC
      2) Remove red eye and "pet eye" in Elements 13

      3) Try these top tips to fix photos
      ..... and on and on

      Oh wait--- over on the right--- click that little box that says 'Photoshop' - that must be it!!!

      Nope - now I get:
      1) Try these top tips to fix photos

      2) Photoshop selection tools basics

      3) How to remove skin blemishes and objects from an image​

      and on and on --- RED EYE, people  RED EYE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

      davescm
      Community Expert
      davescmCommunity Expert
      Community Expert
      January 20, 2018

      Hi

      As suggested in my last post

      Go to the top right of Photoshop and click on the search tool

      Type in Red Eye and click on Photoshop

      Now click on that highlighted line which says Red Eye Tool and the red eye tool appears in the toolbar with a highlight box around it

      Dave

        davescm
        Community Expert
        davescmCommunity Expert
        Community Expert
        January 20, 2018

        Hi

        A downloadable PDF manual would indeed be useful.

        In the meantime for your question on the tool icons. If you go to preferences and turn on Show tooltips, you should be able to hover over the tools with your mouse cursor and see a label for each tool.

        You can use the search in Photoshop (click at the top right) and enter the name of the tool/function to get at list of help pages

        Dave

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          banjar1Author
          Participating Frequently
          January 20, 2018

          Thank you, Dave, for your response.  While I used the tool icons as an example, that is not the 'root' of the problem.  You are correct about the tooltips - and they are helpful.  The problem mainly comes with things you know PS can do, but there's nothing 'on screen' to help you. 

          The way I see it, the F1 help button is dead as a source of help.

          Thanks again.

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