Photo / image viewer in PS Elements?

Report · Aug 25, 2017

I just opened my PSE, and when to the File menu, and for my images, I can either open or open in RAW. If I select Open in RAW, it opens a screen which is the Windows "file viewer" which is the same view you see when you try to open files in any program.

In PS (full) it had a dedicated 'viewer' where you could look through folders of your images before you opened them. I can't seem to find a similar feature / function in PSE. Am I just not seeing it? Or?

Thanks, d.

Report · Aug 25, 2017

https://forums.adobe.com/people/david+k wrote
I just opened my PSE, and when to the File menu, and for my images, I can either open or open in RAW. If I select Open in RAW, it opens a screen which is the Windows "file viewer" which is the same view you see when you try to open files in any program.
In PS (full) it had a dedicated 'viewer' where you could look through folders of your images before you opened them. I can't seem to find a similar feature / function in PSE. Am I just not seeing it? Or?
Thanks, d.

'Open in ACR' means you want to open non raw files in the ACR editing space (mostly jpegs, but also non layered tiff or psd). Raw files are automatically opened in that editing space. So, 'Open in ACR' works exactly the same as the simple 'Open' command, it uses the Windows Explorer as your browser.

Elements has a different interface and the main difference is that Elements has two components: the editor and the organizer. The organizer is the preferred solution: it's like Lightroom for library management. The normal workflow is to browse and organize, tag etc your pictures, and open them from there in the editor. You don't need the Windows explorer. Like Lightroom, the organizer is based on catalogs, whith a powerful database. All the files you want to manage are 'imported' (indexed) in the catalog and a thumbnail is created for each file.

There is no way to open a jpeg in the ACR module from the organizer. That's why you have to select your files in the editor in the Windows explorer and you have to use the editor command: 'open in ACR'.

Report · Aug 25, 2017

Okay, I now see the Organizer button, so I'll open that and explore a bit. Otherwise, in PSE I have "Open" and "Open in Camera RaW" options, but not to "open in ACR" ... unless ... by that you mean Adobe Camera Raw? Acronyms are really not great if you're not familiar with them.

It looks like I can't use the Organizer as I would the 'viewer' in PS (to immediately access/view all images/files), bat instead first have to import images into the Organizer to make them accessible. That seems like a bit of a pain really, but I guess you get what you pay for.

Regards, David.

Report · Aug 27, 2017

https://forums.adobe.com/people/david+k wrote
Okay, I now see the Organizer button, so I'll open that and explore a bit. Otherwise, in PSE I have "Open" and "Open in Camera RaW" options, but not to "open in ACR" ... unless ... by that you mean Adobe Camera Raw? Acronyms are really not great if you're not familiar with them.

Yes, ACR is the acronym for Adobe Camera Raw, the raw converter module.

It looks like I can't use the Organizer as I would the 'viewer' in PS (to immediately access/view all images/files), bat instead first have to import images into the Organizer to make them accessible. That seems like a bit of a pain really, but

As a matter of fact, the Windows Explorer does not show all kinds of photo formats, raw or psd for instance. It's immediate, but very limited for the management of your library. You mainly rely on a folder hierarchy which may not be understood by your friends or relatives. Advanced users use management tools built over a database (Organizer or Lightroom among others). Those users require more speed and flexibility. Importing is an automatic and fast task and it makes you save a lot of time afterwards.

I guess you get what you pay for.

Well, the powerful organizer is included... It's your choice to use it or not.

On the other hand, there are at least two free ways to use a more powerful image browser with Elements:

- free softwares like Faststone

- Installing Bridge, the advanced Photoshop browser bundled with the full Photoshop... but few people know how to use it with Elements!

Report · Aug 27, 2017

Again, thanks. As i said, i will explore organizer more. I have PS (5 or 6), so i am familiar with bridge. But can you tell me, how do i install it, and get it to work with PSE?

Report · Aug 27, 2017

https://forums.adobe.com/people/david+k wrote
Again, thanks. As i said, i will explore organizer more. I have PS (5 or 6), so i am familiar with bridge. But can you tell me, how do i install it, and get it to work with PSE?

See:

Bridge: free for all? | Photoshop Elements & More

Report · Aug 27, 2017

Michel, again, thanks. Best, David.