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M
mrubin1
Participant
July 8, 2018
Question

Where is Curves?

  • July 8, 2018
  • 3 replies
  • 767 views

Several versions ago, PS Elements included the Curves feature, one of is most advanced enhancement tools in image editing.  It's still one of the most important features that I use in PS CS6.  As of the last few versions, Curves is no longer featured in Elements.  Now, there's a less sophisticated version that falls under the heading  Enhance>Adjust Lighting>Levels.  In affect Adobe downgraded the ability of Elements to perform as a professional-near professional image editor.  Why did Adobe do this?  What incentive is there for me to upgrade to the latest version (2018), given that, in some ways it's inferior to previous versions?

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    3 replies

    MichelBParis
    MichelBParis
    Legend
    July 8, 2018

    What incentive is there for me to upgrade to the latest version (2018), given that, in some ways it's inferior to previous versions?

    No, curves like in Photoshop have never been present in older versions. You might have installed an external add-on.

    The curves version of Elements was already present in PSE6 (in 2007). Different interface to help beginners to understand which curve shape to use for a given effect.

    There was a marvelous free add-on for Windows (smartcurves) but it is no longer compatible with 64-bits versions since PSE13.

    M
    Mark_Sand
    Inspiring
    July 8, 2018

    I have the free filter "Curves 3" from Mehdi Plugins.

    Curves

    M
    mrubin1Author
    Participant
    July 8, 2018

    Although I have later versions of Elements on other computers, I use Elements12 (2014) in Windows 7, mainly because it was the last version to contain Curves. I also run v.15 on my Mac, which does not contain Curves. The link you provide here (thanks) appears to only be for Windows, which I have mostly abandoned, save for a few vital apps that aren't available for the Mac.

    Thanks again,

    Marshall

    MichelBParis
    MichelBParis
    Legend
    July 8, 2018

    Very old versions of Elements did not have curves. There were a number of free add-ons to add them.

    That's a long time since Elements got its own curves tool:

    menu Enhance >> Adjust color >> Adjust color curves.

    There are still a number of external tools to add curves. For users of Photoshop, I suggest the affordable Elements+ which has many Photoshop tools those users miss in Elements. (Also Elements XXL, but I don't have it myself).

    You might find this discussion interesting:

    http://photoshopelementsandmore.com/thread/3507/curves-elements

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