22 - Invest in Photoshop Elements 11 & a Basic Training Manual
The cost of Photoshop Elements 11 on a major website is under $60. On Etsy you work with up to 5 photos per listing and if you have 100 listings that's 500 photos your work with and you know that photos are more important than the wording in your descriptions and the wording in your descriptions is very important too!
$60 divide by 12 = $5 per month
$60 divide by 52 = $1.15 per week
$60 divide by 365 = $0.16 per day
Additionally you need a training guide book:
Teach Yourself VISUALLY Photoshop Elements 11 can be purchased for just under $18
$18 divide by 365 = $0.05 per day
$0.16 + $0.05 = $0.21 per day and you will be able to soon be in much better control of your product photography.
Additionally, for free there are many tutorials on YouTube that can be beneficial too.
Photoshop Elements 11 has gotten much better from its original version 1; it's now had almost a dozen upgrades with more and more stuff added as well as making it easier to use.
It has 3 modes;
In the beginning, and possibly this is all you will need if the "Quit Edit" mode. Learn this well first, and then progress if you want to the more advanced "Guided Edit" mode. Only advance to the "Expert Mode" when you are ready to become an expert.
Another helpful printed book is "Photoshop Elements 11: The Missing Manual" for about $27. There is an online manual you have available online from Adobe.
The really great thing about the "Quit Edit" mode is the automatic programs that you can adjust to how they work.
Sure, Adobe makes many fine graphic artist software programs; but for your needs on Etsy very likely the "Quit Edit" mode will make your product photography stand out from the crowd.
Just type in "adobe Photoshop 11 tutorial" in Google for information and in Google's YouTube too!
Stop struggling to get less than optimum product photography with other less effective products!
