Adobe Unveils Elements Web and Mobile Companion Apps

pcmag.com:

The Adobe Elements duo of photo- and video-editing applications make creating some effects that experts do in the pro apps easy for hobbyists, and they don’t require a subscription. Today, the software is updated to the 2023 versions of Photoshop Elements and Premiere Elements, and new for both applications are beta web and mobile companion apps that let you upload your media from the programs or from your device to the cloud.

You get 2GB of cloud storage with purchase of either application; perpetual licenses for both for $149 or $99 for a single program. The mobile app is just for Android at this point, and both the web and mobile apps are limited to slideshow and collage creation at first, but Adobe states that more capabilities will be added.

In terms of actual new editing features, the highlight for Photoshop Elements is Moving Elements. This tool lets you create a motion effect in a selected area of a still photo. This works well for things like water, and you can export your result either as a video or an animated GIF image file.

Another new effect that comes courtesy of a new Guided Edit (step-by-step tutorial) is Peek Through Overlays. This lets you make it look like your subject is peeking through vegetation, for a really amusing look.

For Premiere Elements, the top new feature is Artistic effects: These apply the look of Van Gogh and other art styles to your video. This type of effect made a splash with still images several years ago, but it’s nifty to be able to apply it to video as well.

The update brings more modern templates for slideshows and collages, as well as over 100 new audio soundtracks that can automatically match the length of your video.

Adobe claims that the applications have been slimmed