∞ Adobe introduces Premiere Elements 10, Photoshop Elements 10

Adobe Systems Inc. on Tuesday announced the release of Premiere Elements 10 and Photoshop Elements 10, two new consumer-level apps for Mac and Windows users aimed at video and photography, respectively. Each is priced at $99.99; a bundle combines both for $149.99. Upgrade pricing is also available.

Premiere Elements 10

New features in Premiere Elements 10 include color correction technology borrowed from Adobe’s Photoshop software, “InstantMovie” themes, and pan and zoom motions to incorporate still photos into video presentations – the equivalent of iMovie’s popular “Ken Burns Effect.” SmartSound lets Mac users add musical soundtracks to their presentations.

Premiere Elements 10 also supports AVCHD output to standard DVDs, and the Elements Organizer now lets users upload video files direction to YouTube and Facebook (provided such users and videos comply with each service’s terms of service).

Photoshop Elements 10

Photoshop Elements 10 adds new tools such as “Guided Edits,” which help users add photo effects like diffused glows and shallow depths of field step by step. New text functions let users add curving and flowing text to photos, and special crop guides help users create special compositions. The Smart Brush paints effects onto specific areas of photos, with 30 new effects including Pencil Sketch and Oil Pastel.

New organizational tools have been added like Object Search, which helps users find items within photos – landmarks, flowers or pets, for example. Elements Organizer can help you locate duplicate and near-duplicate photos, deleting the ones you don’t want. And like Premiere Elements 10, Photoshop Elements 10 lets users with video-capable cameras upload videos directly to YouTube and Facebook.

Adobe is also promoting new “Plus” cloud service for users of Photoshop Elements and Premiere Elements available to users in the US. The service costs $49.99 per year and provides online storage and backup, access to how-to’s, artwork and templates.

Trial versions are “coming soon,” according to the Adobe Web site.