Adobe announced Photoshop Elements 2019 and Premiere Elements 2019 on October 2, 2018. The update centered on guided projects and a redesigned launch experience: Photoshop Elements added four Guided Edits for a total of 53, while Premiere Elements added two for a total of 20 and reworked Quick Edit around Smart Trim and a simplified Sceneline. Adobe also described performance improvements, but its announcement supplied no benchmark measurements. These are legacy versions; check the requirements for the specific edition before installing on a current computer.
What the 2019 release focused on
Adobe framed the release around easier onboarding, better feature discoverability, and improved performance. Its revised Home Screen appeared at launch, showed what had changed since a user’s previous version, and surfaced content matched to the user’s experience level. Adobe said it could also present automatically created slideshows and collages highlighting occasions such as birthdays and vacations. Those descriptions come from Adobe’s announcement, not independent performance or usability testing.
The two applications serve different jobs: Photoshop Elements is for photo editing and projects such as collages, while Premiere Elements is for assembling and editing video. The 2019 additions emphasize guided, template-based creative workflows rather than a claim of professional Photoshop or Premiere feature parity.
What’s new in Photoshop Elements 2019?
Four new Guided Edits
Photoshop Elements 2019 added four step-by-step Guided Edits, bringing Adobe’s stated total to 53. The new guides walked users through:
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- Multi-photo text: filling letterforms with different photos.
- Memes: creating meme-style images.
- Photo-to-sketch: turning part of a photograph into a sketch.
- Text and border overlays: adding text and a border treatment to a photo.
The release’s headline creative additions are therefore recipes for specific outcomes. The announcement does not establish that these workflows replace more direct editing for users who want detailed manual control.
Collages and performance claims
Adobe said it redesigned photo collage creation to reduce the number of steps, and added templates and controls for frames and backgrounds. It also described faster downloads and installation and improved performance for common photo edits. The October 2, 2018 announcement gives no timings, benchmark methodology, or quantified results for those performance statements.
Mac image support
Adobe added HEIF image import and editing on macOS. The statement is platform-specific; it should not be read as a promise of HEIF support on every operating system or in every later system configuration.
What’s new in Premiere Elements 2019?
Quick Edit: Smart Trim and Sceneline
Adobe redesigned Quick Edit around two routes. Smart Trim identified footage Adobe considered the best and guided trimming. The simplified Sceneline let users arrange clips and photos, add titles and music, and prepare a production for sharing. These are descriptions of the announced workflow; Adobe did not provide independent tests of trim quality or export performance.
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Two new Guided Edits
Premiere Elements 2019 added two Guided Edits, bringing Adobe’s stated total to 20:
- Glass-pane overlay: a guided effect that gives footage a glass-pane treatment.
- Luma fade: a guided transition based on luminance.
Video and image format support
Adobe also listed variable frame rate support, HEIF image import and editing on macOS, and HEVC video support on macOS 10.13 and later. Keep those qualifications attached to the formats: the announcement does not establish universal support across operating systems, versions, devices, or media files.
Which 2019 application fits the task?
| Application | Best fit in the announced feature set | 2019 headline additions |
|---|---|---|
| Photoshop Elements 2019 | Photo editing and creative photo projects | Four new Guided Edits; redesigned collage creation; HEIF import and editing on macOS |
| Premiere Elements 2019 | Video trimming, clip assembly, titles, music, and effects | Smart Trim and simplified Sceneline; two new Guided Edits; listed format support with OS qualifications |
Choose by the material you want to work on: still photos and collages point to Photoshop Elements; video clips and assembled productions point to Premiere Elements. The release announcement does not provide a basis for comparing current prices, license terms, or relative speed.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.Compatibility and what to verify before installing
Because these are 2019 editions, do not infer compatibility with a present-day computer from Adobe’s current Elements product page. Adobe maintains a page for requirements of older Photoshop Elements versions; locate the specific 2019 entry and check its operating-system and hardware requirements against the computer you plan to use. Format support also needs to match the relevant operating system: Adobe’s announcement specifically ties HEIF support to macOS and HEVC support to macOS 10.13 or later.
Best Value
- Over 7 hours of video lessons (186 individual lessons)
- PDF Instruction Manual (257 Pages)
- Laminated Quick Reference Guide
- Introductory through advanced material
- Includes Optional Practice Exam, Final Exam, Certificate of Completion
Adobe’s current family page describes newer software, so it is useful for distinguishing the present product family from the historical 2019 release—not as evidence of 2019 features or requirements. Adobe’s October 2, 2018 announcement is the source for the historical feature list and version totals.
Quick Recap
Sources
- Adobe Elements Team, “Introducing Adobe Photoshop Elements 2019 & Premiere Elements 2019” (October 2, 2018)
- Adobe Help Center: Photoshop Elements system requirements for older versions
- Adobe Photoshop Elements & Premiere Elements current product family page
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