Several high-end features from Photoshop’s professional version find their way to a consumer product for Mac users. Adobe cleverly takes advantage of iPhoto for basic tasks.

Adobe introduces Photoshop Elements 9 for the Mac, a product tailored to fit within the Apple workflow. Photoshop Elements 9 for Mac uses iPhoto as its photo management tool so that bringing photos in from the camera, organizing them, adding keywords and geo-location information can all stay within the Apple workflow; then the images can go to Photoshop Elements for more advanced features.

Adobe’s photo editing software has simplified features that were first introduced in the professional version of Photoshop including Photo Merge, the ability to combine group shots to get the best shots of everyone; Content-Aware fills for seamless panoramas as well as seamless editing; and high dynamic range tools. In addition, Photoshop Elements has grown up with layer-based editing.

The new software will be sold through the Mac App Store for $79.99 for the base version. Additional features are available in the Full version available through retail and e-tail for $99.99 The full version includes the Adobe Elements Organizer and sharing tools (which, conceivably you could do through iPhoto.)

What do we think?

Working with iPhoto instead of competing head-to-head seems a really good idea. On a Mac the playing board is tilted in Apple’s favor, content flows easily into iPhoto but there are plenty of features that Adobe can add and we love the idea of bringing Adobe’s high-end features to all users. After all, no one could use the ability to make sure every kid is smiling in a photo more than your average soccer mom or dad. I’ll also note that personally, I hate consumer products that try to organize my photos as if I don’t already have some system in place. This may be great for some people but not moi. – K.M.