Adobe announced the immediate availability of Photoshop Elements 6 for the Mac on Monday. The new version of the consumer digital image editing application includes a new task-oriented interface along with a version of Bridge CS3 tailored for Elements 6 users.

Photoshop Elements 6 for the Mac

The new version of the image editor sports a redesigned interface with tab-based tool organization. It also includes a Guided Edit mode that steps users through improving digital photos, a Photomerge tool that creates seamless panoramas from a series of images, the ability to blend the best parts from multiple group shots, one-click color correction, and more.

Users that are looking for more control over their images have access to improved black and white image conversion tools, color curve adjustments with Lightroom-like slider controls, lens distortion and vignette correction, a Quick Select tool that intelligently grabs parts of an image, along with several other Photoshop-style features.

Users can create photo albums based on several themes and layouts, and order printed and bound books. They can also order prints of their own images.

Photoshop Elements 6 also includes a version of Bridge CS3 geared towards consumer users. Bridge supports folder groupings, file search and filtering, the ability to display image metadata, support for keywords, saved searches, and a digital loupe tool.

Photoshop Elements 6 for Mac requires Mac OS X 10.4.8 or higher, or Mac OS X 10.5.2, and is Universal Binary allowing it to run natively on Intel and PowerPC-based Macs. It is priced at US$89.99, or $69.99 for upgrades from earlier versions.