Photoshop Elements 2024 For Dummies

Introduction 1 About This Book 1 Icons Used in This Book 2 Beyond the Book 3 Where to Go from Here 3 Part 1: Getting Started with Photoshop Elements 2024 5 Chapter 1: Getting Started with Image Editing 7 Getting Familiar with the Home Screen 7 Launching the Photo Editor 9 Making Basic Edits in Quick Mode 11 Sharing a Photo 13 Retracing Your Steps 15 Using the History panel 16 Reverting to the last save 17 Getting a Helping Hand 17 Saving Files with Purpose 19 Using the Save/Save As dialog box 19 Saving files for the web 21 Chapter 2: Basic Image-Editing Concepts 23 Grappling with the Ubiquitous Pixels 24 Understanding resolution 25 Understanding image dimensions 27 The Art of Resampling 27 Choosing a Resolution for Print or Onscreen 30 Working with File Formats 31 JPEG (*.jpg, *.jpeg, *.jpe) 32 PNG (*.png) 33 TIFF (*.tif, *.tiff) 33 Getting Familiar with Color 34 Getting Color Right 36 Color the easy way 36 Calibrating your monitor 36 Choosing a color workspace 37 Understanding how profiles work 38 Chapter 3: Exploring the Photo Editor 39 Examining the Photo Editor 39 Examining the image window 43 Uncovering the contextual menus 48 Selecting the tools 48 Selecting from the Tool Options 51 Playing with panels 51 Using the Photo Bin 55 Creating different views of an image 55 Viewing filenames 56 Using Photo Bin Actions 56 Using Some Creative Features 56 Using Guided Edits 57 Working with Adobe Stock images 58 Searching Guided Edits 60 Controlling the Editing Environment 61 Launching and navigating Preferences 62 Checking out all the Preferences panes 63 Perusing preset libraries 65 Part 2: Managing Media 67 Chapter 4: Navigating the Organizer 69 Organizing Photos and Media on a Hard Drive 70 Adding Images to the Organizer 72 Adding files from folders and removable media 72 Downloading camera images with the Elements Downloader 74 Importing additional photos from folders 76 Navigating the Media Browser 77 Using a Scanner 78 Understanding image requirements 79 Using scanner plug-ins (Windows) 79 Scanning on the Mac 80 Scanning many photos at a time 81 Phoning in Your Images 81 Setting Organizer Preferences 82 Chapter 5: Organizing Your Pictures 85 Touring the Organizer 85 Organizing Groups of Images with Tags 89 Creating and viewing a tag 89 Adding icons to tags 92 Working with custom tags 93 Working with default tags 94 Working with sub-categories 95 Sorting photos according to tags 96 Auto Generating Tags 96 Working with Auto Creations 97 Adding new Events 97 Rating Images with Stars 98 Adding Images to an Album 99 Creating an album 100 Using albums for temporary work 102 Editing an album 102 Finding out more about sharing your albums 103 Adding People in the Media Browser 103 Placing Pictures on Maps 105 Working with Events 107 Chapter 6: Viewing and Finding Your Images 109 Cataloging Files 109 Using the Catalog Manager 110 Working with catalogs 111 Backing up your catalog 112 Backing up photos and files 114 Switching to a Different View 114 Viewing Photos in Memories (Slideshow) 115 Searching for Photos 117 Using Search 117 Searching for untagged items 119 Searching captions and notes 119 Searching by history 120 Searching metadata 120 Searching similarities 121 Grouping Files That Get in the Way 123 Marking files as hidden 123 Stackin’ ’em up 123 Creating versions 125 Part 3: Selecting and Correcting Photos 127 Chapter 7: Editing Camera Raw Images 129 Launching the Camera Raw Editor 129 Understanding Camera Raw 130 Learning Raw file format attributes 131 Opening images in the Camera Raw Editor 132 Getting Familiar with the Raw Editor 133 Getting Familiar with the Panels 137 Using the Basic panel 138 Sharpening and reducing noise 141 Using the Calibration panel 144 Working with Filmstrips 144 Working with Profiles 146 Looking at the Adobe Camera Raw profiles 146 Managing profiles 148 Creating a Favorites list 148 Opening Non-Raw Images in the Camera Raw Editor 149 Changing Image Defaults 150 Working with XML Files and Preferences 150 Changing program defaults 150 Using Save Options 152 Using sidecar files 153 Chapter 8: Making and Modifying Selections 155 Defining Selections 155 Creating Rectangular and Elliptical Selections 156 Perfecting squares and circles with Shift and Alt (Option on the Mac) 158 Applying Marquee options 159 Making Freeform Selections with the Lasso Tools 161 Selecting with the Lasso tool 161 Getting straight with the Polygonal Lasso tool 162 Snapping with the Magnetic Lasso tool 164 Working Wizardry with the Magic Wand 166 Talking about Tolerance 167 Wielding the Wand to select 167 Modifying Your Selections 170 Adding to, subtracting from, and intersecting a selection 170 Avoiding key collisions 171 Painting with the Selection Brush 171 Painting with the Quick Selection Tool 173 Selecting with the Auto Selection Tool 175 Selecting Your Subject, Background, or Sky with One-Click Selecting 177 Fine-Tuning with the Refine Selection Brush 179 Working with the Cookie Cutter Tool 181 Eliminating with the Eraser Tools 182 The Eraser tool 183 The Background Eraser tool 184 The Magic Eraser tool 185 Using the Select Menu 185 Selecting all or nothing 186 Reselecting a selection 186 Inversing a selection 186 Feathering a selection 186 Refining the edges of a selection 187 Using the Modify commands 189 Applying the Grow and Similar commands 189 Saving and loading selections 190 Chapter 9: Working with Layers 191 Getting to Know Layers 191 Converting a background to a layer 192 Anatomy of the Layers panel 193 Using the Layer and Select menus 197 Working with Different Layer Types 198 Image layers 198 Adjustment layers 199 Fill layers 201 Shape layers 202 Type layers 203 Tackling Layer Basics 203 Creating a new layer from scratch 204 Using Layer via Copy and Layer via Cut 205 Duplicating layers 206 Dragging and dropping layers 206 Using the Paste into Selection command 207 Moving a Layer’s Content 208 Transforming Layers 209 Adding Layer Masks 210 Flattening and Merging Layers 212 Flattening layers 213 Merging layers 213 Chapter 10: Simple Image Makeovers 215 Cropping and Straightening Images 215 Cutting away with the Crop tool 216 Fixing distortion with the Perspective Crop tool 218 Cropping with a selection border 219 Straightening images 219 Recomposing Images 221 Employing One-Step Auto Fixes 224 Auto Smart Fix 224 Auto Smart Tone 225 Auto Levels 226 Auto Contrast 227 Auto Haze Removal 227 Auto Color Correction 227 Auto Sharpen 228 Auto Red Eye Fix 229 Editing in Quick Mode 230 Fixing Small Imperfections with Tools 234 Cloning with the Clone Stamp tool 234 Retouching with the Healing Brush 237 Zeroing in with the Spot Healing Brush 239 Repositioning with the Content-Aware Move tool 241 Lightening and darkening with Dodge and Burn tools 243 Smudging away rough spots 244 Softening with the Blur tool 246 Focusing with the Sharpen tool 247 Sponging color on and off 248 Replacing one color with another 249 Chapter 11: Correcting Contrast, Color, and Clarity 253 Editing Your Photos Using a Logical Workflow 254 Adjusting Lighting 255 Fixing lighting with Shadows/Highlights 255 Using Brightness/Contrast 256 Pinpointing proper contrast with Levels 257 Adjusting Color 260 Removing color casts automatically 260 Adjusting with Hue/Saturation 261 Eliminating color with Remove Color 263 Switching colors with Replace Color 264 Correcting with Color Curves 265 Adjusting skin tones 267 Defringing layers 269 Eliminating haze 270 Adjusting color temperature with photo filters 272 Mapping your colors 273 Adjusting Clarity 274 Removing noise, artifacts, dust, and scratches 274 Blurring when you need to 275 Sharpening for better focus 278 Opening closed eyes 280 Colorizing a photo 282 Smoothing skin 284 Adjusting facial features 285 Moving Overlays 285 Moving Photos 288 Moving Elements 288 Working Intelligently with the Smart Brush Tools 290 Part 4: Exploring Your Inner Artist 295 Chapter 12: Playing with Filters, Effects, Styles, and More 297 Having Fun with Filters 297 Applying filters 298 Corrective or destructive filters 299 One-step or multistep filters 299 Fading a filter 300 Selectively applying a filter 300 Working in the Filter Gallery 301 Distorting with the Liquify filter 303 Correcting Camera Distortion 305 Exploring Elements’ Unique Filters 306 Creating a comic 307 Getting graphic 308 Using the Pen and Ink filter 309 Dressing Up with Photo and Text Effects 310 Adding Shadows, Glows, and More 313 Applying styles 314 Working with styles 315 Using the Graphics panel 316 Mixing It Up with Blend Modes 317 General blend modes 317 Darken blend modes 318 Lighten blend modes 319 Lighting blend modes 321 Inverter blend modes 321 HSL blend modes 323 Using Photomerge 324 Photomerge Panorama 324 Photomerge Group Shot 327 Photomerge Scene Cleaner 328 Photomerge Exposure 329 Photomerge Compose 332 Chapter 13: Drawing and Painting 335 Choosing Color 335 Working with the Color Picker 336 Dipping into the Color Swatches panel 337 Sampling with the Eyedropper tool 339 Getting Artsy with the Pencil and Brush Tools 340 Drawing with the Pencil tool 341 Painting with the Brush tool 343 Using the Impressionist Brush 345 Creating your own brush 346 Filling and Outlining Selections 348 Fill ’er up 348 Outlining with the Stroke command 350 Splashing on Color with the Paint Bucket Tool 351 Working with Multicolored Gradients 352 Applying a preset gradient 352 Customizing gradients 353 Working with Patterns 357 Applying a preset pattern 357 Creating a new pattern 358 Creating Shapes of All Sorts 359 Drawing a shape 360 Drawing multiple shapes 361 Specifying Geometry options 362 Editing shapes 364 Chapter 14: Working with Type 365 Understanding Type Basics 365 Tools 366 Modes 366 Formats 367 Creating Point Type 367 Creating Paragraph Type 369 Creating Path Type 370 Using the Text On Selection tool 370 Using the Text On Shape tool 371 Using the Text On Custom Path tool 373 Specifying Type Options 374 Editing Text 376 Simplifying Type 377 Masking with Type 378 Stylizing and Warping Type 381 Adjusting type opacity 381 Applying filters to your type 382 Painting your type with color and gradients 383 Warping your type 384 Using Text Overlay Templates 385 Part 5: Printing, Creating, and Sharing 387 Chapter 15: Getting It on Paper 389 Getting Pictures Ready for Printing 390 Working with Color Printer Profiles 391 Printing a photo with the printer managing color 393 Printing a photo with Elements managing color 396 Printing a picture package or contact sheet 396 Getting Familiar with the Print Dialog Box 397 Using the Prints options 397 Creating transfers, borders, and more with More Options 399 Outsourcing Printing 400 Chapter 16: Sharing Your Work 401 Getting Familiar with the Elements Sharing Options 401 Planning ahead 402 Understanding photo sharing in Elements 403 Using the Share Panel 404 Emailing photos 405 Working with Adobe Premiere Elements 408 Sharing your photos on social networks 408 Chapter 17: Making Creations 411 Checking Out the Create Panel 411 Grasping Creation-Assembly Basics 414 Creating a Quote Graphic 418 Creating a Memories Video 421 Creating a PDF Slideshow 422 Making Additional Creations 422 Chapter 18: Creating and Sharing on Elements Web 423 Launching Elements Web 423 Uploading files from the Organizer 424 Uploading files from the Share menu 425 Uploading files from the Photo Editor 426 Sharing Photos 427 Sharing to Facebook 428 Sharing on Elements Web 431 Getting familiar with the Elements Web interface 431 Managing images 433 Making Creations 435 Working with slideshows 436 Viewing .mp4 video files 437 Making photo collages 439 Part 6: the Part of Tens 441 Chapter 19: The Ten Best Guided Edits 443 Correct Skin Tone 443 Sharpen 445 Object Removal 446 Perfect Portrait 448 Replace Background 451 Remove a Color Cast 453 Levels 454 Resize Your Photo 456 Recompose 457 Move & Scale Object 459 Chapter 20: Ten (or So) More Project Ideas 463 Screen Savers 463 Flyers, Ads, and Online Auctions 464 Clothes, Hats, and More 466 Posters 467 Household and Business Inventories 467 Project Documentation 467 School Reports and Projects 468 Blogs 468 Wait — There’s More 468 Index 469