Table Of ContentAdobe
Photoshop
Elements 3.0
A–Z
Tools and features
illustrated ready reference
Philip Andrews
AMSTERDAM • BOSTON • HEIDELBERG • LONDON • NEW YORK • OXFORD
PARIS • SAN DIEGO • SAN FRANCISCO • SINGAPORE • SYDNEY • TOKYO
Focal Press is an imprint of Elsevier
Focal Press
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Linacre House, Jordan Hill, Oxford OX2 8DP
30 Corporate Drive, Burlington MA 01803
First published 2005
Copyright © 2005, Philip Andrews. All rights reserved
The right of Philip Andrews to be identifi ed as the author of this work has been asserted in accordance with
the Copyright, Designs and Patents Act 1988
No part of this publication may be reproduced in any material form (including photocopying or storing
in any medium by electronic means and whether or not transiently or incidentally to some other use of
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British Library Cataloguing in Publication Data
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A catalogue record for this book is available from the Library of Congress
ISBN 0 240 51989 2
For information on all Focal Press publications visit our website at: www.focalpress.com
Printed and bound in Italy
Layout and design by the author in Adobe InDesign CS
Picture credits
With thanks to the great guys at www.ablestock.com and Hamera for their generous support in supplying
the tutorial images for this text. Copyright © 2005 Hamera and its licensors. All rights reserved.
All other images and illustrations by the author © Philip Andrews 2005. All rights reserved.
Author’s Acknowledgements
Always for Kassy-Lee and my great kids Adrian and Ellena.
Thanks also to the enthusiastic and very supportive staff at Focal Press including Marie Hooper, Christina
Donaldson, Margaret Denley, Georgia Kennedy and Stephanie Barrett.
My appreciation goes to Don Day at Adobe for his support, technical advice and kind introduction. And
thanks once more to Adobe for bringing image enhancement and editing to us all through their innovative
and industry-leading products, and the other hardware and software manufacturers whose help is an
essential part of writing any book of this nature. In particular I wish to thank technical and marketing staff
at Adobe, Microsoft, Canon, Nikon, and Epson. Also to Manfred ‘Grids Rule!’ Huber for his design guidance.
And fi nally my thanks to all the readers who continue to inspire and encourage me with their generous
praise and great images. Keep emailing me to let me know how your imaging is going.
A-Z
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Foreword h
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As much as the developers might try to create the perfect every section is cross-referenced to other similar tools to give you o
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software, no application can be completely intuitive for every the information you need to make an informed decision. E
user. At some point you will need to seek help in completing Why buy yet another book on Elements? Photoshop Elements 3 is a le
a project or for accomplishing a task. The Help system that major step forward from the previous versions in that it now contains m
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is included with Photoshop Elements 3 contains lots of good both an Editor and an Organizer component. Those of you familiar n
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Adobe Photoshop Elements 3.0 A–Z provides a valuable all the image correction and manipulation features of the Editor.
service for the digital editing newcomer or hobbyist. It With Adobe Photoshop Elements 3.0 A–Z at your side, you’ll be up to
alphabetically covers all aspects of the entire application speed in both components in no time.
(including versions 1.0, 2.0, and 3.0) with easily accessible
tabs and lots of explanatory graphics and screen shots. This
Don Day
book can be a quick reference for those times when you need
to know ‘What does this tool do?’. It is very thorough and Photoshop Elements QE
Adobe Systems Inc.
Introduction Contents
Now in its third release Photoshop Elements has developed Accented Edges fi lter – Automation Tools 1 A
into a sophisticated and complete photo-editing and now,
with the new features in this release, photo-management Background color – Burn tool 11 B
program.
Calibrate monitor – Cutout fi lter 23 C
It seems that the software’s popularity grows almost as
quickly as its impressive list of editing and enhancement Darken blend mode – Dust & Scratches fi lter 43 D
features. More and more digital photographers are
awakening to the pure imaging power that hides beneath Effects – Eyedropper tool 53 E
the deceptively simple front end.
But rather than sitting back and basking in the refl ected Facet fi lter – Freehand selection 59 F
glory of the success of the fi rst two editions of Elements
Gaussian Blur fi lter – Grow, selection 70 G
(versions 1.0 and 2.0), Adobe has been hard at work
improving what was already a great product. Version 3.0, Halftone Pattern fi lter – Hue/Saturation, adjust 76 H
just like the releases before it, is a state-of-the-art image-
editing program full of the features and functions that ICC profi les – JPEG2000 82 IJ
K
digital photographers and desktop image makers desire
the most. Labels, print – LZW compression 87 L
In fact, the program has become so comprehensive that
Magic Eraser tool – Multi-Page PDF to PSD 100 M
producing an illustrated A–Z book like this one is not just
a nicety, but has became a necessity. The software covers so Navigator – Note Paper fi lter 109 N
many areas that Elements users need a quick ready reference
guide to all the major tools and features. Here I provide Ocean Ripple fi lter – Organizer work space 112 O
such a guide but I don’t stop at simply describing the tool
or feature, I accompany the text with illustrations of the Page Setup – Quick Fix Editor 118 P
Q
software in action together with before and after pictures
of the applied changes. All entries include shortcut keys, Radial Blur fi lter – Rulers 140 R
menu locations and are cross-referenced to other Elements
features that relate. Many features also include step-by-step Sample Size, Eyedropper tool – Swatches palette 152 S
guides to their usage and extended visual examples of the
effects of using different settings on your pictures. Tags – Type Masks 169 T
Keep this ready reference handy for all those occasions Underlining type – Unsharp Mask fi lter 177 U
when you ask yourself ‘What does that do?’.
But most of all keep enjoying your digital photography! Vanishing Point tool – Vivid Light blending mode 180 V
Philip Andrews Wall Calendar – Wind fi lter 182 W
X
ZigZag fi lter – Zoom tool 187 Y
Z
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In order to make the most out of this book, take a couple of minutes to read the following.
This will let me introduce a few of the special features that I have included to help you fi nd
the information that you need fast. Apart from the basic A–Z structure that lists the topics,
features and tools alphabetically, I have also used the following design devices to make
‘search and locate’ missions speedier and more productive.
Feature summary Before and after examples Online extensions
V
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Each feature and tool entry is headed with Don’t forget about the book’s website –
a summary table that details the menu www.elementsa-z.com. Here you will
where the feature can be found, any fi nd video tutorials on how to use the top
keyboard shortcuts associated with the new features in Photoshop Elements 3.0,
tool, the version of Photoshop Elements the example pictures used in the step-by-
that contains the feature and any other step guides, links to all the featured plug-
features that are linked to the feature. in vendors and much more.
The before and after examples illustrate
Edge tabs Step-by-step application
how features, tools and techniques can be
used to change the way that your pictures
look.
Tips and Reminders
The colored edge tabs change for each letter Selected features include step-by-step
section. They can be used in conjunction guides designed to demonstrate how
with the contents page to quickly thumb to use the tool or feature. These mini-
Important ideas and techniques are
through the book to locate a particular tutorials can be used to extend your
highlighted with the ‘Remember’ icon
group of entries. understanding as well as build your editing
and the tips and tricks used by working
and enhancement skills.
professionals are noted with the ‘Pro’s Tip’
ticked box.
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AVBWCXDYEFZGAHBICJKDLEMFNGOHPIQJRKSLTMU-- © www.ablestock.com 2005 © www.ablestock.com 2005
NOPQRSTUVWXYZABCDEFGHIJKLMNOPQRSTUVWX-
Accented Edges fi lter Active layer 1
YZABCDEFGHIJKLMNOPQRSTUV
Menu:Filters > Brush Strokes > Accented Edges Menu:Window > Layers (to show the Layers palette)
WXYZABCDEFGHIJKLMNOPQRSTUVWXYZA- Shortcut:Ctrl F OS:Mac, Windows Shortcut:- OS:Mac, Windows
Version:1.0, 2.0, 3.0 See also:Ink Outlines fi lter Version:1.0, 2.0, 3.0 See also:Layers palette, Layers
BCDEFGHIJKLMNOPQRSTUVWX- A
The Accented Edges fi lter searches out The Layers feature is great for creating
YZABCDEFGHIJKLMNOPQRSTU- the edges within a picture and then pictures that are made up of a variety of
highlights them with a line. The size of parts. Each section is stored on its own
VWXYZABCDEFGHIJKLMNOPQR
the line is controlled by the Edge Width layer and can be easily altered independent
STUVWXYZABCDEFGHIJKLM- slider (1) in the fi lter’s dialog. The dark of the rest of the photograph.
NOPQRSTUVWXYZABCDEFGHI- or lightness of the line is determined by But the way in which the feature works
the Edge Brightness slider (2). A high means that it is only possible to edit or
JKLMNOPQRSTUVWXYZABCDEF- value produces a lightly colored edge that enhance one layer at a time. You must
GHIJKLMNOPQRSTUVWXYZABCDEFGHIJKLMN appears like chalk and a low value, like the select or activate the layer fi rst before
one used in the illustration here, creates applying the changes. To select the layer
OPQRSTUVWXYZABCDEFGHI- an ink-like outline. The Smoothness slider click on its thumbnail in the Layers palette.
JKLMNOPQRSTUVWXYZABCDEF- (3) is used to even out the rough of jagged At this point the layer will change to a
edges of the line. different color from the rest in the stack.
GHIJKLMNOPQRSTUVWXYZABC-
This layer is now the selected or active
DEFGHIJKLMNOPQRSTUVWXYZABCDEFGHIJ layer and can be edited in isolation from
the others that make up the picture.
KLMNOPQRSTUVWXYZABCDEFGHIJKLMNOPQRSTU- 1
With the Move tool selected,
VWXYZABCDEFGHIJKLM-
you can also choose or change
2
NOPQRSTUVWXYZABCDEFGHI- the active layer from the
3 context menu via a Control-
JKLMNOPQRSTUVWXYZABCDEF-
click (Mac) or right mouse-
GHIJKLMNOPQRSTUVWXYZABC- click (Win).
DEFGHIJKLMNOPQRSTUVWXYZABCDEFGH-
IJKLMNOPQRSTUVWXYZABCDE-
FGHIJKLMNOPQRSTUVWXYZAB-
CDEFGHIJKLMNOPQRSTUVWX-
YZABCDEFGHIJKLMNOPQRSTU-
VWXYZABCDEFGHIJKLM-
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© www.ablestock.com 2005 © www.ablestock.com 2005
2 Add Noise fi lter Adjust Backlighting Adjust Smart Fix
Menu:Editor: Filter > Noise > Add Noise Menu:Editor: Enhance > Adjust Lighting > Adjust Backlighting Menu:Editor: Enhance > Adjust Smart Fix
Shortcut:Ctrl F OS:Mac, Windows Shortcut:- OS:Mac, Windows Shortcut:Shft Ctrl M OS:Mac, Windows
Version:1.0, 2.0, 3.0 See also:Grain fi lter, Texturizer fi lter Version:1.0, 2.0 See also:Shadows/Highlights Version:3.0 See also:Auto Smart Fix
A
Many photographers like to replicate The Adjust Backlighting feature found in The Adjust Smart Fix version of the Auto
the look of fi lm grain in their digital versions 1 and 2 of Elements is designed Smart Fix feature provides the same
photographs. The grittiness provides a to darken the lighter tones in the image control over color, shadow and highlight
texture that is reminiscent of fast (high without fl attening the highlights or detail but with the addition of a slider
ISO), big grain fi lms. Using the Add Noise moving the black point. control that determines the strength of
fi lter is one way to introduce this texture the enhancement changes.
Moving the Darker slider (1) to the right
into your digital pictures. Applying the will reduce the value of these tones. Moving the slider from left to right
fi lter adds random speckled pixels to your will gradually increase the amount of
This feature along with Fill Flash has
picture. Another common use for the fi lter correction applied to your picture. This
been replaced in version 3.0 with the new
is to add small amounts of noise to gradients approach provides much more control
Shadow/Highlights feature.
to prevent banding when printed. over the enhancement process and is a
The fi lter uses a single Amount slider preferable way to work with all but the
(1) to control the strength of the texture most general photos.
effect. The higher the setting the more The Auto button, also located in the dialog,
obvious the results will be. Two different automatically applies a fi x amount of 100%
types of texture are provided – Uniform and provides a similar result to selecting
and Gaussian (2). The Uniform option (6) 1 Enhance > Auto Smart Fix.
adds the noise evenly across all the tones
in the picture. In contrast the Gaussian
setting (5) concentrates the noise in the
midtones with less changes being applied
to the highlight and shadow areas.
4 5
Selecting the Monochrome option (3)
restricts the noisy pixels added to white,
black and gray only.
Be sure to view the preview
at 100% when applying this
fi lter to ensure that you have
a good balance of texture
and detail and always keep
6 7
a copy of the original picture
without the noise added.
>>> Add Noise examples: (4) Original
picture detail, (6) Uniform setting, (5)
Gaussian setting and (7) Gaussian and
Monochrome setting.
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.0
Levels Invert
Adjustment layers Brightness/Contrast Threshold 3
Menu:Editor: Layer > New Adjustment Layer
Shortcut:Layers palette button OS:Mac, Windows
Version:1.0, 2.0, 3.0 See also:Fill Layer
A
These special layers alter the look of the
layers that are arranged below them in the
stack. They act as a fi lter through which
the lower layers are viewed. You can use
adjustment layers to perform many of
the enhancement tasks that you would
normally apply directly to an image layer
Hue/Saturation Posterize
without changing the image itself.
Elements contains eight different types
of adjustment layers which are grouped
together with the Fill layers under the
Create Adjustment Layer button in the
Layers palette. They are:
Levels – Adjusts the tones in the picture.
Brightness/Contrast – Lightens, darkens
and controls contrast.
Hue/Saturation – Changes the color and Non-destructive editing Photo Filter
strength of color in photos. Changing the way that your
Gradient Map – Changes the photo so image looks using adjustment
that all the tones are mapped to the values layers is called ‘non-destructive’
of a selected gradient. editing. This means that the appearance
of the picture changes but the original
Invert – Reverses all the tones in a picture,
photograph still remains intact. Most
producing a negative effect.
professionals prefer to apply non-
Threshold – Converts the picture to pure
destructive changes to their images
black and white with no grays present at
wherever possible.
all.
Photo Filter – Reproduces the color
changes of traditional photo fi lters.
Posterize – Reduces the total number of
colors in a picture and creates a fl at paint <<< To restrict the adjustment layer changes
(or poster)-like effect. to the layer immediately beneath, add the
adjustment layer and then click the border
Placing an adjustment layer at the top of a line between the two layers whilst holding
stack of layers will ensure that the editing down the Alt/Opt key. This groups the
changes will be applied to the content of adjustment layer with the picture layer. To
all the layers beneath. ungroup repeat the process.
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Anti-aliased text
4 Advanced Blending Aliasing Aligning type
Menu:Editor: File > New > Photomerge Panorama Menu:- Menu:-
Shortcut:- OS:Mac, Windows Shortcut:- OS:Mac, Windows Shortcut:- OS:Mac, Windows
Version:1.0, 2.0, 3.0 See also:Photomerge Version:1.0, 2.0, 3.0 See also:Anti-aliasing Version:1.0, 2.0, 3.0 See also:-
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The Advanced Blending option in the Even though the lettering system The terms alignment and justifi cation are
Photomerge work space provides an in Photoshop Elements is based on often used interchangeably and refer to
automatic approach to balancing the smooth-edged (vector) technology, the way that a line or paragraph of text is
color and tone of sequential pictures in a when type layers are fl attened into the positioned on the image.
composition. background, or the PSD fi le is saved in the The left align feature will arrange all text
The feature is designed to even out slight JPEG format, the type is converted to pixels. to the left of text frame. When applied to
exposure or color differences that can One of the drawbacks of using a system that a group of sentences the left edge of the
occur when creating source images. When is based on pixels is that circles, diagonal paragraph is organized into a straight
used in conjunction with the Preview lines and curves are made up of a series of vertical line whilst the right-hand edge
button the results can be reviewed on pixel steps. When viewed closely, or printed remains uneven or ragged.
screen before proceeding to the creation very large, these steps can become obvious Right align works in the opposite fashion,
of the full panorama. and appear as a saw-tooth pattern. This is straightening the right-hand edge of the
called ‘aliasing’.
On some occasions it is diffi cult to assess paragraph and leaving the left ragged.
the accuracy of the blending action via the Anti-aliasing is a system where the effects Selecting the center text option will align
preview. If this occurs then create several of these ‘jaggies’ are made less noticeable the paragraph around a central line and
different panoramas applying different by partially fi lling in the edge p ixels. This leave both left and right edges ragged.
Blending, Perspective and Mapping technique produces smoother looking
settings for each. type overall and should be used in all print
circumstances and web applications.
The only exceptions to this rule are where
fi le size is critical, as anti-aliased web text
creates larger fi les than the standard text
The align text option in the Elements
equivalent and when you are using font
options bar provides three options for
sizes less than 10 points for web work. laying out text. The sentences can be
arranged with a straight edge on the left,
right or by centering each line around its
middle.
Left align Center align Right align
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© www.ablestock.com 2005 1
All command Angle gradient tool Angled Strokes Filter 5
Menu:Editor: Select > Select All Menu:- Menu:Editor: Filter > Brush Strokes > Angled Strokes
Shortcut:Ctrl A OS:Mac, Windows Shortcut:G (Gradient tool) OS:Mac, Windows Shortcut:Ctrl F OS:Mac, Windows
Version:1.0, 2.0, 3.0 See also:Selection Version:1.0, 2.0, 3.0 See also:Gradients Version:1.0, 2.0, 3.0 See also:-
A
The Select All command, found under Photoshop Elements has no less than fi ve The Angled Strokes fi lter, as one of the
the Select menu, encompasses the whole gradient types for you to play with. All the group of Brush Strokes fi lters, repaints the
picture with a selection marquee. This gradient options gradually change color picture using diagonal strokes. The brush
command is the fi rst step in a simple and tone from one point in the picture to strokes in the light area of the photo are
border creation technique that also uses another. drawn in one direction and those in the
the Stroke feature. See below. The Angle gradient (1) gradually changes darker parts in the opposite direction.
the color in a counter-clockwise direction The Direction Balance (1), Stroke Length
1 around the starting point. (2) and Sharpness (3) of the brush effect
are controlled by the sliders in the fi lter
dialog.
Open a suitable photo into the Editor work
space. Use the Select > All command to
place a marquee around the whole
canvas.
2 1
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With the selection still active choose Edit >
Brushes options bar, contains controls
Stroke (Outline) Selection. In the Stroke Angle option – Brush
dialog that appears, pick the width of the for changing seven different brush
stroke (line) and its color. Next select the Menu:- characteristics. The brush angle is one of
Inside option as the location. Click OK to Shortcut:B (Brush tool) OS:Mac, Windows these custom characteristics.
Version:2.0, 3.0 See also:Brush Options
draw the colored border.
Changing the angle will rotate the brush
One of the strengths of Photoshop Elements
After as a drawing package is the fl exibility of its tip resulting in a diagonal stroke when
dragged across canvas (3). To make the
brush engine. Rather than just supplying a
brush tip slant, alter the angle value (1).
series of pre-made brushes Adobe includes
The change in brush shape is previewed
the ability to create and save custom
on the bottom left of the dialog (2).
brushes.
The More Options dialog, which is opened
with the More Options button on the
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3. Frame 1 Frame 2 Frame 3
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Animation 1
preview
Create an Elements fi le with several layers
6 Animated GIFs of differing content. Select Editor: File > Anti-aliasing, fonts
Save for Web. Ensure that the GIF setting
Menu:Editor: File > Save for Web is selected in the Settings section of the Menu:-
Shortcut:Alt/Opt Shft Ctrl/Cmd S Shortcut:- OS:Mac, Windows
OS:Mac, Windows dialog. Tick the Animate check box.
(Save for Web) Version:1.0, 2.0, 3.0 See also:Aliased
A Version:1.0, 2.0, 3.0 See also:GIF format
To make the edge of text appear less jagged,
One of the characteristics of the GIF fi le 2 switch on the anti-aliasing feature via the
format is that it is capable of storing and button in the Type tool option bar. This
displaying simple animations. To take feature smooths out the saw-tooth edges
advantage of this feature Adobe has that appear on letter shapes that have
merged traditional techniques with the diagonal or circular sides.
multi-layer abilities of its PSD fi le structure
to give Elements users the chance to
produce their own animations.
Essentially, the idea is to make an image
fi le with several layers, the content of
each being a little different from the one Adjust the Frame Delay option to control
before. the length of time each individual image
is displayed. Tick the Loop check box if you
The fi le is then saved in the GIF format. want the a nimation to repeat.
In the process, each layer is made
into a separate frame in an animated
sequence. 3
As the G IF is a format used for small
animations on the Net, the moving Anti-aliasing, selections
masterpiece can be viewed with any web
Menu:-
browser, or placed on the website to add
Shortcut:- OS:Mac, Windows
some action to otherwise static pages. Version:1.0, 2.0, 3.0 See also:Feather, Aliased
The easiest way to save a G IF fi le is via the Selections can be created with sharp
S ave for Web feature. The S ave for Web or soft edges. You can soften the edge in
dialog contains the original image and a two ways – by feathering, or by using the
GIF compressed version of the picture. anti-aliasing feature in the selection tool’s
Preview the animation by clicking the
By ticking the Animate check box you options bar (which is activated by default
browser preview button. Close the browser
will be able to change the frame delay to return to the Save for Web dialog. Select when the tool is fi rst selected).
setting and indicate whether you want OK to save the fi le. Like the anti-aliasing effect for type-
the animation to repeat (loop) or play a faces this feature softens the edges of the
single time only. This dialog also provides selection by smoothing the transition
you with the opportunity to preview your between selected and non-selected areas.
fi le in your default browser. The fi nal step in The option must be selected before making
the process is to click OK to save the fi le. the selection. Unlike feathering it cannot
be applied later on. Use this feature to help
conceal the edges of pasted picture parts
in newly created compositions.
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