Photoshop Elements 2024 For Dummies

Barbara Obermeier is the principal of Obermeier Design and is Chair of the Visual Arts Department at California Lutheran University. Ted Padova is adjunct professor of visual arts and digital photography at Sillman University in Dumaguete, Philippines. The two have combined to author or co-author over 90 books.

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