Introduction 1
What’s New in Photoshop Elements 1
About This Book 2
Icons Used in This Book 3
Beyond the Book 3
Where to Go from Here 4
Part 1: Getting Started with Photoshop Elements 5
Chapter 1: Exploring the Photo Editor 7
Examining the Photo Editor 7
Examining the image window 11
Uncovering the contextual menus 15
Selecting the tools 15
Selecting from the Tool Options 17
Playing with Panels 19
Using the Photo Bin 22
Chapter 2: Getting Familiar with the Organizer 23
Touring the Organizer 24
Organizing Photos and Media on a Hard Drive 27
Adding Images to the Organizer 27
Adding files from folders and removable media 28
Downloading camera images with the Elements Downloader 30
Importing additional photos from folders 32
Navigating the Media Browser 33
Setting Organizer Preferences 34
Chapter 3: Organizing Your Pictures 37
Organizing Groups of Images with Tags 38
Rating Images with Stars 39
Creating an album 40
Editing an album 42
Adding People in the Media Browser 42
Chapter 4: Viewing and Finding Your Images 45
Cataloging Files 45
Using the Catalog Manager 46
Working with catalogs 47
Backing up your catalog 48
Switching to a Different View 50
Viewing Photos in Memories (Slideshow) 50
Searching for Photos 52
Using Search 52
Searching by history 54
Searching metadata 54
Searching similarities 56
Part 2: Selecting and Correcting Photos 59
Chapter 5: Editing Camera Raw Images 61
Launching the Camera Raw Editor 61
Understanding Camera Raw 62
Learning Raw file format attributes 63
Opening images in the Camera Raw Editor 64
Getting Familiar with the Raw Editor 65
Getting Familiar with the Panels 69
Using the Basic panel 70
Sharpening and reducing noise 73
Using the Calibration panel 75
Working with Filmstrips 76
Working with Profiles 78
Looking at the Adobe Camera Raw profiles 78
Managing profiles 79
Creating a Favorites list 80
Opening Non-Raw Images in the Camera Raw Editor 80
Changing Image Defaults 81
Working with XML Files and Preferences 81
Changing program defaults 81
Using Save Options 83
Using sidecar files 84
Chapter 6: Making and Modifying Selections 85
Defining Selections 85
Creating Rectangular and Elliptical Selections 86
Perfecting squares and circles with Shift and Alt (Option on the Mac) 88
Applying Marquee options 88
Making Freeform Selections with the Lasso Tools 90
Selecting with the Lasso tool 91
Getting straight with the Polygonal Lasso tool 93
Working Wizardry with the Magic Wand 94
Talking about Tolerance 94
Wielding the Wand to select 95
Modifying Your Selections 97
Adding to, subtracting from, and intersecting a selection 98
Avoiding key collisions 98
Painting with the Selection Brush 99
Painting with the Quick Selection Tool 101
Selecting with the Auto Selection Tool 103
Selecting Your Subject, Background, or Sky with One-Click Selecting 105
Fine-Tuning with the Refine Selection Brush 106
Working with the Cookie Cutter Tool 108
Eliminating with the Eraser Tools 110
The Eraser tool 110
The Background Eraser tool 111
The Magic Eraser tool 113
Using the Select Menu 113
Selecting all or nothing 113
Refining the edges of a selection 114
Chapter 7: Working with Layers 117
Getting to Know Layers 117
Converting a background to a layer 118
Anatomy of the Layers panel 119
Using the Layer and Select menus 122
Tackling Layer Basics 124
Creating a new layer from scratch 124
Using Layer via Copy and Layer via Cut 126
Duplicating layers 126
Dragging and dropping layers 127
Moving a Layer’s Content 127
Transforming Layers 128
Flattening and Merging Layers 129
Flattening layers 130
Merging layers 130
Chapter 8: Simple Image Makeovers 133
Cropping and Straightening Images 133
Cutting away with the Crop tool 134
Fixing distortion with the Perspective Crop tool 136
Cropping with a selection border 137
Straightening images 138
Recomposing Images 139
Employing One-Step Auto Fixes 141
Auto Smart Fix 142
Auto Smart Tone 143
Auto Levels 144
Auto Contrast 145
Auto Haze Removal 145
Auto Color Correction 145
Auto Sharpen 146
Auto Red Eye Fix 147
Editing in Quick Mode 148
Fixing Small Imperfections with Tools 152
Cloning with the Clone Stamp tool 152
Retouching with the Healing Brush 155
Zeroing in with the Spot Healing Brush 157
Eliminating objects with the Remove tool 158
Repositioning with the Content-Aware Move tool 160
Lightening and darkening with Dodge and Burn tools 162
Smudging away rough spots 163
Softening with the Blur tool 165
Focusing with the Sharpen tool 166
Sponging color on and off 167
Chapter 9: Correcting Contrast, Color, and Clarity 169
Editing Your Photos Using a Logical Workflow 170
Adjusting Lighting 170
Fixing lighting with Shadows/Highlights 171
Using Brightness/Contrast 172
Pinpointing proper contrast with Levels 173
Adjusting Color 175
Removing color casts automatically 176
Adjusting with Hue/Saturation 177
Eliminating color with Remove Color 178
Switching colors with Replace Color 179
Changing an object’s color 181
Correcting with Color Curves 183
Adjusting skin tones 185
Defringing layers 186
Eliminating haze 187
Adjusting color temperature with photo filters 188
Mapping your colors 189
Adjusting Clarity 190
Removing noise, artifacts, dust, and scratches 191
Blurring when you need to 192
Sharpening for better focus 195
Opening closed eyes 198
Colorizing a photo 199
Smoothing skin 201
Adjusting facial features 202
Moving Overlays 202
Moving Photos 205
Moving Elements 206
Working Intelligently with the Smart Brush Tools 207
Part 3: Exploring Your Inner Artist 211
Chapter 10: Using Artificial Intelligence in Photoshop Elements 213
Using Adobe’s Integrated AI Technology 214
Using Quick Actions with One-Click 218
Adding content using Generative Expand 219
Selecting subjects 220
Removing backgrounds 220
Exploring other Quick Actions 220
Exploring New Generative AI Tools 220
Using the Generate Image tool 220
Using Generative AI with Creations 222
Inserting objects with Generative AI 224
Restoring photos 226
Removing distracting people in backgrounds 227
Getting AI Assistance 228
Chapter 11: Playing with Filters, Effects, Styles, and More 231
Having Fun with Filters 231
Applying filters 232
Corrective or destructive filters 233
One-step or multistep filters 233
Working in the Filter Gallery 233
Distorting with the Liquify filter 235
Correcting Camera Distortion 238
Exploring Elements’ Unique Filters 239
Creating a comic 240
Getting graphic 241
Using the Pen and Ink filter 242
Dressing Up with Photo and Text Effects 244
Adding Shadows, Glows, and More 246
Applying styles 247
Working with styles 248
Using the Graphics panel 249
Mixing It Up with Blend Modes 250
General blend modes 251
Darken blend modes 251
Lighten blend modes 251
Lighting blend modes 253
Inverter blend modes 253
HSL blend modes 255
Using Photomerge 256
Photomerge Panorama 256
Combine Photos 258
Chapter 12: Drawing, Painting, and Typing 261
Choosing Color 261
Working with the Color Picker 262
Dipping into the Color Swatches panel 263
Sampling with the Eyedropper tool 265
Getting Artsy with the Pencil and Brush Tools 266
Drawing with the Pencil tool 266
Painting with the Brush tool 268
Using the Impressionist Brush 270
Filling and Outlining Selections 272
Fill ’er up 272
Outlining with the Stroke command 273
Splashing on Color with the Paint Bucket Tool 274
Working with Gradients and Patterns 275
Applying a preset gradient 276
Applying a preset pattern 277
Creating Shapes of All Sorts 278
Drawing a shape 279
Editing shapes 280
Creating Type 281
Specifying Type Options 284
Editing Text 286
Enhancing Type 287
Adjusting type opacity 287
Applying filters to your type 287
Painting your type with color and gradients 289
Warping your type 290
Part 4: Printing, Creating, and Sharing 291
Chapter 13: Getting It on Paper 293
Getting Pictures Ready for Printing 294
Working with Color Printer Profiles 295
Printing a photo with the printer managing color 296
Printing a photo with Elements managing color 298
Printing a picture package or contact sheet 298
Getting Familiar with the Print Dialog Box 299
Using the Prints options 299
Chapter 14: Sharing Your Work 301
Using the Share Panel 301
Emailing photos 303
Sharing your photos on social networks 304
Chapter 15: Making Creations 307
Creating Projects in Photoshop Elements 307
Making Creations in Photoshop Elements 308
Using Photoshop Elements built-in templates 309
Creating a Memories video 312
Creating a PDF slideshow 313
Making additional creations 313
Making Creations in Adobe Express 314
Knowing the key features of Adobe Express 314
Using Adobe Express 317
Part 5: the Part of Tens 319
Chapter 16: The Ten Best Guided Edits 321
Correct Skin Tone 321
Sharpen 323
Object Removal 324
Perfect Portrait 326
Replace Background 327
Remove a Color Cast 330
Levels 331
Resize Your Photo 333
Recompose 334
Move & Scale Object 335
Chapter 17: Ten (or So) More Project Ideas 339
Screen Savers 339
Flyers, Ads, and Online Auctions 340
Clothes, Hats, and More 341
Posters 342
Household and Business Inventories 342
Project Documentation 342
School Reports and Projects 343
Blogs 343
Wait — There’s More 343
Index 345
