Introduction to Photoshop Elements

Image Tab

MenusEditing Modes

Image Window

Panels Bin

Tools Panel

Tool Options

Tools Panel

Each group of tools in the Tools Panel contains icons for default tools. Hover your mouse over any icon to identify each tool. When you click on any of these icons, you’ll see the variations of that tool appear in the Tool Options panel below the editing area.

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View Tools

Select Tools

Enhance Tools

Draw Tools

Shape Tools

Type

Modify Tools

Note: If you had to choose one selection tool to meet most of your needs, the Quick Selection Tool would be it.

Not only does it help you select objects with similar colors and textures, but it also allows you to easily add to or subtract from your selection.

By default, clicking and dragging over an area will add to the selection. To subtract, simply click the Subtract from selection button in the Tool Options bar, then click and drag over the area you wish to subtract.

Selection Tools

When you make a selection in Photoshop, you are designating a portion of the image that can be cut, copied, moved, or edited without disturbing the rest of the image. There are multiple selection tools to choose from.

Rectangular Marquee: draws square or rectangular borders.

Elliptical Marquee: draws round or elliptical selection borders.

Lasso: draws freehand selection borders.

Polygonal Lasso: draws multiple straight-edged segments of a selection border.

Magnetic Lasso: draws a selection border that automatically snaps to edges as you drag around the objects you want to select.

Magic Wand: selects pixels of similar color with one click.

Quick Selection: automatically makes selection based on color and texture when

you click or drag over an area.

Selection Brush: automatically selects or deselects the area you paint, depending on whether you’re in selection or mask mode.

Smart Brush: applies color and tonal adjustments and effects to a selection. The tool automatically creates an adjustment layer for non-destructive editing.

Move Tool: allows you to move a selection by clicking and dragging. Note: To move a selection in a straight line, press and hold the SHIFT key while dragging.

View Tools

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New Add to selection

Subtract from selection

The Zoom and Hand Tools allow you to edit your image carefully and with greater precision. Click the Zoom Tool and use the slider in the Tool Options bar to zoom in or out. If you zoom in to a high magnification, you can use the Hand Tool to readjust your view of the image. Click the Hand Tool and then click and drag the image as needed.

Red-eye Removal

Photoshop will allow you to manually remove red-eye in photos or use the Auto-Correct feature in the Tool Options bar.

To manually remove red-eye:1. Click the Red-eye Removal Tool in the Tools Panel.2. Adjust the Pupil Radius and Darken amount in the Tool Options bar.3. Click the red area of each eye. The red should be removed.

To use the Auto-Correct feature:1. Click the Red-eye Removal Tool in the Tools Panel.2. Click Auto-Correct in the Tool Options bar.

Type Tools

With the type tools in Photoshop, you can label your images or use text in more artistic ways.

To insert text:1. Click the Horizontal Type tool in the Tools Panel.2. Click in the image where you want to insert the text. Note: you can move the text after

you’ve finished inserting it if you need to.3. Select the font style, size, color, and/or text direction in the Tool Options bar. 4. Type your text and press Enter or click the green checkmark. The text will appear in its

own layer.

To edit existing text:1. Click the Horizontal Type tool in the Tools Panel.2. Click the layer in the Layers panel which contains the text.3. Click and drag over the text you wish to edit.4. Use the options in the Tool Options bar to make changes.

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Keyboard Shortcuts for Zoom

Zoom In (press the Z key) Zoom Out (press and hold

the ALT key)

The Clone Stamp

The Clone Stamp copies information from one part of an image to another. It can be used to remove blemishes or to duplicate or erase objects in an image.

To use the Clone Stamp:1. Click the Clone Stamp tool in the Tools Panel.2. Select the brush size and type and/or change the opacity in the Tool Options bar.3. Select the source for the Clone Stamp by holding down the ALT key on the keyboard

and clicking the area of the image you wish to copy.4. Click and drag over the area that you wish to correct. 5. Note: You may need to select multiple source points throughout this process. Repeat

steps 3 and 4 as needed.

The Healing Brushes

The Spot Healing Brush allows you to remove small blemishes in photos.

1. Click the Spot Healing Brush icon in the Tools Panel or the Tool Options bar (if the Healing Brush is already selected in the Tools Panel).

2. In the Tool Options bar, select a brush size that is slightly larger than the area you want to fix.

3. Select either Proximity Match or Create Texture.4. If the area you want to fix is small, simply click once on that area. If the area is larger, paint

over the area by clicking and dragging the mouse.5. Note: If you want this change to affect all the layers of your image, click Sample All Layers.

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Exercise:

Using the Clone Stamp with the Bull.jpg image, try to duplicate, or “clone,” the bull, and then erase the bulls altogether.

Note: When erasing the bulls, you may need to copy over an area several times using different source points.

What do these options mean?

Proximity Match: Selects pixels around the selection to use as a patch for the selected area.

Create Texture: Selects pixels from within the selection to fill in the selection with a texture. You may need to drag the area a few times to get the result you want.

The Healing Brush allows you to remove larger unwanted objects from a uniform background.

1. Click the Healing Brush icon in the Tools Panel or the Tool Options bar.2. Select a brush size from the Tool Options bar. Again,

your brush size will depend on the size of the object you wish to remove.

3. Set the following Healing Brush options:a. Mode (how the pixels in the selected source will

blend with the pixels being healed)i. Normal: new pixels will be laid over

existing pixelsii. Replace: film grain and texture will be

preserved along the edges of the brush stroke

b. Source (which pixels will be used to repair the image)

i. Sampled: pixels from the current imageii. Pattern: pixels from the Pattern panel

c. Aligned (the current sampling point will remain selected even if you release the mouse button. This can be toggled on and off.)

d. Sample All Layers (select the layers you wish to sample pixels from)4. Press and hold the ALT key on the keyboard while clicking in an area of the image you

wish to use as the source.5. Click and drag over the object you wish to remove. Every time you release the mouse

button, the pixels you have painted will blend with the pixels of the source you selected.6. Note: You may need to select multiple sources throughout this process. Repeat steps 4

and 5 as needed.

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Exercise:

Use the Spot Healing Brush or Healing Brush to remove the spots and scratches in the portrait.jpg image.

Note: Remember to use the Zoom tool when you need to heal blemishes along borders of different textures, such as the spot on the gentleman’s shoulder.

Self Evaluation: Introduction to Photoshop

Evaluate your understanding of the following topics. Be sure to ask your instructor to clarify any concepts you find confusing.

Topic clear somewhat clear

a little confused

very confused

Open an image for editingZoom in/out and move an image with the zoom and hand tools

Remove blemishes with the healing brush

Select part of an image with the selection tools

Cut and paste a selection into an image

Duplicate portions of an image with the clone stampRemove red-eyeInsert and edit textSave an image as a different file type

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