AN INTRODUCTION TO PHOTOSHOP ELEMENTS
Get to know the tools available in the Photoshop Elements workspace
Photoshop Anatomy Workspace features
The Quick editing
mode has an
adjustments panel
that enables you to
adjust colours and
tones with ease.
Click an option such
as Levels [01] to
tweak the tones in
an image. You can
target a specific range
of tones by clicking
an option such as
Midtones [02].
The slider beneath
[03] enables you to
increase the strengthof the adjustment.
Alternatively, you
can preview tonal
adjustments by
looking at the
thumbnails at the foot
of the panel [04] and
then click a thumbnail
to adjust the slider.
You also have the
option of clicking the
Auto Levels or Auto
Contrast buttons to
let Photoshop
Elements decide the
best results for you if
you’re unsure.THE PHOTOSHOP
ELEMENTS GUIDED
EDITING MODEIf you’re daunted by all the
photo-fixing tools and commands
in the Expert editing mode, then
it may be better to kick off by
exploring the many retouching
options in the Guided editing
mode. This editing mode provides
you with a list of handy photo
fixes (such as Remove a Color
Cast). Each guided edit hands
you the appropriate tool for the
job, and if necessary breaks down
the process into easy-to-manage
steps. The creative guided edits
show you a before-and-after
example preview of an edited
image, so you can see what
you’re working to produce, and
change tack or start again from
scratch if necessary.0301
020404 TOOLBOX
The Toolbox is packed full of handy photo-fixing tools.
Some compartments contain similar tools. You can
see and select these tools in the Tool Options at the
bottom of the workspace. The Quick editor has a cut-
down Toolbox.
05 PANEL BIN
Here you can work with a variety of panels. By default
the Layers panel is visible, because it’s the one you’ll
use most often, but you can click the icons at the
bottom to jump to other panels, such as Effects. Click
More to access extra panels such as the Navigator.06 CREATE AND SHARE
The Create and Share links aren’t technically editing
modes, but they do unleash a host of handy tools such
as ways to share your edited photos on Facebook, or
turn a selection of photos into a printable greetings
card, for example.01 EXPERT MODE
In this mode you’ll find Element’s most powerful
image-editing tools. They enable you to take control of
a photo’s colours and tones, boost its colour saturation
and even add text and special filter effects.02 GUIDED MODE
This helpful mode takes you step-by-step through
various photo-fixing and creative image-adjusting
tasks, such as removing scratches and blemishes or
adding photo effects such as tilt-shift. It uses the tools
found in the Expert mode.03 QUICK MODE
This mode enables you to perform common photo
fixes (such as sharpening a soft image) by clicking
preview thumbnails. You can also apply textures and
effects to your shots with one click. It’s well worth
experimenting in this section.Understanding...
THE QUICK
EDITING MODE
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