Are you a visual learner? Do you prefer instructions that show you how to do something and skip the long-winded explanations? If so, then this book is for you. Open it up and you'll find clear, step-by-step screen shots that show you how to tackle more than 160 Photoshop Elements tasks. Each task-based spread covers a single technique, sure to help you get up and running on Photoshop Elements 12 in no time.
You'll learn to:
- Use both the Organizer and Editor
- Import photos from various sources
- Enhance lighting and color
- Restore old photos and add effects
- Save, back up, and share photos
Designed for visual learners
- Two-page lessons break big topics into bite-sized modules
- Succinct explanations walk you through step by step
- Full-color screen shots demonstrate each task
- Helpful sidebars offer practical tips and tricks
Table of Contents:
Chapter 1 Getting Started
Introducing Photoshop Elements 12 4
Understanding Digital Images 6
Start Photoshop Elements 8
Explore the Editor Workspace 9
Tour the Organizer Workspace 10
Switch between the Organizer and the Editor 11
Introducing the Photoshop Elements Tools 12
Switch Editor Modes 14
Work with Tools 16
Work with Panels 18
Set Program Preferences 20
View Rulers and Guides 22
Chapter 2 Importing and Opening Digital Images
Get Photos for Your Projects 26
Import Photos from a Digital Camera or Card Reader 28
Import Photos from a Scanner 30
Import or Search for Photos from a Folder 32
Open a Photo 34
Create a Blank Image 36
Save a Photo 38
Duplicate a Photo 40
Close a Photo 41
Chapter 3 Organizing Your Photos
Introducing the Organizer 44
Open the Organizer 46
Create a Catalog 48
View Photos in the Media Browser 50
View Photos in Full Screen 52
Display a Slide Show in Full Screen 54
View Photo Information 56
Add a Caption 58
Work with Albums 60
Find Photos 62
Rate Photos 64
View Versions of a Photo 66
Remove a Photo from the Organizer 67
Chapter 4 Using Advanced Organizing Tools
Perform an Advanced Search 70
Work with Keyword Tags 72
Define People in Photos 76
Define Places 78
View Places 80
Define Events 82
Using Smart Events 84
Work with People, Place, and Event Tags 86
Apply an Instant Fix 88
Stack Photos 90
Find by Visual Similarity 92
Chapter 5 Applying Basic Image Edits
Manage Open Images 96
Magnify with the Zoom Tool 100
Adjust the Image View 102
Change the On-Screen Image Size 104
Change the Image Print Size 106
Change the Image Canvas Size 108
Work in Quick Mode 110
Apply an Effect in Quick Mode 112
Add a Frame in Quick Mode 113
Crop an Image 114
Rotate an Image 116
Undo Changes to an Image 118
Revert an Image 119
Chapter 6 Making Selections
Select an Area with the Marquee 122
Select an Area with the Lasso 124
Select an Area with the Magic Wand 128
Select an Area with the Quick Selection Tool 130
Select an Area with the Selection Brush 132
Save and Load a Selection 134
Invert a Selection 136
Deselect a Selection 137
Chapter 7 Manipulating Selections
Add to or Subtract from a Selection 140
Move a Selection 142
Apply the Content-Aware Move Tool 144
Duplicate a Selection 146
Delete a Selection 147
Rotate a Selection 148
Scale a Selection 149
Skew or Distort a Selection 150
Refine the Edge of a Selection 152
Feather the Border of a Selection 154
Chapter 8 Using Layers
Introducing Layers 158
Create and Add to a Layer 160
Hide a Layer162
Move a Layer 163
Duplicate a Layer 164
Delete a Layer 165
Reorder Layers 166
Change the Opacity of a Layer 168
Link Layers 169
Merge Layers 170
Rename a Layer 171
Create a Fill Layer 172
Create an Adjustment Layer 174
Blend Layers 176
Add a Layer Mask 178
Edit a Layer Mask 180
Chapter 9 Enhancing and Retouching Photos
Quickly Fix a Photo 184
Remove Red Eye 186
Retouch with the Clone Stamp Tool 188
Remove a Spot 190
Sharpen an Image 192
Merge Group Shots 194
Recompose a Photo 196
Create a Photo Panorama 198
Fix Keystone Distortion 200
Chapter 10 Enhancing Lighting and Color
Adjust Levels204
Adjust Shadows and Highlights 206
Change Brightness and Contrast 208
Using the Dodge and Burn Tools 210
Fix Exposure 212
Using the Blur and Sharpen Tools 214
Adjust Skin Color 216
Adjust Color with the Sponge Tool 218
Replace a Color 220
Turn a Color Photo into Black and White 222
Add Color to a Black-and-White Photo 224
Adjust Colors by Using Color Curves 226
Apply the Auto Smart Tone Tool 228
Chapter 11 Apply Guided Edits
Restore an Old Photo 232
Improve a Portrait 234
Shift Colors 238
Apply a Lomo Camera Effect 240
Add Motion with Zoom Burst 242
Miniaturize Objects with Tilt Shift 244
Turn a Photo into a Puzzle 246
Apply a Reflection248
Put an Object Out of Bounds 250
Apply a Low Key Effect 252
Chapter 12 Painting and Drawing on Photos
Set the Foreground and Background Colors 256
Add Color with the Brush Tool 258
Change Brush Styles 260
Using a Brush to Replace a Color 262
Adjust Colors with the Smart Brush 264
Draw a Shape 268
Draw a Line 270
Apply the Eraser 272
Apply a Gradient 274
Add Content from the Graphics Panel 276
Chapter 13 Applying Filters
Blur an Image 280
Distort an Image 282
Turn an Image into a Painting 284
Turn an Image into a Sketch 286
Add Noise to an Image 288
Pixelate an Image 290
Emboss an Image 292
Apply Multiple Filters 294
Chapter 14 Adding Text Elements
Add Text298
Change the Formatting of Text 300
Change the Color of Text 302
Create Warped Text 304
Add an Effect to Text 306
Add Text along a Selection 308
Add Text in a Shape 310
Chapter 15 Applying Styles and Effects
Add a Drop Shadow to a Layer 314
Add a Fancy Background 316
Add an Outer Glow to a Layer 318
Add a Fancy Covering to a Layer 320
Add a Watermark 322
Apply a Photomerge Style 324
Apply an Effect with an Action 326
Add to Favorites 328
Chapter 16 Saving and Sharing Your Work
Save a Photo for the Web 332
Convert File Types 334
E-Mail Images with Photo Mail 336
Print Photos 340
Create a Slide Show 342
Create a Photo Book 346
Share Photos on Facebook 350
Share a Photo on Twitter 354
Export Photos356
Export Photos to Adobe Revel 358
Back Up Photos 360
Index 362
About the Author :
Mike Wooldridge (San Francisco, CA) has worked as a Web developer, technology writer, and educator since 1995. He is the author or co-author of more than a dozen books in the VISUAL series; most recently Teach Yourself VISUALLY Photoshop CC.
