Photoshop Elements 13 All-in-One For Dummies

Book description

Make ordinary photos extraordinary with Photoshop Elements 13

Whether you prefer to snap shots on your smartphone or never leave home without your DSLR, chances are you have way more photos than you ever dreamed possible. With the help of Photoshop Elements 13 All-in-One For Dummies, you can edit those photos and turn them into stunning works of art. The book will help you get to know the key features of Photoshop Elements, including examining the Elements workspace; navigating the tools; viewing images on your computer; setting your preferences; and acquiring, saving, and exporting images. You'll then take your skills to next level and become a pro at working with iOS and Android devices, specifying resolution and changing image sizing, choosing color modes and file formats, working with Camera Raw, using and managing color, painting and drawing with Elements, creating layers, and so much more. Plus, you'll discover how to add pizzazz with styles and effects, apply quick image makeovers, correct lighting, color, and clarity, and composite with Photomerge.

Photoshop Elements is the #1-selling consumer photo editing software, and Adobe continues to add innovative features that allow digital photography enthusiasts to do it all. Going well beyond the basics of how to use Photoshop Elements—and weighing in at more than 672 pages—Photoshop Elements 13 All-in-One For Dummies is the most comprehensive Elements book on the market. Written by Barbara Obermeier and Ted Padova, veteran authors, long-time instructors, and expert speakers who have spent decades specializing in digital imaging, this hands-on, friendly guide is jam-packed with everything you need to create, edit, fix, share, and organize digital images.

  • Combines nine content-rich books in one value-packed reference

  • Includes updated and revised information to reflect the latest release, Photoshop Elements 13

  • Richly illustrated in full color and brimming with easy-to-follow, step-by-step instructions

  • Explains how to enhance your images by adjusting color, brightness, resolution, contrast, and sharpness

  • Whether you're an amateur photographer or new to the digital photo scene and want to perform sophisticated editing techniques with a powerful image-editing software program, Photoshop Elements 13 All-in-One For Dummies has everything you need—and more.

    Table of contents

      1. Introduction
        1. Conventions Used in This Book
        2. Icons Used in This Book
        3. Beyond the Book
        4. Where to Go from Here
      2. Book I: Getting Started with Elements
        1. Chapter 1: Examining the Elements Environment
          1. Launching Elements
          2. Opening the Organizer
          3. Adding Images to the Organizer
          4. Navigating the Different Modes
            1. Visiting Expert editing mode
            2. Visiting Quick editing mode
            3. Getting help with Guided mode
          5. Moving through the Menu Bar
          6. Using Context Menus
          7. Selecting Settings in the Options Panel
          8. Playing with Panels
            1. Getting choosy in the Favorites panel
            2. Exploring other panels
          9. Using the Photo Bin
          10. Getting Productive with Shortcuts
          11. Finding Help When You Need It
            1. Using the Help menu
            2. Reading PDFs from the Installer DVD-ROM
            3. Reading tooltips
            4. Checking dialog boxes
        2. Chapter 2: Getting to Know the Tools
          1. Examining the Tools Panel
          2. Using Selection Tools
            1. Geometric selection tools
            2. Lasso tools
            3. Magic Wand tool
            4. Quick Selection tool
            5. Selection Brush tool
          3. Using Drawing and Painting Tools
            1. Brush tools
            2. Smart Brush tools
            3. Eraser tools
            4. Paint Bucket tool
            5. Gradient tool
          4. Using Tools for Cloning and Healing
            1. Cloning tools
            2. Healing brushes
            3. Content-Aware Move tool
          5. Creating Text with Typographical Tools
          6. Using Focus and Toning Tools
            1. Red Eye Removal tool
            2. Toning tools
            3. Focus tools
          7. Creating Shapes
            1. Cookie Cutter tool
            2. Shape tools
          8. Viewing, Navigating, and Sampling Tools
            1. Color Picker tool
            2. Hand tool
            3. Zoom tool
          9. Other Editing Tools
            1. Move tool
            2. Crop tool
            3. Recompose tool
            4. Straighten tool
          10. Discovering the Automation Tools
            1. Using one-click auto adjustments
            2. Running actions
        3. Chapter 3: Viewing and Navigating Images
          1. Looking at the Image Window
          2. Zooming In and Out of Image Windows
            1. Zooming with keyboard shortcuts
            2. Using the Zoom tool
            3. Moving with the Hand tool
            4. Cruising with the Navigator panel
          3. Aligning Image Elements with Grids and Guides
          4. Using the Info Panel
      3. Book II: Organizer Fundamentals
        1. Chapter 1: Gathering Your Image Files
          1. Organizing Image Files on Your Hard Drive
            1. Dedicating a drive to just photos
            2. Viewing your hard drive’s folder structure in the Organizer
          2. Transferring Images to Your Computer
            1. Getting images from your camera
            2. Getting images from your card reader
            3. Grabbing photos from mobile devices
            4. Scanning images
            5. Adding images from any media via your file system
          3. Importing Files from Your Hard Drive into the Organizer
            1. Importing photos manually
            2. Setting Up Watch Folders
          4. Protecting Your Assets
            1. Backing up your catalog
            2. Backing up photos and files (Windows)
        2. Chapter 2: Viewing, Searching, and Sorting Images
          1. Cataloging Files
            1. Creating a new catalog
            2. Importing legacy catalogs
            3. Switching catalogs
          2. Viewing Images in the Organizer
            1. Understanding the Media Browser
            2. Using Thumbnail view
            3. Using sort commands
            4. Changing view options on the View menu
            5. Viewing photos as a slide show and in Full Screen view
          3. Searching for Images in the Organizer
            1. Typing search terms in the Search box
            2. Searching metadata
            3. Searching by media type
            4. Searching by history
            5. Searching captions and notes
            6. Searching by filename
            7. Searching missing files, version sets, and stacks
            8. Searching by visual similarities
            9. Searching for miscellaneous items
          4. Hiding Files That Get in the Way
            1. Stacking ’em up
        3. Chapter 3: Organizing Images with Tags, Albums, and More
          1. Introducing Tags and the Tags Panel
          2. Organizing Groups of Images with Keyword Tags
            1. Creating a custom keyword tag
            2. Tagging photos
            3. Adding icons to keyword tags
            4. Modifying the default keyword tags
            5. Building your own categories and subcategories
          3. Finding and Tagging People in Photos
            1. Adding people
            2. Marking faces
          4. Mapping Photos with Place Tags
          5. Tagging Events with the Events Tab
          6. Removing Tags
          7. Creating Smart Events
          8. Automating Tagging with Image Tags
          9. Rating Images with Stars
          10. Working with Albums
            1. Exploring album benefits
            2. Creating an album
            3. Using albums for temporary work
            4. Editing an album
      4. Book III: Image Essentials
        1. Chapter 1: Creating, Undoing, and Saving Images
          1. Opening an Image in the Photo Editor
            1. Using in Camera Raw
            2. Opening recently edited files
            3. Opening an image within another image
          2. Creating a New Image
          3. Undoing in Elements
            1. Undoing what’s done with the Undo command
            2. Reverting to what’s saved
            3. Working with the almighty History panel
          4. Saving Files
          5. Closing and Quitting
        2. Chapter 2: Specifying Resolution and Changing Image Sizing
          1. Examining Images Closely
            1. Understanding resolution
            2. Understanding image dimensions
            3. Understanding camera megapixels
            4. Looking at raster versus vector images
          2. Using the Image Size Command
            1. Downsampling images
            2. Upsampling images
          3. Using the Scale Command
          4. Choosing a Resolution for Print or Screen
          5. Changing the Canvas Size
            1. Using the Canvas Size dialog box
            2. Using the Crop tool
        3. Chapter 3: Choosing Color Modes and File Formats
          1. Selecting a Color Mode
          2. Converting Color Modes and Profiles
            1. Converting to Bitmap mode
            2. Converting to Grayscale mode
            3. Converting to Indexed Color mode
            4. Converting color profiles
          3. Using the Proper File Format
            1. Using the Save/Save As dialog box
            2. Understanding file formats
            3. Saving files for the web
          4. Creating Versions
          5. Batch-Processing Files
            1. Exporting files in the Organizer
            2. Processing multiple files
        4. Chapter 4: Using and Managing Color
          1. Dealing with Foreground and Background Colors
          2. Defining Color
            1. Poking around the Color Picker
            2. Grabbing color from the Color Swatches panel
            3. Lifting and sampling color
          3. Using Adobe Kuler
            1. Getting started with Adobe Kuler
            2. Exploring color themes
            3. Creating your own color theme in Kuler
            4. Getting themes from master artists
            5. Loading Adobe Kuler themes into Elements
          4. Understanding Color Management Essentials
            1. Discovering color channels
            2. Understanding bit depth
            3. Calibrating your monitor
            4. Establishing your color settings
            5. Understanding how profiles work
      5. Book IV: Selections
        1. Chapter 1: Making Selections
          1. Defining Selections
          2. Selecting a Rectangular or an Elliptical Area
            1. Fine-tuning squares and circles
            2. Using the Marquee options
          3. Free-Form Selecting with the Lasso Tools
            1. Using the Lasso tool
            2. Selecting straight sides with the Polygonal Lasso tool
            3. Hugging edges with the Magnetic Lasso tool
          4. Performing Wand Wizardry
            1. Talking about tolerance
            2. Selecting with the Magic Wand tool
          5. Painting with the Selection Brush
          6. Saving Time with the Quick Selection Tool
          7. Fine-Tuning with the Refine Selection Brush
          8. Resizing Smartly with the Recompose Tool
        2. Chapter 2: Modifying and Transforming Selections
          1. Modifying Selections
            1. Adding to a selection
            2. Subtracting from a selection
            3. Intersecting two selections
          2. Avoiding Keyboard Collisions
            1. Adding a perfectly square or circular selection
            2. Deleting from an existing selection while drawing from the center out
          3. Using the Select Menu
            1. Selecting all or nothing
            2. Reselecting a selection
            3. Inversing a selection
            4. Feathering a selection
            5. Using the Modify commands
            6. Applying the Grow and Similar commands
            7. Saving and loading selections
          4. Moving and Cloning Selections
            1. Cloning
            2. Moving the selection outline, but not the pixels
          5. Transforming Pixels
      6. Book V: Painting, Drawing, and Typing
        1. Chapter 1: Painting and Drawing with Elements
          1. Introducing the Pencil and Brush Tools
            1. Drawing with the Pencil tool
            2. Painting with the Brush tool
            3. Getting artsy with the Impressionist Brush
            4. Creating a custom brush
          2. Creating Shapes
            1. Drawing a shape
            2. Drawing multiple shapes on a shape layer
            3. Specifying Geometry options
            4. Editing shapes
        2. Chapter 2: Filling and Stroking
          1. Filling a Selection with a Solid Color
          2. Filling Options and Tips
          3. Pouring with the Paint Bucket Tool
          4. Stroking a Selection
          5. Working with Multicolored Gradients
            1. Applying a preset gradient to a selection
            2. Customizing and editing gradients
            3. Adding transparency to a gradient
          6. Managing and Saving Gradients
          7. Working with Patterns
            1. Applying a preset pattern
            2. Creating a new pattern
        3. Chapter 3: Working with Type
          1. Understanding Type Modes
          2. Understanding Different Kinds of Type
          3. Exploring the Type Tools
          4. Entering Point Type
          5. Entering Paragraph Type
          6. Creating Path Type
            1. Using the Text on Selection tool
            2. Using the Text on Shape tool
            3. Using the Text on Custom Path tool
          7. Using the Tool Options
          8. Editing Text
          9. Rasterizing the Type Layer
          10. Masking with Type
          11. Stylizing and Warping Type
            1. Playing with type opacity
            2. Applying filters to type
            3. Painting over type with color
            4. Warping your type
      7. Book VI: Working with Layers and Masks
        1. Chapter 1: Creating Layers
          1. Getting Familiar with Layers
          2. Introducing Different Types of Layers
            1. Working with image layers
            2. Using Adjustment layers
            3. Taking advantage of Fill layers
            4. Making use of shape layers
            5. Using type layers
          3. Getting to Know the Layers Panel
          4. Using the Layer and Select Menus
            1. The Layer menu
            2. The Select menu
          5. Making Layers
            1. Creating a new layer
            2. Using Layer via Copy and Layer via Cut
            3. Duplicating layers
          6. Compositing with Multiple Images
            1. Copying and pasting images
            2. Dragging and dropping layers
            3. Using the Paste into Selection command
        2. Chapter 2: Managing Layers
          1. Viewing Layers
          2. Rearranging Layers
          3. Moving Layer Elements
          4. Transforming Layers
          5. Simplifying Layers
          6. Aligning and Distributing Layers
          7. Linking Layers
          8. Locking Layers
          9. Flattening and Merging Layers
          10. Merging layers
          11. Flattening layers
        3. Chapter 3: Playing with Opacity and Blend Modes
          1. Adjusting Layer Opacity
          2. Creatively Mixing with Blend Modes
            1. General Blend modes
            2. Blend modes that darken
            3. Blend modes that lighten
            4. Lighting or Contrast Blend modes
            5. Blend modes that invert
            6. HSL color model Blend modes
        4. Chapter 4: Cutting, Erasing, and Masking
          1. Working with the Cookie Cutter Tool
          2. Selective Erasing with the Eraser Tools
            1. Using the Eraser tool
            2. Selecting and erasing by color
            3. Removing the background from an image
          3. Working with Layer Masks
          4. Creating Clipping Masks
      8. Book VII: Filters, Effects, Styles, and Distortions
        1. Chapter 1: Making Corrections and Having Fun with Filters
          1. Understanding Filter Basics
            1. Corrective and destructive filters
            2. Single-step and multistep filters
            3. Reapplying a filter
            4. Fading a filter
            5. Selectively applying a filter
          2. Working in the Filter Gallery
          3. Having Fun with Filters
            1. Correcting camera distortion
            2. The Facet filter
            3. Getting artsy
            4. Stroking your image
            5. Distorting for fun
            6. Getting noisy
            7. Breaking your image into pieces
            8. Rendering
            9. Getting organic with the Sketch filters
            10. Adding texture
        2. Chapter 2: Distorting with the Liquify Command
          1. Exploring the Liquify Window
            1. The distortion painting tools
            2. The other tools
          2. The Options Area
          3. Distorting an Image with Liquify
        3. Chapter 3: Adding Pizzazz with Styles and Effects
          1. Seeing What the Effects Panel Can Do
          2. Enhancing with Effects
          3. Working with Layer Styles
            1. Getting the scoop on layer styles
            2. Applying a layer style
          4. Editing Layer Styles
          5. Adding Content from the Graphics Panel
          6. Adding Effects, Textures, and Frames in Quick Mode
      9. Book VIII: Retouching and Enhancing
        1. Chapter 1: Quick Image Makeovers
          1. Applying One-Step Auto-fixes
            1. Auto Smart Tone
            2. Auto Smart Fix
            3. Auto Levels
            4. Auto Contrast
            5. Auto Color Correction
            6. Auto Sharpen
            7. Auto Red Eye Fix
            8. Using the Red Eye Removal tool
          2. Editing in Quick Mode
          3. Cloning with the Clone Stamp Tool
          4. Performing Cosmetic Surgery with the Healing Brush Tool
          5. Zeroing In with the Spot Healing Brush
            1. Repositioning with the Content-Aware Move tool
          6. Colorizing with the Color Replacement Tool
          7. Lightening and Darkening with Dodge and Burn Tools
          8. Turning Color Up or Down with the Sponge Tool
          9. Smoothing with the Smudge Tool
          10. Softening with the Blur Tool
          11. Focusing with the Sharpen Tool
        2. Chapter 2: Correcting Lighting, Color, and Clarity
          1. Correcting Your Images the Logical Way
          2. Understanding the Histogram Panel
          3. Adjusting Lighting
            1. Fixing lighting with Shadows/Highlights
            2. Using Brightness/Contrast
            3. Nailing proper contrast with Levels
          4. Adjusting Color
            1. Removing color casts automatically
            2. Adjusting with Hue/Saturation
            3. Eliminating color with Remove Color
            4. Switching colors with Replace Color
            5. Correcting with Color Curves
            6. Adjusting skin tones
            7. Defringing layers
            8. Adjusting color temperature with photo filters
            9. Mapping your colors
          5. Adjusting Clarity
            1. Removing noise, artifacts, dust, and scratches
            2. Blurring when you need to
            3. Sharpening for better focus
          6. Working Intelligently with the Smart Brush Tools
          7. Using the Smart Brush
          8. Getting accurate with the Detail Smart Brush
        3. Chapter 3: Compositing with Photomerge
          1. Stitching a Scene with Photomerge Panorama
          2. Getting the Best Shot with Photomerge Group Shot
          3. Eliminating with Photomerge Scene Cleaner
          4. Fixing Lighting with Photomerge Exposure
          5. Compositing Multiple Images with Photomerge Compose
        4. Chapter 4: Getting Help in Guided Mode
          1. Understanding Guided Mode
          2. Walking through Touchups
            1. Adjusting contrast and color
            2. Sharpening a photo
            3. Enhancing with Photo and Camera Effects
          3. Playing with Photos
      10. Book IX: Creating and Sharing with Elements
        1. Chapter 1: Creating Elements Projects
          1. Getting a Handle on Creations
          2. Creating Facebook Cover Images
          3. Creating a Photo Book
          4. Getting in Touch with Greeting Cards
          5. Making a Photo Calendar
          6. Assembling a Photo Collage
          7. Creating a Slideshow
          8. Working with Photo Prints
            1. Printing to your desktop printer
            2. Ordering prints online
          9. Getting Organized with CD/DVD Labels
          10. Creating a DVD with a Menu
        2. Chapter 2: Getting It Printed
          1. Getting Images Ready for Printing
          2. Setting Print Options
            1. Printing from the Organizer
          3. Printing Multiple Images
            1. Printing contact sheets
            2. Printing picture packages
          4. Printing with Color Profiles
            1. Working with color printer profiles
            2. Understanding how Elements uses color profiles
            3. Understanding your printer’s profiles
          5. Printing to Inkjet Printers
            1. Automatic profile selection for Epson printers
            2. Selecting a printer profile
          6. Using Online Printing Services
        3. Chapter 3: Sharing Projects with Others
          1. Getting Familiar with the Elements Sharing Options
            1. What device(s) are going to display my creations?
            2. What storage hosts are the most popular?
            3. What types of creations can I share?
          2. Working with Adobe Revel
            1. Knowing what Adobe Revel offers you
            2. Downloading the Adobe Revel applications
            3. Understanding the Adobe Revel interface
            4. Editing a photo with Revel
            5. Sharing photos with Adobe Revel
            6. Downloading images from your Revel Carousel
          3. Getting a Grip on the Share Panel
            1. Sharing Photos on Adobe Revel
            2. Uploading files to social media websites
            3. Creating an email attachment
      11. About the Authors
      12. Cheat Sheet
      13. More Dummies Products

    Product information

    • Title: Photoshop Elements 13 All-in-One For Dummies
    • Author(s):
    • Release date: November 2014
    • Publisher(s): For Dummies
    • ISBN: 9781118998601