Jay Arraich’s
Photoshop Elements Tips
Adobe® Photoshop® Elements is the program that Adobe® has created to replace Photoshop® Limited Edition (Photoshop LE). It retails for $89.00, and usually can be found for much less at Amazon.
New! My electronic book, Elementary School 6, for beginning users of Elements 6 is now available on CD-ROM, for purchase via PayPal.
Elementary School 5 and 4 for new users of Elements 5 or 4 are still for sale. Find more information, here. The original Elementary School for Elements 3 is also still available.
Find FREE hand-shaded text header graphics, wood-cut backgrounds, animal backgrounds and 2008 calendar pages that can be added to the Elements 5 Artwork and Effects palette.
NEW! The 2008 calendars are here!
For Elements book recommendations see the top section of the Photoshop Books page.
About email carrying computer viruses. To everyone who has bookmarked pages from my site (which pages include my email address) or has corresponded with me, please take the time to learn about virus protection. I have a page of basic Windows Security information on how to make your system more secure. Also, try the virus info section at About.com. I receive an amazing amount of virus infected email, presumably from those of you who have my site bookmarked or who have added my address to your address book and who have been infected with a virus. To anybody who has received infected mail from me, please be aware that many viruses will fill in the “From” line of outbound infected mail with a random address found on the sender’s computer. The mail was not from me. Do not ever open mail with attached files unless and until you are sure it is from someone you know, and they have confirmed that they sent it and that it is virus-free.
Please note: if you wish to email me, do not
send attachments. My server is set up to delete any mail over a modest
size, so I will never see your mail. Please ask before sending
any pictures or attachments of any kind.
In addition, due to the enormous amount
of spam that I receive, I have a huge number of delete-from-server message
rules. If you email me and don’t get a reply, you might try using
a different email address (use a friend’s email, or try one of the
free Web based email services).
Elementary School
There are now four versions of my electronic (pdf) book, Elementary
School. The new Elementary School 6 for Elements
6 has 634 pages and 118 tutorials. The version for Elements 5 has 598
pages and 112 tutorials. The version for Elements 4 has 572 pages and
110 lessons. The version for Elements 3 has 542 pages with 108 tutorials.
All three are for new users of Adobe® Photoshop® Elements.
They are all available for sale on CD-ROM, via PayPal.
Go to Elementary School
Elements 3, 4, 5, and 6
The newest version of Elements was released in September, 2007. I have
not had time to add any tutorials to this site, but I do have a simple
introductory lesson available in .pdf form.
Go to Elements 3, 4, 5 and
6
Free Graphics
For users of Elements 5, I have made hand-shaded text
headers for your print creations. These free graphics can be added to,
and used from the Artwork and Effects palette.
Go to Free Graphics
Free Wooodcut Backgrounds
For users of Elements 5, I have made backgrounds that
can be added to the Artwork and Effects palette. From there you can add
them as base layers to your print creations.
Go to Free Woodcut Backgrounds
Free Animal Backgrounds
For users of Elements 5, here are pattern backgrounds of eagles, lions,
and horses. Download them and add them to your Artwork and Effects palette.
Go to Free Animal Backgrounds
Free Geometric Backgrounds
For users of Elements 5, here are geometric backgrounds for use in your
print creations. Download them and add them to your Artwork and Effects
palette.
Go to Free Geometric
Backgrounds
Free Whenever Diary Pages
For users of Elements 5 here are diary pages that you don't have to write in every day, and which can be decorated in any way you like.
Download them and add them to your Artwork and Effects palette.Go to Free Whenever Diary Pages
Free 2008 Calendar Pages New!
Elements 5 does not have the Create > Calendars feature for home printing
that was found in earlier versions (you must use online providers to get
calendars). I have made 2008 month pages that can be added to and used
from the Artwork and Effects palette, so you can make and print your own
calendars at home, using Elements 5.
Go to Free Calendar Pages
Free Big Squares 2008 Calendar New!
The data on these calendar pages fill the entire page, with day squares
big enough to be filled by your personal pictures. Take a look. They are
a lot of fun. For users of Elements 5.
Go to Free Big Squares
2008 Calendar
Free Duotone Frames
For users of Elements 5, here are twenty frames that give a beautiful
simulated duotone effect to any picture put into them. Download them and
add them to your Artwork and Effects palette.
Go to Free Duotone Frames
Free Classic Frames
For users of Elements 5, here are twenty classic sculpted (simulated)
wood frames to add to your pictures. There are both rectangular,
and oval versions of these frames. Download them and put them
into the Artwork and Effects palette.
Go to Free Classic Frames
Free Matted Frames
For users of Elements 5, here are thirty six classic frames (same as the above) with wide matts suitable for larger images. There are four frame colors, three matt colors, all in three sizes. Download them and add them to your Artwork and Effects palette.Go to Free Matted Frames
Free Grunge Frames
For users of Elements 5, here are grunge frames that will add a damaged or distressed appearance to the images within them.. Download them and add them to your Artwork and Effects palette.Go to Free Grunge Frames
Elements Basics
Get a broad overview of the tools, palettes and menus, and an introduction
to the location of important features.
Go to ‘Elements Basics’
How Do I …?
This is a text-only page of answers to commonly asked questions about
simple editing techniques.
Go to‘How Do I …?’
Gotcha
Sometimes the smallest things can drive you crazy… Here are short answers to questions about technical problems with both Elements and Photoshop. Text only.Go to‘Gotcha.’
Pre-Beginner
(Elements 2) For those of you who are true beginners not only to Elements,
but to all things computer, here is an attempt at a kinder, gentler introduction
to Elements 2.
Go to ‘Pre-Beginner’
Pre-Beginner II
(Elements 2) This is a continuation of the first Pre-Beginner tutorial. Find more coverage of selections, a brief introduction to layers, instruction on how to use the clone stamp, and an explanation of vector objects.Go to ‘Pre-Beginner II’
Reference: Elements 2 Tools
Find information on every tool in the Photoshop Elements 2
toolbox. Extensive screen shots, with descriptions of features, dialog
boxes, options, and shortcuts. Explanations of how each tool works, or
why it won’t work.
Go to ‘Elements 2 Tools’
I have a page with the new Elements 3 toolbar linking
to the individual tool pages in the Elements 2 section. When I get the
time, I will update the individual pages, where changes need to be made
(most notably to the much improved red eye tool).
Go to ‘Elements 3 Tools’
If you are still using Elements 1, the main toolbar page is still up
so you can see a familiar layout.
Go to Elements 1 Tools
Keyboard Shortcuts
An Elements 1 user, Don Fukushima, built this extensive list of Elements keyboard shortcuts. He also created the html page which was wonderfully generous of him. Thanks, Don!Go to‘Keyboard Shortcuts’
Reference: Elements 2 Palettes
Detailed information on all the features of all of the Photoshop Elements
2 palettes. Screen shots of each of the palettes, buttons, dialog
boxes, and menus along with explanations of how to use them
Go to ‘Reference: Elements 2
Palettes’
If you’re still using Elements 1, the main Palettes index is still
up.
Go to Elements 1 Palettes
Why Layers?
Learn the value of using multiple layers while editing your images. The
fundamental rule of digital image manipulation is never touch the original;
always work on a new, separate layer. Also included is a lot of basic
information on using tools and palettes.
Go to ‘Why Layers?’
Holes
If you want to have one picture showing through an opening in another
picture, or you want to fill your type or any other shape with an image,
here’s how.
Go to ‘Holes’
Fade In
If you would like to fade one image gradually into another, here’s how. This uses the same technique as the Holes lesson (above). I would recommend that you do that tutorial before this one.Go to ‘Fade In.’
Playing With Styles
Learn how to use layer style combinations to create fast and easy frames
for you images. The techniques shown will also work on buttons and other
Web interface ingredients. Also learn how to save styles.
Go to ‘Playing With Styles.’
Learning Effects
By looking closely at all the steps that go into creating the effects
found in the Effects Browser you can learn a great deal about how to use
Elements creatively. This is an easy and fun way to learn a lot, fast.
Go to ‘Learning Effects.’
Redeye Removal
This is one of the most commonly asked “How do I…?” questions.
The redeye brush in Elements should have been the answer, but it doesn’t
work very well. Here are two good techniques for removing redeye.
Go to ‘Redeye Removal.’
Artistic Filtering
If you use this simple technique to isolate and accentuate important
details in your photographs, you can get much better results when applying
filters to pictures of people.
Go to ‘Artistic Filtering.’
Symmetrical Flowers
This is a ridiculously simple technique that is tons of fun and which
gives very interesting results. It’s how the “Photoshop Flowers”
in my Free Photos section were made.
Go to ‘Symmetrical Flowers.’
Custom Greeting Cards
Learn how to make your own 5x7 greeting cards from scratch, using your own pictures and text. This tutorial is only available as a zipped .pdf file. Click on the link below to download the zipped file.Custom Greeting Cards .pdf
206 kb
Simulated Alpha Channels
If you don’t know what an alpha channel is, don’t worry. This
tutorial will teach you is how to select very complicated objects without
using the annoying lasso or magic wand tools. It will also show you how
to save your selection outlines so you can use them over and over again.
Go to ‘Simulated Alpha Channels.’
Layer Masks
This is a continuation of the tutorial, above. Be sure and read through
that one, first. This lesson will show you how to insert objects from
one image into another image using (real, not simulated) layer masks.
Go to ‘Layer Masks.’
Curves Are an Abomination
Many Elements users lust after the Curves adjustment feature found in Photoshop. This is my editorial (from the Photoshop section of my site) on why you don’t want or need them. Curves adjustments should not be used for anything other than deliberate distortion and falsification of the relative tones in a digital image.Go to Curves Are an Abomination
Multilayer Masks
If you would like to apply one layer mask to multiple layers, here’s
how. This is a very simple technique.
Go to ‘Multilayer Masks.’
Displacing Textures
If you’d like to cause a texture to wrap around the edges of a shape,
here’s how. This effect is useful for imitating wood engraving, stone
etching, or water reflections.
Go to ‘Displacing Textures.’
Advanced Elements
Information only. The CD is no longer available for sale.
Find out more about ‘Advanced
Elements.’
Free Chapters from Advanced Elements New!
Find two chapters from the Advanced Elements pdf book available for free download.Go to ‘Free Chapters from Advanced Elements.’
Translation
Many of the tutorials in my Photoshop section should work for Elements users. Listed below are ones that I believe should be fun, and instructive.However, quite a few of the menu commands in Photoshop are in different locations from those in Elements. I have a page that will tell you where the comparable commands can be found in the two programs.
I recommend that you go to this page, and copy the data into a Wordpad document that you can keep at hand when you try the Photoshop tutorials, or read any Photoshop books.
Go to ‘Translation.’
Photoshop Tutorials
Abstract Background
Multicolor Fill
Dodge and Burn
Make a Frame
Selections
How Much?
3D Wireframe Text
Combining Images
Rubberstamping (clone tool use)
Sharpening (unsharp mask)
Filters (examples of 75 filters)
Doodling (for fun)
Zipped PDF Files
Many of the tutorials on this site are available as zipped pdf files. Links for downloading these files can be found at the bottom of the last page of the given tutorial. Note that most, but not all, tutorials have a pdf version.
If you wish to download any of the zipped pdf files
found on this site, you will need to have an “unzipping” program
installed on your computer. If your operating system is Windows XP, you
have a built in unzipping feature. Simply download the file and navigate
to where you saved it using Windows Explorer, then double-click it. A
new window will open showing what the zip file contains. On the top left
side of the screen, you should see a box called Folder Tasks. In that
you'll see an option, Extract all files. Click on that to unzip the file.
Or you can use File > Extract All.
If you are using an earlier operating system
and don’t have an unzipping application, go to either Winzip
and download the free evaluation version of WinZip, or to Aladdin
and get their StuffIt Expander, which is free.
Once you have WinZip installed, you simply double click on the file which you have downloaded from my site (the zipped pdf file), and you will be asked where you want the file to be unzipped to (it will put the pdf where you say, or will create a folder for you). That’s all there is to it. The pdf file will appear in the designated folder in about one nanosecond. Double-click the pdf file to have your Acrobat Reader open automatically.
To use Stuffit Expander, drag the zipped file onto the Expander and it automatically unzip the file. You'll find instructions on the Aladdin site when you download.
Please note, if you are using Windows XP, installing the zip apps, PowerZip or WinAce (not the same as WinZip or StuffIt) may cause you to lose the use of your Help files.
If you don’t have Acrobat Reader installed on your computer, you can find the Acrobat installer on your Elements or Photoshop installation disc.
FreePhotos | www.arraich.com
Animal Rights | Table of Contents
jay@arraich.com