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Chapter 1: Getting started
Adobe® Photoshop® Elements software combines power and simplicity so you can easily make your photos look their
best, share them in imaginative ways, and easily find and view all your photos and video clips.
To get started with video and PDF tutorials for specific tasks, go to the Photoshop Elements tutorial index. For a
detailed introduction to the complete workflow, see the Quick Tour chapter of the Classroom in a Book.
What to do first
Check the system requirements
If you’re not sure Photoshop Elements can run on your computer, review the complete system requirements and
recommendations for your Adobe® software. See the ReadMe file included on your software CD installation disc.
Install the software
1 Close any other Adobe applications open on your computer.
2 Insert the installation disc into your CD drive, and follow the on-screen instructions.
Do I need to uninstall my previous version of Photoshop Elements? If you’ve installed a trial version of
Photoshop
Photoshop
Elements, it’s a good idea to uninstall it first. However, it’s not necessary to uninstall a previous version of
Elements. But, you can uninstall a previous version if you want to.
1
How do I uninstall a version of Photoshop Elements? In the Windows OS, click the Start menu, and then choose
Control Panel. In the Control Panel dialog box, double-click Add Or Remove Programs. In the Add Or Remove
Programs dialog box, select the version of Photoshop
see a dialog box asking you if you really want to remove the application from your computer. Click “Yes” to uninstall.
Elements you want to uninstall and then click Remove. You’ll
Register
After installing Photoshop Elements, register your software to receive complimentary installation support,
notifications of updates, and other services.
If you postpone registration, you can register at any time by choosing Help > Registration.
ReadMe file
The installation CD contains the ReadMe file for your software. (This file is also copied to the application folder during
product installation.) Open the file to read important information.
Sign up for Photoshop.com membership
Important: Currently, Photoshop.com services are only available in the United States.
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Photoshop Elements users in the United States can sign up for a free Photoshop.com membership. The membership
extends the power of Photoshop
protect your photos by backing up your albums to Photoshop.com servers, and share your photos through online
albums and other creations. As a member, you receive updated tips, art, and templates to keep your projects fresh and
appealing. You can upgrade your free basic membership if you need more storage space or if you want access to special
content. For more information, see
How do I sign up for a Photoshop.com membership?
There’s a link in the Welcome screen for creating a Photoshop.com membership. Once you have a membership, the
Welcome screen displays links to services such as your account information, backup settings, web gallery, and
tutorials. In addition, links are throughout the Photoshop
Don’t worry if you don’t sign up for a Photoshop.com membership in the Welcome screen. Links are in the
Photoshop
Important: Currently, Photoshop.com services are only available in the United States.
Elements workspace for creating a membership anytime you want.
Elements with Internet services such as tutorials and special downloads. You can also
http://www.adobe.com/go/learn_pse_membership_en.
Elements workspace for accessing member services.
New and enhanced features
Visit http://www.adobe.com/go/learn_pse_features_en to learn about the new and enhanced features. Improving your
photos and doing more with them is easier than ever.
2
Using Help and getting support
Using Photoshop Elements Help
Photoshop Elements Help is available several ways. To access Help, choose Help > Photoshop Elements Help (or press
the F1 key on your keyboard). If your computer is connected to the Internet, Photoshop
launches Help on the web.
Help on the web http://www.adobe.com/go/learn_pse_en is the most comprehensive and up-to-date version of
Photoshop Elements Help. Your computer must be connected to the Internet to access Help on the web. Use the
Search field to search within Photoshop Elements Help. Browse all topics in Photoshop Elements Help.
Help in the application Help in the application provides access to key tasks and concepts. If you aren’t connected to
the Internet, Photoshop
Help PDF Help is also available as a PDF that is optimized for printing. Visit
http://www.adobe.com/go/learn_pse_printpdf_en or click the Help PDF link at the top of each Help page. The Help
PDF is the best way to access the most comprehensive Help when you don’t have an Internet connection.
Links in the application Some Help links are within Photoshop Elements. Clicking these links takes you to the
corresponding topic in either Help on the web or Help in the application.
Note: If you try to access a Help topic that only exists in Help on the web, Photoshop Elements displays a message with a
URL and a link to the complete Help on the Internet.
Tips for searching Help
Elements launches Help in the application.
• If you search using a phrase, such as “shape tool,” place quotation marks around the phrase. The search returns only
those topics containing all the words in the phrase.
• Make sure that the search terms are spelled correctly.
Elements automatically
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• If a search term doesn’t yield results, try using a synonym, such as “web” instead of “Internet.”
• If you find a topic you want to view again, bookmark it for easy access later.
Print a Help topic To print a topic from Help, use the Print command in the browser.
How to search for troubleshooting topics You can view top issues and search for common problems and error
messages by going to
Photoshop Elements users at http://www.adobe.com/go/forums.
Look for Photoshop Elements updates If your computer is connected to the Internet, you’ll receive notifications
whenever Photoshop
http://www.adobe.com/downloads/updates.
http://www.adobe.com/support/photoshopelements. You can also ask questions of other
Elements is updated. You can also find out about latest updates by going to
How do I get customer support?
You can get support by contacting Adobe directly or submitting a web case. Visit
http://www.adobe.com/support/contact for contact information. Visit the Adobe Support website at
http://www.adobe.com/go/support. Adobe Support has troubleshooting information and also information about free
and paid technical support options.
3
Working in Photoshop Elements
For video overviews, see www.adobe.com/go/lrvid2309_pse and www.adobe.com/go/lrvid2301_pse
Photoshop Elements has two basic workspaces—the Organizer and the Editor that you switch between depending on
the task you’re performing. You start by importing photos into the Organizer, where you view, manage, and find all of
your photos and video clips. You can also make quick fixes in the Organizer.
The Organizer workspace
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In the Editor workspace, you can refine your photos more fully and you make basic edits, follow step-by-step guided
editing tasks, or use advanced editing tools.
4
Full Edit workspace
After working with your photos in either the Organizer or the Editor, you can create printed and electronic photo
projects such as scrapbook pages, slide shows, photo books, and online albums that you can easily share with family
and friends.
Transferring (importing) photos to your computer
You can import photos from a camera or card reader, a scanner, a folder on a hard disk, or even from a mobile phone.
You can also import photos that already exist on your computer. Photoshop
Downloader that makes importing photos easy.
Photoshop Elements imports your files into a catalog, which is a database that contains information about your photos
and video clips. The database doesn’t contain the actual files but references them at the location on your computer
where you downloaded them. For more information, see
http://www.adobe.com/go/learn_pse_getphotos_en.
Note: If you are upgrading from an earlier version of Photoshop Elements, older catalogs are converted so you can
continue working with them.
Is it necessary to import photos into Photoshop Elements? Importing tells Photoshop Elements what photos and
video clips you want to keep track of. Unlike a file browser that only displays readily accessible photos, the
Photoshop
Elements catalog keeps track of where files are located. It also knows how files are being used, and what
keyword tags (information) have been added to them.
Must I use the Photo Downloader? No. When you connect your camera or card reader to your computer, the
Windows AutoPlay dialog box opens. You can select whatever method you want to download photos. Keep in mind
that the Photo Downloader is very useful for organizing your photos while downloading.
Elements has a built-in Photo
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Use the Photo Downloader to download files
1 Connect your camera or card reader to your computer. (See the documentation that came with your device, if
necessary.)
The Windows AutoPlay dialog box opens with a list of options for getting the photos.
2 In the Windows AutoPlay dialog box, select the Photoshop Elements option and then click OK.
Photoshop Elements launches (if it isn’t already running), and then the Photo Downloader dialog box opens. If
Photoshop
Reader to open the Photo Downloader.
3 In the Photo Downloader dialog box under Source, choose from the Get Photos From menu to specify where to
4 In the Import Settings area, set the following options:
Location Specifies the folder to which images are downloaded. To change the default folder location, click Browse, and
specify a new location.
Create Subfolder(s) Creates a subfolder using the naming scheme chosen from the pop-up menu. If you choose
Custom Name, type a subfolder name in the box.
Rename Files Changes the filenames using the naming scheme selected from the pop-up menu. If you choose Custom
Name, type a base filename and a starting number for assigning sequentially numbered filenames to the photos.
Elements is already running, choose File > Get Photos And Videos > From Camera Or Card
copy/import the photos from.
5
Note: If the name you entered exists, the copied image filename is appended with “-1” or another appropriately numbered
designator.
Preserve Current Filename in XMP Select this option to use the current filename as the filename stored in the metadata
of the photo.
Delete Options Specifies whether to leave the photos on your camera or card, verify and delete the files, or just delete
the files after they are copied. Photos that you do not import into Photoshop
Elements are not deleted from the camera
or card.
Note: In Windows Vista, if your camera is connected in PTP mode, you may not be able to view camera raw or video files
in the Photo Downloader. To view camera raw or video files, connect your camera in USB Mass Storage mode or remove
the card from the camera and use a card reader to connect it to your computer.
5 (Optional) To automatically download photos in Photoshop Elements after a device is connected, select Automatic
Download. Automatic download options are set in the Camera Or Card Reader preferences.
6 (Optional) For more download options, click the Advanced Dialog button. See
8 Click OK in the Files Successfully Copied dialog box.
When my files are imported into Photoshop Elements, can I delete them from my hard drive? No! The Organizer
displays thumbnails that reference your photos. If you delete the photos, then the thumbnails lose their connection to
the original files.
Problems getting photos from your camera? Try any of the following suggestions. Plug the camera into a different
USB port. Use a card reader instead of connecting the camera. Try copying the photos to your hard drive first and then
import the files into Photoshop
Elements.
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Review your photos
Immediately after importing photos into Photoshop Elements, you can press the F11 key to use the Full Screen mode
to review them. Viewing large images makes it easier to delete the photos that aren’t worth keeping.
Organizing your photos
After you’ve decided which photos you’re keeping, use the Organizer to manage your files. This is important so you
can find photos, video files, audio clips, and Adobe PDF documents, even if they’re stored in different locations on
your computer.
Photoshop Elements automatically organizes photos by date as it downloads. The Organizer has a Timeline (choose
Window > Timeline) and a Date View for finding photos by date. It’s a good idea to put related photos into an album.
Albums are great for sharing photos in projects, creations, online albums, and also makes it easy to find related photos.
You can further sort and categorize photos by adding star ratings, by stacking photos, and by assigning keyword
.
tags
The Organizer lets you specify the way you want to view photos. You can see previously saved versions of a photo,
adjust thumbnail size, view photos in full screen mode, and compare photos side by side.
Do I have to use the Organizer? No. You can just copy photos to your computer and use the Editor to fix your photos.
However, there are lots of great things you can do with your photos in the Organizer. Also, after collecting hundreds
and thousands of photos on your computer, you’ll discover that finding and managing photos with the Organizer is
much easier.
6
Creating albums or an album group
An important way to manage your photos is to use albums. Albums let you keep related photos together. For example,
use an album to hold all of the photos you want to use in a slide show about your family reunion. Simply drag photos
to add or remove them from an album.
You can organize albums in groups and create multiple levels of album groups. For example, you can have an album
group titled, “My Asia Trip,” containing the album “Ten Best Japan Photos,” along with another album called “Ten
Best China Photos,” and so on for each country in Asia you visited.
1 Click the Create New Album Or Album Group button in the Albums palette of the Organize tab and choose
New Album.
2 (Optional) From the Group menu, choose a group into which to place the album.
3 In the Album Name box, type a name for the album.
4 Drag photos into the Items area.
5 Click Done.
The album appears in the Albums palette under the album group you specified.
You can also create smart albums based on search criteria. Search for all of the photos you took at beaches over various
Spring breaks, for example, and save the results as a smart album. As you import new photos that meet a smart album’s
criteria, they are automatically added to that smart album. For more information, see
Photoshop Elements users in the United States can sign up for a Photoshop.com membership, which lets you back up
and synchronize albums to Photoshop.com. Backing up and synchronizing the files in your album is essential for
protecting your valuable photos and media clips. Be sure your photos and videos are in albums. Since you can only
back up albums not individual files, be sure photos and FLV files (Flash movies) are in albums.
Note: Currently, Photoshop.com membership and services are only available in the United States. For more information,
“Sign up for Photoshop.com membership” on page 1.
see
Create a keyword tag
Keyword tags are personalized keywords that you attach to photos, video clips, audio clips, PDFs, and photo projects
in the Organizer. Once your files have keyword tags, you can easily organize and find them. When you use keyword
tags, there’s no need to manually organize your photos in subject-specific folders or rename files with content-specific
names. You can create new keyword tags, under any category or subcategory. New keyword tags have a question mark
. For more information, see http://www.adobe.com/go/learn_pse_photos_tag_en.
icon
1 Click the New button in the Keyword Tags palette of the Organize tab and choose New Keyword Tag.
2 In the Create Keyword Tag dialog box, use the Category menu to choose a category or subcategory in which to place
the tag.
3 In the Name box, type a name for the keyword tag.
4 To associate the tag with a place on a map, click Place On Map, type an address, and click Find.
5 In the Note box, type any information you want to add about the tag. (For example, you could write that the tag
represents vacation photos.)
6 Click OK.
The keyword tag appears in the Keyword Tags palette under the category or subcategory you selected.
7
Note: The first time you attach a keyword tag to a photo, that photo becomes the icon for that keyword tag.
Attach keyword tags to photos
After you have created a keyword tag, you can attach it to photos associated with the tag. You can attach multiple
keyword tags to a photo. If you drag multiple photos to a keyword tag, the first photo you selected becomes the icon
for that tag.
1 In the Photo Browser, select the photo or photos to which you want to attach the tag. (To select more than one
photo, Ctrl-click the photos.)
2 To attach one photo to one tag, do one of the following:
• Drag the tag from the Keyword Tags palette onto the selected photos.
• Drag the photos onto the tag in the Keyword Tags palette.
3 To attach keyword tags to multiple photos, do one of the following:
• Drag the tag from the Keyword Tags palette onto any of the selected photos.
• Select one or more keyword tags, and then drag the tags onto any of the selected photos.
• Select one or more keyword tags, and then drag the photos onto any of the selected tags in the Keyword Tags palette.
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How do I find photos?
You can find photos and media files by date, star rating, album, folder location, filename, media type, keyword tag,
text, or other criteria. For more information, see
Here are a few of the features in the Organizer to find photos:
Timeline Click a month or set a range to find photos and media files chronologically by date, import batch, or folder
location.
Find bar Drag a photo, keyword tag, project, or album onto the find bar to find matching or similar photos and media
files.
Albums palette Select an album to view only the media files within it.
Keyword Tags palette Select a keyword tag to see only the files with that tag.
Text box Type text in the Search box to find files with matching text. Matches can include items such as filenames,
metadata, keyword tags, captions, notes, album names, album groups, camera information, dates, folders, or formats.
http://www.adobe.com/go/pse_photos_find_en.
8
The Organizer has many tools and features for finding photos.
How do I find the actual file of a photo or media clip?
Sometimes you need to find the actual file of photos or media. Maybe you’re uploading the file to a server or
embedding it into the layout of a document.
1 In the Organizer, select the photo or media clip whose file you want to find.
2 Press Alt + Enter to open the Properties-General window.
3 Click the Reveal In Explorer icon .
Making things with your photos
You can use your photos in a variety of fun projects that you can share with family and friends. For example, you can
create photo projects, such as albums, scrapbook pages, greeting cards, CD/DVD labels and jackets, and photo collages
that you can print at home or upload to an online printing service. You can also use your photos in digital projects,
such as online photo galleries, photo slide shows, and flipbooks. For more information, see
http://www.adobe.com/go/learn_pse_projects_en.
Give your projects a personal look by customizing the project templates. Adjust layout colors to better complement
your photos and add new graphical elements, text, and effects, such as drop shadows and glows. Use the Artwork
palette to quickly browse hundreds of frames, themes, backgrounds, clip art, and effects to apply to your photos and
photo projects.
Create a slide show
1 In the Organizer, select the photos you want in the slide show. If you’re in the Editor, you can use the photos that
are open in the Project Bin.
2 In the Create tab, click Slide Show to show the Slide Show Preferences.
3 Change any of these options, or just click OK to use the default options.
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All the tools for creating your slide show are in the Slide Show dialog box. The photos you chose to use in the slide
show appear at the bottom of the screen.
4 In the Slide Show Editor, have fun adding effects, text, small graphics, music, or your own narration. The Slide Show
Editor provides lots of possibilities for creativity. Spend some time exploring it. Scroll through the Extras panel to
see the fun you can have here.
5 If you want to reorder your slides, drag the slide’s thumbnail image to a new location. The image thumbnails are at
the bottom of the Slide Show Editor. Drag one forward or back until you see the blue bar, and then release the
mouse button.
6 To preview your slide show with all its effects, use the VCR-style buttons under the slide preview. You can return
to editing slides at any time by pressing the Esc key.
7
Click Save Project (in the upper left of the Slide Show Editor). It’s a good idea to save the slide show regularly as you work.
Share a slide show
When you are done creating the slide show, you can share it in a number of ways.
1 Choose File > Output Slide Show in the Slide Show Editor. Note that the Slide Show Editor has its own set of menus
at the top of its window.
2 In the Slide Show Output dialog box, choose how you want to share your slide show. You can save it as a movie file
or a PDF file. You can burn it to a disc so you can play it on a TV or computer.
9
Sharing photos with others
Once you’ve imported and organized photos on your computer, you’re ready to share them with others.
Photoshop
interactive online album. You can send photos to people via e-mail. You can print photos or order professionally
printed photos. Or, you can put your files or album on CD/DVDs.
You can share photos from either the Organizer or the Editor. In the Organizer, you first select photos you want to
share. In the Editor, you share photos that you’ve edited or have open in the Project Bin. Click the Share tab and then
select the way you want to share photos. For more information, see
Share photos using e-mail
Photoshop Elements streamlines sharing photos by e-mail. You can either attach photos to an e-mail or embed a photo
in an e-mail using Photo Mail.
1 Make sure your e-mail client is specified in the Preferences. In the Organizer, choose Edit > Preferences > Sharing.
2 Do one of the following:
• Select a photo in the Photo Browser or Date view, and then click Share then Photo Mail.
• In Full Edit or Quick Fix, open the photo that you want to e-mail. Click Share in the shortcuts bar, then
3 The first time you e-mail a photo, you are prompted to confirm the e-mail service you want to use. Confirm your
The Attach Selected Items To E-mail dialog box appears. The left side of the dialog box shows the photos you chose to
e-mail.
Elements offers many ways to quickly share your photos. You can let people view your photos through an
http://www.adobe.com/go/learn_pse_share_en.
In Editor, choose Edit > Preferences > Organize & Share, and then select Sharing. Choose Microsoft Outlook®,
Outlook Express®, or Adobe E-mail Service.
Photo Mail.
choice and then click OK.
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4 Select recipients for the e-mail by doing one of the following:
• Select a name from the Select Recipients list (the names you see are from your contact book).
• If you wish, add the recipient to your contact book by selecting the Add To Contact Book option. Click OK; the
recipient will appear selected in the Select Recipients list.
5 In the Stationery & Layouts wizard, choose a stationery style and background. Then click Next Step, and customize
the layout.
6 Click Next.
Photoshop Elements opens your default e-mail application.
What if I use a web-based e-mail service? If you use a web-based e-mail client such as Google Gmail or Yahoo Mail,
you can export your photos and attach them to e-mail messages. Click the Share tab and select E-mail Attachments.
The E-mail Attachments wizard leads you through the steps for creating versions of your photos that are suitable for
e-mail.
Printing photos
You can print photos on your home printer or have photos professionally printed from Photoshop Elements using an
online print provider. Print from either the Organizer or the Editor.
10
Printing from the Editor provides more control. For more information, see
http://www.adobe.com/go/learn_pse_share_en.
Print from the Organizer
1 Select photos or video clips in the Photo Browser or Date view. If you select a video clip, only the first frame of the
clip is printed.
2 Choose File > Print.
3 Specify printing options in the Print Photos dialog box and then click Print.
Print online
1 In the Organizer, select the photos you want to print, or in the Editor, open the photos you want to print.
2 In either the Create or Share tab, click Order Prints. Follow the instructions in the Order Prints dialog box that
opens.
Fixing (editing) photos
Photoshop Elements offers several levels of editing, from simple one-click fixes in the Organizer to advanced color
correction and compositing in the Editor.
For detailed visual examples of each editing workflow, see this excerpt from Advanced Photoshop Elements 7 for
Digital Photographers.
Fix photos in the Organizer
In the Organizer, you can perform a variety of one-click fixes to make basic image adjustments: Auto Smart Fix, Auto
Color, Auto Contrast, and Auto Sharpen, for example. You can even choose Auto Red Eye Fix to remove red eye from
selected shots without having to manually edit the photos. For more information, see
1 In the Organizer, select the photos you want to fix.
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2 Click the Fix tab and then, click the image adjustment you want.
If you don’t like the results, click Undo or press Ctrl-Z.
Crop a photo
Cropping removes unwanted areas in a photo.
1 In the Organizer, select the photo you want to crop.
2 Click the Fix tab, select Crop, and then follow the instructions in the Crop dialog box.
Fix photos in the Editor
The Editor workspace provides three additional editing modes: Quick Fix, Guided Edit, and Full Edit. The level or your
editing expertise and complexity of the image editing determine which mode is appropriate for your task. For more
information, see
http://www.adobe.com/go/learn_pse_fix_editor_en.
1 In the Organizer, select the photos you want to work with in the Editor.
2 Click the Fix tab, and then click Quick Fix, Guided Edit, or Full Edit (if you have experience editing photos).
In the Editor, photos appear in the Project Bin at the bottom of the Editor workspace. You can move between the
photos you want to fix by double-clicking them in the Project Bin.
http://www.adobe.com/go/learn_pse_photos_fix_en or
11
Quick Fix makes adjustments using simple controls.
If you’re working in Quick Fix mode, click the Auto buttons to adjust lighting and color. Fine-tune adjustments using
the sliders. Experiment all you want until the photo looks right. Then click the checkmark
or reject button to
finalize the adjustment. To get more help, click the light bulb icon .
If you’re not sure how to fix your photo, click the Guided tab. Select one of the corrections and follow the step-by-step
instructions. When you’re happy with adjustment, make sure to click Done at the bottom of the Guided Edit panel.
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If you want full control when fixing your photos, use the Full Edit mode. You have access to a complete editing toolset
and controls. In addition to fixing photos, you can combine photos, paint on photos, or paint on a blank canvas.
Do I have to use the Organizer to open images in the Editor? No. You can open photos from the Editor, too. Choose
File > Open and navigate to the photos you want to open.
What if I switch to the Organizer while fixing photos in the Editor? If you switch to the Organizer while files are open
in the Editor, you’ll see a banner over the thumbnails of the opened files. This lets you know that the files cannot be
changed until they are closed in the Editor.
Saving your edits
After you edit an image in the Editor, you need to save it, or you’ll lose your work. Fixes you make in the Organizer
are saved automatically.
❖ In the Editor, choose File > Save.
Photos saved in the Editor are saved as a version and grouped with other saved versions and the original photo. These
version sets are stacked together in the Organizer with the latest saved version at the top of the stack. For more
information, see
What if I don’t want to save versions of a photo? It’s recommended that you save versions of a photo to preserve the
original file. If for some reason, you don’t want to save a version of a photo, choose File > Save after you’ve finished
editing a photo. Under Save Options in the Save As dialog box, deselect the Save In Version Set With Original option.
By default, Photoshop
http://www.adobe.com/go/learn_pse_photos_save_en or
Elements saves the file in PSD format without a version number appended to the filename.
12
Troubleshooting tips
Here are some things to consider when troubleshooting Photoshop Elements. For more tips, visit
http://www.adobe.com/go/forums.
• Restart Photoshop Elements or restart your computer.
• Reset the Photoshop Elements preferences. Hold down the Ctrl + Alt + Shift keys immediately after starting
Photoshop
• Turn off other programs, including anti-virus, firewall, and CD/DVD burning applications that run in the
background.
• Make sure that the computer operating system is up-to-date. Install the latest drivers for your video card, sound
card, printer, and other devices.
• Remove any recent additions to your computer. What was the last thing you changed on your computer before the
problem began? Did you install a new printer, fonts, or other software?
• If something in Photoshop Elements doesn’t seem to work properly, check Photoshop Elements Help.
• If a problem happens when you open or edit a photo, does the problem happen with all photos? Does it happen
with photos from different cameras or sources?
If you’re unable to complete a task in Photoshop Elements, see these tips from Classroom in a Book.
Elements. Then, choose a task from the Welcome screen.
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Chapter 2: Photoshop Elements workspace
Adobe® Photoshop® Elements has two main workspaces: the Organizer and the Editor. Use the Organizer for finding,
organizing, and sharing your photos and media files. Use the Editor for creating, editing, and fixing your images. You
can also add functionality with plug-in modules and expand system memory by using scratch disks.
When a photo is selected in the Organizer, clicking the Editor pop-up menu and then choosing Quick Fix, Full
Edit, or Guided Edit opens the photo in the Editor workspace. When you are working in the Editor workspace, clicking
the Organizer
About workspaces
The Welcome screen
When you start Photoshop Elements, the Welcome screen opens by default. The Welcome screen is a convenient
starting place, or hub, for major tasks. You can choose the workspace you want from the Start Up With Welcome
Screen menu at the bottom of the Welcome screen.
button opens the Organizer workspace.
If both the Organizer and the Editor are open, you can move between the two workspaces by clicking the corresponding
button in the Windows® OS task bar.
13
Note: The Welcome screen also provides access to Photoshop.com membership features. Currently, Photoshop.com
membership is only available for Photoshop
“Getting started with your Photoshop.com membership” on page 28.
Click a button to open the workspace you need. For example, click Organize to open the Organizer and import, tag,
or organize your photos. Or, click Edit to open the Editor and enhance your images or add special effects.
You can close or reopen the Welcome screen at any time by clicking the Welcome Screen button . It’s not necessary
to return to the Welcome screen to open other workspaces—you can open different workspaces from within any other
workspace.
Elements users who live in the United States. For more information, see
The Organizer workspace
For a video overview, see www.adobe.com/go/lrvid2312_pse
Use the Organizer to find, organize, and share your photos and media files. Use the Photo Browser in the Organizer
to view thumbnails of the photos you’ve imported into Photoshop
photo or smaller thumbnails of many photos. You specify the thumbnail size by using the thumbnail slider. If you
prefer viewing your photos by date, use the Date in the Organizer view to work with your files in a calendar format.
The Photo Browser lists all the photos, as well as videos and PDF files that you’ve imported. Imported items appear in
one comprehensive window that you can easily browse and filter. It can even show thumbnails of files stored remotely,
such as those files that you want to keep on CDs.
You can fix the most common photographic problems by using the tools in the Fix tab of the Task pane. For more
complex editing, you can select a photo in the Organizer, and click
Editor workspace.
Elements. You can view a large thumbnail of a single
Full Edit in the Fix tab. The photo opens in the
You can create projects, from printed photo books to computer slide shows, from the Create tab of the Task pane.
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Finally, you can share your photos and projects with others, by using any of the tools in the Share tab of the Task pane.
A
14
B
C
D
E
F
G
H
I
J
K
L
M
Organizer buttons and menu bar
A. Welcome screen button B. Left and right side of menu bar C. Undo and Redo buttons D. Text Search E. Back To Previous View and
Forward To Next View buttons F. The Find bar G. Photo Browser Arrangement menu H. Star ratings filter I The four tabs of the Task Pane
J. The Display menu K. Full Edit, Quick Fix, Or Guided Edit menu L. Rotate Left and Rotate Right buttons M. Adjust Size Of Thumbnail slider
The Organizer workspace has the following components:
Welcome Screen button Opens the Welcome screen where select tools for one of the primary tasks: Organize, Edit,
Create, or Share.
Note: Users in the United States can also sign in for Photoshop.com membership services. This service is not available in
countries outside the United States.
Menu bar Contains menus for performing tasks. The menus are organized by topic: File, Edit, Find, View, Window,
and Help.
Display button Opens menu of views of the Photo Browser.
Editor button Opens menu containing Quick Fix, Full Edit, and Guided Edit selections.
Navigation buttons Take you back to the previous view, or forward to the next view, of the Photo Browser.
Find bar Drag a photo, album icon, or keyword tag icon here to search for photos.
Photo Browser Displays your photos, video clips, audio files, and projects in the Organizer, either one at a time or in
a grid of thumbnails.
Task pane Contains the Organize, Fix, Create, and Share tabs, and the palettes or buttons for each tab.
Status bar In the Photo Browser, the status bar displays the number of items selected and the number of items
contained in the Photo Browser arrangement.
Note: If you change your Windows theme while the Organizer is open, the Organizer workspace could appear distorted
after the change. Close the Organizer and relaunch it to return it to its normal appearance.
More Help topics
“View and find photos in Date view” on page 62
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The Editor workspace
For videos about the Full Edit and Guided Edit modes, see www.adobe.com/go/lrvid2319_pse and
www.adobe.com/go/lrvid2318_pse
The Editor workspace provides three ways to create and edit images: Full Edit, Quick Fix, and Guided Edit. The Full
Edit workspace
workspace contains simple tools for correcting color and lighting, and commands to quickly fix common problems
like red eye. If you are new to digital imaging, Quick Fix or Guided Edit is a good place to start fixing photos.
If you’ve worked with image-editing applications before, you’ll find that the Full Edit workspace provides a flexible
and powerful image-correction environment. It has lighting and color-correction commands, along with tools for
fixing image defects, making selections, adding text, and painting on your images. You can rearrange the Full Edit
workspace to best suit your needs. You can move, hide, and show palettes, arrange palettes in the Palette Bin, zoom in
or out of the photo, scroll to a different area of the document window, and create multiple windows and views.
has tools to correct color problems, create special effects, and enhance photos. The Quick Fix
15
A
A
B
C
D
H
Full Edit workspace
A. Menu bar B. Toolbox C. Project Bin D Status bar E Organizer button F. Options bar G. Palettes H. Active image area I. Palette bin
I
E
F
G
Menu bar Contains menus for performing tasks. The menus are organized by topic. For example, the Enhance menu
contains commands for applying adjustments to an image.
Workspace buttons Moves you between the Quick Fix , Full Edit , and Guided Edit workspaces. These
buttons are located at the top of the work area and change according to the current workspace.
Toolbox Holds tools for editing images.
Options bar Provides options for the tool you select.
Project Bin Displays thumbnails of opened images, and lets you easily manage them.
Palettes Help you monitor and modify images.
Palette Bin Helps you organize the palettes in your work area.
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Status bar In the Editor, the status bar has buttons for showing or hiding the Project Bin.
Note: Photoshop Elements users in the United States can also access special services in the status bar. See “Getting started
with your Photoshop.com membership” on page 28.
More Help topics
“Correct color in Quick Fix” on page 206
“Display file information in the Info palette or status bar” on page 128
Exit Photoshop Elements
To exit Photoshop Elements, you need to close both the Editor and the Organizer workspace—closing one does not
automatically close the other.
1 In the Editor, the Organizer, or both workspaces, do one of the following:
• Choose File > Exit.
• Click the Close button (X) in the upper-right corner of the workspace.
2 When closing the Editor, choose whether to save any open files.
16
More Help topics
“Save changes in different file formats” on page 145
Context menus
Use context menus
You can use context menus in both the Editor and Organizer workspaces. Context-sensitive menus display commands
that are relevant to the active tool, selection, or palette. These menus are often another way to access the commands in
the window menus.
Right-click to open a context menu. This menu appears in the Project Bin in Full Edit.
1 Position the pointer over an image or palette item.
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Note: Not all palettes offer context menus.
2 Right-click and choose a command from the menu.
Using keyboard commands and modifier keys
You can use keyboard shortcuts in both the Editor and Organizer workspaces. Keyboard commands let you quickly
execute commands without using a menu; modifier keys let you alter how a tool operates. When available, the
keyboard command appears to the right of the command name in the menu.
More Help topics
“Keys for navigating” on page 423
“Keys for selecting tools” on page 425
Tools
About the toolbox
You can access tools in the Editor workspace. You use tools in the toolbox to select, edit, and view images; some tools
let you paint, draw, and type. The toolbox appears on the left side of the Full Edit and Quick Fix workspaces. In the
Full Edit workspace, you can move the toolbox by dragging the gripper bar at the top of the box.
17
Select a tool in the toolbox to use it. Once selected, the tool is highlighted in the toolbox. Optional settings for the tool
appear in the options bar, which is located below the shortcuts bar at the top of the Editor workspace. Some tools in
the toolbox have additional tools beneath them. These tools are called hidden tools. A small triangle at the lower right
of the tool icon indicates the presence of hidden tools. When you select a tool, any additional hidden tools appear in
the options bar.
Note: You cannot deselect a tool—once you select a tool, it remains selected until you select a different tool. For example,
if you’ve selected the Lasso tool, and you want to click your image without selecting anything, select the Hand tool.
You can view information about any tool in the toolbox by positioning the pointer over it. The name of the tool appears
below the pointer—this name is called the tool tip. You can click a link in some tool tips to see additional information
about the tool.
• Click a tool in the toolbox. If there is a small triangle in a tool’s lower-right corner, hold down the mouse button to
view the hidden tools nested with the tool. Then click the tool you want to select.
• Press the tool’s keyboard shortcut. The keyboard shortcut is displayed in its tool tip. For example, you can select
the Move tool by pressing the V key.
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A
DE
B
C
F
Using tools
A. Toolbox B. Active tool C. Hidden tools D. Tool name E. Tool shortcut F. Hidden tool triangle
More Help topics
“Keys for selecting tools” on page 425
Set tool preferences
1 In the Editor, choose Edit > Preferences > General.
2 Set one or more of the following options, and click OK.
• Select Show Tool Tips to show or hide tool tips.
• Select Use Shift Key For Tool Switch to cycle through a set of hidden tools by holding down the Shift key. When
this option is deselected, you can cycle through a set of hidden tools by pressing the shortcut key (without holding
down Shift).
19
Set the appearance of a tool pointer
1 In the Editor, choose Edit > Preferences > Display & Cursors.
2 Select a setting for the Painting Cursors:
Standard Displays pointers as tool icons.
Precise Displays pointers as cross-hairs.
Normal Brush Tip Displays pointers as circles at 50% of the size you specify for the brush.
Full Size Brush Tip Displays pointers as circles at the full size you specify for the brush.
Show Crosshair In Brush Tip Displays cross-hairs in the circles when you choose either Normal Brush Tip or Full Size
Brush Tip.
3 Select a setting for Other Cursors:
Standard Displays pointers as tool icons.
Precise Displays pointers as cross-hairs.
Set tool options
The options bar appears below the shortcuts bar at the top of the Editor workspace. The options bar is context
sensitive—it changes as you select different tools. Some settings in the options bar are common to several tools, and
some are specific to one tool.
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20
B
A
Lasso options bar
A. Tool icon B. Active tool C. Hidden tools D. Tool options
1 Select a tool.
2 Look in the options bar to see the available options. For more information on setting options for a specific tool,
search for the tool’s name in Photoshop
C
D
Elements Help.
Note: To return a tool or all tools to their default settings, click the tool icon in the options bar, then choose Reset Tool or
Reset All Tools from the context menu.
More Help topics
“Keys for selecting tools” on page 425
Set a completed operations alert
1 In the Editor, choose Edit > Preferences > General.
2 Select Beep When Done, and click OK.
Palettes and bins
About palettes
Palettes are available in both the Editor and Organizer workspaces; however, they behave a little differently in each.
Palettes help you manage, monitor, and modify images. Some palettes have menus that provide additional commands
and options. You can organize palettes in the workspace in many different ways. You can store palettes in the Palette
Bin to keep them out of your way, but easily accessible, or you can keep frequently used palettes open in the workspace.
Another option is to group palettes together or dock one palette at the bottom of another palette.
Note: Drag a palette out of the Palette Bin if you want to remove it from the Palette Bin and keep it open.
Dragging a palette.
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Palette menus
Some commands appear in both the palette menu and the menu bar. Other commands are exclusive to palette menus.
Only those palettes with a More button at the top have a menu. Click More to choose a command from the palette
menu. The location and appearance of the More button depend on whether the palette is located in the Palette Bin or
in a palette group.
Pop-up sliders within palettes
Some palettes and dialog boxes contain settings that use pop-up sliders (for example, the Opacity option in the Layers
palette). If there is a triangle next to the text box, you can activate the pop-up slider by clicking the triangle. Position
the pointer over the triangle next to the setting, hold down the mouse button, and drag the slider or angle radius to the
desired value. Click outside the slider box or press Enter to close the slider box. To cancel changes, press Esc.
To increase or decrease values in 10% increments when the pop-up slider box is open, hold down Shift and press the
Up Arrow or Down Arrow key.
C
A
BD
21
F G H
E
Different ways to enter values
A. Dial B. Click to open window C. Text box D. Menu arrow E. Scrubby slider F. Check box G. Slider H Pop-up slider triangle
Work with palettes in the Editor
The Palette Bin in the Editor lets you store multiple palettes in a single area. You can easily configure, close, or keep
open the Palette Bin for easy and fast access. By default, the Palette Bin appears on the right side of the workspace.
When you adjust palettes, they remain as you leave them until you reset or change them.
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22
AB
E
F
The Palette Bin
A. Collapse or expand a palette B. Adjust palette height C. Palette menu D. Scroll to view rest of palette E. Change palette tools F. Show or
hide Palette Bin
C D
1 To show or hide the Palette Bin, do any of the following:
• Choose Window > Palette Bin.
• Click the dark gray bar on the left edge of the Palette Bin to hide it.
• Click the dark gray bar on the right side of the Editor window to show the Palette Bin.
2 To adjust the height of a palette, drag the dotted-line bar at the bottom.
3 To use palettes in the Palette Bin, do any of the following:
• To remove a palette from the Palette Bin, drag the title bar of the palette out of the Palette Bin.
• To add a palette to the Palette Bin, drag the title bar of the palette into the Palette Bin. Or, click the More button in
the palette, select Place In Palette Bin When Closed, and then close the palette.
• To rearrange palettes in the Palette Bin, drag the title bar of the palette to a new location.
• To expand or collapse palettes in the Palette Bin, click the triangle next to the name of the palette.
4 To use palettes outside the Palette Bin, do any of the following:
• To open a palette, choose the name of the palette from the Window menu.
• To close a palette, choose the name of the palette from the Window menu. Or click the Close button in the title
bar of the palette. (This option works on palettes that you’ve opened from a menu. If you’ve dragged a palette out
of a bin and click the Close button, the palette simply returns to the bin.)
• To change the size of a palette, drag any corner of the palette.
• To group palettes (one palette with multiple tabs), drag the tab of the palette onto the body of the target palette. A
thick line appears around the body of the target palette when the pointer is over the correct area for grouping to
occur. If you want to move a palette to another group, drag the tab of the palette to that group. To separate a palette
from a group, drag the tab of the palette outside the group.
• To move a palette group, drag the title bar.
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• To expand or collapse a palette or palette group, double-click the tab of the palette or title bar.
• To dock palettes together (stacked palettes), drag a tab of the palette (not title bar) to the bottom of another palette.
A double line appears at the bottom of the target palette when the pointer is over the correct area. You cannot dock
entire palette groups.
• To reset palettes to their default positions, choose Window > Reset Palette Locations.
Note: If you want palettes to always open in their default positions in the Editor, choose Edit > Preferences > General,
and then deselect Save Palette Locations. The change takes effect the next time you start the application.
Work with the Task pane in the Organizer
In the Organizer, the Task pane appears on the right side of the Photo Browser. It contains a tab for each of the basic
steps of photo editing: Organize, Fix, Create, and Share. You can open the Task pane to access the tabs, or close it to
expand the Photo Browser.
Tabs in the Task Pane with the Organize tab selected.
Show or hide the Task pane
❖ Select Window > Show/Hide Task Pane.
23
Use palettes in the Organize tab
The Organize tab stores multiple palettes. The Albums and Keyword Tags palettes cannot be removed from it. You
can, however, choose whether to display the Quick Share or Properties palette, and can undock the Properties palette
from the Organize tab altogether.
A
B
C
The Organize tab
A. Show or hide Task pane B. Collapse or expand palette C. Adjust palette height
❖ Do any of the following:
• To collapse or expand a palette, click the triangle next to the palette’s name in the Organize tab.
• To show or hide the One-Click Share palette, Properties palette, or both, select Window > [name of palette].
• To move the Properties palette into or out of the Task pane, double-click the palette’s title bar.
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