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Preferences

  1. Photoshop Elements User Guide
  2. Introduction to Photoshop Elements
    1. What's new in Photoshop Elements
    2. System requirements | Photoshop Elements
    3. Workspace basics
    4. Guided mode
    5. Making photo projects
  3. Workspace and environment
    1. Get to know the Home screen
    2. Workspace basics
    3. Preferences
    4. Tools
    5. Panels and bins
    6. Open files
    7. Rulers, grids, and guides
    8. Enhanced Quick Mode
    9. File information
    10. Presets and libraries
    11. Multitouch support
    12. Scratch disks, plug-ins, and application updates
    13. Undo, redo, and cancel actions
    14. Viewing images
  4. Fixing and enhancing photos
    1. Resize images
    2. Cropping
    3. Process camera raw image files
    4. Add blur, replace colors, and clone image areas
    5. Adjust shadows and light
    6. Retouch and correct photos
    7. Combine Photos
    8. Sharpen photos
    9. Transforming
    10. Auto Smart Tone
    11. Recomposing
    12. Using actions to process photos
    13. Photomerge Compose
    14. Create a panorama
    15. Moving Overlays
    16. Moving Elements
  5. Adding shapes and text
    1. Add text
    2. Edit text
    3. Create shapes
    4. Editing shapes
    5. Painting overview
    6. Painting tools
    7. Set up brushes
    8. Patterns
    9. Fills and strokes
    10. Gradients
    11. Work with Asian type
  6. Quick Actions
  7. Guided edits, effects, and filters
    1. Guided mode
    2. Filters
    3. Guided mode Photomerge edits
    4. Guided mode Basic edits
    5. Adjustment filters
    6. Effects
    7. Guided mode Fun edits
    8. Guided mode Special edits
    9. Artistic filters
    10. Guided mode Color edits
    11. Guided mode Black & White edits
    12. Blur filters
    13. Brush Stroke filters
    14. Distort filters
    15. Other filters
    16. Noise filters
    17. Render filters
    18. Sketch filters
    19. Stylize filters
    20. Texture filters
    21. Pixelate filters
  8. Working with colors
    1. Understanding color
    2. Set up color management
    3. Color and tonal correction basics
    4. Choose colors
    5. Adjust color, saturation, and hue
    6. Fix color casts
    7. Using image modes and color tables
    8. Color and camera raw
  9. Working with selections
    1. Make selections in Photoshop Elements
    2. Saving selections
    3. Modifying selections
    4. Move and copy selections
    5. Edit and refine selections
    6. Smooth selection edges with anti-aliasing and feathering
  10. Working with layers
    1. Create layers
    2. Edit layers
    3. Copy and arrange layers
    4. Adjustment and fill layers
    5. Clipping masks
    6. Layer masks
    7. Layer styles
    8. Opacity and blending modes
  11. Creating photo projects
    1. Project basics
    2. Making photo projects
    3. Editing photo projects
    4. Creating Photo Reels
  12. Saving, printing, and sharing photos
    1. Save images
    2. Printing photos
    3. Share photos online
    4. Optimizing images
    5. Optimizing images for the JPEG format
    6. Dithering in web images
    7. Guided Edits - Share panel
    8. Previewing web images
    9. Use transparency and mattes
    10. Optimizing images for the GIF or PNG-8 format
    11. Optimizing images for the PNG-24 format
  13. Keyboard shortcuts
    1. Keys for selecting tools
    2. Keys for selecting and moving objects
    3. Keys for the Layers panel
    4. Keys for showing or hiding panels (expert mode)
    5. Keys for painting and brushes
    6. Keys for using text
    7. Keys for the Liquify filter
    8. Keys for transforming selections
    9. Keys for the Color Swatches panel
    10. Keys for the Camera Raw dialog box
    11. Keys for the Filter Gallery
    12. Keys for using blending modes
    13. Keys for viewing images (expertmode)

Learn how to access and modify Adobe Photoshop Elements preferences and customize per your frequent workflows.

For optimum performance of Photoshop Elements, you can configure the Preferences according to your needs and requirements. 

General preferences

Within the Preferences dialog box's General category, you can tailor the UI mode, allow soft notifications, regulate zoom functionality via the scroll wheel, reset preferences, manage warning dialogs, and do more. 

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How to switch to Light and Dark mode 

You can change the UI color mode of the application to dark or light from the preferences.

Light mode
Light mode

Dark mode
Dark mode

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Try it in the app
Learn how to set Preferences in Photoshop Elements.

Follow these steps to switch to Light or Dark mode:

  1. Access the Preferences dialog box by either of the given methods:

    • Select Edit > Preferences > General  (Win) or Select Photoshop Elements > Preferences  > General (macOS)
    • Select the Light    icon or Moon    icon > Select the Preferences button to open the Preferences dialog box for application customization.
    Switch to Dark mode in Photoshop Elements.
    Switch to Dark mode in Photoshop Elements.

    Switch to Light mode in Photoshop Elements.
    Switch to Light mode in Photoshop Elements.

  2. The Preferences dialog box will appear on the screen > Select the desired UI Mode from the drop-down options > Select OK

    Choose the Light or Dark mode in Adobe Photoshop Elements.
    Choose the Light or Dark mode in Adobe Photoshop Elements.

  3. A message for relaunching the application will appear on the screen. Select OK

    Adobe Photoshop Elements dialog box to notify users about the application relaunch.
    Adobe Photoshop Elements dialog box to notify users about the application relaunch.

  4. Relaunch the application for the change to take effect.

Saving Files

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File Saving Options: Set preferences for how files are saved, including default formats and locations.

Save As to Original Folder: You can choose whether the "Save As" dialog defaults to the file's original folder.

File Compatibility: The File Compatibility preferences in Photoshop Elements allow you to control how the software handles different file types, including how it opens, saves, and interacts with other Adobe applications and external files.

Enable the Ignore Camera Data (EXIF) Profiles option in Photoshop Elements to disregard the embedded color profile information in your image file's EXIF data. Instead, Photoshop Elements will use the default color profile set for displaying and editing the image.

Maximize PSD File Compatibility:

  • Always: Ensures that the files are fully compatible with other Adobe applications and versions of Photoshop. This option saves a flattened copy of your image along with the layers, increasing file size but improving compatibility.
  • Never: Only the layered file is saved without a flattened copy, reducing file size but potentially causing compatibility issues with other applications or older versions.
  • Ask: Prompts you each time you save a file whether to maximize compatibility.

Performance

Memory Usage: Allocate memory for Photoshop Elements.

History & Cache: Adjust history states and cache levels for optimal performance.

Use Graphic Processor for improved performance: Enable to utilize the GPU to significantly improve the performance of Photoshop Elements, especially when working with high-resolution images, complex edits, and rendering tasks.

Scratch Disks

Scratch Disk Allocation: Designate which hard drives to use as scratch disks to improve performance when working with large files.

Display & Cursors

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The Display & Cursors preferences in Photoshop Elements allow you to customize the appearance and behavior of the user interface, including how cursors look and how images are displayed.

  • Painting Cursors:
    • Standard: Shows the tool icon (e.g., brush, pencil).
    • Precise: Displays a crosshair cursor for more precise placement.
    • Brush Size: This shows the actual size of the brush tip, which helps visualize the effect of the brush stroke.
  • Other Cursor:
    • Standard: Shows the default cursor icon.
    • Precise: Displays a crosshair cursor for tools other than painting, such as selection tools.

Transparency

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  • Grid Size: Choose the grid size that appears behind transparent areas of an image (None, Small, Medium, or Large).
  • Grid Colors: Select the transparency grid colors to better contrast your image and workspace.

Units & Rulers

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The Units & Rulers preferences in Photoshop Elements allow you to customize how measurements and rulers are displayed in your workspace.

  • Rulers:

    • Inches: Displays rulers in inches, useful for projects where imperial measurements are standard.
    • Pixels: Displays rulers in pixels, ideal for digital and web design projects where precise pixel measurements are important.
    • Centimeters: Displays rulers in centimeters, useful for projects with metric measurements.
    • Millimeters: Displays rulers in millimeters for fine measurements, particularly useful in print design.
    • Points: Displays rulers in points, often used in typography and graphic design.
    • Picas: Displays rulers in picas, a measurement unit often used in print and publishing.
  • Type:

    • Pixels: Displays rulers in pixels, ideal for digital and web design projects where precise pixel measurements are essential.
    • Points: Displays rulers in points, often used in typography and graphic design.
    • Millimeters: Displays rulers in millimeters for fine measurements, particularly useful in print design.
  • Print Size:

    • Inches: Displays rulers in inches, useful for projects where imperial measurements are standard.
    • Centimeters: Displays rulers in centimeters, useful for projects with metric measurements.
    • Millimeters: Displays rulers in millimeters for fine measurements, particularly useful in print design.
  • Photo Project Units:

    • Inches: Displays rulers in inches, useful for projects where imperial measurements are standard.
    • Centimeters: Displays rulers in centimeters, useful for projects with metric measurements.
    • Millimeters: Displays rulers in millimeters for fine measurements, particularly useful in print design.

New Document Preset Resolutions: Allows you to set default resolutions for new documents.

  • Print Resolution: This setting defines the resolution for new print documents, typically measured in pixels per inch (ppi). Common resolutions are:
    • 300 ppi: Standard for high-quality print materials, such as brochures, posters, and photographs.
  • Screen Resolution: This setting specifies the resolution for new documents intended for on-screen use. It is also measured in pixels per inch (ppi). Typical resolutions include:
    • 72 ppi: Standard for most web and screen display purposes, as it matches the traditional display resolution.

Guides & Grid

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The Guides & Grids preferences in Photoshop Elements help you customize the appearance and behavior of guides and grids in your workspace. 

  • Guides:
    • Select a Canvas from the dropdown menu or click to choose a custom color.
    • Choose a Style (solid or dashed).
  • Grid:
    • Select a Color from the dropdown menu or choose a custom color.
    • Choose a Style (solid or dashed).
    • Set the Gridline Every value and choose the unit (inches, centimeters, pixels, etc.).
    • Define the number of Subdivisions between each primary gridline.

Plug-Ins

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Check the Select Additional Plug-Ins Folder box, then select Choose to browse and select the desired folder.

Adobe Partner Services

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  • Turn Off Notification Pop-Ups: This setting allows you to disable pop-up notifications from Adobe Partner Services. Notifications may include updates, offers, or other messages from Adobe and its partners.

  • Turn Off All Notifications: This setting goes further by disabling all notifications from Adobe Partner Services, including pop-ups and other types of alerts.

Application Updates

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  • Automatically Download and Install Updates: Photoshop Elements can automatically download and install updates without manual intervention.

  • Notify Me When Updates Are Available: This setting notifies you whenever an update is available, allowing you to decide when to download and install it.

  • Enable "Remind me Later" for updates: This option allows you to be reminded to update the application later, at your convenience. 

Type

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The "Type" options in Photoshop Elements' Preferences allow you to customize how text is handled and displayed in your projects. These settings let you control various text rendering and management aspects, ensuring that your text elements appear as intended and are easy to work with.

  • Use Smart Quotes: As you type, automatically replace straight quotation marks with typographically correct quotation marks (curly quotes).
  • Fill new type layers with placeholder text: This option within the Type Preferences allows you to automatically populate new layers with sample text.
  • Show Asian Text Options: Enables additional text options for working with Asian languages, such as vertical text.
  • Enable Missing Glyph Protection: Ensures that a placeholder character is displayed when a font does not support a specific character, preventing missing characters from being invisible or rendering incorrectly
  • Show Font Names in English: This option displays the names of fonts in English, regardless of the language set for the font names.
  • Font Preview Size: This setting adjusts the font preview size shown in the font list. This can help you quickly identify and select the desired font by providing a better visual reference. Choose a size (Small, Medium, Large) that suits your preference for viewing font previews. 

Country/Region Selection

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Allows you to specify your geographical location. This setting influences various aspects of the software, such as language options, region-specific features, and particular services and content availability.

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