User Guide Cancel

Guided mode Special edits

Search
Photoshop Elements

Photoshop Elements

Open app
  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)

The Guided mode provides you with guided edits - a wizard-like interface to accomplish certain predefined effects. Each guided edit has an associated image. As you move the mouse horizontally over the image, the portion to the left of the slider displays the image before the effect is applied. The portion to the right of the slider displays the image after the effect is applied.

Perfect Landscape guided edit

Perfect Landscape guided edit enables you to easily replace skies, remove haze, and erase unwanted objects to create epic outdoor scenes. You are sure to create the perfect adventure photo every time.

Watch the video >

Perfect Landscape guided edit - Before
Perfect Landscape guided edit - After

Replace Background guided edit

The Replace Background guided edit lets you replace the background of your photos with other photos, colors, and included background presets. If you want to use your own photos as background images, you can import them and use them as a background.

  1. Do one of the following:

    • Open a photo in Photoshop Elements.
    • Select a photo from the Photo Bin.

  2. Select Guided > Special Edits > Replace Background.

  3. Select one of the following tools and create a selection of the main subject of your photo:

    • Auto: Use the Auto Selection tool to automatically create a selection when you draw a shape around the object you want to select. For more information, see Use the Auto Selection tool.
    • Quick: Use the Quick Selection tool to make a selection based on color and texture similarity when you click or click-drag the object you want to select. For more information, see Use the Quick Selection tool.
    • Brush: Use the Selection Brush tool to paint over the object you want to select. For more information, see Use the Selection Brush tool.
    • Refine: Use the Refine Selection Brush tool to add or remove areas to and from a selection by automatically detecting the edges. For more information, see Edit and refine selections.

  4. Do one of the following to choose a background:

    • Click Import a photo to add your photo as background.
    • Click Preset to add one of the background preset as the background.
    • Click None to remove the background.
    • Click Color to add a color as the background.

  5. (Optional) Click the Move Tool and drag the foreground or the background if necessary.

  6. Click the Refine Edge Brush and paint over the foreground to refine the edges of the foreground. Use the following options to adjust the settings of the brush:

    • Add: Use this option to add more area to the edges of the foreground.
    • Subtract: Use this option to subtract area from the edges of the foreground. 
    • Size: Increases or decreases the brush size.
    • Opacity: Increases or decreases the opacity of the brush stroke.

  7. (Optional) Click Auto Match Color Tone to match the color tone of the subject with the background.

  8. After you get the desired result, click Next to choose how you would like to proceed:

    • Save - Save/Save As: Preserve the newly-created image in any of the available formats.
    • Continue editing - In Quick/In Expert: Choose where you would like to continue working on the image - in Quick mode or Expert mode.
    • Share - Flickr/Twitter: You can upload your photo online through one of the social or sharing services available in Photoshop Elements.

Depth of Field guided edit

The Depth of Field effect allows you to focus on selected areas of the image by blurring out the rest of the image.

Simple method

In this method, a copy of the background layer is created and a uniform blur applied to it. Choose selected areas that you want to focus on. You can customize the degree of blur applied to the rest of the image.

  1. In Guided mode, from the Special Edits section, click Depth of Field.

  2. Click Simple.

  3. Click Add Blur. A uniform blur appears across the image.

  4. To define areas of focus, click Add Focus Area and drag the cursor across areas of the image you want to focus on.

  5. To customize the blur for the rest of the image, drag the Blur slider until you achieve the desired blur effect.

  6. After you get the desired result, click Next to choose how you would like to proceed:

    • Save - Save / Save As: Preserve the newly-created image in any of the available formats.
    • Continue editing - In Quick / In Expert: Choose where you would like to continue working on the image - in Quick mode or Expert mode.
    • Share - Flickr / Twitter: Choose to place your image online through one of the social or sharing services available in Photoshop Elements.

Custom method

In this method, you choose the objects you want to focus on using the quick selection tool. The blur is applied to unselected areas of the image. You can customize the degree of blur applied to the rest of the image.

  1. In Guided mode, from the Special Edits section, click Depth of Field.

  2. Click Custom.

  3. Click the Quick Selection tool and move over areas of the image you want to focus on.

  4. Click Add Blur. A uniform blur is applied to the rest of the image.

  5. To customize the blur for the rest of the image, drag the Blur slider until you achieve the desired blur effect.

  6. After you get the desired result, click Next to choose how you would like to proceed:

    • Save - Save / Save As: Preserve the newly-created image in any of the available formats.
    • Continue editing - In Quick / In Expert: Choose where you would like to continue working on the image - in Quick mode or Expert mode.
    • Share - Flickr / Twitter: Choose to place your image online through one of the social or sharing services available in Photoshop Elements.

Extend Background guided edit

Introduced in Photoshop Elements 2022

You can use Extend Background guided edit to extend the background of an image by cloning the image surroundings using Autofill or by expanding them using Extend tool. Either way, the primary object of the image remains undistorted. 

PSE-Extend-Background

To use this feature in Photoshop Elements, follow these steps:

  1. Go to File > Open to open an image in Photoshop Elements

  2. In Guided mode, select Special Edits and click Extend Background

  3. Do the following to apply adjustments:

    • Choose the canvas size for your image
    • Choose the sides you want to extend
    • Use Autofill or Extend options to fill the expanded area
    • Use Spot Healing Brush for minor fixes and Clone Stamp tool for major fixes

  4. After you get the desired result, click Next to choose how you would like to proceed:

    • Save - Preserve the newly-created image in any of the available formats.
    • Continue editing -  Choose where you would like to continue working on the image - in Quick mode or Expert mode.
    • Share -  Choose to place your image online through one of the social or sharing services available in Photoshop Elements.

Frame Creator guided edit

You can now create a photo frame using any photo that you have in your library. Use the Frame Creator guided edit to quickly create a custom frame to outline your photos. 

  1. Open a photograph in Photoshop Elements.

  2. Click Guided > Special > Frame Creator.

  3. Select an area on the photo where other photos can be placed by using one of the following selection tools:

    • Quick. Easily select large areas by dragging the tool across the photo.
    • Brush. Paint over areas of the photo where photos can be inserted.
    • Magic Wand. Click areas of the photo where photos can be inserted.
    • Polygon Lasso. Click the corners of the areas where a photo can be inserted.

  4. Click Create Frame to create the frame. The part of the photo selected in the previous step is subtracted from the original photo to create the frame.

  5. Click Save Frame. Provide a meaningful name for your new frame.

  6. Click Continue in Expert to make further modifications to the frame, or to start using it. 

    Note:

    All frames you created are available in Expert mode > Graphics panel. Use the Filters By Type > Frames > My Frames to filter the frames you created.

  7. Click or drag a photo to place it in the frame.  

    Add a photo to the frame.

    Note:

    You can share your custom frames with others from the Graphics panel in the Expert mode. Use the filters By Type > Frames > My Frames. Right-click the frame that you want to share and select Reveal in Finder.

Import a shared frame

Not only can you now create fun, customized frames that speak your story, you can also import frames that other Elements users have created.

Import a frame in a few simple steps:

  1. In Photoshop Elements, switch to Expert mode.

  2. Click Graphics, and then from the fly-out menu, click Add Frame.

  3. Select the PSD file that represents the frame you are importing, and then click Load.

View an imported frame:

  1. In Expert mode, click Graphics.

  2. From the drop-downs available in the right panel, choose By Type > Frames > My Frames.

Note:

The custom frames created using Frame Creator Guided Edit can be restored and reused on another device or with a different version of Photoshop Elements. To do this, take a backup of these frames before uninstalling Photoshop Elements, by copying your custom frames from the following location into a different folder:

/Applications⁩/⁨Adobe Photoshop Elements 2021⁩/⁨Contents⁩/MacOS⁩⁩/Adobe Photoshop Elements 2021 Editor⁩⁩/⁨Contents⁩⁩/⁨Application Data⁩⁩/⁨Photoshop Elements⁩⁩/19.0⁩/⁨Photo Creations⁩

Orton Effect guided effect

The Orton effect provides a dreamy effect to your photographs.

  1. In Guided mode, from the Special Edits section, click Orton Effect.

  2. In the Create Orton Effect panel, click Add Orton Effect.

  3. Edit the following parameters according to your requirements:

    Increase Blur

    Specifies the amount of blur in the out-of-focus layer.

    Increase Noise

    Adds noise to the blurred layer.

    Apply Brightness

    Increases brightness of the blurred layer.

  4. After you get the desired result, click Next to choose how you would like to proceed:

    • Save - Save / Save As: Preserve the newly-created image in any of the available formats.
    • Continue editing - In Quick / In Expert: Choose where you would like to continue working on the image - in Quick mode or Expert mode.
    • Share - Flickr / Twitter: Choose to place your image online through one of the social or sharing services available in Photoshop Elements.
Note:

Use the zoom option in the editor to identify how the effect is applied to different areas of the photograph.

Perfect Pet guided edit

Introduced in Photoshop Elements 2022

Perfect-per-guided-edit
Original image (left) and image after Perfect Pet Guided edit is applied (right).

Perfect Pet Guided Edit allows you to enhance your pet photos with tools that let you do basic crop, remove eye glare, remove small distractions, and add some effects. It also allows you to apply adjustments selectively on subject and background.

To use Perfect Pet Guided edit in Photoshop Elements, follow these steps:

  1. In Photoshop Elements editor, click File > Open to open an image that you want to edit.

  2. In Guided mode, from the Special Edits section, click Perfect Pet.

  3. Apply the following adjustments as per your requirements:

    • Select Crop/Straighten to frame your image. For more information on cropping, see Cropping. For more on straightening an image, see Straighten an image
    • Use Remove Dirt and Spots, Remove Collar & Leash, Fix Pet Eye options to remove unwanted objects and eye glare from your image
    • Select the subject or the background to enhance and modify
    • Fine-tune the image using Lighting & Enhance options. For more on lightening and darkening an image, see Adjust shadows and light
    • Add additional effects

  4. After you get the desired result, click Next to choose how you would like to proceed:

    • Save - Preserve the newly created image in any of the available formats
    • Continue Editing - Choose where you would like to continue working on the image - in Quick mode or Expert mode 
    • Share - Choose to place your image online through one of the social or sharing services available in Photoshop Elements

Recompose guided edit

For more information on the features used in the Recompose Photo Guided Edit, see Recomposing.

Perfect Portrait guided edit

In Guided Edit, create a perfect portrait by removing blemishes and enhancing various parts of the image with easy-to-use tools.

  1. In Guided mode, from the Special Edits section, click Perfect Portrait.

  2. Enhance the texture of the skin.

    1. Click the Smooth Skin button to apply smoothness to the skin. You can move the Strength slider to increase or decrease the smoothness effect.
    2. Click Increase Contrast to add clarity.

  3. Click Features to adjust Lips, Eyes, Nose, Face Shape and Face Tilt for a selected face using the available sliders.

  4. Enhance facial features.

    1. Click Remove Blemishes to fix small flaws.
    2. Click Whiten Teeth to brighten your smile.
    3. In the Open Closed Eyes dialog, you can see that the face of the person is marked with a circular highlighter to indicate that the face is detected in the picture.
      (Optional) You're shown a few samples in the Try Sample Eyes list. You can choose a face that closely matches the main photo. Photoshop Elements uses the selected face to replace the closed eyes in the main photo.
    4. Click Brighten Eyes to brighten the eyes.
    5. Click Darken Eyebrows to darken the eyelashes and eyebrows. See Quickly lighten or darken isolated areas.

  5. Add special touch-ups.

    1. Click Add Glow. Adjust the sliders until you achieve the desired results.
    2. Click Slim Down to make the selected face appear slimmer. 
    Note:

    Each click intensifies the effect.

  6. After you get the desired result, click Next to choose how you would like to proceed:

    • Save - Save / Save As: Preserve the newly-created image in any of the available formats.
    • Continue editing - In Quick / In Expert: Choose where you would like to continue working on the image - in Quick mode or Expert mode.
    • Share - Flickr / Twitter: Choose to place your image online through one of the social or sharing services available in Photoshop Elements.

Restore Old Photo guided edit

Photographs, over time, may get damaged due to the effects of the weather, quality of paper, or neglect. After digitization of a damaged photograph, various tools can be used to restore the image to remove cracks, discoloration, smudges, or other imperfections. The Restore Old Photo guided edit takes you through a step-by-step process, and presents you with all the tools you need to restore an image in one workflow.

  1. Use the Crop (C) tool and the rotate cropping frame to decide on the section of the photograph that you would like to restore.

  2. Use the Spot Healing tool to repair smaller spots, lines, and tears.

  3. Use the Healing Brush tool to heal a damaged part of an image with an undamaged section of the same photograph. Press Alt + Click a suitable part of the image, and then drag the portion to the damaged part of the image.

  4. Use the Clone Stamp tool to copy one part of an image to another. To repair portions, press Alt + click the source area, and then drag on the damaged area.

  5. Use the Blur tool to smooth the areas where there is undesirable granulation of the photo.

  6. Use the Dust Remover tool to heal smaller lines, dust impressions, and other imperfections.

  7. Use the available buttons to apply corrections related to levels, contrast, and color. You can also convert the photo into a black and white image in a single click.

  8. Use the Sharpen tool to enhance the clarity of the final output.

  9. After you get the desired result, click Next to choose how you would like to proceed:

    • Save - Save / Save As: Preserve the newly-created image in any of the available formats.
    • Continue editing - In Quick / In Expert: Choose where you would like to continue working on the image - in Quick mode or Expert mode.
    • Share - Flickr / Twitter: Choose to place your image online through one of the social or sharing services available in Photoshop Elements.

Scratches and Blemishes guided edit

Use the Scratch and Blemishes to fix (large or small) flaws in an image (using the Healing Brush or the Spot Healing Brush).

You can view the after image only, or view both the before and after images either vertically or horizontally.

For more on correcting color casts, see Fix large imperfections or Remove spots and small imperfections.

Text and Border Overlay guided edit

Introduced in Photoshop Elements 2019

Add stylish borders to your photos with text that speak your story. Use the Text and Border Overlay guided edit to give a great new look to your photo with a combination of polished borders and text.

  1. Do one of the following:

    • Open a photo in Photoshop Elements.
    • Select a photo from the Photo Bin.

  2. Select Guided > Special Edits > Text and Border Overlay.

  3. Click Select a Border and choose a border from the available options.

    Border styles
    Different border styles.

  4. Drag the Resize Border slider to increase or decrease the size of the border.

  5. Click the Color Picker button, and then click the color you want to apply on the border.

  6. Click Add Text Overlay. A text frame appears over the border and the Type Tool becomes active.

  7. Type in the new text. You can change the font, size, color, and style of the text from the Tool Options bar in the Guided workspace. When you are done typing, click the green check mark () to commit your changes.

  8. Change the position of the text by clicking a dot on the border.

    Change the position of text by clicking on a dot.

  9. Click the Text Style button to display preconfigured text styles that you can apply on the text. Click on a text style to apply it on the text. You can revert to your original text style by clicking the Reset  ( ) button.

  10. After you get the desired result, click Next to choose how you would like to proceed:

    • Save - Save / Save As: Preserve the newly-created image in any of the available formats.
    • Continue editing - In Quick / In Expert: Choose where you would like to continue working on the image - in Quick mode or Expert mode.
    • Share - Flickr / Twitter: Choose to place your image online through one of the social or sharing services available in Photoshop Elements.

Tilt-Shift guided edit

Apply the tilt-shift effect to focus attention on certain aspect or object in your photo, while selectively taking focus away from other things in your photo. The tilt-shift effect also causes a pseudo-miniature effect to be formed on the photo.

Picture before applying the tilt-shift effect (left), and after

  1. Open a photo, and in the Guided Edits panel click Photo Effects > Tilt-Shift.

  2. Click Add Tilt-Shift to apply the basic effect to the photo. The photo appears blurred out.

  3. Click Modify Focus Area and then click and drag across the image to specify the areas that you would like to appear in sharp focus.

  4. To experiment with more effects, click Refine Effect and modify:

    • Blur: Increase the intensity of blur applied to the photo.

    • Contrast: Increases or decreases the contrast levels of the photo.

    • Saturation: Increases or decreases the color saturation levels of the photo

  5. After you get the desired result, click Next to choose how you would like to proceed:

    • Save - Save / Save As: Preserve the newly-created image in any of the available formats.
    • Continue editing - In Quick / In Expert: Choose where you would like to continue working on the image - in Quick mode or Expert mode.
    • Share - Flickr / Twitter: Choose to place your image online through one of the social or sharing services available in Photoshop Elements.

Watercolor Effect guided edit

Use the Watercolor Effect guided edit to add watercolor effect to your photos with texture and text effects. 

  1. Do one of the following:  

    • Open a photo in Photoshop Elements.
    • Select a photo in the Photo Bin.

  2. Choose Guided > Special Edits > Watercolor Effect.

  3. Select a watercolor effect from the available options.

  4. Choose a watercolor paper. You can adjust the opacity of the paper.

  5. Choose a texture for the canvas. You can adjust the intensity of the texture.

  6. (Optional) Adjust the details using the Refine Effect Brush. This tool helps you add or remove effect to and from the area you paint over with the brush.

  7. (Optional) Click Type Tool to add text. Click anywhere on the photo, and then type your text. You can change the font, size, and style of the text from the Tool Options bar in the Guided workspace. When you are done typing, click the green check mark to apply your changes.

    For more information about adding text, see Add text.

  8. (Optional) Apply style to the text from the available options. You can choose Advanced options to apply further changes in the effect. For more information on advance options, see About layer styles.

  9. After you get the desired result, click Next to choose how you would like to proceed:

    • Save - Save/Save As: Preserve the newly-created image in any of the available formats.
    • Continue editing - In Quick/In Expert: Choose where you would like to continue working on the image - in Quick mode or Expert mode.
    • Share - Flickr/Twitter: You can upload your image online through one of the social or sharing services available in Photoshop Elements

Get help faster and easier

New user?

Quick links

View all your plans Manage your plans
View quick links
Hide quick links

Legal Notices    |    Online Privacy Policy