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Photoshop Elements

Photoshop Elements

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  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 Quick mode groups basic photo-fixing tools in one place to quickly fix the exposure, color, sharpness, and other aspects of an image. You can further transform your photos using Effects, Quick Actions, Textures, and Frames panels, available next to the Adjustments panel.

Adjustments, Effects, Quick Actions, Textures, Frames icons are displayed on the homepage of Photoshop Elements.

Effects

The Effects panel provides a single location from which you can apply photo effects. The Effects panel is located on the taskbar in Quick and Advanced mode. It displays thumbnail examples of the artwork or effects that you can add or apply to a photo. Most sections offer a menu of category options and corresponding subcategories. There are three categories of effects you can choose from: Artistic, Classic, and Color Match.

Effects panel
Effects panel in Photoshop Elements.

Artistic Effects

In one click, transform your photos with effects inspired by famous works of art or popular art styles. Choose from amazing Artistic effects that you can apply to all or part of your photo, and easily adjust the results for exactly the look you want. You can access these artistic effects in Quick and Advanced modes.

Note:

Five new Artistic Effects have been introduced in Photoshop Elements 2024.

Choose the desired Artistic effect to apply to your photo.
Choose the desired Artistic effect to apply to your photo.

Classic effects

There are 55 Classic effects ranging from Black & white to Vintage looks to Cross-process presets. Select a Classic effect to view available variations within the preset. 

Image after applying classic effect Smart Look in Quick mode.
Apply Classic effects to your photos.

The following list provides a brief description of each of the available effects:

Auto Smart Looks

Analyzes the image available, and, based on the content of the image, provides options with different effects applied. Available variations:

  • Auto1
  • Auto2
  • Auto3
  • Auto4
  • Auto5
Note:

Effects are applied as a new layer with a layer mask. You can edit the layer mask in Advanced mode to remove/reduce effects from certain areas.

Tint

Provides a color tint (such as golden, sepia, green) to the image.  Available variations:

  • Copper
  • Golden
  • Sepia
  • Green
  • Blues

Seasons

Applies a season effect to the image. Available variations:

  • Spring
  • Summer
  • Autumn
  • Winter
  • Snow

Pencil Sketch

Applies an effect to make the image appear like a pencil sketch. Available variations:

  • Soft Lines
  • Pencil Sketch
  • Charcoal
  • Stippling
  • Colored Pencil

Toy Camera

Applies an effect that makes the image appear as it is a photograph taken by a toy camera. Available variations:

  • Toy Camera
  • Lomo Blue
  • Lomo Contrast
  • Lomo Green
  • Holga

Black & White

Applies a Black & White effect to the image. Available variations:

  • Simple B & W
  • Silver
  • Old School
  • Platinum
  • Tinted Black

Lithograph

Applies a lithograph effect to the image. Available variations:

  • Sepia
  • Black
  • Copper
  • Blue
  • Green

Cross Process

Applies the effect of processing of photographic film in a chemical solution intended for a different type of film. Available variations:

  • Deep Blue
  • Orange Wash
  • Blue Wash
  • Green Wash
  • Purple Wash

Split Tone

Applies the effect of tinting the highlights in a black and white image one color and the shadows another color. Available variations:

  • Split Tone
  • Blue Tone
  • Red Tone
  • Green Tone
  • Grey Tone

Vintage

Applies a vintage effect to the image. Available variations:

  • Vintage Leak
  • Faded Vintage
  • Vintage Color
  • Sepia Glow
  • Heavy Vintage

Light Leaks

Applies the effect of light on the negative of a picture that has leaked into the light-tight chamber of a camera. Available variations:

  • Diffused Colors
  • Burnt Edges
  • Soft Leak
  • White Leak
  • Yellow Streak

Color Match effects

Choose from built-in presets or use a photo of your own. You can further fine-tune hue, saturation, and brightness. Explore the Color Match effect in Quick and Advanced modes. 

Apply Color Match effect in Quick mode

  1. Select File > Open or select the Open button to open a photo over which you would like to apply the effect.

  2. Within the Effects panel, choose from built-in presets available within the Color Match.

    Apply the Color Match effect in Quick mode.
    Apply the Color Match effect in Quick mode.

    Note:

    Color Match effects are mutually exclusive, and any presets applied to the main input photo will be replaced by the effect of another preset since layers are not added.
    If you want to apply one preset over another, you can do it in either of these two ways:

    • Save the outcome of your first preset and use it as an input photo when applying the next preset.
    • Apply the first preset in Quick mode > Switch to Advanced mode > Use the result from Quick mode as your input photo in the Advanced mode, and then select the desired preset to apply.

  3. You can further fine-tune the Saturation, Hue, and Brightness of your photo based on your requirements.

    Note:

    Select the Undo   button if you'd like to cancel the edits and the Redo   button to redo the edits.

  4. Select File > Save As to save the photo, or select Share to share it on social platforms.

Textures

Use the Textures panel to choose from ten textures you can apply to your photo. Textures simulate various surfaces or backgrounds that the photo could be printed on. For example, old paper look, cracked paint texture, rough blue grid, chrome feel. 

Image after applying Texture effect Smart Look in Quick mode.
Apply Texture to your photos.

Note:

Textures are applied as a new layer with a layer mask. You can edit the layer mask in Advanced mode to remove/reduce texture from certain areas (face/skin).

Frames

Use the Frames panel to choose and apply from available frames for your photo. The frame is automatically fitted in the best possible way. You can also move or transform the image and frame. This can be done by using the move tool and double-clicking the frame. You can change the background color from white to any other choice in Advanced mode by modifying the Color Fill layer.

Image after applying Texture effect Smart Look in Quick mode.
Apply Frames to your photos.

Apply an Effect, Texture, or Frame

  1. Open a photo in Photoshop Elements Editor and switch to Quick mode.

  2. Three panels - Effects, Textures, and Frames - are available in addition to the Adjustments panel. Select the icon for any of the panels.

  3. The Panel bar displays live preview thumbnails of the open image. Click a thumbnail to apply the Effect, Texture, or Frame.

  4. Switch to the Advanced mode, and modify the effect, texture, or frame that you used on the image. The modification applied in the Quick mode is available in a separate layer. (Optional)

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