Photoshop Elements Menu: Beginners

This menu is for beginners using a laptop.

If you're using a small screen, go to the smaller menu.

Orientation

Photoshop Elements is powerful.

It does just about everything a photographer needs to do—so there's a lot to learn.

This menu is a step-by-step path through Photoshop Elements for beginners.

Taking a Class?

Read the article below if you're taking a class with me.

Class Tips

Get a Mouse

If you're using a laptop without a mouse, get a two-button mouse with a scroll wheel.

A mouse makes using certain Photoshop Elements tools far easier to use.

Windows & Mac

The Windows and Mac versions of Photoshop Elements are 99.9% the same.

Mac Users Press Cmd

The tutorials have many commands, such as Save:

Ctrl + s.

If you're using a Mac, press the Command (Apple key) when you see Ctrl.

Cmd + s.

Print It Out

The best way to use a tutorial is to print it out, or have it displayed on a second computer.

Check the Boxes

Many of the tutorials have check boxes.

Check them as you go along to avoid missing a step.

Skip Quick Fix

Quick Fix is for casual users of Photoshop Elements.

Step 1: Get Going

The tutorial below takes you through:

1) Opening Photoshop Elements.

2) Opening a photograph.

3) Making a Background copy.

4) Using a Levels adjustment layer.

Levels can vastly improve a photograph with a few seconds work

5) Saving your edited photograph.

6) Closing Photoshop Elements.

Workflow / First Steps / 1 - Introduction

Simplify Opening
& Saving

The above tutorial suggests you place some of your photographs on a flash drive.

You can also place them in a folder on your Desktop.

You'll:

• Open the photographs from the flash drive or folder.

• Edit the photographs.

• Save them back to the flash drive or folder.

Why do the above?

Opening and saving files is complicated when using Picasa, iPhoto, and other organizing programs.

Wait until you're familiar with Photoshop Elements before learning how to open from—and save to—other programs.

Step 2: Navigation

The Navigation article below is about using the Zoom tool and more.

Practice using the navigation tools until you don't have to think about what to do.

Navigation Basics

Come back and read more.

Navigation > 1 - Introduction

Step 3: Shortcuts

If you like to use keyboard shortcuts, go to the article below.

Shortcuts

Step 4: Tools

The tool panel is located on the left side of your screen.

There are more tools than what you see displayed.

The article below shows you all of the tools.

Refer to it when you can't find a tool.

Tools

Step 5: Box #s

When using Photoshop Elements, you'll encounter lots of boxes with numbers inside.

There are several ways to change the values in those boxes.

Changing the Box #s

Step 6: Brushes

You use brushes to "paint" editing on to your photograph.

Read the first section, Brush Basics, in the article below.

Practice the brush basics until you don't have to think about what to do.

Brushes

Here's the entire Brushes menu.

Brushes >

Step 7: Troubleshooting

When there's a problem with Photoshop Elements, it's usually because the wrong layer is active (highlighted).

Read the first troubleshooting topic below.

Return to the article when you need other solutions.

Troubleshooting

Step 8: Best Practices

Read this compilation of ways to edit more smoothly.

Best Practices

Step 9: Bigger & Smaller

You can make your camera-phone photographs bigger—and your regular photographs smaller for e-mails.

Camera Phone Resampling/Resizing: Make It Bigger

Save for Web Resampling/Resizing: Make It Smaller

Step 10: Crop Tool

You can recompose your framing with the Crop tool.

Squares & Rectangles - Crop Tool

There are other tools for cropping.

Cropping >

Step 11: Straighten Tool

You can straighten a crooked horizon line with the Straighten tool.

Straighten Tool

Step 12: Burning &
Dodging

You used a Levels adjustment layer, in Step One, to change the exposure and contrast of the entire photograph.

You burn and dodge to change the exposure in part of your photograph.

Burning is darkening.

Dodging is lightening.

Use the method below.

Method for Several Small Areas (Overlay Layer)

There are other methods, as well.

Burning & Dodging >

Step 13: Opening & Saving

Now is the time to learn how to open and save files to—and from—your organizing program.

Opening Files (Photographs)

Saving Files

Step 14: How to Edit

This article helps you to know what needs to be done to a photograph.

How to Edit

Step 15: Layers

You've been using layers, such as the Background copy layer and the Levels adjustment layer.

It's time to learn more about layers.

You'll want to refer back to the articles below, as it takes a while to understand layers.

1 - Introduction

There's lots more to learn, too.

Layers >

Step 16: Levels

You've been using Levels adjustment layers.

There's more to learn about them.

Levels >

Step 17: Spot Healing

You use the Spot Healing Brush tool to remove facial defects, litter on a sidewalk, dust on old photographs, and the like

Spot Healing Brush Tool

Step 18: Cloning

Cloning is where you sample part of your photograph, and paste it on to another part.

Clone Stamp Tool

Step 19: Selection Tools

A selection is drawn on your photograph with one of the selection tools.

Then, whatever happens next only happens inside the selected area.

You can copy the selected area to a new layer, can edit the selected area with an adjustment layer, and so forth.

Selection Tools >

Step 20: Retouching

There are many retouching tutorials below.

Retouching here, refers to the face.

Many of the retouching techniques are useful for other subjects

Retouching >

Step 21: Sharpening

Digital photographs are made from square blocks of color called pixels.

Each pixel has four corners.

The millions of corners in a photograph are jutting into other pixels, causing the photograph to look slightly out-of-focus.

You have to sharpen your photograph.

Try:

1 - High-pass Filter Sharpening

There's more about sharpening here.

Sharpening >

Step 22: Workflow

Workflow is the order that you perform tasks with Photoshop Elements.

Read the article below and adapt it for your own needs.

Workflow

Step 23: Organizing

You can use the Organizer in Photoshop Elements to organize your photographs.

Organizer

More

There's a lot more on the Photoshop Elements menu.

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Photoshop Elements Menu: Beginners This menu is for beginners using a laptop. If you're using a small screen, go to the smaller menu.
Orientation Photoshop Elements is powerful. It does just about everything a photographer needs to do—so there's a lot to learn. This menu is a step-by-step path through Photoshop Elements for beginners. Taking a Class? Read the article below if you're taking a class with me. Class Tips Get a Mouse If you're using a laptop without a mouse, get a two-button mouse with a scroll wheel. A mouse makes using certain Photoshop Elements tools far easier to use. Windows & Mac The Windows and Mac versions of Photoshop Elements are 99.9% the same. Mac Users Press Cmd The tutorials have many commands, such as Save: Ctrl + s. If you're using a Mac, press the Command (Apple key) when you see Ctrl. Cmd + s. Print It Out The best way to use a tutorial is to print it out, or have it displayed on a second computer. Check the Boxes Many of the tutorials have check boxes. Check them as you go along to avoid missing a step. Skip Quick Fix Quick Fix is for casual users of Photoshop Elements. Step 1: Get Going The tutorial below takes you through: 1) Opening Photoshop Elements. 2) Opening a photograph. 3) Making a Background copy. 4) Using a Levels adjustment layer. Levels can vastly improve a photograph with a few seconds work 5) Saving your edited photograph. 6) Closing Photoshop Elements. Workflow / First Steps / 1 - Introduction Simplify Opening & Saving The above tutorial suggests you place some of your photographs on a flash drive. You can also place them in a folder on your Desktop. You'll: • Open the photographs from the flash drive or folder. • Edit the photographs. • Save them back to the flash drive or folder. Why do the above? Opening and saving files is complicated when using Picasa, iPhoto, and other organizing programs. Wait until you're familiar with Photoshop Elements before learning how to open from—and save to—other programs. Step 2: Navigation The Navigation article below is about using the Zoom tool and more. Practice using the navigation tools until you don't have to think about what to do. Navigation Basics Come back and read more. Navigation > 1 - Introduction Step 3: Shortcuts If you like to use keyboard shortcuts, go to the article below. Shortcuts Step 4: Tools The tool panel is located on the left side of your screen. There are more tools than what you see displayed. The article below shows you all of the tools. Refer to it when you can't find a tool. Tools	Step 5: Box #s When using Photoshop Elements, you'll encounter lots of boxes with numbers inside. There are several ways to change the values in those boxes. Changing the Box #s Step 6: Brushes You use brushes to "paint" editing on to your photograph. Read the first section, Brush Basics, in the article below. Practice the brush basics until you don't have to think about what to do. Brushes Here's the entire Brushes menu. Brushes > Step 7: Troubleshooting When there's a problem with Photoshop Elements, it's usually because the wrong layer is active (highlighted). Read the first troubleshooting topic below. Return to the article when you need other solutions. Troubleshooting Step 8: Best Practices Read this compilation of ways to edit more smoothly. Best Practices Step 9: Bigger & Smaller You can make your camera-phone photographs bigger—and your regular photographs smaller for e-mails. Camera Phone Resampling/Resizing: Make It Bigger Save for Web Resampling/Resizing: Make It Smaller Step 10: Crop Tool You can recompose your framing with the Crop tool. Squares & Rectangles - Crop Tool There are other tools for cropping. Cropping > Step 11: Straighten Tool You can straighten a crooked horizon line with the Straighten tool. Straighten Tool	Step 12: Burning & Dodging You used a Levels adjustment layer, in Step One, to change the exposure and contrast of the entire photograph. You burn and dodge to change the exposure in part of your photograph. Burning is darkening. Dodging is lightening. Use the method below. Method for Several Small Areas (Overlay Layer) There are other methods, as well. Burning & Dodging > Step 13: Opening & Saving Now is the time to learn how to open and save files to—and from—your organizing program. Opening Files (Photographs) Saving Files Step 14: How to Edit This article helps you to know what needs to be done to a photograph. How to Edit Step 15: Layers You've been using layers, such as the Background copy layer and the Levels adjustment layer. It's time to learn more about layers. You'll want to refer back to the articles below, as it takes a while to understand layers. 1 - Introduction There's lots more to learn, too. Layers > Step 16: Levels You've been using Levels adjustment layers. There's more to learn about them. Levels > Step 17: Spot Healing You use the Spot Healing Brush tool to remove facial defects, litter on a sidewalk, dust on old photographs, and the like Spot Healing Brush Tool	Step 18: Cloning Cloning is where you sample part of your photograph, and paste it on to another part. Clone Stamp Tool Step 19: Selection Tools A selection is drawn on your photograph with one of the selection tools. Then, whatever happens next only happens inside the selected area. You can copy the selected area to a new layer, can edit the selected area with an adjustment layer, and so forth. Selection Tools > Step 20: Retouching There are many retouching tutorials below. Retouching here, refers to the face. Many of the retouching techniques are useful for other subjects Retouching > Step 21: Sharpening Digital photographs are made from square blocks of color called pixels. Each pixel has four corners. The millions of corners in a photograph are jutting into other pixels, causing the photograph to look slightly out-of-focus. You have to sharpen your photograph. Try: 1 - High-pass Filter Sharpening There's more about sharpening here. Sharpening > Step 22: Workflow Workflow is the order that you perform tasks with Photoshop Elements. Read the article below and adapt it for your own needs. Workflow Step 23: Organizing You can use the Organizer in Photoshop Elements to organize your photographs. Organizer More There's a lot more on the Photoshop Elements menu.
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