Kaboom Your Photography!

Beecher's HandoutsBeecher's Handouts is a free 122 page book about photography. Read online or download a free copy. | Photo Cheat SheetThe questions you need to ask just before you press the shutter release. Read online or download a free copy. | Photo Flash CardsUse the flash cards to make learning about your camera easy. Read online or download a free copy. | Photoshop Elements100s of articles & tutorials make editing with Photoshop Elements easier and fun. | LightroomHere's a free 127 page book about organizing and editing with the program. Read online or download a free copy. | PrintingGet help with your prints. |

Tips100s of photography tips for you. Learn something new. Improve your photography. | PATHPATH is a free book about the most important ingredient in photography. Most books are about cameras. This book is about you. Read online or download a free copy. | Creative Energy QuestionnaireUse the Creative Energy Questionnaire to delve into your inner photographer. Get more creative energy. | Private LessonsPrivate lessons are tailored to your needs. | Upcoming ClassesBe a better photographer Take a class. | For Jim's StudentsThere's information here for my students. I've gathered together the essential articles & tutorials.

New Stuff

Note: Lightroom 4 Beta

Photoshop Elements: Split Toning, Tips: Passage of Time & Organize Your Photographs (Revised)

Photoshop Elements >

Tools

Photoshop Elements is a powerful program.

So—there are lots of tools.

Great!

But—there are lots of tools.

Ouch!

Learning to use the tools is difficult.

No—not because they're difficult to use.

Yes—because the tools are hard to find.

You have to learn the icons.

Plus, some tools are members of tool families.

You can't see all the members of a tool family at the same time.

Only one tool icon is visible at a time.

Accessing Tool Families

To access all of the members of a tool family, look for the tiny black arrow in the lower right corner of the tool icon.

Then, do the following.

Windows

Right click on the tiny black arrow.

Mac

Most Mac mice only have a left-click button.

Some have both a left-click button and a right-click button.

Mouse Only Has Left Click

Press and hold Ctrl, and click on the tiny black arrow.

Mouse Has Right Click

Right click on the tiny black arrow.

Keyboard Shortcuts

The tools have keyboard shortcuts.

You just press one key, a letter.

Look for the letter in the parentheses after the name of the tool.

Learn z for the Zoom tool!

That's the most used tool.

A Tool Is Always Selected

A tool is selected at all times.

If you're not using a tool, "park" the tools on the Zoom tool.

Press z.

Scroll down, or click here.

The Tools

Navigate

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Move things around

Navigate

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Navigate

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Move left-to-right

Sample

Color

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Choose a color

Family:

Select

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Squares, too

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Circles, too

Family:

Select

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Free hand

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Needs defined edges

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Odd linear shapes

Select

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Select by tone & color

Family:

Select

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Truly magical

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Fine tune a selection

Family:

Type

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Family:
Crop
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Automated cropping

Crop

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Fancy cropping

Straighten

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Crooked horizons

Red Eye

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Family:

Retouch

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Tiny defects

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Wrinkles

Family:

Retouch

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Like a paint roller

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Family:

Retouch

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Family:

Retouch

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Change a color

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Lines

Family:

Retouch

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Select & transform

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Add

Color

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Add color

Gradients

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Smooth transitions

Family:

Shapes

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Family:

Retouch

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For small areas

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Eyes

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Conceal tiny defects

Family:

Retouch

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Saturate & de-saturate

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Lighten small areas

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Darken small areas