Photoshop Elements 2 Tips and Tricks

239 Pages·2003·43.73 MB·English

by  George J. Kingsnorth, Gavin Cromhout, Janee Aronoff, Dan Caylor, Pete Walsh (auth.)

Photoshop Elements 2
Tips and Tricks Credits
© 2003 Apress Authors
Originally published by friends of ED in 2003 George J. Kingsnorth
All rights reserved. No part of this book may be Gavin Cromhout
reproduced, stored in a retrieval system or transmitted Janee Aronoff
in any form or by any means, without the prior written Dan Caylor
permission of the publisher, except in the case of brief Pete Walsh
quotations embodied in critical articles or reviews.
Commissioning Editor
The authors and publisher have made every effort in Luke Harvey
the preparation of this book to ensure the accuracy of
the information. However, the information contained in Editors
this book is sold without warranty, either express or Luke Harvey
implied. Neither the authors, friends of ED nor its Andrew Tracey
Caroline Robeson
dealers or distributors will be held liable for any
jake Manning
damages caused or alleged to be caused either directly
or indirectly by this book.
Author Agent
Chris Matterface
First printed March 2003
Project Manager
Richard Harrison
Simon Brand
Technical Reviewers
Cath O'Flynn
Nyree Costello
Trademark Acknowledgements
Denis Graham
Vicki Loader
friends of ED has endeavored to provide trademark Pete Walsh
information about all the companies and products
mentioned in this book by the appropriate use of Cover and Template Design
capitals. However, friends of ED cannot guarantee the Katy Freer
accuracy of this information. Matt Clark
Grapic Editor
Matt Clark
ISBN 978-1-59059-155-0 ISBN 978-1-4302-5127-9 (eBook)
DOI 10.1007/978-1-4302-5127-9
Indexer
Jo Crichton
Proofing
jo Crichton
Simon Collins
Managing Editor
Chris Hindley
CONTENTS
Introduction 1
Chapter 1 Toolbox and Selections 5
Chapter 2 Working with Layers 23
Chapter 3 Image correction and retouching 55
Chapter 4 Effects and filters 81
Chapter 5 Type tips 119
Chapter 6 Productivity 139
Chapter 7 Saving and sharing 149
Chapter 8 Winning web images 177
Chapter 9 Set up 201
Appendix 219
Index 227
ABOUT THE AUTHORS
Dan Caylor I started out kind of by accident. A friend of a friend introduced me to Photoshop when I was
1S . In February of 2000 I started www.thinkdan.com and it blew up On a good way).
Since then I've worked with QUE and New Riders along with Katrin Eismann on Photoshop Restoration &
Retouching. Friends of Ed on Photoshop Elements 2 Most Wanted (and a slew of technically reviewed titles). and
I've been featured in a few magazines.
Gavin Cromhout lives in Cape Town. South Africa. where he works as a new media designer and digital
photographer. He learnt most of what he knows about photography from carrying around his grandfather's
camera case as a kid. This was known as being a photographic assistant apparently.
His past book contributions include: New Masters of Photoshop. Digital Photography with Photoshop Elements.
Photoshop Face to Face, Photoshop 7 Professional Photographic Techniques. Photoshop 7 Trade Secrets and
Photoshop Elements 2 Face Makeovers. You can reach him viah is company website: www.lodestone.co.za.
George J. Klngsnorth, originally studied Film & Television at Bournemouth & Poole College of Art and
Design. gaining an HND in 1983. Since then he has continued with his education in hiss pare time. gaining an
Open University Degree, two Postgraduate Certificates and currently undertaking an MSc in Digital Television
Technology and Production .
George has been working in postproduction for broadcast television in Ireland for about 20 years. involved in
some 200 projects from current affairs. drama, documentaries, news and magazine programmes. corporate
videos and animation. Recently, he has also produced nine digital video shorts. directing three of them. The most
recent was screened at the 47th Cork International Film Festival in October 2002.
As a lecturer. George has been actively involved in helping numerous students begin their ojurney into the TV &
Video Industry. Towards the end of 2002, he joined the staff at TIC (http://www.tic.ac.ukl) as the Senior
TechnologisVlecturer in TV & Video Production.
janee Aronoff Before I became a Photoshop Goddess. I taught geometry to high school students. later. as
I discovered the world of digital art and Photoshop, it seemed natural for me to want to teach what I had learned.
So as I learned a new technique. I wrote it out in the form of a tutorial for my website at www.myjanee.com. I
continue to maintain and build this collection on my site, along with my monthly Art Challenge. Message Board.
and other digital art resources.
Aside from my "work" wtih my online Photoshop education community, I do freelance graphics and photo work.
fine art. and technical writing. with a specialty in Photoshop and Elements. Previously. I wrote for three other
Friends of ED books; Eelments 2: Most Wanted. Photoshop 7: Professional Photographic Techniques. and PS 7:
Trade Secrets, all published in 2002. Then In January 2003. I was proud to have an article included in SBS
DigitaiDesign magazine. with my artwork on the cover!
Pete Walsh sees kangaroos out of his office window and he's not hallucinating. he's Australian. He lives in
the bush with his wife Selena. and two lovely daughters. Holi and lndi. They enjoy playing with crocodiles and
riding in the front seat of roller coasters. not at the same time. of course.
Pete's talents include graphic design and web development. His passion for photography started while touring
the outback on a mountain bike. He now uses his amazing eye (and a camera) to lake breathtaking panoramic
photos of Oz. which you can see at www.spacountry.com.au.
TABLEO F CONTENTS
Introduction 1
Platform considerations ................................................................................................ 1
Layout conventions ........................................................................................................ 2
Handy Tip ..........................................................................................................................2
Support ............................................................................................................................. .3
1. Toolbox and Selections 5
Selec 1ons .......................................................................................................................... 6
1. Marquee Selections ....................................................................................................6
2. Lasso Selections .......................................................................................................... 7
3. Compound Selections ................................................................................................8
4. Selection Tips ..............................................................................................................9
5. Transforming Selection Content ............................................................................ 9
6. Softening Selections ................................................................................................ 10
7. Magic Wand .............................................................................................................. 10
Clone Stamp .................................................................................................................. 11
8. Clone Stamp Tool Basics ........................................................................................ 11
9. Clone Stamp Tool Settings .................................................................................... 12
10. Clone Stamp: Using Aligned Mode .................................................................. 13
G ad1ents .......................................................................................................................... 14
11. Gradient Basics ........................................................................................................ 14
12. Creating Custom Gradients ................................................................................ 15
13. Making Collages with Gradients ........................................................................ 15
14. Using Brushes Efficiently ...................................................................................... 16
Bru hes ..............................................................................................................................1 6
15. Airbrush Introduction .......................................................................................... 17
16. Creating and Editing Brushes .............................................................................. 18
17. Custom Brushes ...................................................................................................... 19
18. Managing Presets ....................................................................................................2 0
19. Installing Brush Libraries ...................................................................................... 20
-oolbo): Nav1gat1on ...................................................................................................... 21
20. Toggling Tools Efficiently ...................................................................................... 21
2. Working with Layers 23
Layer Basics ....................................................................................................................2 4
1. Visualizing layers ...................................................................................................... 24
2. Using a separate layer for each item .................................................................. 24
3. Labeling helps you to keep track of your layers ............................................ 26
4. Adjusting the size of the Layers palette thumbnails ...................................... 26
5. Copying a layer .......................................................................................................... 27
6. Putting a copy of a layer into a different document .................................... 27
7. Filling a layer with a color or pattern ................................................................ 28
8. Revealing the names of the image layers .......................................................... 28
9. Hiding every layer but one .................................................................................... 29
10. Partially hiding a layer ........................................................................................ 30
11. Linking layers ......................................................................................................... .30
12. Locking layers ........................................................................................................ 31
13. Fight the urge to merge ...................................................................................... 32
ELEMENTS 2 TIPS AND TRICKS
14. Merging layers ........................................................................................................ 32
Layer Mampulat1on ......................................................................................................3 4
15. Moving a layer from one file into another file ........................................... .34
16. Opening an image file from the Web ............................................................. .35
17. Cutting an object from a layer and moving it ............................................. .35
18. Filling a shape with a photo or a texture ..................................................... .38
19. Filling a shape with a pattern or gradient ..................................................... .39
20. Ctrl-click selection trick ........................................................................................4 0
21. Deleting a layer -three quick and dirty ways ............................................... .41
22. Making a new merged visibles layer .............................................................. 42
23. Adjustment layers ................................................................................................. .42
24. Using Adjustment layers to improve a photo ............................................... .43
25. Selective adjustments ............................................................................................ 45
26. Seeing the Adjustment layer mask up close ................................................. .54
27. Changing the effect of an Adjustment layer .................................................. 46
28. Locking a layer's transparency ......................................................................... .46
29. Combining layers by masking ........................................................................... .46
30. Making a vignette effect ..................................................................................... .48
31. More border effects with Elemasks .................................................................. 49
32. Removing troublesome backgrounds .............................................................. 50
33. Experimenting with blending modes ................................................................ 52
34. Scrolling through the blending modes ............................................................ 53
35. Layers troubleshooting tips ................................................................................ 53
3. Image Correction and Retouching 55
Quick Tips ....................................................................................................... ,. ...............5 6
1. Quick Fix dialog box ................................................................................................ 56
2. Quick Fix Brightness: Fill Flash .............................................................................. 56
3. Quick Fix Brightness: Brightness/Contrast ....................................................... .57
4. Quick Fix Brightness: Auto Contrast ................................................................. .58
5. Quick Fix Brightness: Auto levels ....................................................................... .58
6. Quick Fix Brightness: Adjust Backlighting ......................................................... .59
7. Quick Fix Color Correction: Hue/Saturation and Auto Color ..................... .59
8. Quick Fix Focus: Auto Focus ................................................................................ 60
9. Quick Fix Focus: Blur .............................................................................................. 61
10. Correcting Perspective ..........................................................................................6 2
11. Create Photomerge ................................................................................................6 3
Primary Restorat1on ......................................................................................................6 4
12. Image Assessment with the Histogram ............................................................ 65
13. Detecting color casts ............................................................................................ 66
14. Correcting color casts more effectively .......................................................... 66
15. Removing casts with Variations .......................................................................... 67
16. Removing casts with Levels ................................................................................ 68
17. Adjusting Levels "Set White" and "Set Black" points .................................. 69
18. Noise Removal ........................................................................................................ 70
19. Fixing Tears and Blemishes .................................................................................. 70
Secondary Restoration ................................................................................................ 71
20. Focus Adjustments with the Blur Filter .......................................................... 71
21. Toning adjustments with the Dodge and Burn Tools ................................. .73
22. Focus adjustments with the Blur and Sharpen Tools .................................. 74
TABlEO F CONTENTS
Retouching ...................................................................................................................... 74
23. Clone Stamp tips .................................................................................................... 74
24. Effective image correction with the Clone Stamp ........................................ 75
25. Resizing your Document ...................................................................................... 76
26. Resizing Your Canvas ............................................................................................ 77
27. Cropping for Composition .................................................................................. 77
28. Straightening and Narrowing Noses ................................................................ 78
4. Effects and Filters 81
Useful and Complex Filters ........................................................................................ 81
1. Gaussian Blur ............................................................................................................ 82
2. liquify .......................................................................................................................... 82
3. Add Noise ..................................................................................................................8 3
4. 30 Transform .............................................................................................................. 84
5. Unsharp Mask ............................................................................................................8 5
6. Minimum and Maximum ........................................................................................ 86
Simple Effects ................................................................................................................ 86
7. Color Focus with Desaturation ............................................................................ 86
8. Color Focus with Monotones ................................................................................ 87
9. Composite man using Selection tools and many layers ................................ 88
10. When to use lighting Effects .............................................................................. 90
11. Using Bump Maps with Lighting Effects .......................................................... 91
12. Photos to Watercolor with Filters .................................................................... 92
13. Photos to Colored Pencil with Filters .............................................................. 93
14. Photos to HB Pencil with Filters ........................................................................ 94
Multi-step Effects .......................................................................................................... 94
15. Adding romance with blurs. levels and blending modes .......................... 94
16. Create a Private Universe using Threshold and filters ................................ 98
17. Transforming landscapes into faces with Liquify filter .............................. 10 0
18. Adding action with Radial blur ........................................................................ 10 3
19. Putting your art onto canvas ............................................................................ 1O S
20. Flowing, organic animated images with Twirl and Save for Web .......... 10 7
21. Message on a bottle with 30 Transform ...................................................... 11 0
22. Depth effects using Minimum, Gausian Blur and Emboss filters.. .......... 113
5. Type Tips 119
Typ1ng basiC text .......................................................................................................... 120
1. Creating text ............................................................................................................ 120
2. Changing fonts ........................................................................................................ 121
3. Resizing fonts ..........................................................................................................1 21
4. Warping text ............................................................................................................1 22
5. Changing the text orientation ............................................................................ 123
6. Using the Move Tool with type layers .............................................................. 123
Usmg layer Style w1th text .................................................................................... 124
7. Applying Bevels to type layers .......................................................................... 124
8. Applying Inner Shadows ...................................................................................... 12S
9. Applying Glass Buttons ........................................................................................ 126
10. Applying Image Effects ...................................................................................... 127
11. Applying Patterns ................................................................................................ 127
ELEMENTS 2 TIPS AND TRICKS
12. Photographic Effects .......................................................................................... 128
13. Using a combination of Layer Styles .............................................................. 129
The third dimension .................................................................................................. 129
14. The dangers of converting vector images to raster images .................... 129
1S . Converting type layers into bitmap layers .................................................... 130
16. Applying filters such as 30 transform to text ............................................ 131
Personalities behind the mask ................................................................................ 134
17. Text masks .............................................................................................................. 134
18. Pictures inside type: method 1 ........................................................................ 13S
19 Pictures inside type: method 2 .......................................................................... 136
6. Productivity 139
1. Choosing the right cursor for the job .............................................................. 140
2. Feathering marquees ............................................................................................ 141
3. Obtaining better results with the Eyedropper Tool ....................................1 42
4. Why doesn't it work? ............................................................................................ 143
S. Unlocking the background layer ...................................................................... 144
6. Simplifying shapes .................................................................................................. 14S
7. Zooming with the Navigator palette ................................................................ 14S
8. Improving the performance of Eelments ........................................................ 146
Undo ................................................................................................................................ 146
Clipboard ........................................................................................................................ 146
Histories .................................................................. :. ...................................................... 146
All ...................................................................................................................................... 146
9. Customizing your workspace ............................................................................ 147
10. Two Lifesavers! ...................................................................................................... 147
7. Saving and sharing your images 149
Saving as you work .................................................................................................... 149
1. The four ways to save .......................................................................................... 1SO
2. Most commonly used file types ...................................................................... 1SO
3. Save your original images .................................................................................... 1S2
4. Save as you go ...................................................................................................... 1S3
Save at the beginning when creating a new document ................................ 1S3
Save before editing a photo .................................................................................... 15 4
Saving on the fly ........................................................................................................ 15 4
5. Base camp saves .................................................................................................... 155
Safe Editing .................................................................................................................. 156
6. Put everything on different layers .................................................................... 1S6
7. Don't flatten - keep your layers ........................................................................ 1S7
8. Test effects on a duplicate layer ........................................................................ 158
9. Trade your eraser in for an Elemask! .............................................................. 159
10 . Make notes on a hidden layer ........................................................................ 160
11. Take a screenshot of your history palette .................................................... 160
12. Let your Layers palette tell the story ............................................................ 161
Saving finished work .................................................................................................. 161
13. Quality v file size .................................................................................................. 161
14. High-quality saves ................................................................................................ 162
TABLE OF CONTENTS
15. The difference between photos and graphics ............................................ 162
16. Don't save photos as GI Fs ................................................................................ 163
17. Don't save graphics as JPGs either! ................................................................ 163
18. Don't resave JPGs ................................................................................................ 164
19. Create big images, then reduce them .......................................................... 164
20. Batch process to save time .............................................................................. 165
Preparing for potential catastrophic loss of data .............................................. 166
21. Managing backups ..............................................................................................1 66
22. Backup your photos onto CD to prevent losing them forever .............. 167
23. Keeping a PSD file as a lbirary of pre-prepared elements ...................... 168
24. Archiving finished work .................................................................................... 168
Putting your work out there .................................................................................... 169
2S. Printing: Garbage in. Garbage out! ................................................................ 169
26. Use the right resolution for printing .............................................................. 169
27. To resample or not to resample? .................................................................... 170
28. Making a contact sheet ...................................................................................... 171
29. Reduce image resolution when sending via email .................................... 172
30. Keep your friends -don't send them PSD files! ........................................ 172
31. Sharing images on a website ............................................................................ 173
32. Creating a PDF slideshow .................................................................................. 174
8. w·nn n Web Images 77
1. Pick the right content ............................................................................................ 178
2. Think of your audience ........................................................................................ 179
3. Make your site easy to navigate ........................................................................ 180
4. Consider download times .................................................................................. 181
S. The differences between GIFs and JPGs for web use ................................ 182
6. Saving for the web ................................................................................................ 183
7. Making thumbnails ................................................................................................ 184
8. Making a Web Photo Gallery ..............................................................................1 85
A word about copyright ............................................................................................ 186
Creating images for your site .................................................................................. 186
9. Keeping the background in the background ................................................1 87
10. Making a seamless tiled background ............................................................ 187
11. Making a patterned page border .................................................................... 190
12. Making a transparent GIF .................................................................................. 190
13. Matte? What's that? .......................................................................................... 192
14. Say it with a banner ............................................................................................ 193
1S. Creating animated GIFs ...................................................................................... 194
16. Quick animation tips ..........................................................................................1 95
17. As hortcut for making a capsule-shaped button ........................................ 195
18. Rollover buttons .................................................................................................. 197
19. Saving the files for each button in each state ............................................ 197
20. Installing rollover buttons into your site ...................................................... 199
9. Set Up 201
Preferences .................................................................................................................. 202
1. General Preferences .............................................................................................. 202
2. Saving Files .............................................................................................................. 203