Advanced Editing with

Previous PSE Editing Presentations

August 2004: Intro to PS Elements (Charles Kezarian)October 2006: Common Editing Techniques for Digital Photos (Phil Goff)

CroppingAdjust LightingRed Eye RemovalSpot healing and Clone ToolDodging and burningSharpening and Noise Reduction

Previous PSE Editing Presentations

April 2008: Using Photoshop Elements 6.0 (Ken Haley)

StraightenCropLevelsLightingDodge/BurnCloneRedeye Removal

What version do you have?

Organizing Your Media V.9 V.8 V.7 V.6Find photos with automatic People RecognitionFind photos/videos with Auto-AnalyzerEdit photos in full-screen directly from OrganizerAuto syncing photos/videos on all your computersView your photos from any web-enabled computerEasily organize photos/videos from on placeOrganize photo/video clips with visual tags

What version PSE do you have?Editing Your Media V.9 V.8 V.7 V.6Instantly un-clutter & repair photosMatch the style of a favorite photo automaticallyCreate pop art, reflections and other style effectsCreate richly layered photos using layer masksRecompose photos to any size without distortingCreate perfectly lit shots w/ Photomerge technologyPreview a range of adjustments before choosingGet ongoing how-to’s with helpful tips and tricksWhiten teeth and make skies bluer in on stepSimultaneous selections with a single brush stokeCreate fuller panoramasEdit raw image files for the highest quality resultsCreate great group shots w/ Photomerge technologyFix red eye and improve shin tones with one click

What does PSE Cost?

Photoshop Elements 9$100 ($80 w/ Mail-In rebate)No version upgrade cost reduction

Photoshop CS5$700 (new)$200 (version upgrade)

Learning Photoshop Elements

Trial & Error MethodOnline Tutorials

Web Search: “Photoshop Elements Tutorials”Buy a Book

Photoshop Elements Book for Digital Photographers ($30)

Subscribe to a MagazinePhotoshop Element Techniques ($59/yr)○ Monthly Magazine○ Over 1000 Online Videos & Tutorials

Top Editing Keyboard Shortcuts

Result Shortcut

Undo (step backward) <ctrl> zZoom in <ctrl> +Zoom out <ctrl> -Add to selection <shift> and selection toolRemove from selection <Alt> and selection toolIncrease brush size ]Decrease brush size [Switch to Hand Tool (move) <space bar>Copy layer <ctrl> j

Why Use Layers

One of most important editing toolsProvides flexibility in editing processSimilar to a stack of tracing paperNow lets what we can do….

Example 1 (Crater Lake Image)

Paint on original imageCreate new layer (Layer 1)Checkerboard meaningPaint on blank layerMove scribbleErase part of scribbleDelete layer

Example 2 (Triangle-Circle Image)

Rename layersChange orderMove layer positionsAdjustment Layer - Levels

Example 3 (Fort Ross Image)

Move Tool – Checkbox optionsKey stumbling block – Wrong layer activeLayer OpacityLayer Visibility (eyeballs)Adjustment Layer

Adjust LevelsChange OpacityLayer Mask (paint “black” to hide effect)

Saving file options

Example 4 (3 People Image)Blend ModesMerge Copy (hold “Alt” to flatten layer)Add color bar behind peopleLock Command (“/” to turn on/off)Blur color bar w/ & w/o lockedAdd TextLayer Mask

Select outline (“Cntl” click on thumbnail)See layer mask (“Alt” click on thumbnail)

Types of LayersBackground LayerBlank LayerFill, Gradient & Pattern LayersText LayersAdjustment Layer Types

LevelsBrightness/ContrastHue/Saturation, etc., etc.Layer Mask – Selective editing

Layer Styles & Blending ModesEffects Palate (96)

ArtisticBlurBevel, Noise, etc., etc.

Blending Modes (25)NormalSoft LightHard Light, etc., etc.

Changing Background Example1. Open Photo2. New layer – Layer Via Copy (<ctrl> j)3. Select sky using Magic Wand Tool4. Zoom-In (<ctrl> +) to see detail5. Add/Subtract to selection (<shift> to add)6. Alternate selection method: Brush7. Feather edges 1-2 pixels8. Inverse selection to discard sky9. New Layer Via Copy (<ctrl> j)

Changing Background Example10. New Blank Layer below Layer 1 (<ctrl> click

on New Layer Icon)11. Draw rectangular selection on blank layer12. Open another photo with blue sky13. Using Eyedropper Tool (I)

○ Select dark blue part of sky○ With “Alt” key depressed, select light blue sky

14. Select original photo

Changing Background Example15. Using Gradient Tool (G)

○ Choose Linear Gradient Button on top menu○ Place cursor on top section of rectangular area○ While holding left mouse button, drag a vertical

line to bottom of rectangular area

16. Adjust Opacity 17. Save new blue sky photo

Changing Background AlternativeFollow steps 1-9 above10. Open another photo with cloudy blue sky11. Select original photo12. Use Move Tool:

○ Drag sky photo onto top of original photo○ Move/expand/contract sky to fit on original photo

13. Move sky layer below Layer 114. Adjust Opacity15. Save new cloudy blue sky photo

Many Different Ways to Do It…

“Fill Flash” Example:“Shadows/Highlights” (Enhance/Adj. Lighting)“Lighting Effects” (Filter/Render)“Adjust Color Curves” (Enhance/Adjust Color)Select area to be lightened/darkened and use any of the above or “Brightnes/Contast”Use a “Levels” or “Brightness/Contrast” Adjustment Layer and paint over area not to be adjusted

Complex Selections Via Layer Mask

1. Open photo image2. Make a “Layer Via Copy” (<ctrl> j)3. Add a “New Adjustment Layer” – Threshold4. Adjust Threshold Level to get clean

black/white border detail5. “Merge Down” to merge Threshold Layer with

old Layer 1

Complex Selections Via Layer Mask

6. Cleanup black/white areas using brush with spacing= 1% (click on paintbrush toolbar icon)○ Paint “black” over white splotches in black area○ Paint “white” over black splotches in white area

7. Use “Magic Wand Tool” to select white or black area

8. This detailed selection can now be used to adjust lighting, color, etc. either directly or via an adjustment layer

High Dynamic Range (HDR)

Take multiple (3) photographs of the same scene with +2,0,- 2 “stops” (exposure)Using PSE Version 8: File -> New -> Photomerge-ExposureUsing Earlier PSE Versions: Download and use freeware: “EnfuseGUI”

The End