Chapter 2: Getting to Know the Tools

In This Chapter

check.png Looking at the Tools panel

check.png Understanding the tool groups

check.png Automating your image edits

You edit photos by using menu commands and tools. Elements knows that, so it provides you with a tool shed chock-full of tools to perform all sorts of editing tasks. These tasks include selecting image content areas, refining and sharpening photos, drawing and painting applications, adding text, and more.

In addition to using tools for manually changing the characteristics of a photo, you can use a number of different tools to magically automate tasks. In this chapter, you take a look at the Tools panel and all the tools at your disposal for modifying photos in many ways.

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Examining the Tools Panel

The Tools panel opens by default when you enter the Expert mode in the Editor. As you may recall from Chapter 1 of this minibook, you can open the Editor directly from the Welcome screen by clicking the Photo Editor button or by choosing Editor in the Organizer.

The tools you see in Figure 2-1 are listed by name and their keyboard shortcuts. If you ...

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