Photoshop Elements 3 for Windows and Macintosh: Visual QuickStart Guide

Book description

Photoshop Elements 3, Adobe's more accessible version of its flagship product, Photoshop, opens the door for amateur photographers, business users, students, and home users who want professional-looking images for their print and Web projects.

Photoshop Elements 3 for Windows and Macintosh: Visual QuickStart Guide uses task-based lessons to show readers how to capture photos from traditional or digital cameras, reduce red eye, correct color, work with layers, erase backgrounds, create photo-illustrations and Web graphics, simulate painting and drawing techniques, apply artistic effects, and more. Longtime graphic designer and digital imaging expert Craig Hoeschen provides concise, step-by-step instructions and plenty of screenshots to help users look up just what they need to know, while an eight-page color gallery shows off sample filters, effects, and plenty of retouching and compositing examples for additional inspiration.

Table of contents

  1. Copyright
    1. Dedication
  2. Acknowledgements
  3. Introduction
    1. Introducing Photoshop Elements
    2. Personalizing Photoshop Elements
    3. How to Use This Book
  4. Chapter 1. The Basics
    1. Understanding the Work Area
    2. Browsing, Opening, and Closing Files (1/2)
    3. Browsing, Opening, and Closing Files (2/2)
    4. Saving Files
    5. Selecting Tools
    6. Using the Options and Shortcuts Bars
    7. Working with Palettes
    8. Using the Zoom Tool
    9. Moving Around in an Image
    10. Selecting Activities from the How To Palette
    11. Using the Help System
  5. Chapter 2. Creating and Managing Images
    1. Understanding Resolution and Image Size
    2. Creating a New Image
    3. Importing Images from Cameras and Scanners (1/2)
    4. Importing Images from Cameras and Scanners (2/2)
    5. Changing Image Size and Resolution
    6. Getting Information About Your Image
    7. Opening and Arranging Multiple Views
    8. Using Rulers
    9. Setting Up the Grid
  6. Chapter 3. Changing and Adjusting Colors
    1. About Computers and Color Models
    2. Working with Color Modes
    3. Changing Color Modes (1/2)
    4. Changing Color Modes (2/2)
    5. Managing Color (1/2)
    6. Managing Color (2/2)
    7. About Tonal Correction
    8. Adjusting Levels Automatically
    9. Adjusting Levels Manually
    10. Lighting Your Image
    11. Removing Color Cast
    12. Replacing Color
  7. Chapter 4. Making Selections
    1. About the Selection Tools
    2. Using the Marquee Tools
    3. Selecting Areas with the Lasso Tools
    4. Making Selections by Color
    5. Using the Selection Brush Tool (1/2)
    6. Using the Selection Brush Tool (2/2)
    7. Adjusting Selections
    8. Softening the Edges of a Selection
    9. Modifying Selection Borders
  8. Chapter 5. Working with Layers
    1. Understanding Layers
    2. Using the Layers Palette
    3. Layer Basics
    4. Changing the Layer Order
    5. Managing Layers
    6. Merging Layers
    7. Converting and Duplicating Layers
    8. Copying Layers Between Images
    9. About Opacity and Blending Modes
    10. Creating Masking Effects with Layer Groups
    11. Applying Effects with Layer Styles
    12. The Style Settings Dialog Box
    13. Making Color and Tonal Changes with Adjustment Layers
    14. Using the Undo History Palette
  9. Chapter 6. Fixing and Retouching Photos
    1. Cropping an Image
    2. Straightening an Image
    3. Repairing Flaws and Imperfections
    4. Applying Patterns
    5. Correcting Red Eye
    6. Sharpening Image Detail
    7. Enhancing Image Detail
    8. Blending Image Elements with the Smudge Tool
    9. Using the Tonal Adjustment Tools
    10. Removing Color
    11. Adding a Color Tint to an Image
  10. Chapter 7. Filters and Effects
    1. Using the Filters and Effects Palettes
    2. Applying Filters and Effects
    3. Filter Gallery (1/2)
    4. Filter Gallery (2/2)
    5. Effects Gallery
    6. Simulating Action with the Blur Filters
    7. Distorting Images
    8. Creating Lights and Shadows (1/2)
    9. Creating Lights and Shadows (2/2)
    10. Using Textures
    11. Creating Your Own Filters
  11. Chapter 7A. The Color Plate Section
    1. Working with Color
    2. Blending Modes
    3. Layer Styles Sampler
    4. Filters
    5. Creative Techniques
  12. Chapter 8. Painting and Drawing
    1. About Bitmap Images and Vector Graphics
    2. Filling Areas with Color
    3. Filling Areas with a Gradient
    4. Creating and Saving Custom Gradients (1/2)
    5. Creating and Saving Custom Gradients (2/2)
    6. Adding a Stroke to a Selection or Layer
    7. Using the Brush Tool
    8. Creating and Saving Custom Brushes (1/2)
    9. Creating and Saving Custom Brushes (2/2)
    10. Creating Special Painting Effects
    11. Erasing with Customizable Brush Shapes
    12. Erasing Backgrounds and Other Large Areas
    13. Understanding Shapes
    14. Drawing Basic Shapes (1/2)
    15. Drawing Basic Shapes (2/2)
    16. Creating Custom Shapes (1/2)
    17. Creating Custom Shapes (2/2)
    18. Using the Cookie Cutter Tool
  13. Chapter 9. Working with Type
    1. Creating and Editing Text
    2. Changing the Look of Your Type
    3. Working with Vertical Text
    4. Anti-aliasing Type
    5. Warping Text
    6. Warping Text Style Gallery
    7. Creating Text Effects with Type Masks
    8. Applying Layer Styles to Type
    9. Text Layer Style Gallery
  14. Chapter 10. Preparing Images for the Web
    1. Understanding Image Requirements for the Web
    2. About the Save for Web Dialog Box
    3. Optimizing an Image for the Web
    4. Adjusting Optimization Settings (1/2)
    5. Adjusting Optimization Settings (2/2)
    6. Making a Web Image Transparent
    7. Previewing an Image
    8. Sending Images by E-mail
  15. Chapter 11. Saving and Printing Images
    1. Understanding File Formats (1/2)
    2. Understanding File Formats (2/2)
    3. Setting Preferences for Saving Files
    4. Formatting and Saving Multiple Images Automatically
    5. Creating a Contact Sheet
    6. Creating a Photographer’s Picture Package
    7. Setting Up Your Computer for Printing
    8. Preparing an Image for Printing
    9. Setting Additional Printing Options
    10. Printing an Image
  16. Chapter 12. Creative Techniques
    1. Creating Panoramas (1/3)
    2. Creating Panoramas (2/3)
    3. Creating Panoramas (3/3)
    4. Making Your Own Slide Show (1/2)
    5. Making Your Own Slide Show (2/2)
    6. About Web Photo Galleries (1/2)
    7. About Web Photo Galleries (2/2)
    8. Creating Animated GIFs (1/2)
    9. Creating Animated GIFs (2/2)
    10. Compositing Images (1/2)
    11. Compositing Images (2/2)
  17. Chapter 13. The Windows Photo Organizer
    1. Understanding the Photo Organizer Work Area
    2. Working in the Photo Browser
    3. Displaying and Changing Information for Your Photos
    4. Creating Tags
    5. Using Tags to Sort and Identify Photos (1/2)
    6. Using Tags to Sort and Identify Photos (2/2)
    7. Using Categories to Organize Tagged Photos (1/2)
    8. Using Categories to Organize Tagged Photos (2/2)
    9. Using Collections to Arrange and Group Photos (1/2)
    10. Using Collections to Arrange and Group Photos (2/2)
    11. Using Catalogs to Store Your Photos
    12. Finding Photos
  18. Editor Keyboard Shortcuts (1/2)
  19. Editor Keyboard Shortcuts (2/2)
  20. Organizer Keyboard Shortcuts (Windows Only)
  21. Index
    1. A
    2. B
    3. C
    4. D
    5. E
    6. F
    7. G
    8. H
    9. I
    10. J
    11. K
    12. L
    13. M
    14. N
    15. O
    16. P
    17. Q
    18. R
    19. S
    20. T
    21. U
    22. V
    23. W
    24. X

Product information

  • Title: Photoshop Elements 3 for Windows and Macintosh: Visual QuickStart Guide
  • Author(s): Craig Hoeschen
  • Release date: December 2004
  • Publisher(s): Peachpit Press
  • ISBN: 0321270789