Barbara Obermeier is the principal of Obermeier Design and an Assistant Professor of Visual Art at California Lutheran University. Ted Padova is a photo enthusiast and author of more than 70 computer books.

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• Introduction 1What’s New in Photoshop Elements 1About This Book 2Icons Used in This Book 3Beyond the Book 3Where to Go from Here 4Part 1: Getting Started with Photoshop Elements 5Chapter 1: Exploring the Photo Editor 7Examining the Photo Editor 7Examining the image window 11Uncovering the contextual menus 15Selecting the tools 15Selecting from the Tool Options 17Playing with Panels 19Using the Photo Bin 22Chapter 2: Getting Familiar with the Organizer 23Touring the Organizer 24Organizing Photos and Media on a Hard Drive 27Adding Images to the Organizer 27Adding files from folders and removable media 28Downloading camera images with the Elements Downloader 30Importing additional photos from folders 32Navigating the Media Browser 33Setting Organizer Preferences 34Chapter 3: Organizing Your Pictures 37Organizing Groups of Images with Tags 38Rating Images with Stars 39Creating an album 40Editing an album 42Adding People in the Media Browser 42Chapter 4: Viewing and Finding Your Images 45Cataloging Files 45Using the Catalog Manager 46Working with catalogs 47Backing up your catalog 48Switching to a Different View 50Viewing Photos in Memories (Slideshow) 50Searching for Photos 52Using Search 52Searching by history 54Searching metadata 54Searching similarities 56Part 2: Selecting and Correcting Photos 59Chapter 5: Editing Camera Raw Images 61Launching the Camera Raw Editor 61Understanding Camera Raw 62Learning Raw file format attributes 63Opening images in the Camera Raw Editor 64Getting Familiar with the Raw Editor 65Getting Familiar with the Panels 69Using the Basic panel 70Sharpening and reducing noise 73Using the Calibration panel 75Working with Filmstrips 76Working with Profiles 78Looking at the Adobe Camera Raw profiles 78Managing profiles 79Creating a Favorites list 80Opening Non-Raw Images in the Camera Raw Editor 80Changing Image Defaults 81Working with XML Files and Preferences 81Changing program defaults 81Using Save Options 83Using sidecar files 84Chapter 6: Making and Modifying Selections 85Defining Selections 85Creating Rectangular and Elliptical Selections 86Perfecting squares and circles with Shift and Alt (Option on the Mac) 88Applying Marquee options 88Making Freeform Selections with the Lasso Tools 90Selecting with the Lasso tool 91Getting straight with the Polygonal Lasso tool 93Working Wizardry with the Magic Wand 94Talking about Tolerance 94Wielding the Wand to select 95Modifying Your Selections 97Adding to, subtracting from, and intersecting a selection 98Avoiding key collisions 98Painting with the Selection Brush 99Painting with the Quick Selection Tool 101Selecting with the Auto Selection Tool 103Selecting Your Subject, Background, or Sky with One-Click Selecting 105Fine-Tuning with the Refine Selection Brush 106Working with the Cookie Cutter Tool 108Eliminating with the Eraser Tools 110The Eraser tool 110The Background Eraser tool 111The Magic Eraser tool 113Using the Select Menu 113Selecting all or nothing 113Refining the edges of a selection 114Chapter 7: Working with Layers 117Getting to Know Layers 117Converting a background to a layer 118Anatomy of the Layers panel 119Using the Layer and Select menus 122Tackling Layer Basics 124Creating a new layer from scratch 124Using Layer via Copy and Layer via Cut 126Duplicating layers 126Dragging and dropping layers 127Moving a Layer’s Content 127Transforming Layers 128Flattening and Merging Layers 129Flattening layers 130Merging layers 130Chapter 8: Simple Image Makeovers 133Cropping and Straightening Images 133Cutting away with the Crop tool 134Fixing distortion with the Perspective Crop tool 136Cropping with a selection border 137Straightening images 138Recomposing Images 139Employing One-Step Auto Fixes 141Auto Smart Fix 142Auto Smart Tone 143Auto Levels 144Auto Contrast 145Auto Haze Removal 145Auto Color Correction 145Auto Sharpen 146Auto Red Eye Fix 147Editing in Quick Mode 148Fixing Small Imperfections with Tools 152Cloning with the Clone Stamp tool 152Retouching with the Healing Brush 155Zeroing in with the Spot Healing Brush 157Eliminating objects with the Remove tool 158Repositioning with the Content-Aware Move tool 160Lightening and darkening with Dodge and Burn tools 162Smudging away rough spots 163Softening with the Blur tool 165Focusing with the Sharpen tool 166Sponging color on and off 167Chapter 9: Correcting Contrast, Color, and Clarity 169Editing Your Photos Using a Logical Workflow 170Adjusting Lighting 170Fixing lighting with Shadows/Highlights 171Using Brightness/Contrast 172Pinpointing proper contrast with Levels 173Adjusting Color 175Removing color casts automatically 176Adjusting with Hue/Saturation 177Eliminating color with Remove Color 178Switching colors with Replace Color 179Changing an object’s color 181Correcting with Color Curves 183Adjusting skin tones 185Defringing layers 186Eliminating haze 187Adjusting color temperature with photo filters 188Mapping your colors 189Adjusting Clarity 190Removing noise, artifacts, dust, and scratches 191Blurring when you need to 192Sharpening for better focus 195Opening closed eyes 198Colorizing a photo 199Smoothing skin 201Adjusting facial features 202Moving Overlays 202Moving Photos 205Moving Elements 206Working Intelligently with the Smart Brush Tools 207Part 3: Exploring Your Inner Artist 211Chapter 10: Using Artificial Intelligence in Photoshop Elements 213Using Adobe’s Integrated AI Technology 214Using Quick Actions with One-Click 218Adding content using Generative Expand 219Selecting subjects 220Removing backgrounds 220Exploring other Quick Actions 220Exploring New Generative AI Tools 220Using the Generate Image tool 220Using Generative AI with Creations 222Inserting objects with Generative AI 224Restoring photos 226Removing distracting people in backgrounds 227Getting AI Assistance 228Chapter 11: Playing with Filters, Effects, Styles, and More 231Having Fun with Filters 231Applying filters 232Corrective or destructive filters 233One-step or multistep filters 233Working in the Filter Gallery 233Distorting with the Liquify filter 235Correcting Camera Distortion 238Exploring Elements’ Unique Filters 239Creating a comic 240Getting graphic 241Using the Pen and Ink filter 242Dressing Up with Photo and Text Effects 244Adding Shadows, Glows, and More 246Applying styles 247Working with styles 248Using the Graphics panel 249Mixing It Up with Blend Modes 250General blend modes 251Darken blend modes 251Lighten blend modes 251Lighting blend modes 253Inverter blend modes 253HSL blend modes 255Using Photomerge 256Photomerge Panorama 256Combine Photos 258Chapter 12: Drawing, Painting, and Typing 261Choosing Color 261Working with the Color Picker 262Dipping into the Color Swatches panel 263Sampling with the Eyedropper tool 265Getting Artsy with the Pencil and Brush Tools 266Drawing with the Pencil tool 266Painting with the Brush tool 268Using the Impressionist Brush 270Filling and Outlining Selections 272Fill ’er up 272Outlining with the Stroke command 273Splashing on Color with the Paint Bucket Tool 274Working with Gradients and Patterns 275Applying a preset gradient 276Applying a preset pattern 277Creating Shapes of All Sorts 278Drawing a shape 279Editing shapes 280Creating Type 281Specifying Type Options 284Editing Text 286Enhancing Type 287Adjusting type opacity 287Applying filters to your type 287Painting your type with color and gradients 289Warping your type 290Part 4: Printing, Creating, and Sharing 291Chapter 13: Getting It on Paper 293Getting Pictures Ready for Printing 294Working with Color Printer Profiles 295Printing a photo with the printer managing color 296Printing a photo with Elements managing color 298Printing a picture package or contact sheet 298Getting Familiar with the Print Dialog Box 299Using the Prints options 299Chapter 14: Sharing Your Work 301Using the Share Panel 301Emailing photos 303Sharing your photos on social networks 304Chapter 15: Making Creations 307Creating Projects in Photoshop Elements 307Making Creations in Photoshop Elements 308Using Photoshop Elements built-in templates 309Creating a Memories video 312Creating a PDF slideshow 313Making additional creations 313Making Creations in Adobe Express 314Knowing the key features of Adobe Express 314Using Adobe Express 317Part 5: the Part of Tens 319Chapter 16: The Ten Best Guided Edits 321Correct Skin Tone 321Sharpen 323Object Removal 324Perfect Portrait 326Replace Background 327Remove a Color Cast 330Levels 331Resize Your Photo 333Recompose 334Move & Scale Object 335Chapter 17: Ten (or So) More Project Ideas 339Screen Savers 339Flyers, Ads, and Online Auctions 340Clothes, Hats, and More 341Posters 342Household and Business Inventories 342Project Documentation 342School Reports and Projects 343Blogs 343Wait — There’s More 343Index 345