Photoshop Elements 2021 For Dummies (For Dummies (Computer/Tech))

Get picture-perfect results with Photoshop Elements 2021Photoshop Elements has a reputation for delivering the photo editing power that non-professional photographers and designers need to get eye-catching--and art-quality--results. This book offers guidance for applying everything from simple, one-click fixes all the way up to detailed retouching of your images.Photoshop Elements 2021 For Dummies assumes no prior photo-editing experience and makes it easy for even the absolute beginner to quickly grasp how to edit to create slick, professional-looking photos. In no time at all you'll feel confident in everything from common image fixes to utilizing more creative techniques, such as using image layers to create a standout look. You'll also find tips on building and managing complex photo projects.* Understand photo-editing concepts* Adjust clarity, color, and brightness* Add artistic touches* Catalog and organize your workThis fun and easy guide provides the steps you need to get the most out of this popular version of Photoshop--and will help you achieve truly beautiful results!

* Get instant results with one-click fixes * Correct contrast, color, clarity, and composition * Edit and enhance images with Adobe(r) Camera Raw Harness the power in Photoshop Elements Photoshop Elements includes the essential tools you need to spruce up your digital images and create finished products that show off your artistic side. With so much power built into Elements, you need a no-nonsense guide like this one to help you get started on the most common photo-fixing tasks. Even if you're a total novice to photo editing, these simple, step-by-step instructions will show you how to get real results quickly. There's a reason why hundreds of thousands of readers have turned to Photoshop Elements For Dummies! Inside. * Explore photo editing concepts * Fix issues with a single click * Work with image layers * Correct color and brightness * Improve image clarity * Add artistic touches * Organize and catalog images * Create and add images to social media

Introduction 1About This Book 1Icons Used in This Book 2Beyond the Book 3Where to Go from Here 3Part 1: Getting Started with Photoshop Elements 2021 5Chapter 1: Getting Started with Image Editing 7Getting Familiar with the Home Screen 7Launching the Photo Editor 9Making Basic Edits in Quick Mode 10Sharing a Photo 12Retracing Your Steps 14Using the History panel 14Reverting to the last save 15Getting a Helping Hand 15Saving Files with Purpose 17Using the Save/Save As dialog box 17Saving files for the web 19Chapter 2: Basic Image-Editing Concepts 21Grappling with the Ubiquitous Pixels 22Understanding resolution 22Understanding image dimensions 25The Art of Resampling 25Choosing a Resolution for Print or Onscreen 28Working with File Formats 28JPEG (*.jpg, *.jpeg, *.jpe) 28PNG (*.png) 30TIFF (*.tif, *.tiff) 30Getting Familiar with Color 31Getting Color Right 32Color the easy way 33Calibrating your monitor 33Choosing a color workspace 34Understanding how profiles work 35Chapter 3: Exploring the Photo Editor 37Examining the Photo Editor 37Examining the image window 41Uncovering the contextual menus 45Selecting the tools 45Selecting from the Tool Options 48Playing with panels 48Using the Photo Bin 51Creating different views of an image 52Viewing filenames 52Using Photo Bin Actions 53Finding Your Bearings in Guided Mode 53Controlling the Editing Environment 55Launching and navigating Preferences 55Checking out all the Preferences panes 56Part 2: Managing Media 61Chapter 4: Navigating the Organizer 63Organizing Photos and Media on a Hard Drive 64Adding Images to the Organizer 65Adding files from folders and removable media 65Downloading camera images with the Elements Downloader 67Importing additional photos from folders 69Navigating the Media Browser 71Using a Scanner 72Understanding image requirements 72Using scanner plug-ins (Windows) 73Scanning on the Mac 75Scanning many photos at a time 75Phoning in Your Images 76Setting Organizer Preferences 78Chapter 5: Organizing Your Pictures 81Touring the Organizer 81Organizing Groups of Images with Tags 85Creating and viewing a tag 85Adding icons to tags 87Working with custom tags 88Working with default tags 90Working with sub-categories 90Sorting photos according to tags 91Auto Curating Images 92Working with Auto Creations 92Adding new Events 93Rating Images with Stars 93Adding Images to an Album 94Creating an album 94Using albums for temporary work 97Editing an album 97Finding out more about sharing your albums 98Adding People in the Media Browser 98Placing Pictures on Maps 100Working with Events 102Chapter 6: Viewing and Finding Your Images 105Cataloging Files 105Using the Catalog Manager 106Working with catalogs 107Backing up your catalog 108Backing up photos and files 109Switching to a Different View 110Viewing Photos in Memories (Slideshow) 111Searching for Photos 113Using Search 113Searching for untagged items 115Searching captions and notes 115Searching by history 116Searching metadata 116Searching similarities 118Grouping Files That Get in the Way 119Marking files as hidden 119Stackin' 'em up 120Creating versions 121Part 3: Selecting and Correcting Photos 123Chapter 7: Editing Camera Raw Images 125Launching the Camera Raw Editor 126Understanding Camera Raw 127Learning Raw file format attributes 128Opening images in the Camera Raw Editor 129Getting Familiar with the Raw Editor 130Getting Familiar with the Panels 133Using the Basic panel 134Sharpening and reducing noise 137Using the Calibration panel 139Working with Filmstrips 140Synchronizing edits 141Synchronizing defaults 143Working with Profiles 143Looking at the Adobe Camera Raw profiles 144Managing profiles 145Creating a Favorites list 146Opening Non-Raw Images in the Camera Raw Editor 146Changing Image Defaults 147Working with XML Files and Preferences 147Changing program defaults 148Using Save Options 149Using sidecar files 149Chapter 8: Making and Modifying Selections 151Defining Selections 151Creating Rectangular and Elliptical Selections 152Perfecting squares and circles with Shift and Alt (Option on the Mac) 154Applying Marquee options 154Making Freeform Selections with the Lasso Tools 156Selecting with the Lasso tool 157Getting straight with the Polygonal Lasso tool 159Snapping with the Magnetic Lasso tool 159Working Wizardry with the Magic Wand 162Talking about Tolerance 162Wielding the Wand to select 163Modifying Your Selections 165Adding to, subtracting from, and intersecting a selection 165Avoiding key collisions 166Painting with the Selection Brush 167Painting with the Quick Selection Tool 169Selecting with the Auto Selection Tool 171Selecting Your Subject 172Fine-Tuning with the Refine Selection Brush 174Working with the Cookie Cutter Tool 176Eliminating with the Eraser Tools 178The Eraser tool 178The Background Eraser tool 179The Magic Eraser tool 180Using the Select Menu 181Selecting all or nothing 181Reselecting a selection 181Inversing a selection 181Feathering a selection 182Refining the edges of a selection 182Using the Modify commands 184Applying the Grow and Similar commands 184Saving and loading selections 185Chapter 9: Working with Layers 187Getting to Know Layers 187Converting a background to a layer 188Anatomy of the Layers panel 189Using the Layer and Select menus 192Working with Different Layer Types 194Image layers 194Adjustment layers 195Fill layers 197Shape layers 198Type layers 199Tackling Layer Basics 199Creating a new layer from scratch 199Using Layer via Copy and Layer via Cut 201Duplicating layers 201Dragging and dropping layers 202Using the Paste into Selection command 202Moving a Layer's Content 203Transforming Layers 204Adding Layer Masks 205Flattening and Merging Layers 208Flattening layers 208Merging layers 209Chapter 10: Simple Image Makeovers 211Cropping and Straightening Images 211Cutting away with the Crop tool 212Fixing distortion with the Perspective Crop tool 214Cropping with a selection border 216Straightening images 216Recomposing Images 217Employing One-Step Auto Fixes 219Auto Smart Fix 220Auto Smart Tone 221Auto Levels 222Auto Contrast 223Auto Haze Removal 223Auto Color Correction 223Auto Shake Reduction 224Auto Sharpen 224Auto Red Eye Fix 225Editing in Quick Mode 227Fixing Small Imperfections with Tools 230Cloning with the Clone Stamp tool 231Retouching with the Healing Brush 233Zeroing in with the Spot Healing Brush 235Repositioning with the Content-Aware Move tool 237Lightening and darkening with Dodge and Burn tools 239Smudging away rough spots 240Softening with the Blur tool 242Focusing with the Sharpen tool 242Sponging color on and off 244Replacing one color with another 245Chapter 11: Correcting Contrast, Color, and Clarity 249Editing Your Photos Using a Logical Workflow 250Adjusting Lighting 251Fixing lighting with Shadows/Highlights 251Using Brightness/Contrast 252Pinpointing proper contrast with Levels 253Adjusting Color 255Removing color casts automatically 256Adjusting with Hue/Saturation 257Eliminating color with Remove Color 258Switching colors with Replace Color 259Correcting with Color Curves 262Adjusting skin tones 262Defringing layers 264Eliminating haze 266Adjusting color temperature with photo filters 267Mapping your colors 268Adjusting Clarity 269Removing noise, artifacts, dust, and scratches 270Blurring when you need to 271Sharpening for better focus 274Opening closed eyes 276Colorizing a photo 278Smoothing skin 279Adjusting facial features 280Reducing shake 281Moving Photos 282Working Intelligently with the Smart Brush Tools 284Part 4: Exploring Your Inner Artist 287Chapter 12: Playing with Filters, Effects, Styles, and More 289Having Fun with Filters 289Applying filters 290Corrective or destructive filters 291One-step or multistep filters 291Fading a filter 292Selectively applying a filter 292Working in the Filter Gallery 293Distorting with the Liquify filter 295Correcting Camera Distortion 297Exploring Elements' Unique Filters 298Creating a comic 299Getting graphic 300Using the Pen and Ink filter 301Dressing Up with Photo and Text Effects 302Adding Shadows, Glows, and More 304Applying styles 305Working with styles 306Using the Graphics panel 307Mixing It Up with Blend Modes 308General blend modes 309Darken blend modes 309Lighten blend modes 311Lighting blend modes 312Inverter blend modes 314HSL blend modes 314Using Photomerge 315Photomerge Panorama 316Photomerge Group Shot 318Photomerge Scene Cleaner 320Photomerge Exposure 321Photomerge Compose 323Chapter 13: Drawing and Painting 327Choosing Color 327Working with the Color Picker 328Dipping into the Color Swatches panel 329Sampling with the Eyedropper tool 331Getting Artsy with the Pencil and Brush Tools 332Drawing with the Pencil tool 332Painting with the Brush tool 334Using the Impressionist Brush 336Creating your own brush 337Filling and Outlining Selections 339Fill 'er up 339Outlining with the Stroke command 341Splashing on Color with the Paint Bucket Tool 342Working with Multicolored Gradients 343Applying a preset gradient 343Customizing gradients 345Working with Patterns 348Applying a preset pattern 348Creating a new pattern 349Creating Shapes of All Sorts 350Drawing a shape 350Drawing multiple shapes 352Specifying Geometry options 352Editing shapes 354Chapter 14: Working with Type 355Understanding Type Basics 355Tools 356Modes 356Formats 357Creating Point Type 358Creating Paragraph Type 359Creating Path Type 360Using the Text On Selection tool 360Using the Text On Shape tool 361Using the Text On Custom Path tool 363Specifying Type Options 364Editing Text 366Simplifying Type 367Masking with Type 368Stylizing and Warping Type 371Adjusting type opacity 371Applying filters to your type 372Painting your type with color and gradients 372Warping your type 374Part 5: Printing, Creating, and Sharing 375Chapter 15: Getting It on Paper 377Getting Pictures Ready for Printing 378Working with Color Printer Profiles 379Printing a photo with the printer managing color 381Printing a photo with Elements managing color 383Printing a picture package or contact sheet 384Getting Familiar with the Print Dialog Box 384Using the Prints options 384Creating transfers and more with More Options 386Chapter 16: Sharing Your Work 389Getting Familiar with the Elements Sharing Options 389Planning ahead 390Understanding photo sharing in Elements 391Using the Share Panel 392Emailing photos 393Working with Adobe Premiere Elements 394Sharing your photos on social networks 395Chapter 17: Making Creations 399Checking Out the Create Panel 399Grasping Creation-Assembly Basics 400Creating a Quote Graphic 404Creating a Memories Video 407Creating a PDF Slideshow 408Making Additional Creations 408Part 6: The Part of Tens 409Chapter 18: The Ten Best Guided Edits 411Correct Skin Tone 411Sharpen 413Object Removal 414Perfect Portrait 416Replace Background 418Remove a Color Cast 421Levels 422Resize Your Photo 424Recompose 425Move & Scale Object 427Chapter 19: Ten (or So) More Project Ideas 431Screen Savers 431Flyers, Ads, and Online Auctions 432Clothes, Hats, and More 434Posters 435Household and Business Inventories 435Project Documentation 436School Reports and Projects 436Blogs 436Wait -- There's More 436Index 437