Syllabus and tutorials on how to use Adobe Photoshop Elements. Covers the differences between program versions, basic layers, brushes, and masks. Walks through several exercises such as skin retouching and extracting unwanted elements froma scene.

1. Washington School of Photography Adobe Photoshop Elements-Foundation Skills
Adam Lowe, instructor
Adam@ASLphoto.com
240-389-2751
Tuesday, January 13, 7-10pm
Tuesday, January 20, 7-10pm
Tuesday, January 27, 7-10pm
Tuesday, February 10, 7-10pm
Course Description
Learn to modify images; define image properties; work with selections, layers, and colors; make tonal/color
adjustments; adjust image lightness and darkness; resize images; repair image flaws using the clone tool,
healing brushes, and red-eye tool; and use various other tools and brushes; create prints and gifts; put photos
on the web.
Paperwork: Name/emails
Intros: who I am, who you are, where you’re from, why you’re here, what you know, what you want to learn.
Software
You need to have a copy of Photoshop Elements. The most recent version is Elements 13, which is what I
will be using to demonstrate. Most of what we do in this class can be done in older versions, and some can
be done in other imaging editing programs.
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2. Class 1
Photoshop vs. Elements Overview
Photoshop Elements
The Gold Standard, a deep program with many uses The Little Brother
$10-20/month by subscription ($120-240/year) $72 to purchase forever
Deep, complex program with little help Less complex, has training wheels
Includes Bridge, Camera Raw Includes Organizer, Camera Raw
Integrates with Dreamweaver, InDesign, Illustrator, Premiere Standalone program
Photography, Design, Typography, Web, Video/TV Mostly Photography and design
32, 16, and 8 bit images Only 8 bit images
Runs in 64 bit mode Runs in 32 bit mode
CMYK and LAB color modes RGB only
Channels Palette Channels not available
Recording custom Actions (for batch processing) No actions
Adjustments: Color Balance, Match Color
Layer Comps, and Quick Mask mode
Smart Objects, Smart Guides
Lens Blur Filter
Vanishing Point Tool
Puppet Warp
Pen tool and paths palette
Mixer brush and bristle tips painting tools
Some adjustment layers (curves, color balance, selective color, channel mixer, vibrance)
Editing History Log
Text on a path, advanced text formatting
Advanced Layer Style manipulation
Advanced Color Management
Advanced Web features (rollovers, slicing)
Customizable tool presets, keyboard shortcuts, and menus Cookie cutter tool
Drop-in frames, backgrounds, and
artwork
Additional Photomerge modes,
like Group Shot, Scene Cleaner,
Faces, and Style Match
Guided Edits and Quick Fix mode
Multi-file processing without the
need to record an action
Automatically divide scanned
photos
Multi-page documents
Photo creation templates for
photo books, greeting cards,
calendars, and more.
Easy online sharing options for
Facebook, Flickr, etc.
Most Photoshop-compatible Plug-ins and Filters will also work with Photoshop Elements.
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3. Starting Up
Organizer or Editor?
Organizer
Importing photos
-from a camera or card
-from a hard drive
-from a scanner
Assignment: Import a folder of photos from your hard drive.
-Differences between Catalogs, Albums, and Folders
-Setting up an online account
View>Filenames
File>Export as New File(s)
Editor
Quick/Guided/Expert modes
Around the Horn: Don’t Get Scared
-Menus
-Toolbox
-bottom options
-hidden triangle tools
-tool tips/Info Panel
-Bottom Left: Photo Bin/Tool Options/Quick fixes
-Bottom Right: Layers/Effects/Graphics/Favorites/More
-Resetting (Window>Reset Panel Bin)
Preferences (Edit>Preferences)
Shortcuts (This syllabus Pg. 13)
Basic Concepts
-Pixel = Picture Element
Open X:keywest.psd
File Info (66.7%, RGB/8, Doc: 2.25M)
-Reading the Histogram on your Camera and in the Editor
-Zoom Tool (Z): Zoom to 300%, Zoom to 800%. See the Pixels
-Zoom Tool Options at the bottom. Options change depending on the tool.
-SAVE THE PIXELS!!! Pixels lost are gone forever!
-Work big to small in resolution, file size, color space.
-Edit non-destructively whenever possible (hint: it’s always possible).
-Example: Erase the lamppost. What happened? Where did the pixels go?
-History Palette
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4. Brushes
What they do: paint, clone, erase.
Foreground/Background colors
Size and Hardness
Artistic brushes
Defining a brush (copyright notice)
Assignment: File>New>Blank File (Cmd/Ctrl-N)
Choose the Brush tool (B) and the Foreground Color Red. Paint on the Background layer.
Change the Foreground Color to Blue and paint randomly with a soft brush.
Change the Foreground Color to Green and paint randomly with a hard brush.
Change the Foreground Color to Yellow and paint randomly.
Save as Sandbox1.psd
Layers - Your Best Friend in Everything You Do
-Layers Palette Overview
-Saving/Closing Pitfalls... Be Careful!
Assignment: File>New>Blank File (Cmd/Ctrl-N)
Choose the Brush tool (B) and the Foreground Color Red.
Create a new Layer, rename it “Red” and paint on it.
Create a new layer. Change the Foreground Color to Blue and paint randomly with a hard brush.
Create a new layer. Change the Foreground Color to Green and paint randomly with a soft brush.
Create a new layer. Change the Foreground Color to Yellow and paint randomly.
Save as Sandbox2-Layers.psd
Move your layers up and down.
Assignment: Assemble the Pizza
Global Changes (always on a duplicate layer or an adjustment layer)
-Histogram Open X:levels.psd
-Levels
-Image/Adjustments
-Adjustment Layers
-Noise Reduction Filter Open X:napa-winery.psd
-Dust & Scratches Filter Open X:healing-brush.psd
-Sharpening Open X:unsharp-mask.psd
-Brightness/Contrast Never use! Levels is better!
First Project
New Document
What’s it for? Web, Print, Commercial Press?
Rule of Thumb-Always go BIG to small!
Leaving the house for dinner but not sure where you’re going, would you rather bring $100 or
$10? If you bring $100 and decide to go to McDonald’s, you have plenty... if you bring $10
and decide to go to Olive Garden, you won’t have much to eat. Likewise, if you go from 130
square inches down to 20 square inches you’ll have plenty of pixels, but if you have 20 square
inches of pixels and want to print 130 square inches you’ll have trouble.
Camera setting - biggest, juiciest, highest quality file you can get.
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5. Scan settings - biggest, juiciest, highest quality file you can get.
It’s better to throw away pixels you don’t need than to try to create pixels that never existed!
File>New>Blank File (Cmd/Ctrl-N)
-Presets - print, web, other
Color Modes
-Web: sRGB (Red Green Blue, smaller space from 1966)
-Print: Depends sRGB or AdobeRGB (1998 color space, larger than sRGB)
-Commercial Press: CMYK (not for us in this class)
Resolution
-Web: 72 ppi (pixels per inch). This is what most screens show.
-Print: 300 ppi (240-360 pixels per inch). This will give high quality prints.
(Note: printer resolution is measured differently, in dpi (dots per inch) don’t confuse the two.)
File>Save
>Save As
>Open
>Open Recent
-DAM (Digital Asset Management): where are you saving the files? How are you naming
them? How are you keeping track of them?
Here: Flashdrive, Dropbox
Home: Hard drive, backup drive, cloud backup (Crashplan, Carbonite, etc.)
File Formats
-TIFF (Tagged Image File Format): large, not layered, not compressed, not used lots.
-JPEG/JPG (Joint Photographic Experts Group): compressed a lot or a little.
Compatible with almost all other programs. Most common file type.
-GIF (Graphic Interchange Format): compressed a lot, used for web graphics.
-PNG (Portable Network Graphics): compressed a lot, used for web graphics.
Keeps transparency, useful for Websites, PowerPoints, Word.
-RAW (NEF, CRF, other): uncooked (unprocessed) file.
Large, gives the most flexibility in processing.
DNG (Digital negative): Adobe’s RAW file version
PDF (Portable Document Format): Adobe Reader file, useful for sending to print.
PSD (Photoshop Document): Photoshop file. It’s large, contains layers, isn’t compressed, but isn’t
readable by most other programs outside the Adobe Suite.
General Workflow Overview
-import camera files (JPG or RAW) or other graphic files into Organizer;
-process in Editor for specific use;
-save as a PSD file with meaningful name in a meaningful folder;
-print PSD on home printer, or...
-Save As... output file (JPG, GIF, PNG, PDF) for next use (web, uploading, emailing).
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6. For home or outside printing you want a large file (in inches and in resolution).
For web, email, or other Internet uses you want a small file (in inches and in resolution).
Closing a file - BEWARE! Be sure you’re saving in the format you wish!
-If you’re going to keep working on it, save as a PSD
-When you’re finished all your edits, save as a PSD
-When you’re uploading to Costco for printing, save as a JPG, highest quality.
-When you’re sending it via email to Aunt Sally, save as JPG, medium quality.
-When you’re putting it in a website, save as a GIF or PNG or low quality JPG..
-When you’re uploading to Flickr, save as JPG, medium to low quality.
Project: Business Card Layers, Text and Layer Styles
1-File>New (3 ½ x 2 inches, 300 ppi, sRGB, background white), Save As X:businesscard.psd
2-Layer>New Layer (2 ways to do this). Rename New Layer “Rock” (Ctrl/Cmd-S to Save)
3-On Rock layer, use Rectangular Marquee>draw a rectangle (Ctrl/Cmd-S to Save)
4-Use Paint Bucket Tool (G) fill the rectangle with your favorite color Ctrl/Cmd-S
5-While still selected, Filter>Render>Clouds Ctrl/Cmd-S
6-While still selected, go to fX on Layers Panel, add Drop Shadow and Bevel-Emboss
7-To Deselect, use Ctrl/Cmd-D Ctrl/Cmd-S
8-Choose Text tool (T), choose a block font in options, make it large using scrubby slider
9-Type your name. Change the size. Copy the fX from Rock layer to text layer holding the Alt/Opt
key. Ctrl/Cmd-S
10-Type new text (title, email, etc.) Change the size. Copy the fX from the other text layer.
11-Using the Move tool, Align Center of all created content. Ctrl/Cmd-S
12-Change Opacity of Rock layer. Ctrl/Cmd-S
13-File>Save As X:Magazinebusinesscard.psd
14-File>Save As X:Magazinebusinesscard.jpg (Highest Quality) for upload to printing.
Secret Handshake: Stamp Visible (Merge Up)
Now we’ll merge up (Ctrl/Alt/Shift-E or Cmd/Opt/Shift-E) to a single layer and start playing with our tools...
Preview of selection tools: Marquee/Magic Wand/Lassos. Refine/Add/Subtract from selections.
Homework: Read your camera manual or play around with the menu on the back. Shoot the biggest file size
available to you and put it on your Flashdrive or Dropbox for next class. Also bring your book sample files.
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7. Class Two
Screen Review
Toolbar, Palettes, Menus
Global Changes Review (always on a duplicate layer or an adjustment layer)
-Histogram
-Levels
-Shadows/Highlights
-Image/Adjustments
-Adjustment Layers
-Dust & Scratches Filter
-Noise Reduction
-Brightness/Contrast Never use!
Local Changes - affect only part of the picture, or a selection within the picture.
Correction Tools
Navigator and Zoom (Z) Tool (corners and edges)
Clone Stamp Tool Open X:clone-stamp.psd
Healing Tool Open X:healing-brush.psd
Red Eye Tool Open X:spot-healing.psd
Spot Healing Tool Open X:spot-healing.psd
Content Award Open X:content-aware.psd
Patch Tool Open X:patch-tool.psd
Dodge/Burn/Sponge Open X:dodge.psd
Non-destructively means to do these corrections on a separate layer.
+ Original still intact
- File size is larger
Compositing
Moving Layers between documents
Edit>Preferences>General>Allow Floating Documents in Expert Mode
Open storm-cloud.tif and sky-clouds.tif.
Hold Shift key, drag layer from storm-cloud to the top of sky-clouds.
Many ways to put in a new sky... time to play with tools!
-Eraser tool: Upside, understandable/ Downside, destructive. Demo & play
-History Panel: undoing one or many steps
-Transform (Edit>Free Transform, or Ctrl/Cmd-T). Hold Shift key to maintain aspect ratio
between Height and Width.
Layer Masks
-Masking: Editable eraser... and much more! This is a key tool we’ll be using a great deal and you’re
going to love it!
-Key concept: Black Conceals/White Reveals
-Key shortcuts: D (default colors), X (switches colors), B (brush), [ and ] resize brushes.
Back to History Panel-create a snapshot
Dodging and Burning on a Layer Mask
-Blank Layer, Overlay Mode, filled with 50% gray.
-Paint with Black brush at 5-10% Opacity to burn, White brush to dodge.
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8. Adjustment Layers
Saving the pixels
Play around: Levels, Curves, Photo, B&W, Hue/Saturation, Vibrance, Color Balance, Color
Lookup.
Selections - a good way to work on part of an image. Always work on a copied layer! (Ctrl/Cmd-J)
-Another key tool, may ways to do it.
Marquees (M)
Wands (W)
Lassos (L)
-Adding and Subtracting
-Deselecting (Ctrl/Cmd-D)
-Pitfalls (working on the wrong layer)
Key shortcuts-Ctrl/Cmd I (inverts a selection)
Ctrl/Cmd D (deselects a selection)
Ctrl/Cmd J (copies the selection only to a new layer)
M-Marquee tool
W-Magic Wand tool
L-Lasso tools
The last three are useful to quickly switch between selection tools as you work
Playing with selections
Marquees (select by drawing and shape)
Open X:RectangularMarquee.psd
Play with the marquees and options (feather, refine, etc). Use Add/Subtract.
Lassos (select by drawing and contrast
Open X:holding-hands.psd
Play with the lasso, polygonal lasso, magnetic lasso. Use Add/Subtract.
Magic Wands (select by color differences)
Open X:yellow-sunflower.psd
Play with the Magic Wand (fix tolerances, etc), Quick Selection tools. Use Add/Subtract.
Turning Selection Into Mask Click on Mask icon after making selection
Putting it all together...
1-Open X:cruise.psd.
2-Duplicate background layer using Ctrl/Cmd-J or Layer>New>Layer via copy or by dragging the
Background Layer down to the New Layer on the Layers Panel. (Always good to keep the original
intact... just in case.) Turn off the Background layer so you can see what you’re working on.
3-Use the Rectangular Marquee tool to delete big chunks of the sky and ocean.
4-Use the Magic Wand and/or Quick Selection tool to delete more sky and ocean.
(At this point you might want to open a new, zoomed in Window, or use the Navigator)
5-Use the Lasso tools to clean up stray pixels around the ship.
6-Open X:desertrocks.tif
7-Drag the selected ship layer onto desertrocks.tif. It will be too big.
Transform
8-Go to Image>Transform>Free Transform (Shortcut: Ctrl/Cmd-T).
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9. 9-Holding the Shift key to keep the height/width ratio intact, resize the ship.
10-Once the ship is an appropriate size, add a layer mask and paint out the mountains
11-Switch back and forth between a black and white brush using the X key to refine the mask.
12-Crop out the computer screen background using the Crop tool.
Homework for next class:
-Bring in JPG, RAW, or TIFF photos for your magazine
-Bring in a JPG, RAW, or TIFF self-portrait or a headshot of a loved one.
-Bring in a JPG, RAW, or TIFF photo of your signature in black ink on a white sheet of paper.
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10. Class 3
Camera RAW
RAW files are “uncooked” or unprocessed by the camera, unlike JPG files.
“Save the Pixels” non-destructive editing.
NEF (Nikon Electronic Format), CR2 (Canon Camera Raw), DNG (Adobe Digital Negative)
Camera Raw can be used with JPG, TIFF as well.
Opening a RAW file in Camera Raw.
Go to X:DSC_0001.NEF
Camera RAW dialog box. “The negative is the score, the print is the performance.” St. Ansel
Top tools: Zoom, hand, etc.
Bottom options: size, color space, etc.
Histograms. 0-255, clipping, using the triangles or the Alt/Opt key to check clipping.
Basic panel choices and effects.
JPG and TIFF files can be opened in Camera RAW: File>Open in Camera RAW (note: you can’t do this
from the Organizer).
Group Project: Make the Giraffe photograph look reasonably good using the basic tools. Open into
Photoshop in the sRGB space at 300ppi at the native size.
Image Size
Image>Image Size Open X:levels.psd
Size in Inches (for printing)
Size in Pixels (for web)
Resolution (for both)
Resizing: Rule of Thumb-work LARGE to small.
Sharpening
Workflow for one image for Website:
1-Sharpen, then
2- Save for Print - Large (levels-large.psd, then levels-large.jpg, highest quality)
3-Resize- Image>Image Size
4-Sharpen again if needed
5-Save for Web - Small (levels-web.jpg or gif)
History
In bottom right, click on More, then choose History Tab. Drag it off the More palette to sit alone.
Ability to Undo multiple times, go back and undo
Ctrl/Cmd-Z = Undo in most computer programs
History Palette give you 20 (or up to hundreds) of Undos
Output
Open X:spot-healing.psd
-Print
-Web
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11. Class 4
Review and Questions
Paint Bucket Open X:pink-flower.psd
Gradients Open X:sunset-cruise.psd
Smart Brush (Color Replacement) Open X:color-olives.psd
Sharpen and Blur tools - generally don’t use these, as they offer little control
Brushes
-Selecting Brushes
-Make your own brush (signature.jpg file) Edit>Define Brush Preset
Color Spaces
-sRGB vs. Adobe RGB (As always, go big, AdobeRGB or ProPhotoRGB, to small, sRGB)
-Matching color spaces
-Image>Convert Color Profile
Black and White/Monochrome Open X:red barn.psd
Grayscale
Desaturate
B&W Adjustment Layer
Selective Color
Fun with Filters
Always work on a copied layer
-Blurs, Open X:cows.psd
-Sharpen, Open X:unsharp-mask.psd
-Add Noise/Reduce Noise
-Artistic - Frames, Graphics, Effects.
Other Modes>Quick & Guided. Run a photo through Guided then look at it in Expert to see layers,
masks, etc.
Layers - Advanced Techniques
Layer Opacity
Layer Groups (Eyes-Teeth/Skin/Hair/Acne)
Blend Modes
Complex Masks Open X:american-flag.psd
Open your self- or other-portrait for touching up with advanced layer techniques.
-Global
-Skin
-Eyes/Teeth
-Background
-Wrinkles
-Vignettes
Page Layout
-Rulers
-Guides
-Move Tool (M), aligning layers
Text on a Path Open X:text-on-path.psd
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12. Quick overview of little used (by me) tools.
-Ruler: to straighten
Customizing Photoshop Elements
Edit>Preferences looking at everything you can control.
Window>Reset Panels
Advanced Organizer Topics
In Organizer, choose the files logs1, logs2, logs3, and logs4. Go to Enhance>Photomerge and choose
Exposure. Play with the sliders until you get a look that you like.
In Organizer, choose the files waterfall1, waterfall2, waterfall3, and waterfall4. Go to
Edit>Photomerge and choose Panorama. Choose “Add Open Files.” Go with Auto to see what happens.
In Organizer, choose a photo of someone on your Contact list (or a Facebook Friend) and in the
bottom left click on the Add People button. Then the Add Places button. In the Top Center choose People,
then choose Places.
In Organizer, select four photos and click on Slideshow in the bottom left.
In Organizer select one photo. In the top right, choose Create>Photo Prints. Play around with the
options for single print, photo package, or contact sheet.
In Organizer, select one of your photos and choose Share>Email. Then play around with Facebook,
Flickr, YouTube, etc.
Course Evaluation Before You Leave!
Congratulations! You’ve finished the course and hopefully have a good understanding of the concepts
behind Photoshop Elements and related imaging programs. Good luck to you in your future artistic
endeavors!
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13. Reference Pages
Printing
Signs/business cards/letterhead : www.uprinting.com www.vistaprint.com
Photographs www.adoramapix.com www.nationsphotolab.com Also Walmart, Costco, Target
Magazines www.magcloud.com
Coffee Table Books www.blurb.com www.lulu.com
Website Hosting
Bluehost www.bluehost.com Doteasy www.doteasy.com
GoDaddy www.godaddy.comWordPress www.wordpress.org or www.wordpress.com
500px.com Squarespace.com Zenfolio.com
Many more... look at ads, google “web hosting”
Software
Photoshop CC 30-day trial: https://creative.adobe.com/products/download/photoshop
Cloud Storage: Dropbox free 2GB online shareable storage: http://db.tt/ItPvmUPe
Older versions of Photoshop: www.ebay.com
Education Priced Software: www.journeyed.com
Review of other image editing software:
www.dpreview.com/news/2013/05/17/10-photo-editing-programs
Adobe’s new model: Subscription to Creative Cloud. www.adobe.com
Class Book
Adobe Photoshop CC Digital Classroom, Jennifer Smith, ISBN: 978-1-118-63956-6
http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/1118639561/ref=as_li_tl?
ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=390957&creativeASIN=1118639561&linkCode=as2&tag=wehsbookstore
&linkId=Q2S3DRISCNBHSQPB
Other resources
National Association of Photoshop Professionals www.photoshopuser.com
Free tutorials www.youtube.com www.photographytalk.com library.creativecow.net
(Search for “photoshop” “photoshop instruction” “nikon d7100" etc.)
Local camera clubs
Silver Spring www.ssccphotography.org
Gaithersburg www.gaithersburgcameraclub.org
North Bethesda www.nbccmd.org
NIH www.nihcameraclub.com
Montgomery College www.montgomerycollege.edu (Search for “photoshop” or “lightroom”)
Washington School of Photography www.washingtonschoolofphotography.com
Video Training www.kelbyone.com www.lynda.com www.skillfeed.com
Blogs www.scottkelby.com www.theonlinephotographer.com Podcast: LensWork
Humor www.psdisasters.com www.awkwardfamilyphotos.com
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14. Tear this page off and put it next to your computer!
Mac to PC Conversion Table
Mac PC
Command (Cmd) Control (Ctrl)
Option (Opt) Alt
Shift Shift
Ctrl-click Right click
Dave’s Favorite Shortcuts
Cmd/Ctrl-S Save
Cmd/Ctrl-J New Layer Via Copy (copies a selection or the entire layer)
Cmd/Opt/Shift-E Merge all layers to top (Stamp Visible)
(on PC) Ctrl/Shift/Alt-E
Cmd/Crtl-T Free Transform (hold the Shift-key to keep height/width proportional)
Cmd/Ctrl-D De-select pixels
Cmd/Ctrl-I Invert selection or colors
Tools Shortcuts
Z Zoom tool
B Brush tool
C Crop tool
D Default colors Black and White (useful on layer masks)
X Switch foreground and background colors (useful on layer masks)
T Text tool
[ and ] Resize Brushes
{ and } Change brush hardness
Getting Unstuck Reference Sheet
-Check to see which Layer you’re working on
-Check to see if you’re working on pixels or a mask
-Maximize Window (Mac: Green Button in upper right corner)
-Esc
-Return/Enter
-Cmd/Ctrl-D (deselect)
-Cancel (if a dialog box is open)
-Window>Workspace>Reset Panels
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