The Easy Method: Graffi's Add-O-Matic Program
Graffi's Add-O-Matic is an automatic add-ons installer for Photoshop Elements 5, or 6 & 7. Just drag your extras into it, click the "Go!" button, and it will sort them and put them away for you--right where they belong! Add-O-Matic will install custom shapes, layer styles, *.8bf plug-ins, actions, brushes, gradients, patterns, and color swatches.
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• Add-O-Matic Order Page
• Graffi's Workshop Home Page
Manual Installation
Note: If you can't find the folders mentioned here, go to Control Panel > Folder Options > View tab, and make sure "Hidden files and folders" is set to Show.Note: You will need to close and reopen Photoshop Elements before you can use your new content.
How to Install Custom Layer Styles
Photoshop Elements 7 for Windows: Close Photoshop Elements if it is running. Copy the ASL files into the folder below, according to your version of Windows.(Vista) C:\ProgramData\Adobe\Photoshop Elements\7.0\Photo Creations\layer styles
(XP) C:\Documents and Settings\All Users\Application Data\Adobe\Photoshop Elements\7.0\Photo Creations\layer styles
Hold the Shift key down immediately after launching the Editor from the Welcome Screen and keep it held down until the Editor fully loads.
If your new styles do not appear, you will need to delete (or move to the recycle bin) the following file:
(Vista) C:\ProgramData\Adobe\Photoshop Elements\7.0\ThumbDatabase.db3
(XP) C:\Documents and Settings\All Users\Application Data\Adobe\Photoshop Elements\7.0\ThumbDatabase.db3
This will force the thumbnail database for the Artwork and Effects palette to rebuild. Be patient as this can take a long time.
Photoshop Elements 6 for Mac: Place the *.asl files in: Applications/Adobe Photoshop Elements 6/Presets/Styles
All Versions: If you also want the layer styles to be available from the style chooser in the options bar when the shape tool is used, you should put the styles into the \Presets\Styles subfolder, under the Photoshop Elements installation folder. (In most cases this will be C:\Program Files\Adobe\Photoshop Elements X.0\Presets\Styles)
• How to Install Layer Styles in Older Versions of Photoshop Elements
• Free Layer Styles
How to Install Custom Shapes
Windows: Place the *.csh files into:Program Files\Adobe\Photoshop Elements X\Presets\Custom Shapes where X is the version number for your version of Photoshop Elements.
Mac: Place the *.csh files into:
Applications/Adobe Photoshop Elements 6/Presets/Custom Shapes
This will allow the shapes to be used with the shape or cookie cutter tools. To use them with the shape or cookie cutter tool, select the tool, then go to the options bar and open the custom shape palette, then click the little >> arrows on the right and select the set you want from the list. The shapes will not appear in the Artwork and Effects palette. Use the Add-O-Matic program mentioned above if you wish to put the shapes into the Artwork and Effects palette in Photoshop Elements 7.
If you have Photoshop Elements 5 or 6 and also want the shapes to be accessible from the Artwork and Effects palette, you also need to copy them to a folder with the same name as the .csh shape file, and put this folder under one of the following locations, depending on your version of Windows:
XP: C:\Documents and Settings\All Users\Application Data\Adobe\Photoshop Elements\5.0\Photo Creations\artwork\shapes
Vista: C:\ProgramData\Adobe\Photoshop Elements\5.0\Photo Creations\artwork\shapes
Using the Preset Manager
The Preset Manager under the Edit menu in Photoshop Elements can be used to load brushes, gradients, patterns and swatches from anywhere they are saved on your computer. This is the preferred method for loading presets. The instructions below are for older versions of Photoshop Elements before the Preset Manager was introduced.• Exploring the Preset Manager
How to Install Custom Brushes
Windows: Place the *.abr files into:Program Files\Adobe\Photoshop Elements X\Presets\Brushes where X is the version number for your version of Photoshop Elements.
Mac: Place the *.abr files into:
Applications/Adobe Photoshop Elements 6/Presets/Brushes
Brushes created in Photoshop 7 or later will not work in Photoshop Elements 2 and earlier. Any Photoshop brushes should work in Photoshop Elements 3 and later.
How to Install Custom Pattern Sets
Windows: Place the *.pat files into:Program Files\Adobe\Photoshop Elements X\Presets\Patterns where X is the version number for your version of Photoshop Elements.
Mac: Place the *.pat files into:
Applications/Adobe Photoshop Elements 6/Presets/Patterns
How to Install Custom Gradients
Windows: Place the *.grd files into:Program Files\Adobe\Photoshop Elements X\Presets\Gradients where X is the version number for your version of Photoshop Elements.
Mac: Place the *.grd files into:
Applications/Adobe Photoshop Elements 6/Presets/Gradients
How to Install Custom Color Swatches
Windows: Place the *.aco files into:Program Files\Adobe\Photoshop Elements X\Presets\Color Swatches where X is the version number for your version of Photoshop Elements.
Mac: Place the *.aco files into:
Applications/Adobe Photoshop Elements 6/Presets/Color Swatches
Using Photoshop Actions in Photoshop Elements
Some Photoshop Actions can be used in Photoshop Elements, but they are accessed in a different way depending on the version of Photoshop Elements. Visit the links below for more information.• Installing Actions into the Action Player in Photoshop Elements 7
• How to Use Photoshop Actions in Photoshop Elements
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