Photoshop Elements Basic Tutorials
Tips and advice to help beginners get started with Adobe Photoshop Elements, plus tutorials for learning about the tools and interface of Adobe Photoshop Elements. Explore these basic tutorials before moving on to more advanced projects and techniques.
The Photoshop Elements Workspace
Explore the Photoshop Elements workspace in this illustrated tutorial.
Explore the Photoshop Elements workspace in this illustrated tutorial.
Straighten a Crooked Image with the Crop Tool
How to straighten a crooked image using the crop tool in Photoshop or Photoshop Elements.
How to straighten a crooked image using the crop tool in Photoshop or Photoshop Elements.
How to Use 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. Here you'll find tools to help you use Photoshop actions within Photoshop Elements, links to help you find Elements-compatible actions, and tips for Photoshop users who want to create actions that will work 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. Here you'll find tools to help you use Photoshop actions within Photoshop Elements, links to help you find Elements-compatible actions, and tips for Photoshop users who want to create actions that will work in Photoshop Elements.
How to Use Photoshop Brushes, Styles, Shapes and Other Content in Elements
There are hundreds of Web sites offering free Photoshop brushes, layer style effects, actions, shapes, patterns, gradients, and color swatch sets. All this free content can also be used in Photoshop Elements. Here's what to do with these files to get them working in Elements, along with links to where you can find these free goodies.
There are hundreds of Web sites offering free Photoshop brushes, layer style effects, actions, shapes, patterns, gradients, and color swatch sets. All this free content can also be used in Photoshop Elements. Here's what to do with these files to get them working in Elements, along with links to where you can find these free goodies.
How to Simulate Photoshop's Layer Mask Function in Photoshop Elements
Learn how to simulate the layer mask function in Photoshop within Photoshop Elements.
Learn how to simulate the layer mask function in Photoshop within Photoshop Elements.
Creating and Using Custom Brushes in Photoshop Elements
Learn how to create a custom brush in Photoshop Elements, save it to your brushes palette, and then use that brush to create a border.
Learn how to create a custom brush in Photoshop Elements, save it to your brushes palette, and then use that brush to create a border.
Free Course: Organize your Photos with Photoshop Elements
This is the index of lessons for the free online class "Organize your Photos with Photoshop Elements."
This is the index of lessons for the free online class "Organize your Photos with Photoshop Elements."
Prevent Photoshop Elements from Snapping to the Edges of Documents
Does it annoy you how Photoshop Elements likes to "snap" to the document edges when using the crop tool, selection tools and so on? Learn how you can disable this snapping behavior.
Does it annoy you how Photoshop Elements likes to "snap" to the document edges when using the crop tool, selection tools and so on? Learn how you can disable this snapping behavior.
Straighten a Crooked Photo
Here are step-by step instructions for straightening a crooked photo or scan in Photoshop and Photoshop Elements, plus a way to correct perspective at the same time.
Here are step-by step instructions for straightening a crooked photo or scan in Photoshop and Photoshop Elements, plus a way to correct perspective at the same time.
Quick Type Selection in Photoshop Elements
A shortcut to the Type Tool.
A shortcut to the Type Tool.
Rename Files With Adobe Photoshop Elements
How to rename a series of files with the file browser in Photoshop 7 and up or Photoshop Elements 2 and up.
How to rename a series of files with the file browser in Photoshop 7 and up or Photoshop Elements 2 and up.
Move Text Without Leaving The Type Tool in Photoshop Elements
How to move text without leaving the type tool.
How to move text without leaving the type tool.
Visually Choose Fonts in Photoshop Elements
How to cycle through the fonts list and hide text highlighting.
How to cycle through the fonts list and hide text highlighting.
Fill Tool Shortcuts in Photoshop Elements
Save time with these fill tool shortcuts.
Save time with these fill tool shortcuts.
A Trick for Visualizing Detail Work in Photoshop Elements
When zoomed in for detail work, it may be difficult to visualize your results at actual size. You can open a second window for the same document and set each window to a different Zoom level.
When zoomed in for detail work, it may be difficult to visualize your results at actual size. You can open a second window for the same document and set each window to a different Zoom level.
A Trick for Finding the Cursor
I often cannot see the cursor whenever I am in a grayish area of the image. Here's a trick for quickly finding it.
I often cannot see the cursor whenever I am in a grayish area of the image. Here's a trick for quickly finding it.
Cycle Through Blend Modes with the Keyboard in Photoshop Elements
Try all the blend modes quickly with these shortcuts.
Try all the blend modes quickly with these shortcuts.
Refining Your Selections in Photoshop Elements
Use Add and Subtract Modes for Refining Selections
Use Add and Subtract Modes for Refining Selections
How to Toggle Between Precise Cursors and Standard Cursors
And, what to do when your cursor inexplicably changes.
And, what to do when your cursor inexplicably changes.
Remove Red-Eye with the Sponge Tool in Photoshop Elements
This is a slight variation on red eye removal tips you may have seen elsewhere, but its very quick and very effective.
This is a slight variation on red eye removal tips you may have seen elsewhere, but its very quick and very effective.
Elements Basics
This is a broad overview of the Photoshop Elements window and its main features, with a few helpful tips.
This is a broad overview of the Photoshop Elements window and its main features, with a few helpful tips.
Displacing Textures
From the author: "Elements offers limited texture wrapping via the Displace filter. Photoshop, which has alpha channels, is much more versatile, but Elements can be made to do a reasonable job, too."
From the author: "Elements offers limited texture wrapping via the Displace filter. Photoshop, which has alpha channels, is much more versatile, but Elements can be made to do a reasonable job, too."
How Do I...?
Text-only answers to questions about basic techniques.
Text-only answers to questions about basic techniques.
Layer Masks
From the author: "Elements does not have layer mask commands, but you can add them to your documents by digging into the history of several of the Frames effects in the Effects Browser. I'll walk you through the process."
From the author: "Elements does not have layer mask commands, but you can add them to your documents by digging into the history of several of the Frames effects in the Effects Browser. I'll walk you through the process."
Learning Effects
From the author: "By watching how effects/actions do what they do, you can learn a great deal about how to use Elements creatively on your own."
From the author: "By watching how effects/actions do what they do, you can learn a great deal about how to use Elements creatively on your own."
Multilayer Masks
From the author: "An Elements user, Helge Hansen, sent me a wonderful technique for getting a layer mask effect in Elements. (Elements doesn't have layer masks) It is simpler and faster than my own procedure for adding a real layer mask."
From the author: "An Elements user, Helge Hansen, sent me a wonderful technique for getting a layer mask effect in Elements. (Elements doesn't have layer masks) It is simpler and faster than my own procedure for adding a real layer mask."
Why Layers?
Learn the advantages of using layers as you work through this tutorial.
Learn the advantages of using layers as you work through this tutorial.
Playing With Styles
From the author: "Elements has a fairly limited number of styles in its Layer Styles palette, but by combining them in different ways, you can make them go a lot farther."
From the author: "Elements has a fairly limited number of styles in its Layer Styles palette, but by combining them in different ways, you can make them go a lot farther."
Working with Layers
Learn about working with loayers by combining two different images in Photoshop Elements.
Learn about working with loayers by combining two different images in Photoshop Elements.
Reference: Elements Palettes
Screen shots with descriptions of all the palettes in Photoshop Elements.
Screen shots with descriptions of all the palettes in Photoshop Elements.
Reference: Elements Tools
A nice large diagram with linked descriptions of each tool in Photoshop Elements.
A nice large diagram with linked descriptions of each tool in Photoshop Elements.
Simulated Alpha Channels
Learn how to make complicated selections without using any of the selection tools, and then, how to save those selection outlines so you can reuse them at any time.
Learn how to make complicated selections without using any of the selection tools, and then, how to save those selection outlines so you can reuse them at any time.