Adobe Photoshop Elements 6 is a photo image enhancement program that runs seamlessly on the Windows platforms. Photoshop Elements 6 provides a new easy-to-use design yet also contains many of the powerful features found in Photoshop CS3.
Creative artists from Hollywood, brochure designers, as well as casual users turn to Photoshop Elements for its easy of use and proven ability to create special effects and image composites; however, Photoshop Elements’ ability to manipulate digital images, restore photographs, as well as create digital artwork from scratch, has made it a popular choice in the digital industry. When it comes to digital photography, Photoshop Elements is literally the best the computer industry has to offer.
Photoshop Elements accepts images created with any digital camera, or traditional photographic film images, converted to the digital format through the use of a scanner. Once an image is opened in Photoshop Elements, the designer can manipulate the image thousands of ways, everything from color correction, reducing dust and scratches in an old image, to removing a tree, or adding a missing friend.
To perform a standard program install, insert the Photoshop Elements 6 installation disc into the drive on your computer or download the software online and start the setup program, and follow the onscreen instructions. Make sure to have your serial number handy because you’ll be asked to enter it during the installation process. If you’re updating from a previous version of Photoshop Elements, you’ll be required to verify the older version by instructing Photoshop where on your hard drive the old version exists, or by inserting the previous version’s install disk. Adobe, in an attempt to thwart software piracy, now requires online or phone activation of the program. The process can be postponed for 30 days. However, at the end of 30 days, the Photoshop Elements program will shut down if it has not been properly activated. You can’t blame Adobe for attempting to protect their products, since some surveys suggest there are more pirated versions of Photoshop than those purchased.
Refer to the table to make sure your computer meets the minimum system requirements.
See “Managing Catalogs” on page 58 for information on selecting a catalog from a previous version of Photoshop Elements or Photo Album.
Table . Photoshop Elements 6 System Requirements
Hardware/Software | Minimum (Recommended) |
---|---|
Computer Processor | Intel Pentium 4, Pentium M, or Centrino 1.3 GHz (or compatible) processor |
Operating System | Microsoft Windows XP SP2 or Vista |
Hard Drive | 1.5 GB of available space |
Available RAM | 256 MB (512 MB) |
Video Card | 16-bit color |
Monitor Resolution | 1024 x 768 at 96 dpi or less |
Display driver | Microsoft DirectX 9 compatible |
CD-ROM drive | Any type |
Web features | Microsoft Internet Explorer 6, Netscape Navigator 7, or Mozilla Firefox 1.5 |
Insert the Photoshop Elements disc into your DVD drive, or download the software online to your hard disk.
If necessary, double-click the DVD icon or open the folder with the downloaded software, and then double-click the set up icon.
Follow the on-screen instructions to install, register, and activate the program.
Photoshop Elements requires you to activate the program in order to use it. Activation (using the Internet or by phone), must be accomplished within 30 days of installation, or Photoshop Elements will cease to function. You are not required to register the program. If you decide to register, you receive installation support, notifications of updates, and other services from Adobe.
You can also use Photoshop Elements on the Macintosh. Adobe Photoshop Elements 4.0 is currently available on the Macintosh. Check the Adobe web site at www.adobe.com for more details about the latest version.
You can launch Photoshop Elements like any other program. When you launch Photoshop Elements, a Welcome Screen dialog box appears, displaying easy access buttons to organize, edit, create, or share your photos. When you click one of the buttons, the Photoshop Elements Editor or Organizer workspace appears with options you need to work with images. After you dismiss the Welcome Screen dialog box on first use, the Adobe Updater Preferences dialog box appears, asking you to select options to update Photoshop Elements and other Adobe related software. If you want to access the Adobe Updater Preferences dialog box later, you can use the Updates command on the Help menu.
Click Start on the taskbar.
Point to All Programs.
Click Adobe Photoshop Elements 6.0.
In the Welcome Screen, click a button to work on photos.
If the Adobe Updater dialog box appears, follow the instructions to complete the update.
If a dialog box appears, asking you to set up the Organizer, click Yes to specify the location where your photos and other media reside, or click No to set up the Organizer later.
You can create and use a keyboard shortcut to start Photoshop. Click Start on the taskbar, point to All Programs, right-click Adobe Photoshop Elements 6.0, and then click Properties. In the Shortcut Key box, type or press any letter, number, or function key, such as P, to which Windows adds CTRL+ALT, and then click OK. In Windows, press the shortcut you defined (Ctrl+Alt+P) to start Photoshop Elements.
The Welcome Screen dialog box (New!) appears when you launch Photoshop Elements or you click the Welcome Screen button on the Shortcuts bar in the Organizer or Editor. The Welcome Screen displays easy access buttons to organize, edit, create, or share your photos. When you click one of the buttons, the Photoshop Elements Editor or Organizer workspace appears with options you need to work with images. If you don’t want to display the Welcome Screen dialog box every time you launch Photoshop Elements, you can select an option on the dialog box.
Launch Photoshop Elements or click the Welcome Screen button on the shortcuts bar.
To access the Photoshop Elements window with specific options, click one of the following buttons:
Organize. Displays the Organizer window with the Organize tab on the task pane.
Edit. Displays the Editor window with the Edit tab on the task pane.
Create. Displays the Organizer window with the Organize tab on the task pane.
Share. Displays the Organizer window with the Share tab on the task pane.
To display or disregard the Welcome Screen when you start up Photoshop Elements, click the Start up list arrow, and then click one of the following options:
Start up with Organizer. Displays the Organizer window.
Start up with Editor. Displays the Editor window.
Start up with Welcome Screen. Displays the Welcome Screen dialog box.
Photoshop Elements provides two workspaces—the Organizer and Editor—in a new user interface with a dark background (New!) that is intended to make it easier to work with your photos. The Organizer allows you to find, organize, and share your photos and media files, while the Editor allows you to create and edit photos. The Organizer and Editor include a tab-based layout (New!) with tabs for Organize, Fix, Create, and Share to help with organization and reduce clutter.
After you import your photos, media clips, and PDF files into the Organizer, you can find, view and share them. The Photo Browser displays all the files in the Organizer using different thumbnail size views, which you can sort by date, keywords (which includes People, Places, and Events), or other options using the Organize tab in the Task pane. If you can’t locate a file, you can use the Find menu to search for files by filename, caption, history, media type, and details, also known as metadata, which describes how and when and by who a particular set of data was collected, or how the data is formatted.
If you want to fix an image, you can use the Fix tab in the Organizer to open the image in Editor, or open the image file directly in Editor. The Editor provides three ways to create and edit images: Full Edit, Quick Fix, and Guided Edit. If you want to add special effects to an image, Full Edit provides the most control. If you want to quickly fix or alter an image, Quick Fix works the best. If you are not sure where to start to edit an image, Guided Edit walks you through the process for making different types of image alterations.
After you have fixed an image or two, you can use the Create or Share tab in the Organizer or Editor to create or share different types of projects, such as a photo book, calendar, collage, online gallery, slide show, greeting card, CD/DVD jacket, and more.
In the Organizer and Editor, commands are organized in groups on the menu bar. Next to the menu bar is the shortcuts bar, which displays frequently used buttons—such as Undo, Redo, Minimize, Restore, and Close—that you may be already familiar with from other Windows programs. In addition to menu commands and buttons, you can also open a context menu, also known as a shortcut menu, with a group of related commands by right-clicking a program element.
After you launch Photoshop Elements in either the Organizer or Editor window, you can quickly switch between the two workspaces. In the Organizer, you can use the Editor button (New!) to open an image in the Editor workspace in one of the three edit modes: Quick Fix, Full Edit, or Guided Edit. In the Editor, you can use the Organizer button to open the Organizer workspace. Some buttons on tabs in the Editor or the Organizer open in the other workspace. For example, the Slide Show button on the Create tab in the Editor opens in the Organizer.
Switch to Organizer. In the Editor, use one of the following methods:
Organizer button. Click the Organizer button.
Tab buttons. Some buttons on tabs in the Editor, such as the Slide Show button on the Create tab, opens in the Organizer.
Switch to Editor. In the Organizer, use one of the following methods:
Editor button. Click the Editor button, and then Quick Fix, Full Edit, or Guided Edit.
Tab buttons. Some buttons on tabs in the Organizer, such as the Quick Fix button on the Fix tab, opens in the selected image in the Editor.
In the Organizer, a task pane appears on the right side of the Photo Browser as a separate window. The task pane (New!) displays various tabs for each of the main photo tasks: Organize, Fix, Create, and Share. If you need a larger work area, you can use the Window menu or the Adjust Organize Bin Size button on the border edge to hide the task pane, or drag the task pane border edge to resize it. Some tabs in the task pane, such as the Organize tab, are divided into sections, known as palettes. Some palettes are always appear on the task pane, such as Albums and Keyword Tags, while other palettes are removable, such as Quick Share and Properties.
Show the Task Pane. It appears by default on the right side of the Photo Browser. Click the Window menu, and then click Show Task Pane.
Hide the Task Pane. Click the Window menu, and then click Hide Task Pane.
Resize a Task Pane. Point to the task pane border edge until the pointer changes to double arrows, then drag the edge to resize it.
In the Editor, Photoshop Elements uses the bins—Palette and Project—to make it easier to select options and work with photos. The Palette Bin organizes and stores related options into individual palettes, while the Project Bin (New!) displays thumbnails of open photos. By default, the Palette Bin appears along the right side of the Editor workspace, while the Project Bin appears at the bottom of the workspace. If you need a larger work area, you can use several different methods to hide a bin, or drag the bin border edge to resize it.
Show the Palette Bin. Click the Open Palette Bin button (at the bottom of the palette), or click the Window menu, and then click Palette Bin.
Hide the Palette Bin. Click the Close Palette Bin button (at the bottom of the palette), or click the Window menu, and then click Palette Bin.
Show the Project Bin. Click the Show Project Bin button (at the bottom of the project bin), or click the Window menu, and then click Project Bin.
Hide the Project Bin. Click the Hide Project Bin button (at the bottom of the project bin), or click the Window menu, and then click Project Bin.
Resize a Bin. Point to a bin border edge or a dotted-line bar between palettes until the pointer changes to double arrows, then drag the edge to resize it.
Palettes appear in both the Organizer and Editor and give you easy access to many task specific commands and operations from general fixes to color control. A palette appears with a header, which includes the Open/Close arrow button, palette title and other varying options, such as the More, Help Contents, or Close button. You can use the Window menu or click a Open arrow button to display it, and then select options on the palette or choose palette specific commands from the More menu or other available buttons to perform actions. Instead of continually moving, resizing, or opening and closing windows, you can use the Open/Close arrow button (triangle) to the left of the palette name to collapse or expand individual palettes to save space.
In the Editor, open or expand a palette to display it.
Click the More Options button (double triangle or More text) on the right side of the palette header bar.
More Options button. The More Options button appears as a double triangle when it’s attached to the Palette Bin. It appears as text (More) when it’s detached from the Palette Bin.
Click a command from the list (commands vary depending on the palette).
If a palette is not located in a position that you prefer, you can move it to another location. You can attach and detach, also known as dock and undock, palettes in the Palette Bin (in the Editor on the Edit/Full tab). When you drag a palette’s header bar out of the Palette Bin, the palette detaches and appears in a separate window group. When you detach a palette, you can also drag it into an existing window group, where the palettes appear as tabs. When you drag a detached palette’s tab to the Palette Bin, the palette re-attaches. When you move palettes, they remain as you left them until you reset or change them. In the task pane of the Organizer, you can dock and undock the Properties palette, which works differently than in the Editor.
Photoshop Elements has an abundance of tools; located in the toolbox of the Editor workspace, they give a photo editor tremendous control over any creative designing problems that may crop up. For example, the toolbox contains eight selection tools (you can never have enough selection tools), 10 painting or shape tools, 4 type tools, and 12 tools dedicated to restoring and manipulating old images. Add to that mix, slicing, sampling, and view tools and you have a total of 59 dedicated tools. When you work on an image, it’s important to know what tools are available, and how they help in achieving your design goals. The Editor likes to save space, so it consolidates similar tools under one button. To access multiple tools, click and hold on any toolbox button that contains a small black triangle, located in the lower-right corner of the tool button. Take a moment to explore the toolbox in the Editor workspace and get to know the tools.
The toolbox contains the tools needed to work through any job, but it’s not necessary to click on a tool to access a tool. Simply using a letter of the alphabet can access all of Photoshop Elements tools. For example, pressing the V key, switches to the Move tool, and pressing the W key, switches to the Magic Wand tool. In addition, if a tool has more than one option, such as the Gradient and Paint Bucket tool, pressing the Shift key, along with the tool’s shortcut lets you cycle through the tool’s other options. You can point to a tool to display a tool tip with the tool’s name and shortcut key or you can refer to Adobe Photoshop Elements Keyboard Shortcuts (available for download on the web at www.perspection.com) for more information on all the letter assignments for the various tools. To really get efficient in Photoshop, you need to learn to use both hands. Use one hand for your mouse, and the other on the keyboard to make quick changes of tools and options. Think of playing Photoshop Elements, like a piano—use both hands.
The Options bar in the Editor workspace displays the options for the currently selected tool. If you are working with the Shape Marquee tools, options such as Feather, Styles, Width, and Height appear. When working with Brushes, tool options such as Brush size, Mode, Opacity, Style, Area and Tolerance appear. Airbrush and Paintbrush tools shows some of the Brushes options, but also includes Flow. The Pencil tool shows Auto Erase, along with the standard Brushes options, while the standard Shape tool includes Fill Pixels, Geometry, Blending Modes, Opacity, and Anti-alias. The important thing to remember is that the Options bar is customized based on the tool you have selected.
You may realize you’ve made a mistake shortly after completing an action or a task. The Undo feature lets you “take back” one or more previous actions, including data you entered, edits you made, or commands you selected. For example, if you were to enter a number in a cell, and then decide the number was incorrect, you could undo the entry instead of selecting the data and deleting it. A few moments later, if you decide the number you deleted was correct after all, you could use the Redo feature to restore it to the cell.
Undo an Action. Click the Undo button on the shortcuts bar or click the Edit menu and then click Undo to undo the last action you completed.
Redo an Action. Click the Redo button on the shortcuts bar or click the Edit menu and then click Redo to restore your last undone action.
Cancel an Action. Hold down the Esc key until the action is cancelled.
If you want to find out more about Photoshop Elements, you can go to several helpful Adobe web pages directly from Photoshop Elements. You can select commands on the Help menu to visit the Adobe product support centers page, the Adobe Photoshop Elements 6 product page, or the Adobe Idea Gallery page in your default browser. The Online Support command provides support information about Photoshop Elements, which includes top issues, recent document, and installation. You can also search the Photoshop Elements Knowledgebase. The Photoshop Elements Online command provides information on Photoshop Elements with links to eSeminars, video tutorials, and more. Finally, the Online Learning Resources command provides access to the Adobe Idea Gallery web page with great ideas, examples, and videos.
Launch Adobe Photoshop Elements, if necessary.
Click the Help menu.
Click any of the following:
Online Support. Click to display the Adobe product support centers page.
Select Photoshop Elements from the product list, and then click Go.
Photoshop Elements Online. Click to display the Adobe Photoshop Elements 6 product page.
Online Learning Resources. Click to display the Adobe Idea Gallery page where you can get ideas, see examples, and watch videos.
Working in Photoshop Elements can be a rewarding experience, but it can also be frustrating when you’re looking for that specific piece of information to complete a project. Adobe understands how important it is to have access to information quickly, so they created the Adobe Help Center with different types of help options, including Help for Photoshop Elements, and access to LiveDocs Help on the web. Help in the Photoshop Elements program is a good place to start and provides concepts and information in a brief form in your browser without an Internet connection. If you need more in-depth information and the latest updates, LiveDocs Help is your next step. With an Internet connection, you can quickly access LiveDocs Help on the web from any topic in Photoshop Elements Help.
Click the Help menu, and then click Photoshop Elements Help.
The Adobe Photoshop Elements 6 Help opens in your browser.
Click Contents or Index link to locate help topics by Table of Contents or index.
Use the Expand (Plus sign) or Collapse (Minus sign) indicators and links to select the appropriate topic on the left, and view the corresponding help information on the right. If available, click links, such as Tell me more... to get additional information.
If you can’t find help in the Contents or Index area, click Search, click in the Search box, type in a specific piece of information to search, and then click Search.
To print the current help information, click the Print button in your browser, and then click Print.
When you’re done reading about your help topic, click the Close button in your browser.
Click the Help menu, and then click Photoshop Elements Help.
Select the appropriate topic on the left, and view the corresponding help information on the right.
Click the This page on the web link at the bottom of the topic.
The Adobe Resource Center web site appears (requires an Internet connection).
Type the address www.adobe.com/go/learn_pse_livedocs to access LiveDocs directly in your browser.
View the help information on the right, and then click any related links to other help topics.
If you can’t find the help you need, click in the Search box, type in a specific piece of information to search, click Search, and then click a heading link on the Search Results page.
To return to the Search Results page, click the Back button in your Browser window as needed.
When you’re done reading about your help topic, click the Close button in your browser.
You can find definitions for terms in Photoshop Elements. Click the Help menu, and then click Glossary of Terms (requires an Internet connection) to display the Adobe Resource Center web site, where you can select terms under the Glossary section in the left pane to display definitions.
As time passes, Photoshop Elements—like any other program—will change. There are two types of changes to an program: updates and patches. Updates are enhancements to a program such as a new feature, option, or command. Patches are problems discovered after the public release of the program. The good news is that both updates and patches are free, and once downloaded are self-installing. Adobe gives you two ways to check for changes. You can check on your own from the Adobe web site, or directly through the Adobe Updater. The Adobe Updater Preferences dialog box allows you to set update options for Photoshop Elements and other installed Adobe products. You can set the update preferences to check for updates monthly and automatically download them or ask before performing the download.
Open your Internet browser.
Go to the following web address: www.adobe.com/downloads/updates/
Click the list arrow, and then click the Photoshop Elements 6.
Click Go.
Any updates or patches appear in a list.
Follow the on-screen instructions to download and install the software.
Click the Help menu, and then click Updates.
Photoshop Elements automatically connects you to the Internet, and checks for updates. If there are any updates available, Adobe downloads and installs them.
Remember, these files can be quite large. So, if you’re running with a slow Internet connection speed, you might want to perform downloading files at a low traffic time. Also, by making sure you don’t have other programs running, you can maximize your system’s resources for the downloading of files.
When the check or download is complete, the Adobe Updater dialog box opens.
To change Adobe Updater preferences, click Preferences, select the Check The Automatically Check For Updates Every Month check box, select the update and program options you want, and then click OK.
Click Quit.
When you finish working with your photos and media in Photoshop Elements, it’s time to exit the program. When you want to exit Photoshop Elements, you need to exit both the Editor and Organizer workspace windows. Exiting one doesn’t automatically exit it the other. You’ll want to make sure that all of your documents have been properly saved and closed before you exit Photoshop Elements. Photoshop Elements performs a bit of memory management, saves the current location of the palettes and toolboxes, and then quits.