Working in the Editor allows you to create, edit, and work with photos, media files, and specialty projects. If you are familiar with Adobe Photoshop CS3, working in the Editor in Photoshop Elements should be seamless.
You can create as many new files as you need for your current project. However, creating a new file requires more thought than creating a new word processing file. You need to make decisions about resolution and color mode. If you’re not sure how to decide, you can use the Preset menu, which takes the guesswork out of creating compatible, photo, web, mobile device, film and video files in Photoshop Elements.
Photoshop Elements lets you open image files created in different formats, such as TIFF, JPG, GIF, EPS, and PNG, as well as open Adobe Photoshop files in the PSD or PDD formats. If you have taken photos on a digital camera, you can open the camera raw image files and retain all the information about how the photo was taken. In addition to opening image files, you can also open PDF (Portable Document Format) files in Photoshop Elements.
When you finish working on a Photoshop Elements file, you need to save it before you close it or exit Photoshop Elements. Photoshop Elements lets you save image files in different formats, such as PSD (default, single page), PSE (default, multi-page), TIFF, JPG, GIF, EPS, and PNG, as well as use compress schemes (lossy and lossless) to reduce file sizes. Before you save a file, you have the ability to save more than just color information. You can save copyright, camera, and even image category information. If you make a lot of editing changes to a file after you have saved it and then decide that you no longer want to keep the changes, you can use the Revert command to revert back to the last saved version.
Creating a new file requires more thought than creating a new word processing file. For example, there are resolution and color mode considerations to make. You can create as many new files as you need for your current project. However, since opening more than one file takes more processing power, it’s probably best to work on one new file at a time. Once a new file is created, you have access to all of Photoshop Elements’ design and manipulation tools to create anything your imagination can see.
In the Editor, click the File menu, point to New, and then click Blank File.
Type a name for the file.
Click the Preset list arrow, and then select a preset file, or choose your own options to create a custom file.Width and Height. Select from various measurements, such as points, centimeters, and inches.
Resolution. Select a resolution, such as 72 pixels/inch (ppi) for online use and 300 ppi for print.
Color Mode. Select a color mode, such as RGB for color and Grayscale for noncolor.
Background Contents. Select a background color or a transparent background.
Click OK.
A color mode, also known as color space, determines how Photoshop Elements displays and prints an image. You choose a different color mode (based on models using in publishing) for different tasks. You can choose a color mode while you create a new file or change a color mode for an existing file. The common color modes include:
Bitmap. Best for printing black-and-white drawing images. This mode uses one of two color values (black or white).
Grayscale. Best for printing black-and-white and duotone images. This mode uses a maximum of 256 shades of gray.
Indexed Color. Best for online and multimedia color images. This mode uses a pixel value as an index to a palette of 256 or fewer colors.
RGB (Red, Green, and Blue) Color. Best for online and multimedia color images. RGB are also the primary colors on a monitor.
For more information on color, see Chapter 12, “Working with Colors.”
Photoshop Elements works primarily with raster documents. Raster documents are images composed of pixels. A pixel is a unit of information that holds the color and detail information of the image. Thinking of a Photoshop Elements image as a brick wall, with the individual bricks in the wall representing the individual pixels in the image, is an excellent way to envision a file. Files opened in Photoshop Elements have a specific resolution. The resolution of the image, along with its width and height, represents how many pixels the image contains. Since pixels (the bricks in a wall) represent information, the more pixels a file contains, the more information Photoshop Elements has to manipulate or enhance the image.
A typical 17-inch monitor displays pixels at a resolution of 1024×768. You can figure out how many pixels are present on a monitor at 1024×768 by multiplying 1024 × 768, which equals to 786,432 pixels on the screen. The resolution is equal to how many pixels fit into each monitor inch, which is known as ppi (pixels per inch). A typical monitor displays pixels at 72ppi.
To determine the size of an image in inches, we divide the pixels by the ppi. For example, for an image 1024 pixels wide, 1024 / 72 = 14.2 inches. To determine the pixels present in an image, you multiple the size by the ppi. For example, for a 3 inch image, 3 × 72 = 216. As the image resolution drops, so does the output quality of the image. Pixelization occurs when the resolution is so low that the edges of the pixel begin to appear. The higher the resolution (more pixels), the sharper the image. However, the higher the resolution, the larger the file size. To optimize the use of a file, you need to use the correct resolution for a specific task. Use 72ppi for web pages, CD-ROMs, and Multimedia; use 150ppi for an Inkjet printer; use 200ppi for Photo printers; and use 300ppi for commercial printing.
When working with images, it’s always a good idea to start with a larger image size. You can always reduce the size of the image (subtract pixels) without losing any quality. If you need to enlarge an image, you run the risk of losing image quality. When you enlarge an image, the number of pixels doesn’t increase as the image does, so the pixels become larger which mean a rougher image.
When you create files for specific purposes, such as a mobile device (New!), web, film, or video, you know the importance of creating files that will perfectly match the requirements of output to the screen. The preset file sizes available in the Preset menu let you create images at a size and pixel aspect ratio that compensate for scaling when you incorporate them into the output you want. When you work with the Preset menu, the guesswork of creating compatible, photo, web, mobile device, film and video documents in Photoshop Elements is a thing of the past.
- In the Editor, click the File menu, point to New, and then click Blank File.
- Click the Preset list arrow, and then select from the available presets:
Default Photoshop Elements Size
U.S. or International Paper
Photo
Web
Mobile & Devices
Film & Video
Custom
- Click the Size list arrow, and then select the preset you want. The options vary depending on the type of document you want.
Photo. For example, Landscape 4 × 6.
Web. For example, 640 ×480.
Mobile & Devices. For example, 176 × 208.
Film & Video. For example, HDTV 1080p/29.97.
- If you want, adjust the available options to create the new document you want, such as Width, Height, Resolution, Color Mode, and Background Contents.
Click OK.
Photoshop Elements lets you open Photoshop document files in the default PSD or PDD formats as well as open image files created in different formats, such as TIFF, JPG, GIF, EPS, and PNG. If you want to simply open a Photoshop document or image file, the Open dialog box is the most efficient way. However, if you need to manage, organize, or process files, the Process Multiple Files command is the way to go. You open an existing Photoshop Elements file or image file the same way you open files in other programs.
- In the Editor, click the File menu, and then click Open to display all file types in the file list of the Open dialog box.
- Click the Files of type list arrow, and then select a format.
- Click the the Look in list arrow, and then select the location where the image you want to open is stored.
- Click the image file you want to open.
- Click Open.
In some cases, such as an EPS file, set format-specific options, and then click OK.
See Also
See “Understanding File Formats” on page 149 for information on the different file formats.
See “Setting File Associations” on page 480 for information on which file types to open in Photoshop Elements.
In addition to opening image files, you can also open PDF (Portable Document Format) files in Photoshop Elements. A PDF file is a common file format you can create using Adobe Acrobat software. After you open a PDF file, the Import PDF dialog box opens where you can preview the pages and images in a multipage format, and then decide what you want to open in the Editor. You can import full pages or individual images from a PDF file.
- In the Editor, click the File menu, and then click Open.
- Click the Files of type list arrow, and then click Photoshop PDF.
- Click the the Look in list arrow, and then select the location where the file you want to open is stored.
- Click the PDF file you want to open.
- Click Open.
- To import images, click the Images option, and then select the images you want to open.
To import entire pages, click the Pages option.
If you selected the Pages option, select any of the following options:Select the pages you want to open, and then click OK.
Under Page options, use the existing name or type a new one.
Click the Code Mode list arrow, and then select a color mode.
Select a resolution.
Select the Suppress Warnings check box to hide any error messages during the import process.
Click OK.
You can use the Place command to insert artwork into an open document. To increase your control of the new image information, Photoshop Elements places the new image into a separate layer. You can place files in PDF, Adobe Illustrator, and EPS formats. When you first place a vector-based image into Photoshop Elements, you have the ability to modify the width, height, and rotation as a pure vector image. However, since Photoshop Elements is primarily a raster program, when you finalize your changes, Photoshop Elements rasterizes the file information (converts the vector into pixels). Which means you cannot edit the placed documents as you would a vector shape or path.
- In the Editor, open the document in which you want to place another file.
- Click the File menu, and then click Place.
- Select the document you want to place into the active document.
- Click Place.
Photoshop Elements places the image in a new layer, directly above the active layer, and then encloses it within a free-transform bounding box.
- Control the shape by manipulating the corner and side nodes of the freeform bounding box.
- Press Enter to rasterize the image at the resolution of the active document.
Camera raw image file formats are created by most mid to high-end digital cameras and contain all the information about how the image was taken. The raw format turns off all camera adjustments, and simply saves the image information to the digital film. When you open a raw image file, Photoshop Elements opens the Camera Raw, which allows you to adjust the image details. If you’re not sure what to do, you can click Auto to have Camera Raw do it or drag color sliders (New!) to adjust options manually. You can adjust color tones, reduce noise, correct for lens defects, and retouch—with the Heal, Clone and Red Eye tools (New!)—images. To adjust color tones, you can change exposure, highlights recovery (New!), fill light, blacks, brightness, contrast and saturation—with Vibrance (New!) and Saturation. Raw images are larger; however, the increase in file size is actually more information that can be used by the Camera Raw to adjust the image. In addition raw images can be converted into 16-bit, which provides more control over adjustments, such as tonal and color correction. Once processed, raw images can be saved in the DNG (Digital Negative), TIF, PSD, PSB, or JPEG formats. You can use the Process Multiple Files command to automate the processing of camera raw files.
- In the Editor, click the File menu, and then click Open.
- Click the Files of type list arrow, and then click Camera Raw.
- Select a single camera raw image file, or Ctrl+click to select more than one file.
- Click Open.
Photoshop Elements opens the image into the Camera Raw dialog box, displaying the Basic tab.
- Click the Basic or Detail tab.
- To automatically make tonal adjustments, click Auto on the Basic tab, and then make any other manual adjustments.
- Use the following tools to modify the image:
Use the Zoom, Hand, Rotate, Crop, and Straighten tools to change the size, orientation, and position of the image.
Use the White Balance tools to set the image white balance or the Color Sample tool to sample a color from the image.
Use the Retouch (Heal or Clone) or Red Eye tools (New!) to fix the image.
- Select from the available image view options:
Image Preview. Displays the active image.
Zoom Level. Changes the view of the active image.
Histogram. Displays information on the colors and brightness levels in the active image.
- Select the list arrows to change the (color) Space, (bit) Depth, Size, and Resolution of the image.
- Click Save Image(s) to specify a folder destination, file name, and format for the processed images.
Select the images you want to synchronize (apply settings) in the Filmstrip (if desired, click Select All), and then click Synchronize.
Click the Camera Raw Menu button to Load, Save, or Delete a specific set of Raw settings.
When you’re done, click Done to process the file, but not open it, or click Open Image(s) to process and open it in Photoshop Elements. Hold Alt to use Open Copy or Reset.
When you open a file—an individual photo or a multiple-page project—in the Editor, a thumbnail of the image appears in the Project Bin (New!). An individual photo appears as a thumbnail, while a multiple-page project appears as a multi-page slide thumbnail, which includes an expand/collapse arrow to the right to show or hide individual pages. The Project Bin is useful for working with open files in the Editor. However, it’s especially useful for switching between multiple open photos.
- In the Editor, open the files you want to use.
- To change which files appear in the Project Bin, click the Show list arrow in the Project Bin, and then click Show Open Files or Show Files from Organizer.
- Use any of the following options:
Open Photo. Drag a file from any location on your computer into the Project Bin, or click the File menu, and then click Open.
Display Open Photo. Double-click the thumbnail in the Project Bin.
Expand/Collapse Project. Click the Expand/Collapse arrow next to the project thumbnail in the Project Bin.
Reorder Photos. Drag thumbnails in the Project Bin.
Close Photo. Right-click the thumbnail in the Project Bin, and then click Close.
Hide Photo. Right-click the thumbnail in the Project Bin, and then click Minimize. Double-click its thumbnail to show it again.
View Photo Info. Right-click the thumbnail in the Project Bin, and then click File Info.
Duplicate Photo. Right-click the thumbnail in the Project Bin, and then click Duplicate.
Rotate Photo. Right-click the thumbnail in the Project Bin, and then click Rotate 90° Left or Rotate 90° Right.
Show Filenames. Right-click the thumbnail in the Project Bin, and then click Show Filenames.
Open/Close Project Bin. Click the Window menu, and then click Project Bin.
Show/Hide Project Bin. Click the Project Bin button.
- To take other actions, click the Bin Actions list arrow in the Project Bin, and then select any of the following commands:
Create. Opens the Create tab.
Share. Opens the Share tab.
Print Bin Files. Prints Project Bin files.
Save Bin as an Album. Saves Project Bin files as an album.
There is nothing more exciting than working on a new creative process, and watch as your designs come to life. Conversely, there is nothing more tiresome than having to apply that new creative concept to 50 other images. For example, you just spent three hours coming up with a procedure to color correct a photograph, and the process took two filters, and three adjustments. The photo looks great; however, you now have 50 other images with the exact problem. The solution is to batch process the images. Batch file processing lets you apply an action to an entire folder of images, and all you have to do is click a button. Now, what could be simpler than that?
- In th Editor, click the File menu, and then click Process Multiple Files.
- Click the Process Files list arrow, and then select from the available options:
Folder. Processes files in the specified folder. Click Browse to select the folder.
Import. Processes image files from a digital camera or scanner.
Opened Files. Processes all open files.
- Select the Include All Subfolders check box to process files in subfolders of the selected folder.
- Select the Same as Source check box to use the source location as the destination location, or click Browse, select a folder destination location, and then click OK.
- To rename multiple file names, select the Rename Files check box, and then select from the following options:
Name. Click the first list menu, and then select a file naming option. Click the second list menu, and then select a file naming option that appends to the first option.
Starting Serial#. Specify the starting number for the appended file naming option.
Compatibility. Select the check box next to the operating system (Windows, Mac OS, or Unix) in which you want compatibility.
- To resize multiple image files, select the Resize Images check box, and then select from the following options:
Width and Height. Select a measurement type (pixels, inches, cm, mm, or percent), and then enter a width and height.
Resolution. Select a resolution, such as 72 pixels/inch (ppi) for online use and 300 ppi for print.
Constrain Proportions. Select to constrain the width and height proportions together.
- To convert files to another format, select the Convert Files to check box, and then select a file format from the list arrow.
- To automatically apply quick fixes to photos, select the check boxes in the Quick Fix palette next to the fixes you want: Auto Levels, Auto Contrast, Auto Color, or Sharpen.
- To attach a label to image files, select a label option from the Labels menu in the Labels palette, enter the text, and then customize the text using the available options.
- Select the Log errors that result from processing files check box to record errors in a file without stopping the process.
- Click OK.
You can modify the size and resolution of a file after opening. However, be aware that changing the size and/or the resolution of an image forces Photoshop Elements to add or subtract pixels from the image in a process called interpolation. For example, when you change the resolution of an image from 72 ppi (pixels per inch) to 144 ppi, Photoshop Elements must add more pixels. Conversely, if you reduce the resolution, Photoshop Elements must remove pixels. The image interpolation method determines how Photoshop Elements completes this process. You can use the Nearest Neighbor method for the fastest way, but it produces the poorest visual image. Or, you can use the Bicubic Sharper method which takes the longest to perform, but produces the best visual results. In addition to changing the image size and resolution, you can also change the canvas size to add space on one or all sides, where you can add text or shape, or resize an image to fit the space.
- In the Editor, open the image you want to change.
- Click the Image menu, point to Resize, and then click Image Size.
- Select the Resample Image check box.
- Click the Resample Image list arrow, and then select an option:
Nearest Neighbor. Best for quick results with low quality.
Bilinear. Best for line art.
Bicubic. Best for most purposes with high quality (default).
Bicubic Smoother. Best for enlarging an image.
Bicubic Sharper. Best for reducing an image.
- To maintain image proportions, select the Constrain Proportions check box.
- Enter the desired sizes in the image size boxes.
If you choose to constrain proportions in step 5, when you change a size, the other boxes will adjust automatically.
- Click OK.
- In the Editor, open the image you want to change.
- Click the Image menu, point to Resize, and then click Canvas Size.
- Specify the canvas size you want:
Manual. Specify a width and height with the units of measurement you want.
Relative. Select the Relative check box to increase or decrease the canvas size by a specific amount. Specify a width and height amount (positive or negative).
- Click an anchor square to indicate where to position the existing image on the new canvas.
- Click the Canvas extension color list arrow, and the select a color: Foreground, Background, White, Black, Gray, or Other.
- Click OK.
The Full and Quick buttons on the Edit tab allow you to perform basic and advanced edits on your photos. Quick Edit allows you to make general fixes using Smart Fix and Red Eye Fix as well as make lighting, color, and sharpening adjustments. Many of the quick fixes can be done with an Auto button, which are also available on the Enhance menu, so you don’t need to be a professional. Photoshop Elements does all the work for you. If you want to make more advanced edits or add special effects to an image, Full Edit provides all the palettes you need.
- In the Editor, open the file you want to change.
- Click the Edit tab.
- Click the Full button on the Edit tab.
- Click the Window menu, and then click the palettes you want to display.
The Effects and Layers palettes appear by default.
- Display the Effects palette, click the All button, select the effect you want, and then click Apply.
To limit the display of effects, click the Filters, Layers Styles, or Photo Effects button.
- Display the Layers palette, and then use the layer options you want.
See Also
See Chapter 14, “Working with Layer Styles and Photo Effects,” on page 323 for information on using layer styles and photo effects.
See Chapter 10, “Working with Layers,” on page 203 for information on using layers.
- Click the Edit tab.
- Click the Quick button on the Edit tab.
- Display the General Fixes palette, and then use the options you want:
Smart Fix. Click the Auto button, or drag the slider to manually fix the image.
Red Eye Fix. Click the Auto button to correct red eye.
- Display the Lighting palette, and then use the options you want:
Levels. Click the Auto button to correct color levels.
Contrast. Click the Auto button to adjust contrast levels.
Lighten Shadows, Darken Highlights, or Midtone Contrast. Drag the sliders to adjust shadows, highlights, and contrast.
- Display the Color palette, and then click the Auto button, or drag the sliders to manually change colors.
- Display the Sharpen palette, and then click the Auto button, or drag the slider to manually sharpen the image.
- To display the before and after changes, click the View list arrow, and then click After Only, Before Only, Before & After - Horizontal, or Before & After - Vertical.
- To reset the options back to the original settings, click Reset in the document window.
The Guided button (New!) on the Edit tab makes it easy to perform basic photo editing, lighting and exposure fixes, color correction, photo touch ups, and photo blending. The photo editing options allow you to crop, rotate, straighten, and sharpen photos. If you need to fix a photo, you can touch up scratches, blemishes or tear marks as well as enhance colors, remove a color cast, and correct skin tone. If you want to create the perfect photo from a series, you can use Photomerge Faces or Group Shot to blend two photos together.
- In the Editor, open the file you want to change.
- Click the Edit tab.
- Click the Guided button on the Edit tab.
- Click the Guided option you want:
Crop Photo. Click the Crop Box Size list arrow, select an option, and then move or resize the crop box.
Rotate and/or Straighten Photo. Click the Maintain Image Size or Maintain Canvas Size option. Click the Rotate 90 Left or Rotate 90 Right button to rotate an image. Click the Straighten button, and then draw a line on the image to rotate it to the angle of the line.
Sharpen Photo. Click the Auto button or drag the slider to manually apply the sharpening.
Lighten or Darken. Click the Auto button, or drag the sliders to manually lighten shadows, darken highlights, and change midtone contrast.
Brightness and Contrast. Click the Auto button, or drag the sliders to manually change brightness and contrast.
Enhance Colors. Click the Auto button, or drag the sliders to manually change hue, saturation, and lightness.
Remove a Color Cast. Click the Color Cast Eyedropper tool, and then click on part of the image that you want to be pure gray, white, or black.
Correct Skin Tone. Click the Skin Tone Eyedropper Tool, and then click on a person’s skin to adjust the color balance. To manually make changes, drag the sliders for Tan, Blush, and Ambient Light.
Touch Up Scratches, Blemishes or Tear Marks. Click the Spot Healing Brush button, drag the slider to adjust the brush size, and then click the brush on the small flaw to remove it.
Click the Healing Brush button, drag the slider to adjust the brush size, alt+click in a good area of the image, and then drag over the large flaw to dissolve it.
Group Shot. Use to combine a person in one photo with the other people in another photo to create the perfect group photo.
Faces. Use to combine multiple facial features from multiple photos to create the perfect portrait.
- To display the before and after changes, click the After Only, Before & After - Horizontal, or Before & After - Vertical button; the button toggles between the three buttons.
- To reset the options back to the original settings, click Reset.
- Click Done to complete the changes or click Cancel to ignore the changes.
Before you save a file, you have the ability to save more than just color information. You can save copyright, camera, and even image category information. This data is saved with the file as metadata in the XMP format (Extensible Metadata Platform), and can be accessed by any application that reads XMP data. In addition, if the image is a photograph, you can save data on the type of image, where it was shot, the camera used, even information on shutter speed and F-Stop. That information will not only protect your intellectual property, but will supply you with vital statistics on exactly how you created that one-of-a-kind image.
- In the Editor, open the file you want to change.
- Click the File menu, and then click File Info.
- Click Description, and then enter information concerning the author and any copyright information.
- Click Camera Data 1 and 2, and then enter information about the camera that took the image.
If the picture was taken with a digital camera that records Metadata, much of this information will already be filled out.
- Click History to view historical information on the active document, such as last opened and saved, and a list of adjustments performed on the image.
- Click IPTC Contact, Content, Image, and Status to enter information concerning the image’s creator, description and keywords, image physical information such as: city and date created, copyright and usage terms.
- Click Adobe Stock Photo to display information about Stock Photo images.
- Click Advanced to view high-end information on the active document, such as EXIF, and PDF document properties.
- Click OK.
Did You Know?
You can add metadata to files saved in the psd, pdf, eps, png, gif, jpg, and tif formats. The information is embedded in the file using XMP (eXtensible Metadata Platform). This allows metadata to be exchanged between Adobe applications and across operating systems.
You can use the XMP Software Development Kit to customize the creation, processing, and interchange of metadata. You can also use the XMP kit to add fields to the File Info dialog box. For information on XMP and the XMP SDK, check the Adobe Solutions Network.
When you finish working on your Photoshop Elements file, you need to save it as a document or image file before you close it or exit Photoshop Elements. A document file (in the Photoshop format) contains one or more layers, which includes images, text, shapes, and adjustments. Before you save a file, there are questions that you must ask yourself first, like What is the final output of the image? Each output device, whether monitor or paper, requires a specific format, and it’s best to know this information at the beginning of the creation process. Knowing the final output of an image helps you create the design with the output in mind. In Photoshop Elements, you can save files in the Photoshop (PSD) document format (the default) or one of the other image formats, which includes JPEG, GIF, or PNG. When you save a file in an image format, multiple layers in a document are flatten into one.
- In the Editor, click the File menu, and then click Save.
- Enter a name for the file in the File Name box.
- Click the Format list arrow, and then select a format. (default: Photoshop (PSD, PDD))
- Click the Save in list arrow, and then choose where to store the image.
- Select from the available Save options:
Include in the Organizer. Makes the file available in the Organizer.
Save in Version Set with Original. Saves a copy of the edited file with the original in a version set.
As A Copy. Saves a copy of the file while keeping the current file on your desktop.
Layers. Maintains all layers in the image. If this option is cleared or unavailable, all visible layers are flattened or merged (depending on the selected format).
- Select from the available Color options:
ICC Profile. Embeds proof profile information in an untagged document. If the document is tagged, the profile is embedded by default.
- Select from other available options:
Thumbnail. Saves thumbnail data for the file.
To use this option, you need to click the Image Previews list arrow, and then select the Ask When Saving option in the Saving Files preferences in the Editor.
Use Lower Case Extension. Makes the file extension lowercase.
- Click Save, and then click OK, if necessary, to maximize the compatibility of the file save.
See Also
See “Understanding File Formats” on page 149 for information on the different file formats.
If you make a lot of editing changes to a file after you have saved it and then decide that you no longer want to keep the changes, you can use the Revert command on the Edit menu to revert back to the last saved version. The Revert action is also added as a history state in the Undo History palette, so you can undo it if you want. Every time you save your document, Photoshop Elements marks this point as the latest saved version used by the Revert command.
- In the Editor, click the File menu, and then click Save, if necessary.
This saves the document with the changes you want to keep.
- Edit the photo in Full Edit or Quick Fix with the changes you want.
- Click the Edit menu, and then click Revert.
See Also
See “Undoing and Redoing Actions with the Undo History Palette” on page 170 for information on using the Undo History palette.
Table . File Formats
Usage | |
|---|---|
Photoshop | Uses a PSD (Photoshop, default for a single page) or PDD format, which saves layers, notes, and color profiles. |
BMP | Uses a BMP (Bitmap), RLE, or DIB (Device Independent Bitmap) format. |
Camera Raw | Uses a TIF, CRW, NEF, RAF, ORF, MRW, DCR, MOS, RAW, PEF, SRF, DNG, X3F, CR2, ERF, SR2 format, which is taken from a digital camera. |
CompuServe GIF | Uses a GIF (Graphic Interchange Format) format, which is used for clipart and text for the web. A format for images on the web that only use 256 colors. GIF’s compress images by selectively disregarding color and repeating simple patterns. It supports transparency and animation. |
Photo Project | Uses the PSE format (default for a multi-page), which saves projects in Photoshop Elements. |
Photoshop EPS | Uses a EPS (Encapsulated PostScript Format) format, which saves vector information (i.e. paths). |
EPS TIFF | Uses the EPS (Encapsulated PostScript Format) format. |
Filmstrip | Uses the FLM format. |
JPEG | Uses a JPG, JPEG, or JPE (Joint Photographers Expert Group) format. A compression method used to reduce the size of image files primarily for the web. |
JPEG 2000 | Uses a JPF, JPX, JP2, J2C, J2K, or JPC (Joint Photographers Expert Group) format for compatibility. |
Generic EPS | Uses a AI3 (Adobe Illustrator), AI4, AI5, AI6, AI7, AI8, PS, EPS, AI, EPSF, or EPSP format. |
PCX | Uses a PCX (PC Paintbrush bitmap) format, which is used primarily in PC formats. |
Photoshop PDF | Uses a PDF (Portable Document File) format, which creates a file that can be read by anyone who has a PDF reader program (such as Adobe). |
Photoshop RAW | Uses a RAW format that is used for saving and transferring files between programs and computer platforms. |
PICT File | Uses a PICT or PICT Resource format that is used for the Macintosh operating system. |
Pixar | Uses the Pixar format for images that are high-end animation, and 3-D rendering programs. |
PNG | Uses the PNG (Portable Network Graphic) format. This is used for saving images onto the web that supports up to 16 million colors and 256 levels of transparency. |
Scitex CT | Uses the SCT (Continuous Tone) format in high-end Scitex image-rendering computers. |
Targa | Uses a TGA, VDA, ICB or VST format for high-end image editing on the Windows platform. |
TIFF | Uses a TIFF or TIF (Tagged Image File) format. This can be opened by most image- editing or layout program. A common format for printing and saving flat images without losing quality. |
Wireless Bitmap | Uses WBM and WBMP format. |
Compression is Photoshop Elements’ way of reducing the size of a document file. Kind of like the ultimate weight-loss program... just click a button, and the file is half its original size. Photoshop Elements employs two types of compress schemes: lossy and lossless. Lossy compression reduces the size of the file by removing color information... information that can never be restored to the saved document. Lossy compression schemes can achieve file reductions of 80 percent or greater.
The lossless method reduces file size by using compression algorithms that reduce the size of a file without removing image information. Lossy methods are used primarily for images displayed in browsers, or web images. The relatively slow speed of the Internet forces web designers, to employ lossy compression methods to reduce images down to their smallest values. Lossless methods are used when the reduction of a file is important, but not so much that you would consider removing information. For example, reducing the size of a group of high-quality TIFF images, so they fit on a rewritable CD. Lossless compression methods can reduce files sizes up to 50 percent, or even a bit more.
Lossy
Both methods compress files based on the actual image information. For example, images that contain a lot of solid color information would compress quite well using the GIF (Graphics Interchange) or PNG8 formats; where an image with a lot of soft blending colors, such as a photograph, would be best compressed using the JPEG (Joint Photographic Experts Group) format.
Lossless
Table . Format Type, Compression Type, and Output Uses
Compression | Output Use | |
|---|---|---|
JPEG | Lossy | Web/Slide Presentations. PDFs, photographs, and images that contain lots of colors that softly blend together. |
GIF | Lossless | Web. Clipart, text, and any images that contain solid colors and images with hard edges. |
PNG-8 | Lossless | Web. Clipart, text, and any images that contain solid colors and images with hard edges. |
PNG-24 | Lossless | Web/Slide Presentations/PDF/Print. Photographs and images that contain lots of colors that softly blend together. Because the PNG-24 format is lossless, it can not compress images as small as the JPEG format. Therefore, the JPEG format is still the format of choice for compressing images for the web. |
RLE | Lossless | Images. Images that have been reduced using runlength encoding. Black-and-white or cartoon-style graphics that contain transparent portions. |
CCITT | Lossless | Images. Images, such as faxes, that contain black and white colors. |
ZIP | Lossless | Used on all image types for Image Storage and Transfer. The Zip compression application lets you compress images without affecting image quality. To open a Zip image, you must have the Unzip application. |
LZW | Lossless | Used primarily on TIF images for Image Storage and Transfer. The LZW compression scheme lets you compress images without affecting image quality. To open an LZW image, the opening application must have the proper LZW decompress utility. |
To conserve your computer’s resources, close any Photoshop Elements files you are not working on. You can close open files one at a time, or you can use one command to close all open files without closing the program. Either way, if you try to close a file without saving your final changes, a dialog box appears, prompting you to do so.
