Introduction

There are lots of programs out there that you can use to edit your photos, from freeware that never seems to get out of the beta stage, to expensive packaged software that makes your head spin with its plethora of features. Presumably you’ve made your choice—Adobe Photoshop Elements—and I think it’s a good one. As a total Photoshop geek, I think Photoshop Elements is the next best thing to “big” Photoshop, and that makes it perfect for people who don’t want to be geeks.

In Using Adobe Photoshop Elements 8, you’ll see how Photoshop Elements combines almost all the power of Photoshop with its own incredible ease of use. This is not an encyclopedia; rather than listing Photoshop Elements’ every command, button, and dialog box in excruciating detail, I’ve chosen to show you the best way to do the things you actually want to accomplish in Photoshop Elements.

We’ll start by taking a good look at the Organizer, which is the part of Photoshop Elements where your photo catalog lives. You’ll learn how to add photos to your collection, how to organize them in different ways, and how to find the pictures you want when you want them.

Then we’ll move on to the really fun stuff, which is found in the Editor. In these chapters, you’ll learn how to use Photoshop Elements’ tools to clean up and edit your pictures so that they look their best. I’ll show you how to make quick fixes—instant improvements to color, lighting, and clarity—and how to apply similar improvements manually, for the greatest possible control and precision.

Finally, we’ll take a look at all the ways Photoshop Elements can help you share your photos with others: by printing, by putting them on the Web, and even by turning them into clever and useful objects such as calendars and coffee mugs. Scrapbookers will especially love the elaborate layouts they can create quickly and easily with Photoshop Elements’ built-in templates and embellishments.

You can read Using Adobe Photoshop Elements 8 in whatever way works best for you. You can skip around and read a section here, then another section there, or you can read the book from cover to cover if you prefer. Whichever method you choose, be sure you don’t miss the audio and video extras you’ll find on the website. You’ll find screencasts that walk through complex tasks step by step, which are great for those times when you just need to see it done. And podcasts enable you to kick back and take time to mull over more-general, less-technical topics.

Let me show you how Photoshop Elements can help you make the most of your photos, so the memories that they represent will be even more vivid and will stick with you longer. Let’s jump on in!

Using This Book

This book allows you to customize your own learning experience. The step-by-step instructions in the book give you a solid foundation in using Adobe Photoshop Elements 8, while rich and varied online content, including video tutorials and audio sidebars, provide the following:

• Demonstrations of step-by-step tasks covered in the book

• Additional tips or information on a topic

• Practical advice and suggestions

• Direction for more advanced tasks not covered in the book

Here’s a quick look at a few structural features designed to help you get the most out of this book.

LET ME TRY IT tasks are presented in a step-by-step sequence so you can easily follow along.

SHOW ME video walks through tasks you’ve just got to see—including bonus advanced techniques.

TELL ME MORE audio delivers practical insights straight from the experts.

Special Features

More than just a book, your USING product integrates step-by-step video tutorials and valuable audio sidebars delivered through the Free Web Edition that comes with every USING book. For the price of the book, you get online access anywhere with a web connection—no books to carry, content is updated as the technology changes, and the benefit of video and audio learning.

About the USING Web Edition

The Web Edition of every USING book is powered by Safari Books Online, allowing you to access the video tutorials and valuable audio sidebars. Plus, you can search the contents of the book, highlight text and attach a note to that text, print your notes and highlights in a custom summary, and cut and paste directly from Safari Books Online.

To register this product and gain access to the Free Web Edition and the audio and video files, go to quepublishing.com/using.