The Hidden Power™ of Photoshop® Elements 3 RICHARD LYNCH SYBEX® The Hidden Power of Photoshop Elements 3 4385c00.qxd 11/7/04 11:25 PM Page i 4385c00.qxd 11/7/04 11:25 PM Page ii The Hidden Power of Photoshop Elements 3 RICHARD LYNCH SAN FRANCISCO | LONDON ™ ® 4385c00.qxd 11/7/04 11:25 PM Page iii Publisher: Dan Brodnitz Acquisitions Editor: Bonnie Bills Developmental Editor: Pete Gaughan Production Editor: Lori Newman Technical Editor: Jeff Foster Copyeditor: Sharon Wilkey Compositor: Maureen Forys, Happenstance Type-O-Rama CD Coordinator: Dan Mummert CD Technician: Kevin Ly Proofreaders: Jim Brook, Katherine Perry, Nancy Riddiough Indexer: Ted Laux Interior Design: Caryl Goska Cover Design: Ingalls + Associates Cover Photograph: Øivind Sandum Copyright © 2005 SYBEX Inc., 1151 Marina Village Parkway, Alameda, CA 94501. World rights reserved. No part of this publication may be stored in a retrieval system, transmitted, or reproduced in any way, including but not limited to photocopy, photograph, magnetic, or other record, without the prior agreement and written permission of the publisher. An earlier version of this book was published under the title The Hidden Power of Photoshop Elements 2 © 2003 SYBEX Inc. Library of Congress Card Number: 2004109320 ISBN: 0-7821-4385-7 SYBEX and the SYBEX logo are either registered trademarks or trademarks of SYBEX Inc. in the United States and/or other countries. Screen reproductions produced with FullShot 99. FullShot 99 © 1991-1999 Inbit Incorporated. All rights reserved. FullShot is a trademark of Inbit Incorporated. The CD interface was created using Macromedia Director, COPYRIGHT 1994, 1997-1999 Macromedia Inc. For more information on Macromedia and Macromedia Director, visit http://www.macromedia.com. SYBEX is an independent entity and not affiliated with Adobe Systems Incorporated, the pub- lisher of Adobe ® Photoshop Elements ® software. This is an independent Sybex publication, not endorsed or sponsored by Adobe Systems Incorporated. Adobe ® and Photoshop ® are trade marks of Adobe Systems Incorporated. TRADEMARKS: SYBEX has attempted throughout this book to distinguish proprietary trade- marks from descriptive terms by following the capitalization style used by the manufacturer. The author and publisher have made their best efforts to prepare this book, and the content is based upon final release software whenever possible. Portions of the manuscript may be based upon pre-release versions supplied by software manufacturer(s). 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Copyright laws apply to both shareware and ordinary commercial software, and the copyright Owner(s) retains all rights. If you try a shareware program and continue using it, you are expected to register it. Individual programs differ on details of trial periods, registration, and payment. Please observe the requirements stated in appropriate files. Copy Protection The Software in whole or in part may or may not be copy-protected or encrypted. However, in all cases, reselling or redistributing these files without authorization is expressly forbidden except as specifically provided for by the Owner(s) therein. 4385c00.qxd 11/7/04 11:25 PM Page vi Acknowledgments The listof names that help me with these books grows longer as I do more of them, but the core of those who help day-to-day remain much the same. While I am sure I would get up most mornings anyway, Sam, my faithful, furry alarm clock-helper makes sure I am up and at it. My wife, Lisa, and children, Julia and Isabel, patiently not only allow the work to go on, but put up with the always-elongated projects—that cut into vacation and family time—and put up with the massing piles of equipment, programs, and wires, as well. Murphy doesn’t contribute much these days but a pose, lap warming, or occasional hairball that can all, in their own way, be welcome distractions. Inanimate objects, like my computer, which continues to function through obvious adversity, and my shower, which somehow is a companion in hashing out the most complicated proce- dures, both play a silent part in helping me get the work done. ■ Companions in “the busi- ness” include Al Ward ( http://actionfx.com), Greg Georges (www.reallyusefulpage.com) and Fred Showker ( www.graphic-design.com)—friendlier, more insightful folk I am unlikely to meet, each willing to give their time and lend an ear when it is most important. Doug Nelson ( retouchpro.com) and Susan Stewart I thank for their like willingness to test and offer consistently valid opinions—and for the free time they give to helping answer user questions. Thanks to many nameless others who have lent a hand, posted a review, sent a friendly e-mail, or mentioned the book in a forum or newsletter. ■ The strangest of thanks to Jeff Schultz of Pearson for having the foresight to cut off several book projects that were in the works at Que to make me all the more determined to succeed in a bigger way elsewhere—contracts be damned, Jeff. ■ Thanks to all those in publishing who have helped get me started, including Stephanie Wall and Mitch Waite (both formerly of Waite Group Press), and those who kept me going, including Beth Millett and Bonnie Bills. Thanks much to the current Sybex crew who have put their stamp on this edition of Hidden Power: Lori Newman (who pushes, kindly), Pete Gaughan, Jeff Foster, and Sharon Wilkey. Thanks to those others behind the scenes: Dan Brodnitz, Senoria Bilbo Brown, Rodney Koeneke, Dan Mummert, and Rodnay Zaks. ■ A grand thanks to all the readers who purchased the book and any additional Hidden Power tools or who down- loaded the free stuff, confirming for me and assuring the publisher that there really is a market of advanced Elements users out there who need to get more from Elements. Dedicated to all those users who want a little more from Elements. 4385c00.qxd 11/7/04 11:25 PM Page vii 4385c00.qxd 11/7/04 11:25 PM Page viii Foreword Some of the bestfriendships are often unexpected. About three years ago I posted a note to a Photoshop forum hosted by Richard Lynch. After a bit of conversing I realized that not only did this guy know his way around Photoshop, but he’s a heck of a nice guy to boot. I’m pleased to call Richard not only my peer, but my friend as well. ■ I have to admit, I used to be a Photoshop purist. I was one of those people who scoffed at the idea of any software being worth its salt against the Big Daddy. Imagine my disbelief when Richard asked me if I’d ever consider teaching or writing about Photoshop Ele- ments. But with a little effort, Richard eventually opened my eyes to the fact that Photo- shop Elements is an incredibly powerful and capable program. ■ Photoshop Elements has the functionality to edit and create professional images and graphics. And with the new features in Photoshop Elements 3, it’s even easier for users to achieve corrections and manipulations that at one time only Photoshop could do. ■ As I learned, the potential of Elements may not be immediately obvious, and that is where Richard’s book steps in. The Hidden Power of Photoshop Elements 3 reveals capabilities you might never know existed in the software. It also provides Richard’s power-boosting tools that further shorten the list of things Elements “can’t do.” ■ If you haven’t already, BUY THIS BOOK. I stand by my assessment that there is no other person on the planet who knows Photoshop Elements like Richard does. Once again he converts a kid’s bike into a Harley: He takes Elements, a very affordable piece of software, and shows how it can tackle tasks just like its big brother Photoshop. Other books give you the basics; this book gives you both the tools that help make your images look great and the skills to use those tools. With Richard Lynch leading the way, you’ll be a pro in no time. —Al Ward, certified Photoshop addict, author, and trainer; webmaster, Action Fx Photoshop Resources ( http://actionfx.com); author, Photoshop for Right Brainers: The Art of Photo Manipulation, Al Ward’s Photoshop Produc- tivity Toolkit: Over 600 Time Saving Actions, Photoshop Elements 2 Special Effects 4385c00.qxd 11/7/04 11:25 PM Page ix [...]... from the drop-down list at the topleft of the palette—this will populate the effects categories in the drop-down list on the right Choose the Power categories (PowerSeparations, PowerTools1, PowerTools2, and PowerBonus) to reveal the power tool listings The use of most of the tools is discussed in the book The bonus tools are extra tools These are described in the readme file for the tools on the CD... about in The Hidden Power of Photoshop Elements 3 tear down the wall of difference between Photoshop and Elements I use the same techniques in both programs these days, and—except for a few differences in the interface—I often forget which program I’m in The most obvious fact is that it doesn’t matter, but the hidden fact is that I learned my current techniques from Elements, not Photoshop Using the techniques... Appendix ■ Other Concepts and References 31 5 The Toolbox 31 6 Resolution 31 9 File Types 32 6 Bit Depth 32 8 Blending Modes 32 9 Camera RAW Files 33 1 Working with RAW Images from Your Camera 33 3 Advantages and Disadvantages of 16-bit? 33 7 Reader Requests 33 8 Index 33 9 Introduction I’d been a photography-book editor, digital retoucher, and Photoshop author for 10 years, using Photoshop as my primary image-editing... understanding the process is a better, more fundamental, way to look at and understand images from the ground up I learned a lot in the process of discovering Elements, and as a result I’ve gone back to the fundamentals of working with images I wrote The Hidden Power of Photoshop Elements 2 to capture that discovery in hopes of helping other users understand the power of the program and what they can do... on the forum for the book (visit the website for the forum link: www.hiddenelements.com) These Hidden Power tools will enable you to access additional tools for Elements such as Curves or Color Balance, and they will condense some of the longer step-by-step procedures you’ll learn in the book into clicks of the mouse I expect to expand on these tools even more after the release of this book Check the. .. techniques in this book, you won’t often be left using Elements limply and apologetically, as if you were banging in screws with your hammer; you’ll be using a regular screwdriver the proper tool—to fasten your screws The Goal of This Book The goal of The Hidden Power of Photoshop Elements 3 is to take apart the process of correcting images and the images themselves You’ll learn professional corrections that... installer Target the installation by choosing the Elements program folder when prompted; be sure to carefully read the instructions as they appear on-screen You’ll need a password for the installation, and these are provided here: Operating System Installer Password PC/Windows HpforPE3.exe hiddenpower3 Macintosh Hidden Power for Elements 3 hiddenpower3 If you have any trouble with the tool installation,... respond personally to e-mail as often possible, and I look forward to your input Frequently asked questions will be answered in the Hidden Power of Photoshop Elements Newsletter Additional information can be found on the website for the book or the Sybex website The Hidden Power Websites I’ve set up a website with more information about the book at www.hiddenelements.com The site includes information... search for lynch), and click Go to get to the book’s update page The Hidden Power Newsletter The Hidden Power of Photoshop Elements Newsletter keeps you up to date on any changes, notifies you of any tools I’ve made available, and answers frequently asked questions I send the newsletter to all subscribers; the frequency of the newsletter depends on the volume of questions All you have to do is subscribe... Now, in The Hidden Power of Photoshop Elements 3 the goal is to clarify and expand on that first attempt based on the feedback I received, as well as create a toolset compatible with the changes in the Elements program and interface Both books free up powerful image properties and provide tools for users that help make Elements a serious professional image-editing tool As a 12+ year veteran of digital . The Hidden Power of Photoshop Elements 3 RICHARD LYNCH SYBEX® The Hidden Power of Photoshop Elements 3 438 5c00.qxd 11/7/04 11:25 PM Page i 438 5c00.qxd 11/7/04 11:25 PM Page ii The Hidden Power. your screws. The Goal of This Book The goal of The Hidden Power of Photoshop Elements 3 is to take apart the process of correct- ing images and the images themselves. You’ll learn professional. that the techniques you’ll read about in The Hidden Power of Photoshop Elements 3 tear down the wall of dif- ference between Photoshop and Elements. I use the same techniques in both programs these