Introduction 1 What''s New in Photoshop Elements 1 About This Book 2 Icons Used in This Book 3 Beyond the Book 3 Where to Go from Here 4 Part 1: Getting Started with Photoshop Elements 5 Chapter 1: Exploring the Photo Editor 7 Examining the Photo Editor 7 Examining the image window 11 Uncovering the contextual menus 15 Selecting the tools 15 Selecting from the Tool Options 17 Playing with Panels 19 Using the Photo Bin 22 Chapter 2: Getting Familiar with the Organizer 23 Touring the Organizer 24 Organizing Photos and Media on a Hard Drive 27 Adding Images to the Organizer 27 Adding files from folders and removable media 28 Downloading camera images with the Elements Downloader 30 Importing additional photos from folders 32 Navigating the Media Browser 33 Setting Organizer Preferences 34 Chapter 3: Organizing Your Pictures 37 Organizing Groups of Images with Tags 38 Rating Images with Stars 39 Creating an album 40 Editing an album 42 Adding People in the Media Browser 42 Chapter 4: Viewing and Finding Your Images 45 Cataloging Files 45 Using the Catalog Manager 46 Working with catalogs 47 Backing up your catalog 48 Switching to a Different View 50 Viewing Photos in Memories (Slideshow) 50 Searching for Photos 52 Using Search 52 Searching by history 54 Searching metadata 54 Searching similarities 56 Part 2: Selecting and Correcting Photos 59 Chapter 5: Editing Camera Raw Images 61 Launching the Camera Raw Editor 61 Understanding Camera Raw 62 Learning Raw file format attributes 63 Opening images in the Camera Raw Editor 64 Getting Familiar with the Raw Editor 65 Getting Familiar with the Panels 69 Using the Basic panel 70 Sharpening and reducing noise 73 Using the Calibration panel 75 Working with Filmstrips 76 Working with Profiles 78 Looking at the Adobe Camera Raw profiles 78 Managing profiles 79 Creating a Favorites list 80 Opening Non-Raw Images in the Camera Raw Editor 80 Changing Image Defaults 81 Working with XML Files and Preferences 81 Changing program defaults 81 Using Save Options 83 Using sidecar files 84 Chapter 6: Making and Modifying Selections 85 Defining Selections 85 Creating Rectangular and Elliptical Selections 86 Perfecting squares and circles with Shift and Alt (Option on the Mac) 88 Applying Marquee options 88 Making Freeform Selections with the Lasso Tools 90 Selecting with the Lasso tool 91 Getting straight with the Polygonal Lasso tool 93 Working Wizardry with the Magic Wand 94 Talking about Tolerance 94 Wielding the Wand to select 95 Modifying Your Selections 97 Adding to, subtracting from, and intersecting a selection 98 Avoiding key collisions 98 Painting with the Selection Brush 99 Painting with the Quick Selection Tool 101 Selecting with the Auto Selection Tool 103 Selecting Your Subject, Background, or Sky with One-Click Selecting 105 Fine-Tuning with the Refine Selection Brush 106 Working with the Cookie Cutter Tool 108 Eliminating with the Eraser Tools 110 The Eraser tool 110 The Background Eraser tool 111 The Magic Eraser tool 113 Using the Select Menu 113 Selecting all or nothing 113 Refining the edges of a selection 114 Chapter 7: Working with Layers 117 Getting to Know Layers 117 Converting a background to a layer 118 Anatomy of the Layers panel 119 Using the Layer and Select menus 122 Tackling Layer Basics 124 Creating a new layer from scratch 124 Using Layer via Copy and Layer via Cut 126 Duplicating layers 126 Dragging and dropping layers 127 Moving a Layer''s Content 127 Transforming Layers 128 Flattening and Merging Layers 129 Flattening layers 130 Merging layers 130 Chapter 8: Simple Image Makeovers 133 Cropping and Straightening Images 133 Cutting away with the Crop tool 134 Fixing distortion with the Perspective Crop tool 136 Cropping with a selection border 137 Straightening images 138 Recomposing Images 139 Employing One-Step Auto Fixes 141 Auto Smart Fix 142 Auto Smart Tone 143 Auto Levels 144 Auto Contrast 145 Auto Haze Removal 145 Auto Color Correction 145 Auto Sharpen 146 Auto Red Eye Fix 147 Editing in Quick Mode 148 Fixing Small Imperfections with Tools 152 Cloning with the Clone Stamp tool 152 Retouching with the Healing Brush 155 Zeroing in with the Spot Healing Brush 157 Eliminating objects with the Remove tool 158 Repositioning with the Content-Aware Move tool 160 Lightening and darkening with Dodge and Burn tools 162 Smudging away rough spots 163 Softening with the Blur tool 165 Focusing with the Sharpen tool 166 Sponging color on and off 167 Chapter 9: Correcting Contrast, Color, and Clarity 169 Editing Your Photos Using a Logical Workflow 170 Adjusting Lighting 170 Fixing lighting with Shadows/Highlights 171 Using Brightness/Contrast 172 Pinpointing proper contrast with Levels 173 Adjusting Color 175 Removing color casts automatically 176 Adjusting with Hue/Saturation 177 Eliminating color with Remove Color 178 Switching colors with Replace Color 179 Changing an object''s color 181 Correcting with Color Curves 183 Adjusting skin tones 185 Defringing layers 186 Eliminating haze 187 Adjusting color temperature with photo filters 188 Mapping your colors 189 Adjusting Clarity 190 Removing noise, artifacts, dust, and scratches 191 Blurring when you need to 192 Sharpening for better focus 195 Opening closed eyes 198 Colorizing a photo 199 Smoothing skin 201 Adjusting facial features 202 Moving Overlays 202 Moving Photos 205 Moving Elements 206 Working Intelligently with the Smart Brush Tools 207 Part 3: Exploring Your Inner Artist 211 Chapter 10: Using Artificial Intelligence in Photoshop Elements 213 Using Adobe''s Integrated AI Technology 214 Using Quick Actions with One-Click 218 Adding content using Generative Expand 219 Selecting subjects 220 Removing backgrounds 220 Exploring other Quick Actions 220 Exploring New Generative AI Tools 220 Using the Generate Image tool 220 Using Generative AI with Creations 222 Inserting objects with Generative AI 224 Restoring photos 226 Removing distracting people in backgrounds 227 Getting AI Assistance 228 Chapter 11: Playing with Filters, Effects, Styles, and More 231 Having Fun with Filters 231 Applying filters 232 Corrective or destructive filters 233 One-step or multistep filters 233 Working in the Filter Gallery 233 Distorting with the Liquify filter 235 Correcting Camera Distortion 238 Exploring Elements'' Unique Filters 239 Creating a comic 240 Getting graphic 241 Using the Pen and Ink filter 242 Dressing Up with Photo and Text Effects 244 Adding Shadows, Glows, and More 246 Applying styles 247 Working with styles 248 Using the Graphics panel 249 Mixing It Up with Blend Modes 250 General blend modes 251 Darken blend modes 251 Lighten blend modes 251 Lighting blend modes 253 Inverter blend modes 253 HSL blend modes 255 Using Photomerge 256 Photomerge Panorama 256 Combine Photos 258 Chapter 12: Drawing, Painting, and Typing 261 Choosing Color 261 Working with the Color Picker 262 Dipping into the Color Swatches panel 263 Sampling with the Eyedropper tool 265 Getting Artsy with the Pencil and Brush Tools 266 Drawing with the Pencil tool 266 Painting with the Brush tool 268 Using the Impressionist Brush 270 Filling and Outlining Selections 272 Fill ''er up 272 Outlining with the Stroke command 273 Splashing on Color with the Paint Bucket Tool 274 Working with Gradients and Patterns 275 Applying a preset gradient 276 Applying a preset pattern 277 Creating Shapes of All Sorts 278 Drawing a shape 279 Editing shapes 280 Creating Type 281 Specifying Type Options 284 Editing Text 286 Enhancing Type 287 Adjusting type opacity 287 Applying filters to your type 287 Painting your type with color and gradients 289 Warping your type 290 Part 4: Printing, Creating, and Sharing 291 Chapter 13: Getting It on Paper 293 Getting Pictures Ready for Printing 294 Working with Color Printer Profiles 295 Printing a photo with the printer managing color 296 Printing a photo with Elements managing color 298 Printing a picture package or contact sheet 298 Getting Familiar with the Print Dialog Box 299 Using the Prints options 299 Chapter 14: Sharing Your Work 301 Using the Share Panel 301 Emailing photos 303 Sharing your ph.