Simulated Alpha Channels – Part III

Simulated Alpha Channels – Part III

Simulated Alpha Channels
With the mask corrected, and the flower layer’s visibility turned back on, the image looked as shown bel …

Simulated Alpha Channels – Part II

Simulated Alpha Channels – Part II

Simulated Alpha Channels
Before attempting to paint close to the flower’s edges, zoom way in so you can see exactly what you̵ …

Simulated Alpha Channels – Part I

Simulated Alpha Channels – Part I

Simulated Alpha Channels
[Please note: Elements 2 allows the saving of selections as alphas. However, since you can’t see or edit them …

Symmetrical Flowers – Part II

Symmetrical Flowers – Part II

Symmetrical Flowers
With the top, newly merged layer selected in the Layers palette, use the rectangular marquee tool to once again dr …

Symmetrical Flowers – Part I

Symmetrical Flowers – Part I

Symmetrical Flowers
[Written for Elements 1. Users of version 2, please note that the command to flip a layer is now found at Image &g …

Artistic Filtering – Page 5

Artistic Filtering – Page 5

Artistic Filtering
Here are two possible methods for altering a male portrait to “depersonalize” it, or make it into a generic …

Artistic Filtering – Page 4

Artistic Filtering – Page 4

Artistic Filtering
The next filter I used was Underpainting (Filter > Artistic > Underpainting). Remember to select the back …

Artistic Filtering – Page 3

Artistic Filtering – Page 3

Artistic Filtering
The following examples use the same method as has already been described. (Draw your black outline on its own l …

Artistic Filtering – Page 2

Artistic Filtering – Page 2

Artistic Filtering
Use the History palette to undo the Poster Edges filter and the Blend Mode change. Then, with the background co …

Artistic Filtering – Page 1

Artistic Filtering – Page 1

Artistic Filtering
[The Ctrl-J shortcut for duplicating a layer or selection contents to a new layer is disabled in Elements 2. Us …

Redeye Removal IV

Redeye Removal IV

Redeye Removal
The second, faster but not as nice method for redeye correction is as follows.     As with the …

Redeye Removal III

Redeye Removal III

Redeye Removal
     Use the paintbrush tool to paint with black on your image around the edge of where the red …

Redeye Removal II

Redeye Removal II

Redeye Removal
With the selection active, click on the New Adjustment Layer button at the bottom of the Layers palette (the black and w …

Redeye Removal I

Redeye Removal I

   Redeye Removal
     How to remove redeye is one of the most frequently asked questions in the Photosho …

Hacking Preferences and Documents part 1

Hacking Preferences and Documents part 1

Photoshop, ImageReady, and Bridge all use preference files to store application settings. For example, the Adobe Photoshop CS2 Prefs fi …

Using Palettes – History

Using Palettes – History

As you apply changes to your document, the histories feature creates snapshots and stores them in RAM or on your hard disk that you hav …

Learning Effects – Part 4

Learning Effects – Part 4

Learning Effects
Step back in your History palette to before the Brushed Metal effect. Clear your history, too, if you like. You can a …

Using Palettes – Info

Using Palettes – Info

The Info palette displays color values of the pixels beneath the pointer and, depending on which tool is currently active, measurements …

Learning Effects – Part 3

Learning Effects – Part 3

Learning Effects
Before we apply another effect, click on the first state in the History palette before the Asphalt effect, and then c …

Using Palettes – Tool Presets

Using Palettes – Tool Presets

The tool options that appear on the Option bar when you select a tool can be saved in a preset and stored in the Tool Presets palette f …