Photo Shop Elements help (Vanity)

04-19-2010 | self

[valkyry1]

When using Photo Shop to cut a section of an image out of a picture, how do you return it to its exact position when finished changing its light qualities etc?

[valkyry1]

Thanks in advance

[SWAMPSNIPER]

I would make an adjustment layer, make adjustments on it, then use the eraser brush on the area I don’t want to change. I have version 7, don’t know about elements. Can you make layers>

[Doogle]

....when I had the original PS I used to make a copy to work off of.....*smiles*...I learned the hard way. I can’t help you now..sorry

[valkyry1]

I only have version 2 but it does work with layers.

[sydbas]

I would try selecting the area you want to alter, go CTL-J to jump the area to a new layer, and then make your alterations on the new layer.

[SWAMPSNIPER]

Click on layers, choose brightness or contrast. It will open an adjusment slider. when the part you want to change looks good use the eraser brush to remove the adjustment layer on the rest of the image. Use a soft brush to blend the edges. I can’t visualize the elements toolset. when you finish open the layers window and click on flatten image.

[cripplecreek]

I’m a CS3 abuser.

[SWAMPSNIPER]

I always make a Tiff copy before I do anything. When you mess with a JPG file too much it degrades.

[LittleBillyInfidel]

Swamps gave good advice. Also, when I finish and line it up from layer 2 over the original layer, I put on a temporary 50% opacity so I can be sure it’s perfect, then I turn off the opacity. Also, depending on what the subject matter is, I put a soft layer drop shadow on it which can help blend it a bit. Then make a “save as web” so that you can see it in preview and not accidentally flatten your psd file. You can see something I just did this to at YouTube by searching tiger woods roaring success radio hour.

[ErnBatavia]

You're pretty damn high tech for an old fart! I'm only 62, and I totally wasted (due to befuddlement) my Christmas gift of a few years ago....Paint Shop Pro 8. It's never been used.

Doctoring pics is something I'd love to be able to do.

[cripplecreek]

I took a couple of online college courses for the Photoshop CS3 but that just gave me the basics. I actually learn more from online tutorials for free.

[SWAMPSNIPER]

I have Paint Shop Pro 7 too. It is simpler than Photoshop but still a good program. I tried reading tutorials, they just confused me so I just messed around a lot. You can't hurt anything, go for it. Paintshop is set up different from Photoshop, the toolbars are different but most of the terminology is similar. You can do a lot with basic adjustments and the clone tool.

There was a period when I was too sick to go anywhere. I just messed with photo editing. The kids tried to keep me supplied with books but I read fast and even used books get expensive. I'd go nuts with nothing to do and I hate TV.

[SWAMPSNIPER]

I don’t use “save for web” It overcompresses the file. On the stuff I like I save a large Tiff file 2700 pixels wide and a JPG 800 pixels wide for sharing. On the 800 wide stuff I end up with a file about 200kb. I’ve been donating prints to a wildlife rescue center and the local humane society so I want a good strong file to send to the printer.

[SWAMPSNIPER]

I work on the basis that it’s O.K. to be poor if your resourceful LOL. Being broke and clueless leads to poverty!

[cripplecreek]

I still learn something new almost all the time but I can't stand video tutorials.

I took this last fall and considered it a throwaway because the sky was overexposed and you couldn't even make out the clouds. I stumbled across a trick the other day that made it a whole new picture.



All I did was open the original. Then make a new transparent layer. Next I put a black to transparent gradient from top to bottom and changed the blending mode to soft light and adjusted my opacity to where I liked it.

[SWAMPSNIPER]

That will do it. You can also open a brightness layer and use the multiply function. It is great when you have slight overexposure.

[cripplecreek]

I never get rid of my pictures unless they’re really bad. I save them all as RAW files on an external drive and if I find a tutorial I like I go looking through my junk photos.

I also can’t live without a tablet.

[ErnBatavia]

Well, since I received PSP 8, we’ve gotten a new computer with Win 7 - so now, being incompatible, the program is uninstallable and worthless. Damn.

[SWAMPSNIPER]

I’m resisting win 7 with all I’ve got. I don’t like vista. I may modify this computer and go back to XP. I’ve had vista since September, had to use the recovery disc twice. I’m glad I have carbonite backup. Vista is unstable, it just goes crazy after awhile. I’ve got a lot invested in a printer setup, it won’t work right with win 7.

[BufordP]

I don't know Jack about Photoshop. But maybe there's something here that can help:

You Suck At Photoshop