Hi there

[victry1]

Hi there,

I recently bought Photoshop Elements 4.0 for the Mac. My initial desire was to be able to have more editing capabilities and also to remove people and pets from pictures and set them in different backgrounds. I have learned the basic steps to do that. (By no means proficient-especially when I see some of the work displayed here).

Of course, Elements is so full of stuff to do, I have to admit I'm a little overwhelmed. So, if anyone could help me focus and learn the basics (what's most important to learn), I sure would appreciate it. I'm also wondering if something is wrong with my product as it doesn't always behave.

I thought there were online tutorials, but it seems you have to subscribe....Also, if it's not asking too much, if you could make some suggestions what I could do with this picture, I'd appreciate it. http://homepage.mac.com/victry1/.Pictures/Kaz.jpg. If it still doesn't show up, just go to: http://homepage.mac.com/victry1/.Pictures/Kaz.jpg

BTW, I'm from North Jersey & my name is Eleanor.

[Aussie Nan]

Hello Eleanor, welcome to the forum. I love doing the challenges and have learned so much from participating. Just look under challenges and contests.
There's a weekly homework session, and also a weekly crop session, and I try to participate in both. You don't have to be a subscriber to participate in these, but I sure would recommend subscribing. The tutorials are invaluable, and the newsletter really great. As far a 'hobbies' go it is still very cheap if you average it over the year compared to other hobbies.

As far as your snapshot is concerned, I'm just a beginner myself, but I would try the levels adjustment first, and then try to bring out the eyes somehow.
Lovely looking dog by the way.

Toni

[Wendy]

Hi Eleanor ...

... and welcome to the forum :)

I too would suggest that you do subscribe ... there really is a lot for the subscription fee. Last time I counted there were over 200 Video tutorials and around 100 written ones, plus there are also some downloads and you get a Gallery to show off your work :)

It really is great value ...

Now about your photograph what sort of thing do you want to do with it ??

Wendy

[kevq]

Eleanor
Welcome, I would recommend that you subscribe.
Here is a quick one I did of your lovely dog Kaz. It will give you some idea of what you can do using Elements.
To view just click on the thumb nail.
Kev.

http://www.pixentral.com/hosted/1OgP64H0C2SPm5nWROfWeeuoRoZiD1_thumb.jpg (http://www.pixentral.com/show.php?picture=1OgP64H0C2SPm5nWROfWeeuoRoZiD1)

[Goofup]

Cute dog.

I see 5 problems with the picture.

1- The blown out background. Kevq gave you an example of how you could replace the background with sky, and did a nice job with the replacement(!), but now it looks like poor doggie is sitting on the edge of a cliff. What I did was just use the Clone tool and cloned the grass up over the blown out parts.

2- Bad purple cast. Went into Color Variations, moved the slider down from the default so the changes weren't so drastic, and deceased the blue a time or two. Looked a little dark in the preview so also hit Lighten one time.

3- Fuzzy. Went into Adjust Sharpness and adjusted.

4- Flat. Went into Brightness/Contrast and brightness at -25, contrast at +25.

5- Finally, really bad CA (cromatic abboration), or purple fringing, especially around the tips of his ears. There's several ways to fix it, but for that small and easy an area I just zoomed in and cloned the purple part out using nearby parts of his ear.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v27/goofup/reworks/dogredo1.jpg

[cats4jan]

Hi Eleanor

I suggest you use the old "learn as you go" way of learning Elements.

When you decide to do "something" - learn the technique to accomplish that - then go on to another project. The learning happens while you are trying to accomplish a specific task.

There is no set way of learning Elements. I started out learning Elements so I could make better greeting cards. Photo manipulation was limited to straightening my photo and sizing it to place in a greeting card.

Others may never want to make a creation out of their photos, but rather fix a photo for a 4x6 print.

So, decide what you want to do - try to do it - when you get stuck - come here.

And I have to agree with the theory that working on specific projects through this subscriber site is a great way of learning Elements - plus it makes you feel like a part of the community. It's great fun to have input when you accomplish a difficult task.

I wish I had found this site earlier in my "learning curve" - but still - every day - I learn how to finesse my techniques.

And as far as you having a "bad" copy of Elements because it "misbehaves" - well, that could be true - but, in reality, most of the grief we have with Elements is because we are doing something wrong and Elements won't "let" us continue. Those annoying pop up screens "yelling at us" - they get us all. LOL

[Hibe]

Welcome Eleanor,

My name is Gary and I'm from Philly (not originally). We're in the same boat. I'm new to PSE although I'm on a XP platform. I was told that I would find Elements a bit overwhelming so I expected it. First thing I did after I bought and installed it was subscribe. I am learning quite a bit from these forums. I don't have a lot of time through the day to work with Elements since I spend so much time at work (I'm there now actually) and it's hard remembering all the different techniques. So I'm looking for a good tutorial book. I've had a couple of reccommendations. www.photoshopelementsuser.com/forum/showthread.php?t=29969 I just need to take a look at them and decide.

Good luck,

Gary

AKA

[Vesta]

Welcome Eleanor.

The more you practice the easier it gets. There is always going to be something new to learn as other are so willing to share what they have learned but I have found if I repeat an effect or technique the more i begin to understand it. Sometimes when someone asks for help on a image they have posted I will download it myself and try things on it that others have suggested.

I would suggest as the others have subscribe ,subscribe, subscribe!!!


Vesta

[Hankw]

Hi Eleanor:

Here is another example of your photo. I am new at this and this is the first time I have replied with some PSE trials. As you can see my work is nothing to brag about but it is a lot better than it was a few weeks ago. I would really-really suggest subscribing. I muddled around for a while and finally decided I knew nothing and would never get it. I read the forums and try to duplicate the others and their examples. I took the Layers course and next on to the Blending course. Now: What I did was: Duplicate layer. selected Katz, on another layer used Gausian Blur @4, and used adj.layer and painted him back in. Oh, and I used the clone stamp to cover some of the blades of grass. it's far from perfect but I hope this gives you a desire to go for it. Hankw

http://www.pixentral.com/hosted/1IFvYurBRBgIXCwhqqnxaI4Gku2Og_thumb.jpg (http://www.pixentral.com/show.php?picture=1IFvYurBRBgIXCwhqqnxaI4Gku2Og)

[cats4jan]

Hank - like I said - the learning comes from the projects. Where I was failing in my learning process is that I wasn't trying all the different options of the tools. I was "stuck" in default - afraid to try something. Grabbing someone's photo like you did - and trying to improve upon it - well, that's the best way to learn.

I have had at least a dozen graphic design programs from a basic $10 one to Elements - and I have to say Elements was the only software I had grief with. It's just not intuitive.

My Elements Mantra:

It's all about the layers

It's all about the tools

You can't do anything without first grabbing a tool -

And almost all your grief is caused by not being on the proper layer

[victry1]

Hi all,

Thank you everyone for the warm welcome and many tips & suggestions. Thanks especially for your editing of my dog's picture. I know it was not a good one-it was actually taken with my cell phone. But, she is in end stage bone cancer (hence the missing leg) and I liked the shot I took. I'm downloading all the pictures and editing tips.

I did buy "The Missing Manual" which looks pretty good, but I think I'm going to get more out of video tutorials. & as many of you said-pick a project & learn as I go. Sounds like subscribing is the way to go & will do so as soon as I am able.

BTW, where are the challenges? I'm lucky to find my way back to this forum and have not seen the challenges-those sound like a good idea.

Thanks again & I will be back.