Newbie needs HELP!

[Tatinkg]

Hello All!

This is my first post. I've had the PSE3 for only 2 days now and it has been challenging. Granted, I am not the most creative person or a graphic designer, I do have ideas in trying to create what I am envisioning. And in browsing through the forums here, I see that I have to really read the book, which I don't think I'll have time for as what I have is the 30 day free trial. I am trying to make layouts from my wedding pictures to create a coffee table photobook and I don't even know how to begin with PSE3.

At this point, I "thought" I have all the pictures that I was able to get from many cd's and my computer (that I've since purged) in My Organizer, but when I try to start a creation, it's not letting me do it. I know this will sound very idiotic, so please pardon my stupidity.

Do I need to have the picture somewhere in my computer to begin? Doesn't it save the pictures automatically? Also I've retouched some pictures, but some really need more help than the auto fix. I've gotten some pics from a camera that appears to have a yellow film on top that I want to get rid of. There is more as you can see, but basically I can't begin doing creations. PLEASE HELP! Thanks very much.

Kathy. :oops:

[MikeH]

Kathy,

Welcome to the forum! Let's work through this step by step... starting with the Organizer & Creations, then move onto dealing with your pictures, which we can definitely help you with. :)

Oh yes before we start - no question is idiotic or stupid on this Forum. We are all learning, it's just that some of us have been at it longer :).

So, about Organizer, when you say:

"I have all the pictures that I was able to get from many cd's and my computer (that I've since purged) in My Organizer"

Have you loaded pictures into PE3 and if so how did you do it? When you open the Organizer, does it display any pictures? What do you mean by "since purged"?

You do need pictures on your PC to make a creation (unless you are storing your Organizer catalog off line), but if you have loaded pictures into Organizer, then they are saved automatically.

"but when I try to start a creation, it's not letting me do it."

What exactly happens when you try to start a creation?

Lots of questions I know, but it will help me understand what is causing the problems and take you through it step by step.

Mike

[Tatinkg]

Hello Mike! Thanks for taking this on. :lol:

Okay, so what do I mean???

Have you loaded pictures into PE3 and if so how did you do it? When you open the Organizer, does it display any pictures?

YES! I uploaded most of the pictures to My Organizer and when I go on My Organizer, I do see them all. I basically searched my computer for the pictures that I want. I had some on cd's and some on my computer.

So it seems as though I did that right. At this point, I've also "Auto Fixed" most of them, but some will need more help. (I guess more on that later!)

What do you mean by "since purged"?

Since I've uploaded them all into My Organizer, I thought it would stay there and did not need the pictures on my computer, so some of the pictures that I had on my computer, I put them in the recycling bin. I guess that was a dumb move.

What exactly happens when you try to start a creation?

Since I'm interested in making photobook/album layouts, I start off with clicking on that. Then this is where I get lost. My monitor is probably too small, but the window the creation opens up is too big that I can't even go to the next step unless I minimize everything--even my toolbar on the bottom! I've tried making the window small, but it was still too big. But I know that's not a big deal...

All I want is to make jpeg layouts from my pictures. I do see the tutorials section here about layering and that's my main goal is to be able to put some pictures as layered looks.

So can I be helped further??? Thanks again for your help!

Kathy. :)

[MikeH]

Kathy,

OK...

Since I've uploaded them all into My Organizer, I thought it would stay there and did not need the pictures on my computer, so some of the pictures that I had on my computer, I put them in the recycling bin. I guess that was a dumb move.

All Organizer does it what it says - Organize the photos stored on your PC. You only have one version of the photo on your PC, you can store them where you like when you upload them - but the important thing to remember is that Organizer sets up a link with the file in that location.

PE3 creates a catalog of your pictures. What you see in Organizer is effectively a thumbnail of the picture, not the picture itself. So although you have deleted pictures the thumbnail will still appear in Organizer but probably with a red broken link icon. This means that Organizer can't find the picture in the location it was saved in.

These pictures you moved to the Recycle Bin, can you restore them or reinstall them from cd?



My monitor is probably too small, but the window the creation opens up is too big that I can't even go to the next step unless I minimize everything--even my toolbar on the bottom!

It sounds as though your screen resolution is set too low. PE3 needs 1,024 x 768.

Does this help so far?

Mike

[Tatinkg]

I guess that explains everything Mike.

As far as the pictures, yes, I can get them re-saved back into my computer. No problem.

I just checked the resolution on my computer and it was on 800x600. I've fixed it to the dimensions you mention.

Okay, let me try that and see if it works. I will certainly PM you or post again if I have any more issues. THANKS A MILLION! :)

Kathy. :D

[MikeH]

Kathy,

You're welcome... that's what this forum is all about!! :)

Sorry for not replying sooner, work took me away for a couple of days...

Now, onto the photos that have the "yellow film"... can you post an example so we can see exactly what the problem is?

You can upload pictures by going to www.pixentral.com (it's free), uploading the picture to that site and then posting the url here... or you can email an example to me (my address is in my profile).

Mike

[Tatinkg]

Hey Mike! Quite alright, I totally understand...if it's okay, I'll email you some of the pics that need the most help. After following what you said, I've dabbled a bit with the healing brushes, etc. to edit it further than the quick fix, but I can't seem to get a grip on it. So please look forward to my emailing you some pics. It will be my work email so look for: gucek@icahnhouse.org. Just to alert you in case it might be in your junk mail pile. THANKS AGAIN!

:D

[MikeH]

Kathy,

OK...I'll be at my main PC later so I'll pick the photos up then and take a look at what's needed.

Mike

[MikeH]

Kathy,

I've got the photos... the good news is that I'm sure all is not lost :)

Can you resend them as attachments though, so I have the actual file not a cut & paste of it?

Mike

[Tatinkg]

Hey Mike! I just sent you the picture files as attachments. It's a pretty big file. SORRY ABOUT THAT! But I had to change email addresses as the other address took forever to upload the file. So watch for an email from: tatinkg@hotmail.com. THANKS! Hear from you soon!

Kathy.

[MikeH]

Kathy,

I got them ok... I'm out and about today, back late tonight so I will have a go at fixing one of them on Saturday and let you know how I get on :)

Mike

[Tatinkg]

Sounds good Mike! I will check on here periodically. Enjoy.

[MikeH]

Here's how this finished up for anyone else who may have similar problems..

Kathy's pictures had two basic problems - they were slighlty under exposed and had a yellow tint.

To fix the under exposure:

I made a copy of the Background Layer and changed the blending mode of these Layers to Multiply. Just one layer made the photos too dark so I adjusted this by reducing the Opacity, in this case to around 30%.

To correct the colour cast:

The best way I have found to remove a colour cast is with Color Variations. It's under Enhance > Adjust Color > Color Variations. This brings up a window that looks more complicated than it really is....

There are six thumbnails Increase / Decrease Red , Increase / Decrease Green, Increase / Decrease Blue, plus two others for Lighten and Darken.

You can remove a colour cast by increasing or decreasing Red, Green or Blue. Kathy's pictures had a Yellow cast... To decrease Yellow, you increase Blue. So I increased blue by two clicks and then lighten once. The strength of the color can be altered using the r"Adjust Color Intensity" slider.

If anyone has any questions please post, pm or email me.

Mike

[Tatinkg]

Mike, thanks so much for all your help. I had emailed you back, but this is yet another chance for me to say thank you! :D