Learning Adobe Photoshop Elements 7 - Modifying Images

Learning Adobe Photoshop Elements 7 By Greg Bowden

Chapter 3

Modifying Images

Guided Computer Tutorials www.gct.com.au

PUBLISHED BY GUIDED COMPUTER TUTORIALS PO Box 311 Belmont, Victoria, 3216, Australia www.gct.com.au © Greg Bowden This product is available in Single or Multi User versions. Single-user versions are for single student or teacher use at any particular time, just as a single text book would be used. If you intend to use the notes with multiple students the single user version should be upgraded to the multi-user version. Multi-user versions allow the school or institution to print as many copies as required, or to place the PDF files on the school network, intranet and staff laptops. A certificate of authentication is provided with multi-user versions. Bookmarks provide links to all headings and sub-headings, and individual chapters are provided.

First published 2009 ISBN: Module 1: 1 921217 72 3 Module 2: 1 921217 73 1

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Modifying Images Photoshop allows you to make extensive changes to graphics. In this chapter we will look at a few examples including distorting images and applying filters and effects.

Selecting the Correct Layer Each time you pasted an object into the Pets background the new object was placed in a separate layer. So the background is in one layer, the cat in another layer and the dog in a third layer. To edit an object you must select the layer that it is in. 1

Load Photoshop Elements in EDIT MODE and open your PETS.PSD file.

2

When you wish to edit part of a picture you select the appropriate layer.

3 Select the MOVE TOOL and click on the CAT. It’s layer (Layer 1) is selected in the LAYERS palette.



The Liquify Filter The LIQUIFY filter allows you to modify the appearance of an object. 1



Display the FILTER menu, highlight DISTORT and select LIQUIFY. The cat should be displayed in the LIQUIFY dialogue box.

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2 The LIQUIFY TOOLS are displayed at the top left of the dialogue box and the TOOL OPTIONS (Brush Size, Brush Pressure, etc.) at the right.

A The Hand Tool The HAND TOOL allows you to drag the image around the view area. 1

Press CTRL+ a few times to zoom in on the cat.



2 Select the HAND tool and drag the cat to the top left of the view area.

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B The Warp Tool The WARP TOOL pushes pixels (screen units) forward as you drag the mouse.

1 Select the WARP TOOL (the top tool) or press the W key.

2 Move the cursor, which is a circle, over the cat’s tail. Hold down the mouse button and drag the tail to the left or right and up or down to distort it.

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Click on the REVERT button in the OPTIONS at the right of the dialogue box and the image will be returned to its original state (you can also press CTRL+Z to UNDO the last step of the effect).

4 Set the BRUSH SIZE box to 30 in the TOOL OPTIONS and warp the tail again to see the effect that the different brush size has.

5



Click on the REVERT button at the right of the dialogue box or press CTRL+Z to UNDO the effect.

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6 Set the BRUSH PRESSURE to 20 and try warping the tail again. The smaller BRUSH PRESSURE makes the warping more gradual.

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Click on the REVERT button to UNDO the effect.



8 Increase the BRUSH PRESSURE to 80 and try warping the tail again.

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9 Experiment with some other warps around the face and ears.

C The Reconstruction Tool The RECONSTRUCTION TOOL gradually rebuilds parts of your image back to its original state. It is very handy if you change the image more than you intended and you just want sections to be a little less pronounced. 1 Select the RECONSTRUCTION TOOL (the third last tool). You can also press E to select it.

2 Click a few times on some of the changes that you made and the program will gradually return that section to its original state. 3



Click on the REVERT button to restore the image to the original shape.

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D Twirling You can spin part of an image either clockwise or counter clockwise.

1 Select the TWIRL CLOCKWISE TOOL (the third tool). You can also press R to select it.

2 Set the BRUSH SIZE to 70, the BRUSH PRESSURE to 80, move the brush over the cat’s face, hold down the mouse button for a second and the cat’s face will be twisted in a clockwise direction.

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Revert the image to its original shape. 4 Select the TWIRL COUNTER CLOCKWISE TOOL (the fourth tool). You can also press L to select it.

5 Hold down the mouse button for a second with the brush over the cat’s face and its face will be twisted in a counter clockwise direction.

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Revert the image to its original shape.

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