Photoshop Elements Intermediate Classes

Instructor:  Al Crawford

This class will be taught with the assumption that the student is already using Photoshop Elements and has a working knowledge of the basic aspects of editing images with Photoshop Elements.   Students should be able to pick up techniques that they do not know or have not quite remembered.

Part III -- Advanced Enhancement Techniques

Photoshop Elements 9 has a number of powerful editing tools.  These include layer masks and content-aware tools.  We will examine these tools as well as some non-destructive techniques for dodging & burning as well as clone-stamp.  A couple of techniques for sharpening for the final print will also be examined.  

Removing Unwanted Items in Your Photo

  1. Open an image that contains some unwanted objects
  2. Create a new blank layer with the command "Layer - New Layer"
  3. Name the new layer "Healing Brush"
  4. In the tool bar select the Spot Healing Brush.
  5. In the tool menu bar make sure "Sample All Layers" is checked.
  6. Also in the tool menu bar make sure "Content-Aware" is selected.
  7. Adjust the size of the brush to be able to paint over the object you wish to remove.
  8. Click and hold the left mouse button and paint over the object you wish to remove.
  9. When you release the mouse button the computer will take a while to fill in the painted area.
  10. Repeat for other areas you wish to remove.

  11. (optional) select the area you wish to replace using the clone-stamp tool.
  12. Select the clone-stamp tool from the tool bar.
  13. Again make sure "Sample All Layers" is selected.
  14. Make your brush a good size to paint over the area you wish to replace.
  15. Find an area you would like to copy over the area you wish to replace.  Hold down the alt key and click the mouse.
  16. Make sure the Healing Brush layer is active.
  17. Move to area you are replacing and paint over that area.  Note:  If you have made a selection you can only paint within the selection.

  18. The Healing Brush layer contains all the images that are covering up the areas you wished to replace.  If you turn off this layer the original image will return.  If you erase part of this layer that portion of the original image will return.  You have not modified any of the pixels in the original image.

Selective Editing Using Layer Masks

  1. Open an image that needs corrections.
  2. Create a duplicate layer.  Name the duplicate layer "base"
  3. In the base layer make changes with a particular part of the image in mind (not being concerned with the rest of the image.)
  4. Create a layer mask with the command "Layer - Layer Mask - Reveal All" to create a layer mask.
  5. Where a layer mask is white the layer is visible.  Where a layer mask is black the layer is transparent and the layers below become visible.  Where a layer mask is gray the layer become partially transparent.
  6. Click on the mask and paint the mask black to block the corrections you did in step 3.  You have thus made selective corrections with the use of a layer mask.

Non-Destructive Dodging and Burning

  1. Open an image.
  2. With the command "Layer - New - New Layer" bring up the New Layer dialog box.
  3. Name the new layer "Dodge/Burn"
  4. Change the Mode to Overlay.  Check the box "Fill with Overlay-neutral color (50% gray)"
    In the overlay blending mode when the layer is darker than 50% gray it will darken the layer below.  When the layer is lighter than 50% gray it will lighten the layer below.  At 50% gray it will have no effect.
  5. Select the brush tool.  Make the mode "Normal" and the opacity low -- start with about 20%.
  6. For areas you wish to darken make the background color black and paint over the area you wish to darken.  While holding the left mouse button down you will darken the area you paint.  By releasing the mouse button and then paint again you will increase the darkening effect.
  7. For areas you wish to lighten make the background color white and paint over the area you wish to lighten.  While holding the left mouse button down you will lighten the area you paint.  By releasing the mouse button and then paint again you will increase the lightening effect.
  8. Optional:  Create a duplicate of the Dodge/Burn layer with the command "Layer -- Duplicate Layer"  This will double the effect of the layer.  You may reduce the opacity of the Dodge/Burn copy layer to achieve the desired level of change.

    Darken the edges
  9. With the command "Layer - New - New Layer" bring up the New Layer dialog box.
  10. Name the new layer "Darken Edges"
  11. Change the Mode to Overlay.  Check the box "Fill with Overlay-neutral color (50% gray)"
  12. Make the background color black.
  13. Select the brush tool.  Make the mode "Normal" and the opacity around 50%.
  14. Paint around the edges.  Note:  You will be making the edges too dark.  This will be corrected later.
  15. Blur the Darken Edges layer with the command "Filter - Blur - Gaussian Blur".  Set the Radius to 225 pixels.
  16. Reduce the opacity of the Darken Edges layer to achieve the desired effect.

Creating Panoramas

  1. Take two or more photos that overlap about 30% (more or less).
  2. Open the photos in Photoshop Elements.  It would be best if they are the only images open.
  3. Use the command "File - New - Photomerge Panorama"
  4. In the Photomerge click on "Add Open Files"
  5. In the left column normally you would check "Auto".  It that doesn't work as well as you would like start all over and choose another method.
  6. Make sure "Blend Images Together" is checked.
  7. Click OK.
  8. Photoshop will take a little time to process the images together.  When it is finished you will be asked "Would you like to automatically fill in the edges of your panorama?".  Click on "yes".  (Note:  It might be possible it will not be able to perform this task due to lack of memory.
  9. When finished your final  image is the top layer and each of your original images are each on their own layers (with proper layer masks.)

High Pass Sharpening

  1. If your image does not have layers create a duplicate layer and name that layer "High Pass".
  2. If your image has multiple layers select the top most layer and press Shift-Ctrl-Alt -E (claw - E) all at the same time.  This will create a new top layer which you should name "High Pass"  This High Pass layer will be the completed image.
  3. Use the command "Filter - Other - High Pass" to apply the high pass filter.  Ten (10) is a good starting point for Radius but it could be anywhere from 5 up to 100 or so depending on your image.  Click OK.
  4. Option 1:  Change the mode of the High Pass layer to Soft Light.  This is pretty much standard.
  5. Option 2:  Change the mode of the High Pass layer to Hard Light.  This likely will over sharpen but you can then adjust the opacity to achieve the desired sharpening effect.
  6. You may soften the sharpening effects by use of the eraser tool on portions of the image.

Blended Sharpening

  1. If your image does not have layers create a duplicate layer and name that layer "Sharpen".
  2. If your image has multiple layers select the top most layer and press Shift-Ctrl-Alt -E (claw - E) all at the same time.  This will create a new top layer which you should name "Sharpen"  This Sharpen layer will be the completed image.
  3. Sharpening an image effects the edges of an image.  This sharpening creates artifacts, some dark and some light.  When an image is over sharpened it is mostly because of the undesirable effects of the light artifacts.  This method removes the light artifacts.
  4. Change the blending mode of the Sharpen layer to "Darken"
  5. Use the command "Enhance - Unsharp Mask" to bring up the Unsharp Mask dialog box.
  6. Set the Amount to 500 (the max).  Set the Radius to between 1.5 and 4.  Set the Threshold to 0.
  7. Increase the Threshold until you get the desired sharpening effect.  You may also wish to lower the Amount.
  8. Frequently you still will need some of the normal sharpening.  You may use any method you wish.  This would be a good point to use High Pass sharpening.