Are you a visual learner? Do you prefer instructions that show you how to do something — and skip the long-winded explanations? If so, then this book is for you. Open it up and you'll find clear, step-by-step screen shots that show you how to tackle more than 160 Photoshop Elements tasks. Each task-based spread covers a single technique, sure to help you get up and running on Photoshop Elements 12 in no time.

You'll learn to:

• Use both the Organizer and Editor
• Import photos from various sources
• Enhance lighting and color
• Restore old photos and add effects
• Save, back up, and share photos

Designed for visual learners

• Two-page lessons break big topics into bite-sized modules
• Succinct explanations walk you through step by step
• Full-color screen shots demonstrate each task
• Helpful sidebars offer practical tips and tricks

Mike Wooldridge (San Francisco, CA) has worked as a Web developer, technology writer, and educator since 1995. He is the author or co-author of more than a dozen books in the VISUAL series; most recently Teach Yourself VISUALLY Photoshop CC.

Chapter 1 Getting Started

Introducing Photoshop Elements 12 4

Understanding Digital Images 6

Start Photoshop Elements 8

Explore the Editor Workspace 9

Tour the Organizer Workspace 10

Switch between the Organizer and the Editor 11

Introducing the Photoshop Elements Tools 12

Switch Editor Modes 14

Work with Tools 16

Work with Panels 18

Set Program Preferences 20

View Rulers and Guides 22

Chapter 2 Importing and Opening Digital Images

Get Photos for Your Projects 26

Import Photos from a Digital Camera or Card Reader 28

Import Photos from a Scanner 30

Import or Search for Photos from a Folder 32

Open a Photo 34

Create a Blank Image 36

Save a Photo 38

Duplicate a Photo 40

Close a Photo 41

Chapter 3 Organizing Your Photos

Introducing the Organizer 44

Open the Organizer 46

Create a Catalog 48

View Photos in the Media Browser 50

View Photos in Full Screen 52

Display a Slide Show in Full Screen 54

View Photo Information 56

Add a Caption 58

Work with Albums 60

Find Photos 62

Rate Photos 64

View Versions of a Photo 66

Remove a Photo from the Organizer 67

Chapter 4 Using Advanced Organizing Tools

Perform an Advanced Search 70

Work with Keyword Tags 72

Define People in Photos 76

Define Places 78

View Places 80

Define Events 82

Using Smart Events 84

Work with People, Place, and Event Tags 86

Apply an Instant Fix 88

Stack Photos 90

Find by Visual Similarity 92

Chapter 5 Applying Basic Image Edits

Manage Open Images 96

Magnify with the Zoom Tool 100

Adjust the Image View 102

Change the On-Screen Image Size 104

Change the Image Print Size 106

Change the Image Canvas Size 108

Work in Quick Mode 110

Apply an Effect in Quick Mode 112

Add a Frame in Quick Mode 113

Crop an Image 114

Rotate an Image 116

Undo Changes to an Image 118

Revert an Image 119

Chapter 6 Making Selections

Select an Area with the Marquee 122

Select an Area with the Lasso 124

Select an Area with the Magic Wand 128

Select an Area with the Quick Selection Tool 130

Select an Area with the Selection Brush 132

Save and Load a Selection 134

Invert a Selection 136

Deselect a Selection 137

Chapter 7 Manipulating Selections

Add to or Subtract from a Selection 140

Move a Selection 142

Apply the Content-Aware Move Tool 144

Duplicate a Selection 146

Delete a Selection 147

Rotate a Selection 148

Scale a Selection 149

Skew or Distort a Selection 150

Refine the Edge of a Selection 152

Feather the Border of a Selection 154

Chapter 8 Using Layers

Introducing Layers 158

Create and Add to a Layer 160

Hide a Layer162

Move a Layer 163

Duplicate a Layer 164

Delete a Layer 165

Reorder Layers 166

Change the Opacity of a Layer 168

Link Layers 169

Merge Layers 170

Rename a Layer 171

Create a Fill Layer 172

Create an Adjustment Layer 174

Blend Layers 176

Add a Layer Mask 178

Edit a Layer Mask 180

Chapter 9 Enhancing and Retouching Photos

Quickly Fix a Photo 184

Remove Red Eye 186

Retouch with the Clone Stamp Tool 188

Remove a Spot 190

Sharpen an Image 192

Merge Group Shots 194

Recompose a Photo 196

Create a Photo Panorama 198

Fix Keystone Distortion 200

Chapter 10 Enhancing Lighting and Color

Adjust Levels204

Adjust Shadows and Highlights 206

Change Brightness and Contrast 208

Using the Dodge and Burn Tools 210

Fix Exposure 212

Using the Blur and Sharpen Tools 214

Adjust Skin Color 216

Adjust Color with the Sponge Tool 218

Replace a Color 220

Turn a Color Photo into Black and White 222

Add Color to a Black-and-White Photo 224

Adjust Colors by Using Color Curves 226

Apply the Auto Smart Tone Tool 228

Chapter 11 Apply Guided Edits

Restore an Old Photo 232

Improve a Portrait 234

Shift Colors 238

Apply a Lomo Camera Effect 240

Add Motion with Zoom Burst 242

Miniaturize Objects with Tilt Shift 244

Turn a Photo into a Puzzle 246

Apply a Reflection248

Put an Object Out of Bounds 250

Apply a Low Key Effect 252

Chapter 12 Painting and Drawing on Photos

Set the Foreground and Background Colors 256

Add Color with the Brush Tool 258

Change Brush Styles 260

Using a Brush to Replace a Color 262

Adjust Colors with the Smart Brush 264

Draw a Shape 268

Draw a Line 270

Apply the Eraser 272

Apply a Gradient 274

Add Content from the Graphics Panel 276

Chapter 13 Applying Filters

Blur an Image 280

Distort an Image 282

Turn an Image into a Painting 284

Turn an Image into a Sketch 286

Add Noise to an Image 288

Pixelate an Image 290

Emboss an Image 292

Apply Multiple Filters 294

Chapter 14 Adding Text Elements

Add Text298

Change the Formatting of Text 300

Change the Color of Text 302

Create Warped Text 304

Add an Effect to Text 306

Add Text along a Selection 308

Add Text in a Shape 310

Chapter 15 Applying Styles and Effects

Add a Drop Shadow to a Layer 314

Add a Fancy Background 316

Add an Outer Glow to a Layer 318

Add a Fancy Covering to a Layer 320

Add a Watermark 322

Apply a Photomerge Style 324

Apply an Effect with an Action 326

Add to Favorites 328

Chapter 16 Saving and Sharing Your Work

Save a Photo for the Web 332

Convert File Types 334

E-Mail Images with Photo Mail 336

Print Photos 340

Create a Slide Show 342

Create a Photo Book 346

Share Photos on Facebook 350

Share a Photo on Twitter 354

Export Photos356

Export Photos to Adobe Revel 358

Back Up Photos 360

Index 362