01/09/2010 by admin.

To set Photoshop CS through to CS5’s and Photoshop Elements’ Foreground and Background Colour Swatches to the default Black and White Colour Swatches; press your Keyboard’s D Key.

And then to swap their colours, tap your Keyboard’s X Key.

Best Wishes.

Wendi E M Scarth. (1st September 2010)  - Free Photoshop Elements Tutorials.

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01/07/2010 by admin.

This tip demonstrates how to change Photoshop CS, CS2, CS3, CS4, CS5, Paint Shop Pro and Photoshop Elements’ Shortcut icon; that is, the icon that’s clicked to start the programme. Bear in mind, when selecting a replacement icon you can either select one of Photoshop’s (or Paint Shop Pro’s) built-in icons, or you can select an icon of your choice, perhaps one you have created yourself or downloaded to your PC.

To begin, right-click over a Shortcut icon: I am demonstrating this tip using Photoshop Elements.

Then from the subsequent Properties dialogue box, click the Shortcut tab, and then click the Change Icon tab, then click OK.  As demonstrated below.

Then from the subsequent Change Icon dialogue box, either select an icon that you have created or downloaded, by clicking the Browse tab to search your PC, then navigate to the folder where your icon has been previously saved: then highlight the icon and then click OK.  Alternatively, left-click to select an icon from Photoshop’s or Paint Shop Pro’s own icon library - as illustrated below, and then click OK.

After clicking OK the icon will then represent your choice.

Congratulations, you have changed your programme’s start icon, and it can be changed back to its original icon at any time in exactly the same way.

Best Wishes.

Wendi E M Scarth. (1st July 2010)  - Free Photoshop Elements Tutorials.

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01/06/2010 by admin.

If you find Photoshop CS, CS2, CS3, CS4, CS5 (Extended) or Photoshop Elements Editor is misbehaving to the extent that it won’t open, or is behaving in such a manner that you are considering reinstalling it, try deleting the Preference first.  Deleting Photoshop’s Preferences has saved me from reinstalling Photoshop and Photoshop Elements on more than one occasion.  This is how to safely delete Photoshop’s Preferences.

Preferences Note
Photoshop remembers environmental preferences for example, Tool settings and the last File Format utilised by storing the information in a file every time you close Photoshop.  When Photoshop behaves erratically, deleting the Preferences  can get Photoshop to work properly again.  Because of the number of times the Preferences File is altered and updated, it’s always in danger of becoming corrupt: - as long as you back up any new files, for example, Brushes or Actions; deleting the Preferences File won’t delete your newly created (or downloaded) files.

Tip
Prior to deleting Photoshop’s Preferences, back up to an external drive your newly created Brushes and Custom Shapes, etc.

Now, to delete Photoshop’s Preferences, first power up Photoshop as usual: then (before Photoshop has time to load its settings), immediately press the Ctrl+Shift+Alt Keys all at the same time.

Note
You will find this easier if you hover your fingers over the three keys, just before powering up Photoshop.

If you have followed my previous steps correctly, (pressing Ctrl, Alt and Shift before Photoshop opens), you will see the following “Delete Preferences” dialogue box.

Now, (to delete Photoshop’s Preferences), click Yes.

Photoshop will then delete its Preferences File and it, Photoshop, will open.  You will then have to reset your Preferences.

To access Photoshop’s Preferences dialogue box, from the top menu, choose Edit then choose Preferences: (Ctrl then K).

Now, make your choice from the subsequent Preferences dialogue box, and then click OK.

Best Wishes.

Wendi E M Scarth. (1st June 2010)  - Free Photoshop Elements Tutorials.

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06/05/2010 by admin.

This tip is suitable for Photoshop CS, CS2, CS3, CS4, CS5 (Extended) and Photoshop Elements Editor.

When implementing the Paint Brush or Eraser Brush Tools for precise intricate work, you will find it helpful to display your Brush Tool’s Crosshairs.  To display Photoshop’s Brush Tool Crosshairs, from the top menu, choose Edit then choose Preferences then choose Cursors.  From the subsequent Preferences dialogue box, mark Crosshairs and Full Size Brush Tip - as illustrated below - then click OK.

Tip
For personal results; explore the Painting and Other Cursors settings.

Best Wishes.

Wendi E M Scarth. (6th May 2010)  - Free Photoshop Elements Tutorials.

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01/04/2010 by admin.

To quickly scroll through your Fonts using Paint Shop Pro, Photoshop CS, CS2, CS3, CS4 (Extended), and Photoshop Elements,  first,  activate the Text/Type Tool.  Then from the Type/Text Tool’s Option Bar, highlight a font by passing   your cursor over it: (Don’t left-click).

Then highlight (scroll through) different fonts by tapping any Keyboard Arrow Key. (I am using Windows XP).

Change Applied Text’s Font: Photoshop & Photoshop Elements Only
To change the font after you have applied your text: (first apply your text), then left-click over a font to highlight it: now, tap any Keyboard Arrow Key, and the applied text will change accordingly.

Adobe Photoshop And Elements Tip: Enlarge The Fonts’ Preview Size
To enlarge the Fonts’ Preview Size, from the top menu, choose Edit then choose Preferences then choose General - Ctrl then K.  From the subsequent Preferences dialogue box, click the Type tab. Then change the Font Preview Size, and click OK - as illustrated below.

Best Wishes.
Wendi E M Scarth. (1st April 2010)  - Free Photoshop Elements Tutorials.

Posted in Photoshop Elements, Paint Shop Pro Hints/Tips, Photoshop Hint/Tips | Print | No Comments »

05/03/2010 by admin.

This tip demonstrates how to constrain text inside a rectangular-shaped box: I am using Photoshop Elements 8.  First, open an image onto Elements’ workspace.

Then from the left-side Toolbar, activate the Horizontal Type Tool (Text Tool Tutorial Here).

Now, left-click over your image and drag out a Rectangular-Shaped Bounding Box, as illustrated below.

Then type in your desired text.  The Bounding Box will then constrain it to a rectangular shape.

Note
Both the text and the bounding box can be edited.

To edit your Text: first highlight it with your cursor, then from the Tool Options Bar, change the text’s attributes.

Link Here to learn how to Resize, Reshape or Reposition the Text’s Bounding Box.

Best Wishes.
Wendi E M Scarth. (5th March 2010)  - Free Photoshop Elements Tutorials.

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05/02/2010 by admin.

(I am utilising Photoshop Elements 8, and running Windows XP).

If you are finding Photoshop Elements’ Welcome Screen distracting, and you would prefer the Full Editor to automatically launch when you start Elements, (without having to click the Welcome Screen’s Edit tab) - this tip will show you how to create a Quick Launch button; that, once created, will take you straight to Elements’ Full Editor, every-time.

First, close Photoshop Elements.  Then via Windows Explorer, (or your systems’ equivalent), navigate to Photoshop Elements’ main program files: (Windows XP, Start, then Computer then Boot C Files then Program Files then Adobe then Photoshop Elements.

Now, double-left-click Elements’ folder, illustrated above, and once inside, you will see the following PhotoshopElementsEditor.exe file.

Now, simply left-click and drag a copy of this file onto your Desktop; or to a different location - for example, your Shortcuts list, as illustrated below.

Alternatively, right-click the file, and from the subsequent drop-down list choose Pin to Start Menu.

Now, whenever you click the PhotoshopElementsEditor.exe Shortcut you have just created, Photoshop Elements’ Full Editor will launch, and you won’t see the Welcome Screen.

Wendi E M Scarth. (5th February 2010) - Free Photoshop Elements Tutorials.

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