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photoshop elements: Photoshop Elements Selection Tools: The Magnetic Lasso - 12/25/07 10:01 AM
Merry Christmas, Photoshoppers. Here's a little gift for you. :-)
I confess. I don't even try to use the standard Lasso. It's beyond my limited skills.
The Magnetic Lasso is a different story. The Magnetic Lasso senses the edge of the object you are outlining, and snaps itself to that edge.
To try it out, first open the image file containing the object you want to select.
Click on the Magnetic Lasso Tool. If you only see the standard Lasso, click on the tiny arrow in the lower left corner by the Lasso icon. That will bring up the … (30 comments)
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photoshop elements: Create Image With Transparent Background - 12/08/07 06:53 AM
I'll put the little fish to work one more time before moving on to the magnetic lasso.
Suppose you need an image with a transparent background for your website or blog. A logo, maybe, and you need the background color or image of the web page to show right up to the edges of the logo, like this:
Instead of this:
Photoshop Elements Help files recommend using the background eraser. That works, but it can be time consuming. Here's one quickie way to create an image with a transparent background:
First I opened up the fish-mailbox image. Click on the magic wand.
Click the magic wand … (33 comments)
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photoshop elements: Photoshop Selection Tools: This Post Is NOT About The Magentic Lasso - 12/05/07 06:52 AM
The next tool up in my little series on Photoshop Selection tools is the magnetic lasso. This is NOT that post, but it is related.
The first step is setting up the magnetic lasso demo is to find an interesting image to demonstrate the technique. Thanks to Barbara-Jo and Bill of Exit Realty in Florida, I now have an image.
Barbara-Jo and Bill posted this blog a couple weeks ago. It is an image of a very clever fish mailbox. They want to isolate the mailbox object from the rest of the image. Perfect!
Mehmet Met Dilsiz, a pro photographer and photoediting expert quickly isolated the … (6 comments)
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photoshop elements: Photoshop Elements Selection Tools: The Magic Wand - 11/29/07 06:42 AM
The Magic Wand is such a simple tool that it does not even have a sub-menu. The Magic Wand makes selections by color rather than shape or outline. It is the selection tool of choice when selecting an irregularly shaped object of a fairly uniform color.
One classic application of the Magic Wand is selecting the sky in a photo; usually with the intent of swapping a dull sky out for a brighter one.
To start, open your image, and click on the Magic Wand.
Click on the sky.
When you release the mouse button, notice how the Magic Wand has selected all areas in a … (15 comments)
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photoshop elements: Photoshop Elements Selection Tools: The Marquee Can Do More Than You Think - 11/23/07 08:30 PM
The Marquee tool just doesn't get any respect.
Most folks figure out how to use the Marquee tool pretty quickly. Just click on the tool. Click on a starting point in your image, and drag.
However, with a little ingenuity, the Marquee tool can be used to make fairly complex selections. And it can make them easily and quickly. For me, at any rate, in many cases, this little trick is simpler and faster than using one of the lasso tools.
Open your image. Click on the Marquee Tool. If the Rectangular Marquee icon is displayed, click on the tiny arrow, and choose Elliptical Marquee … (12 comments)
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photoshop elements: Being Selective: Photoshop Elements Selection Tools - 11/22/07 07:29 AM
Using interesting effects in Photoshop Elements sometimes requires selecting just a portion of an image. For example, maybe you want to select one person in a group shot.
Photoshop provides several different selection tools, but figuring out which tool to use for which job can be a challenge; not to mention mastering the use of the particular tool. Have you ever had the lasso go skittering across the screen with a mind of its own? Oops.
Here is a quick review of the available selection tools. Over the next several days, I plan to focus on some of the tools individually.
Unless you've done some … (4 comments)
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photoshop elements: Photoshop: Blending Mode: Easy Way To Dodge And Burn - 11/17/07 07:00 AM
In an old school photographic chemical darkroom, the terms "Dodge" and "Burn refer to slectively lightening or darkening a portion of an image. The Dodge technique was used to lighten a portion of an image. The Burn technique was used to darken a portion of an image. The tools used for these techniques were rather large and cumbersome. (Also master photographers used them for years to create exquisite reults. Think: Ansel Adams.)
Photoshop/Photoshop Elements include digital Dodge and Burn tools, and while they are simple enough to use, many Photoshop artists prefer Dodging and Burning in Blending Mode. Why? With a blending … (11 comments)
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photoshop elements: Photoshop Elements for Real Estate Group - 11/14/07 05:40 AM
As you may know, the Photoshop Elements for Real Estate Group was founded by Mike Stankewich in March of 2007. Unfortunately, Mike passed away in May of 2007.
While I had previously mentioned I'd be willing to become moderator for the group, I really didn't know which Active Rain chieftain I should approach with the proposition.
Until yesterday. When I came across Kathy McGraw's blog post here and learned that Bob Stewart was the Active RainMan to call.
I shot a quick email off to Bob, and not only did he turn on administrator controls for me within minutes, he also called me on the telephone! That … (11 comments)
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photoshop elements: Bad MLS Photo, Can't Be Saved, Becomes Art - 11/13/07 06:11 AM
This image is Athol Kay's Bad MLS Photo of the Day #207 from November 2, 2007. Yes, it is underexposed. Yes, it is so badly out of focus that even Photoshop's advanced sharpening tools don't help much. (Unless some of the real Photoshop gurus here want to give it a try!)
But, hey, I see some artistic potential here. The image kind of makes me think of sweet old grandmother's house: Comfy, overstuffed, floral print sofa and chair; lots of family photos crowded on top of a carefully polished table. A metal-leg dinette table in the kitchen where family members gather to talk over … (17 comments)
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photoshop elements: Photoshop Elements: Fast And Easy Blue Skies - 11/11/07 04:06 PM
The technique I posted earlier is handy for making the sky darker, but what if you want is a cheerful, bright blue sky?
The quickest route to a bright, blue sky, is simply replacing it.
This technique takes a little prep work. You'll need to shoot some photos of bright, blue skies. (Note to self: Next time I'm in Tucson, I need to take some more sky photos.) Or find some sky images on a royalty-free/creative commons web site.
OK. Once you have your sky photo, open it side by side with your property photo. Both images should be the same size. Resize one (or … (41 comments)
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photoshop elements: Photoshop Elements: Darkening The Sky - 11/11/07 07:04 AM
Yesterday, I brightened up a Possum here: Photoshop Elements: Screen Layers (It's easier than it sounds)
There's one problem with the final image, though. The sky is too light. How many Possums do you see out in bright daylight?
Here's a quick technique to intensify the sky in any image. Open the image in Elements:
Click on the Magic Selection Brush.
Click on the possum and roughly follow his outline, then "doodle" over the rest of his body. The idea is just mark over all his color variations. The purpose of this? We're going to apply some virtual "masking tape" over the possum, so … (14 comments)
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photoshop elements: Photo Editing Poll Results As Of 11/10/2007 - 11/10/07 08:38 AM
Here are the Photo Editing Software poll results as of Saturday morning 11/10/2007, 6:30AM PST.
I'm going to decide that, so far, this, confirms my plan to continue using Adobe Photoshop Elements 5 for tutorial posts. I'm thinking that owners of the newest full version Adobe Photoshop CS3, probably already know as much, if not more, as I do about using this fabulous software. :-)
If you haven't yet cast your vote, the poll is here:
http://activerain.com/blogsview/264955/Poll-What-Photo-Editing
… (7 comments)
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photoshop elements: Photoshop Elements: Screen Layers (It's easier than it sounds) - 11/10/07 06:36 AM
(I haven't yet checked the Photo Editing poll results this morning, so I'm sticking with my theory that creating these demos in Photoshop Elements 5 is a good idea.)
Screen Layers are an easy way to correct underexposure. Many Photoshop users correct underexposure by clicking Enchance -> Adjust Light -> Levels.
And that's fine. But next time you have a "too dark" image to fix, give this simple technique a try.
Open the image. One of my possums will model for this little demo.
I want to brighten him up just a little. Click Layer -> Duplicate Layer. (Just do it, don't worry if … (7 comments)
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photoshop elements: Photoshop Elements: Case Study #3 - 11/06/07 08:30 AM
This was going to be a short post with a few additional photo editing tricks. But the Bad MLS Photo of the Day #22 that I snatched from Athol Kay's blog begged for more. Fasten your seat belts, this will be a long ride.
Here's the photo:
Biggest problem: I don't think it's a good idea to have people, especially kids, in an MLS photos. Pets, I don't mind, as long as the pets are not engaged in activities that might alarm folks more delicate sensibilities.
Cloning is certainly one option to remove the kid. But I want to demonstrate a slightly … (21 comments)
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photoshop elements: Photoshop: Finishing Up With The Healing Brush - 10/31/07 07:04 AM
Mehmet Met Dilsiz, of FND Photography made this comment on my Photoshop: Removing A Vechicle With The Clone Stamp
Create another layer and fill it up with one color. (doesn't matter which color but I usually use white). And the use the HEAL tool. Select the new layer and the use your ALT-CLICK to set the reference area on the new layer. And then go over the driveway, this should make the colors on the driveway a little more harmonized...
This is such a good tip, I wanted to try it out.
Mehmet, please let me know if I haven't followed quite correctly!
This … (5 comments)
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photoshop elements: Photoshop: Removing A Vechicle With The Clone Stamp - 10/30/07 08:50 AM
Vehicles just plain don't belong in real estate photos. There are several ways to remove a vehicle. Please keep in mind that Photoshop should be the Method Of Last Resort.
Method Number One: "Excuse me, I'm sorry to bother you, but do you suppose you could move your car for a few minutes, please? I need to take some marketing photos of this home. Thank you, I really appreciate it."
Method Number Two: "Would you hurry up and move that G** D*** F****** Piece Of S***, Now!!!"
Method Number Three: Shoot from an angle where the vehicle is not visible. Walk up … (23 comments)
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photoshop elements: We Fix Pix - 10/27/07 06:36 AM
There are a number of people that specialize is searching out "bad MLS photos".
http://www.orlandorealestatephotography.com/bad_mls/bad_mls.html
http://www.reagentinct.com/category/bad-mls-photo-of-the-day/
http://activerain.com/blogsview/217901/BAD-PHOTO-Sinking
And I know there are many, many more examples out there.
Some of the photos are bad simply because no one asked the resident to remove his or her clutter-stuff before the photos were shot. Some are bad because they were taken from a particularly bad perspective: I.E., Nothing in the shot except one blank wall. Some are technically bad: Out-of-focus, underexposed, or over-exposed.
Some are bad, but fixable.
And that's my proposal for all you Photoshop Gurus out there. Find some bad but … (26 comments)
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photoshop elements: Making Do With Elements: Masks & Mixers - 08/25/07 07:30 AM
If you are following Bryce Mohan's posts on Layer Masks in Photoshop, you know the man is a master artist. And if you using full version Photoshop, the Channel Mixer is right here: Layer -> New Adjustment Layer -> Channel Mixer:
But, what if you are using Photoshop Elements? Well, you had to know there was some reason Elements costs about $60.00, while the full version Phhotoshop CS3 costs about $600.00. The reason is Adobe stripped a few things out of Elements to make it affordable for the average guy or gal. Channel Mixer was one of the casualties.
But not to worry. … (16 comments)
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Cheryl Johnson
Highland Park,
CA
More about me…
Cheryl Johnson, Bob Taylor Properties, Inc., Los Angeles, CA
Address: 5526 N. Figueroa Street, Los Angeles, CA, 90042
Office Phone: (323) 257-1080
Email Me
Caution: CAT BLOG AHEAD
Including random thoughts on life, art, business, stuff, and occasionally Real Estate.
According to Seth Godin: "Cat blogs are for, by, and about the person blogging. A cat blog is about your cat and your dating travails and your boss and whatever else you feel like sharing in your public diary."
Well, I am the boss, my dating years are behind me, but I do love my cats.
Enjoy!
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