This weekend we are going to review blogs with great Tool  Tips for Photoshop and Photoshop Elements!

Sometimes it is nice to have all the blogs on a certain topic pulled together in one place so you can more easily get the information that you have been looking for!

Here are some blogs you might want to check out and learn more about tools in Photoshop or Photoshop Elements and how to use these tools in digital scrapbooking or photo editing projects.

If you have been wanting to more about Photoshop or Elements and the tools to help you be a better when you are using these graphic programs then take a look at the following articles!

Blog article: Important Tool Tips for Advanced Scrapbookers and Photo Editors!

Blog article: Quick Tip: Select a Tool in Photoshop or Elements

Blog article: The Move Tool! Part 1

Blog article: The Move Tool Part 2

Blog article: The Paint Bucket Tool

Blog article: The Eraser Tool in Photoshop or Photoshop Elements Part 1

Blog article: The Eraser tool Part 2

Blog article: The Transform Command Part 1

Blog article: The Transform Command Part 2

Blog article: Using The Crop Tool

Blog article: Using the Eyedropper Tool in Photoshop or Photoshop Elements

Blog article: Advanced Eyedropper Tool in Photoshop

Blog article: The Marquee Tool Part 1

Blog article: The Elliptical Marquee Tool Part 2

Blog article: The Editor Mode – 3 Ways to Edit in Photoshop Elements!

Blog article: Getting Started with Layers in Photoshop and Elements

Blog article: Restore default preferences in the New Photoshop Elements!

Blog article: Redisplay disabled warning messages in Photoshop Elements

Blog article: Quick Tip: Move Text while in the Text Tool!

Blog article: 4 Steps to Straighten a Crooked Photo in Photoshop Elements

Bonus Help Article:
Blog article ~ Getting more Help with Photoshop and Photoshop Elements

Take some time and check out these blogs to find out about the tools, and see what creative things you can do using Photoshop or Photoshop Elements!

Have a very nice day!

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If you want to learn more about Digital Scrapbooking or Photo Editing please check out our Scrap Shop for great video tutorials!

Also check Digital Scrapbooks and More’s Scrap Shop for Digital Scrapbooking Supplies at – www.shop.digitalscrapbooksandmore.com

—

Learn Digital Scrapbooking  and start scrapbooking your family traditions:

Start Scrapbooking today!

Get the whole Getting Started Series for Photoshop Elements 9 on a handy CD!

The Getting Started Series in Digital Scrapbooking using Photoshop Elements 9 is the ultimate training! CD-set includes: tutorial videos, training guides for ALL Lessons (1-6) and lots of freebies too!

Start learning today! Get the downloadable lessons right now – you can get each of the Getting Started Lessons in downloadable versions now!

Need Photoshop Training?

No problem! Check out the Getting Started Series for Photoshop Users!

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All Getting Started in Digital Scrapbooking Lessons 1 – 6 come on a CD perfect to begin learning Digital Scrapbooking using Photoshop!

Or check out ALL the downloadable lessons here -

So many of us are familiar with the basics of using the tools, but sometimes we need to do special techniques in our projects that require us to know a little more about tools and their settings.

Knowing these tool settings and tips can help us with that special project as we use the tools  in digital scrapbooking or photo editing.

Note: Most these Tool tips work in both Photoshop and Photoshop Elements!

Here is a list of helpful tool tips:

Tool Tip 1: Show or Hide Tool Tips, and Set Shortcut for Cycling through Hidden Tools:
In Windows, choose Edit > Preferences > General.
(In Mac, choose Photoshop Elements > Preferences > General)
Set one or more of the following options, and click OK.
•Select Show Tool Tips to show or hide tool tips.
•Select Use Shift Key For Tool Switch to cycle through a set of hidden tools by holding down the Shift key. When this option is deselected, you can cycle through a set of hidden tools by pressing the shortcut key (without holding down Shift).

Tool Tip 2: Set the appearance of a tool pointer
In Windows, choose Edit > Preferences > Display & Cursors.
(In Mac, choose Photoshop Elements > Preferences > Display & Cursors)
Select a setting for the Painting Cursors:
Standard: Displays pointers as tool icons.
Precise: Displays pointers as cross-hairs.
Normal Brush Tip: Displays pointers as circles at 50% of the size you specify for the brush.
Full Size Brush Tip: Displays pointers as circles at the full size you specify for the brush.
Show Crosshair In Brush Tip: Displays cross-hairs in the circles when you choose either Normal Brush Tip or Full Size Brush Tip.

Select a setting for Other Cursors:
Standard: Displays pointers as tool icons.
Precise: Displays pointers as cross-hairs.

Tool Tip 3: Resize or change the hardness of painting cursors Tools
You can resize or change the hardness of a painting tool
To resize a cursor, right-click + press Alt (Windows) or Control + Option (Mac OS) and drag to the left or right.
To change the hardness of a cursor, press Shift + right-click + Alt (Windows) or Control + Option + Command (Mac OS) and drag to the left or right.

Tool Tip 4: Change the color of the Brush Tool
Select the Alt Key (PC) or Cmd Key (Mac) while in the paint tool and then sample color with the eye dropper tool that appears for short time, and then take finger off shortcut key and begin painting in new color

Tool Tip 5: Set tool options
The options bar appears below the shortcuts bar at the top of the workspace. The options bar changes as you select different tools. Some settings in the options bar are common to several tools, and some are specific to one tool.

Reset Tools to Default Settings in Elements:

Note: To return a tool or all tools to their default settings, click the tool icon, and then click the triangle in the options bar, then choose Reset Tool or Reset All Tools from the menu in Photoshop Elements.

Now Photoshop works a bit different than Elements on this tool tip, so see below how to do this tip in Photoshop.

Reset Tools to Default Settings in Photoshop:

See the image to the right in Photoshop and follow the arrows to Reset Tool or all Tools

To return a tool or all tools to their default settings in Photoshop, click the tool icon, and then click the triangle in the options bar ( #1), the click on the next triangle ( #2), then choose Reset Tool or Reset All Tools ( #3)from the menu in Photoshop

Tool Tip 6: Set a Beep when you have completed certain tasks with your tools.

Set a completed operations alert when certain tasks are completed with your tools do the following:

In Windows, choose Edit > Preferences > General.
(In Mac, choose Photoshop Elements > Preferences > General)
Then, select Beep When Done, and click OK.

Tool Tip 7:  Some Shortcut Keys for Selecting Tools

Use shortcut keys to quickly select tools for the Toolbox in both Photoshop and Photoshop Elements!

ok

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—

Learn Digital Scrapbooking  and start scrapbooking your family traditions:

Start Scrapbooking today!

Get the whole Getting Started Series for Photoshop Elements 9 on a handy CD!

The Getting Started Series in Digital Scrapbooking using Photoshop Elements 9 is the ultimate training! CD-set includes: tutorial videos, training guides for ALL Lessons (1-6) and lots of freebies too!

Need Photoshop Training?

No problem! Check out the Getting Started Series for Photoshop Users!

“The Getting Started Series in Digital Scrapbooking using Adobe Photoshop CS5 (or CS4) CD Training ” is the ULTIMATE digital scrapbooking training for beginners!

All Getting Started in Digital Scrapbooking Lessons 1 – 6 come on a CD perfect to begin learning Digital Scrapbooking using Photoshop!

—-

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Do not miss any Future FREEBIES!

Newsletter Members check your email each week for all the FREE digital scrapbooking items, members only discount coupons, and digital scrapbooking tips we send out!

Get a wonderful digital Digital Scrapbooking FREEBIEs, and start your saving all your families memories by Digital Scrapbooking!

- If you like our FREEBIES – Tell a FRIEND – have them Sign Up for the Digital Scrapbooking Newsletter too!

One of the first things you would do in digital scrapbooking is to select a tool to start scrapbooking like the Move Tool. You would use this tool to move your photos and digital scrapbooking supplies around to scrap them.

Then you might select the Text Tool to write a word or phrase to personalized your digital scrapbooking project. Selecting tools in Photoshop or Photoshop Elements is an important concept in digital scrapbooking or photo editing.

So, how  do you select a tool in Photoshop?

To select a tool in Photoshop Elements, do one of the following:

Click a tool in the toolbox area and select which tool you want to use.

For example, the Move Tool is being selected.

Also, if there is a small triangle in a tool’s lower-right corner, hold down the mouse button to view the hidden tools nested with the tool.

Then, click the tool you want to select.

Also, you can select a tool by using the shortcut key. Press the tool’s shortcut on your computers keyboard.

For example, you can select the Move tool by pressing the V key.

If you want to know what the shortcut key is then notice it is displayed as tool tip when your mouse hovers over it.

So, how  do you select a tool in Photoshop Elements?

To select a tool in Photoshop Elements, do one of the following:

Click a tool in the toolbox area and select which tool you want to use.

For example, the Text Tool is being selected.

Also, if there is a small triangle in a tool’s lower-right corner, hold down the mouse button to view the hidden tools nested with the tool. Then, click the tool you want to select.

Also, you can select a tool by using the shortcut key.

Press the tool’s keyboard shortcut. The keyboard shortcut is displayed in its tool tip. For example, you can select the Text tool by pressing the T key.

After you have selected your tool and selected the options for that tool, then you can use your tool on your digital scrapbooking project.

For example, in our example we used the Text Tool to type out some text on the tag in the digital scrapbooking page.

Now we have a very special and personalized digital scrapbooking project using some of the tools found in the Toolbox area of Photoshop or Elements!

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For more Digital Scrapbooking Kits, Custom Brushes, Holiday Digital Scrapbooking Kits, and more – visit the Scrap Shop!

—

Learn Digital Scrapbooking  and start scrapbooking your family traditions:

Start Scrapbooking today!

Get the whole Getting Started Series for Photoshop Elements 9 on a handy CD!

The Getting Started Series in Digital Scrapbooking using Photoshop Elements 9 is the ultimate training! CD-set includes: tutorial videos, training guides for ALL Lessons (1-6) and lots of freebies too!

Need Photoshop Training?

No problem! Check out the Getting Started Series for Photoshop Users!

“The Getting Started Series in Digital Scrapbooking using Adobe Photoshop CS5 (or CS4) CD Training ” is the ULTIMATE digital scrapbooking training for beginners!

All Getting Started in Digital Scrapbooking Lessons 1 – 6 come on a CD perfect to begin learning Digital Scrapbooking using Photoshop!

—-

Get FREE Digital Scrapbooking Supplies!

Get some good digital scrapbooking tips and FREE Digital Scrapbooking Supplies when sign up for the FREE Newsletter that gives FREE tips and Free digital supplies too – Sign up today!

Don’t Miss ANY Future FREEBIES – Sign up Now!

Do not miss any Future FREEBIES!

Newsletter Members check your email each week for all the FREE digital scrapbooking items, members only discount coupons, and digital scrapbooking tips we send out!

Get a wonderful digital Digital Scrapbooking FREEBIEs, and start your saving all your families memories by Digital Scrapbooking!

- If you like our FREEBIES – Tell a FRIEND – have them Sign Up for the Digital Scrapbooking Newsletter too!

The basics of the Toolbox or Tool Panel works about the same in both Photoshop or Photoshop Elements so as you look at the examples below they will apply to either program.

You can access Toolbox or Tool Panel in the workspace. You use tools in the toolbox to select, edit, and view images; some tools let you paint, draw, and type.

The toolbox appears on the left side of the Full Edit and Quick Fix workspaces in Photoshop Elements.

Also, in the Full Edit workspace in Photoshop Elements, you can move the toolbox by dragging the gripper bar at the top of the box.

In Photoshop the toolbox appears on the left side also, and you can move the toolbox by dragging the gripper bar at the top of the box.

Select Tools found in the Toolbox

Select a tool in the toolbox in either Photoshop or Elements to use it. Once selected, the tool is highlighted in the toolbox. Optional settings for the tool appear in the options bar, which is located below the shortcuts bar at the top of the Edit workspace.

Some tools in the toolbox have additional tools beneath them. These tools are called hidden tools. A small triangle at the lower right of the tool icon indicates the presence of hidden tools. When you select a tool, any additional hidden tools appear in the options bar.

Extra Notes about Tools: You cannot deselect a tool—once you select a tool, it remains selected until you select a different tool. Also, you can view information about any tool in the toolbox by positioning the pointer over it. The name of the tool appears below the pointer—this name is called the tool tip. You can click a link in some tool tips to see additional information about the tool.

So now open up your program (either Photoshop or Elements), and bring in a few digital scrapbooking projects, and start trying all the fun ways you can use the the tools in the Toolbox to design your digital scrapbooking pages, or edit your photos, and more!

Have a nice day and take a few moments to learn about your digital scrapbooking and photo editing tools!

Get training to learn digital scrapbooking, Photoshop or Photoshop Elements ~ buy the Getting Started Series for Digital Scrapbooking in either Photoshop or Photoshop Elements.

Have a nice day and happy scrapping!

Special Note: Get some good digital scrapbooking tips and FREE Digital Scrapbooking Supplies when sign up for the FREE Newsletter that gives FREE tips and Free digital supplies too – Sign up today!

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Celebrate this year’s winter festivities with the “Let it Snow” Digital Scrapbooking Kit! Turn your holiday photos and special memories into a digital Winter Wonderland! Whether you prefer to digitally scrap a romantic evening curled up next to the fire on a cold winter day, or the joy of building a snowman with the kids, this digital scrapbooking is filled with beautiful digital supplies to make all of your frostiest moments look fabulous!

With this Winter Snowflake-inspired Digital Scrapbooking kit you can make wonderful Winter Scrapbooking Pages. Also use the digital supplies to make gifts such as Calendars, Aprons, Puzzles, Greeting Cards and much More! The “Let it Snow” kit is a wonderful way to create digital scrapbooking projects that are winter orientated! Use with snow, skiing or other winter photos to complete digital scrapbooking projects.

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Celebrate this year’s winter events and activities with the “Frosty Winter Memories” Digital Scrapbooking Kit! Turn your holiday photos and special memories into a digital Winter Wonderland! Whether you prefer to digitally scrap a romantic evening curled up next to the fire on a cold winter day, or the joy of building a snowman with the kids, this digital scrapbooking is filled with beautiful digital supplies to make all of your frostiest moments look fabulous! Use the icicles to decorate your photos, ribbons and make your digital scrapbooking page all frosty!

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The Winter Snow Scrapbooking Kit is a digital scrapbooking kit full of snowflakes digital papers for winter scrapbooking projects! Digital Papers are 12×12″ size. Kit includes digital papers, frames, and winter themed embellishments! Also this kit includes a digital recipe card for scrapbooking your favorite winter dish!

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For more Digital Scrapbooking Kits, Custom Brushes, Holiday Digital Scrapbooking Kits, and more – visit the Scrap Shop!

—-

Learn Digital Scrapbooking  and start scrapbooking your family traditions:

Get the whole Getting Started Series for Photoshop Elements 9 on a handy CD!

The Getting Started Series in Digital Scrapbooking using Photoshop Elements 9 is the ultimate training! CD-set includes: tutorial videos, training guides for ALL Lessons (1-6) and lots of freebies too!

Need Photoshop Training?

No problem! Check out the Getting Started Series for Photoshop Users!

“The Getting Started Series in Digital Scrapbooking using Adobe Photoshop CS5 (or CS4) CD Training ” is the ULTIMATE digital scrapbooking training for beginners! All Getting Started in Digital Scrapbooking Lessons 1 – 6 come on a CD perfect to begin learning Digital Scrapbooking using Photoshop

Today we will be exploring more advanced features of the Eraser Tool.

The basics of the Eraser Tool works about the same in both Photoshop or Photoshop Elements, so as you look at the examples below they will apply to either program unless we comment otherwise.

Digital Scrapbookers love the Eraser tool as it lets us erase items in digital scrapbooking pages, or photo editing projects. However, many avid digital scrapbookers and photo editors don’t know about the hidden extra eraser tools under the main tool!

If you click on the Eraser Tool (#1) and hold your mouse over until you get the fly-out menu, then you will see additional Eraser Tools (#2) like: the Background Eraser Tool, and the Magic Eraser Tool.

Let’s explore each of these features that are found under the main Eraser Tool:

The Background Eraser Tool:

The Background Eraser tool turns color pixels to transparent pixels so that you can easily remove an object from its background. With careful use, you can maintain the edges of the foreground object while eliminating background fringe pixels.

The tool pointer is a circle with a cross hair indicating the tool’s hotspot . As you drag the pointer, pixels within the circle and of a similar color value as the pixel under the hotspot are erased. If the circle overlaps your foreground object, and it doesn’t contain pixels similar to the hotspot pixel, the foreground object won’t be erased.

So in the example above, using the Background Eraser Tool I can erase the white area in my tag without erasing the yellow part of the tag even if my eraser tool goes into the yellow area!

Like the regular Eraser Tool the Background Eraser Tool has options that appear when the tool is selected.

Before using the Background Eraser tool, pick any of the following options:

Brush Preset Picker

Sets the presets of the brush, such as size, diameter, hardness, and spacing. Drag the Size pop‑up sliders or enter numbers in text boxes.

Limits

Choose Contiguous to erase areas that contain the hotspot color and are connected to one another. Discontiguous erases any pixels within the circle that are similar to the hotspot color.

Tolerance

Defines how similar in color to the hotspot a pixel must be to be affected by the tool. A low tolerance limits erasure to areas that are very similar to the hotspot color. A high tolerance erases a broader range of colors.

Photoshop has all these same options with the Background Eraser Tool as Photoshop Elements (see red arrows in the image below), however, Photoshop has few more option too! (These options explained in another future blog)

Both Photoshop and Photoshop Elements have another Eraser Tool hidden below the main Eraser tool – the Magic Eraser Tool

The Magic Eraser Tool:

The Magic Eraser tool changes all similar pixels when you drag within an image. If you’re working in a layer with locked transparency, the pixels change to the background color; otherwise, the pixels are erased to transparency. You can choose to erase contiguous pixels only, or all similar pixels on the current layer.

So in the examples above with a click of the Magic Eraser Tool (before), then all the white is instantly removed showing the green layer below (after).

In the Layers panel, select the layer containing the areas you want to erase.

Note: If you select the Background, it automatically becomes a layer when you use the Magic Eraser.

Like the other Eraser tools, you can set the options for the the Magic Eraser Tool in the top menu bar.

Set any of the following Magic Eraser tool options:

Tolerance

Defines the range of colors that will be erased. A low tolerance erases pixels within a range of color values very similar to the pixel you click. A high tolerance erases pixels within a broader range.

Anti‑alias

Smoothes the edges of the area you erase, making the edge look more natural.

Contiguous

Erases only pixels that are adjacent to the one you click. Deselect this option to erase all similar pixels in the image.

Sample All Layers

Samples the erased color using combined data from all visible layers. Deselect the option if you want to erase only the pixels on the active layer.

Opacity

Defines the strength of the erasure. An opacity of 100% erases pixels to complete transparency on a layer and to the background color on a locked layer. A lower opacity erases pixels to partial transparency on a layer and paints partially with the background color on a locked layer

Photoshop works basically the same as Elements using the Magic Eraser Tool

These are the advanced features of the Eraser Tool in Photoshop and Photoshop Elements. These extra features are very handy for both digital scrapbookers and photo editor and once you try them you will probably want to use these tools in all of your projects!

Have a nice day,  and take a few moments to learn about your digital scrapbooking and photo editing tools!

—–

If you want to learn more about Digital Scrapbooking or Photo Editing please check out our Scrap Shop for great video tutorials!

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The basics of the Eraser Tool works about the same in both Photoshop or Photoshop Elements, so as you look at the examples below they will usually apply to either program.

Digital Scrapbookers love this tool as it lets us erase items in digital scrapbooking pages, or photo editing projects.

The Basics of the Eraser Tool:

The Eraser tool changes pixels in the image as you drag through them. If you’re working in the Background layer or in a layer with locked transparency, erased pixels change to the background color; otherwise, erased pixels become transparent. Transparent pixels are indicated by the gray and white checker board.

So example using Photoshop, in this image we have selected, then taking the Eraser Tool and dragged it over our yellow tag – the image is erased and the transparent layer shows through.

However, if we have a image layer below the layer we are erasing, then when we erase the layer below show through instead of transparency – see example below using Photoshop Elements:

In the image above you can see the photo is underneath the white frame. So when we erase the frame the image shows though and not the transparent layer.

To erase select the Eraser Tool in Photoshop Elements -  See the image on the left to see how it looks in  Photoshop Elements

Or, to erase select the Eraser Tool in Photoshop  -  See the image on the left to see how it looks in  Photoshop

Once you have selected the Eraser Tool in either Photoshop or Elements, then you will have other options at the top of the menu bar

You can specify any of the following Eraser tool options:

Brushes

Sets the brush tip. Click the arrow next to the brush sample, choose a brush category from the Brushes pop‑up menu, and then select a brush thumbnail.

One fun thing to do in digital scrapbooking with the eraser tool is to load a pattern brush and use it to erase a pattern – sort of like a “cut out” or pattern punch!

For example, the eraser tool (brush) is now the shape of a patterned heart -see the image above. So when I click on the note card in my scrapbooking project then the note card will have a hole in it the shape of the heart pattern and the layer below will show through. (Both Photoshop and Elements work closely alike on this option – however, in Photoshop it looks a bit different)

Size

Sets the size of the brush in pixels. Drag the Size pop‑up slider or enter a size in the text box.  The example below is in Photoshop, but Elements has a slider too.

Mode

Brush mode erases by using characteristics of the brush tool, so you can make soft-edged erasures. Pencil mode makes hard-edge erasures like a pencil. Block mode uses a hard-edged 16‑pixel square as an eraser.

Again, Photoshop Elements Mode Setting works the same in Elements

Opacity

Defines the strength of the erasure. An opacity of 100% erases pixels to complete transparency on a layer and to the background color on the Background layer. A lower opacity erases pixels to partial transparency on a layer and paints partially with the background color on the Background layer. (If Block mode is selected in the options bar, the Opacity option isn’t available.)

Photoshop works the same way as Elements on this option!

Lastly, set options in the options bar as desired, and then drag through the area you want to erase.

So these are the basics of the Eraser Tool in Photoshop and Photoshop Elements. Tune in for tomorrow’s blog article for more advanced information about the Eraser Tool in Part 2 of this In the Spotlight Tool Tip!

Have a nice day and take a few moments to learn about your digital scrapbooking tools!

—–

If you want to learn more about Digital Scrapbooking or Photo Editing please check out our Scrap Shop for great video tutorials!

The basics of the Paint Bucket Tool works about the same in both Photoshop or Photoshop Elements so as you look at the examples below they will apply to either program.

Digital Scrapbookers love this tool as it lets us color items in digital scrapbooking projects.

The Paint Bucket tool fills an area with certain colors you select in the color chip area. You can fill an area with the foreground color or a pattern.

In the Image above, if you click on a color in the color chip tool (foreground color (#1) and select a color – we picked white, then click on the Paint Bucket Tool (#2) and then click on the layer you want to color (#3) then your item will be colored.

Take a look at that same processes only now we picked a light pink color before we used the Paint Bucket Tool on the layer (#3)

You can see how that changed the layer color from white to pink. This can be such a handy tool when you want to change or blend colors themes in digital scrapbooking!

Here is how that would look in Photoshop – see image below:

Just like in Elements, in Photoshop you click on a color in the color chip tool (foreground color #1) and select a color – we picked pink, then click on the Paint Bucket Tool (#2) and then click on the layer you want to color (#3) then your item will be colored.

Here are the Basics of the Paint Bucket Tool:

1. In the Editor, choose a foreground color.
2. Select the Paint Bucket tool in the toolbox.
3. Set options in the options bar, as desired, and then click the part of the image you want to fill. If you don’t want to fill transparent areas in a layer, you can lock the layer’s transparency in the Layers panel.

Like many tools when you select the tool you have additional settings at the top menu bar. The Paint Bucket Tool has extra options too!

The Image above is how it looks in Photoshop!

See the image below in Photoshop Elements

In the above image you can see the extra settings for the Paint Bucket Tool in Photoshop Elements (remember Photoshop works in a similar manner).

See the list below for some explanation of how these features work.

You can specify any of the following Paint Bucket tool options:

Pattern

Sets a pattern to use as the fill, instead of a color.

Mode

Specifies how the paint that you apply blends with the existing pixels in the image. This is a very interesting feature that you just have to experiment with to really get a feel for the possibilities. 

Opacity

Sets the opacity of the paint you apply. Do you want it to be a bit transparent or more solid? A low opacity setting allows pixels under a paint stroke to show through. Drag the pop‑up slider or enter an opacity value to get it to be more transparent or more solid.

Tolerance

Defines how similar in color filled pixels must be. A low tolerance fills pixels with color values very similar to the pixel you click. A high tolerance fills pixels that have a broader range of colors. Sometimes in scrapbooking we use supplies that have multi colors – not just a solid color. So this feature can try to blend better with those types of supplies. 

Anti‑alias

Smoothes the edges of the filled selection.  

Contiguous

Fills similarly colored pixels that are next to each other. Deselect this option to fill all similar pixels in the image, including those that aren’t touching. The Tolerance option defines how similar the colors must be.

All Layers

Fills similar pixels on any visible layer that are within the levels set by the Tolerance and Contiguous options.

 

The Paint Bucket Tool is an important tool to learn about if you are interested in using Photoshop or Photoshop Elements for either digital scrapbooking or photo editing!

So open up your program, bring in a few digital scrapbooking projects, and start trying all the fun ways you can use the Paint Bucket Tool to color your scrapbooking supplies, text, and more!

Have a nice day and take a few moments to learn about your digital scrapbooking tools!

Special Note: To work quicker – use the shortcut keys to get to the Paint Bucket tool:

In Photoshop Elements use the shortcut key – K
In Photoshop use the shortcut key – G

Happy Scrapping!

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The Transform Command is found in both Photoshop and Photoshop Elements. It one of the most essential tools when using it in basic mode like moving, resizing and rotating. It can be used in digital scrapbooking and also used in photo editing projects all the time.

In the spotlight today we will talk about the Transform Command and go beyond just the basics to provide information that some experienced users might not even know about!

Even though many of us use the Transform Command every day to rotate or resize items in digital scrapbooking or photo editing. However, we might not know all about the items that coordinate with the Transform Command and how to use them. So, let’s quickly review some of the ideas behind these extra features of the Transform Command in order to get the most out of the Transform Command when using it, and to help speed up future digital scrapbooking or photo editing tasks.

Skew Transform Command:

So let’s explore the Transform Skew first. In Photoshop Elements go to Image > Transform > Skew (see #1) then you can pull on the bounding boxes (see #2) to stretch and skew your image – this can be used to give a different perspective to the image – see below. In Photoshop from the menu, choose Edit > Transform > Skew

Then you can pull on the bounding boxes (see red arrow below) to stretch and skew your image – this can be use to give a different perspective to the image. Try it out and see how it changes your image. This will give you some ideas on how your might want to use it in your digital scrapbooking project.

Skew slants an image vertically or horizontally. You can only drag a handle up or down or side to side.

Distort Transform Command:

Now try the Distort Transform Command. In Photoshop Elements go to Image > Transform > Distort then you can pull on the bounding boxes to stretch and skew your image – this can be used to give another different kind of perspective – see the example below.

In Photoshop from the menu, choose Edit > Transform > Distort  then it works the same as in Elements.

With Distort Transform Command, you can drag a handle in any direction.

Perspective Transform Command:

Now try the Distort Transform Command. In Photoshop Elements go to Image > Transform > Perspective then you can pull on the bounding boxes to stretch and skew your image – this can be used to give another different kind of perspective – see the example below.

In Photoshop from the menu, choose Edit > Transform > Perspective  then it works the same as in Elements.

Perspective Transform Command is generally used to correct convergence of lines in a photo, but can also be used to manipulate a layer, When dragging on a corner vertically both the top and bottom corners move equally. When dragging horizontally both the left and right corners move equally.

Photoshop Has Extra Transform Commands:

Have you ever wondered what Photoshop has that Elements doesn’t have – well in the Transform command Photoshop has a couple of extra features. This is one area that is different from Elements.

Let’s take a look at Photoshop’s extra transform features (See #1) This Warp Transform feature is a nice feature that Photoshop has.

The other things listed in the Transform area (See #2) are in Elements but in a different location – in Elements you can find these features under Image > Rotate > (pick Layer rotate options)

Let’s look at the Warp feature in Photoshop, if you read yesterday’s blog we showed you a button on the top menu bar when you where in Free Transform mode (PC: Ctrl + T or Mac: Cmd +T)

The Warp Button (see #1) that brings up this menu if in Free Transform mode or the following menu comes up if you select Edit > Transform > Warp in Photoshop. From here you can choose the type of Warp you want to apply to your image (see #2). You can adjust these settings at the top of the menu (see #3). If you have Photoshop experiment with this feature and see all the things you can do with this Warping feature!

Hope you find one or more of these tips and information helpful! If you haven’t done so already, try these tips out on your next digital scrapbooking  or photo editing project!

Have a nice day!

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 Enjoy these Velvet Textured spring-inspired Digital Scrapbooking Papers in this kit. The Spring Velvet Digital Paper Kit 1 (11×8.5″ or 8.5×11″) comes with gorgeous colors like pink, purple, green and yellow for Spring, St. Patrick’s Day, and Easter backgrounds, all only as just a start to how you can uses them! These papers can be used in a variety of ways in your digital scrapbooking projects, and can be rotated to work in a vertical or horizontal layout! Being able to rotate and use as 11×8.5″ or 8.5 x11″ makes these papers useful for many digital scrapbooking projects like calendars, recipe albums, photo books, and more! Also. because this paper kit is formated in US paper size, it makes it easier to print out on home printers! This kit comes with a bonus tag embellishments kit too: three tags, one with clovers, one with a flower, and one tag with Easter eggs!

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If you want to learn more about Digital Scrapbooking or Photo Editing please check out our Scrap Shop for great video tutorials!

Also, if you would like to buy the digital scrap kits see Digital Supplies at Digital Scrapbooks and More Scrap Shop!

In the spotlight today, we will talk about the Transform Command and give some information about this menu item that will help the beginner. We may also provide a few extra details about this particular tool that may be interesting for the more-experienced user too!

The Transform Command basically works the same in both Photoshop or Photoshop Elements, so please keep in mind: as you look at the examples below, they will apply to either program.

What is the Transform Command?  The Basics!

The Transform Command, in the simplest definition, is the tool that helps you to “transform a specific layer”!

A more complex definition of the Transform Command, enables you to apply different transformations to a layer. Like move a layer, resize or scale a layer, distort a layer, or alter the perspective of a layer.

How do you get to this Command in Photoshop Elements?

From the menu, choose Images > Transform > Free Transform or press the keyboard shortcut Ctrl + T (Mac: Cmd + T)

In the image above this shows how to get to the Transform Command in Photoshop Elements

How do you get to this Command in Photoshop?

From the menu, choose Edit > Transform > Free Transform or press the keyboard shortcut Ctrl + T (Mac: Cmd + T)

In the image above this shows how to get to the Transform Command in Photoshop Elements

From the menu, choose Images > Free Transform or press the keyboard shortcut Ctrl + T (Mac: Cmd + T)  (see #1)

To get to the other transform features in Photoshop go to Images > Transform > (pick a transformation feature you want to use – see #2)

Special Note: Photoshop has a few extra items in it’s list of choices than Photoshop Elements. Some of these items are not in Elements, and some of these items are in different places in Elements but still are available to Elements users!

So, How do I use the Transform Command?

Here are the basics of the Transform Command:

Show Bounding Boxes around Layer: when you choose the FREE Transform Command (Ctrl + T) then a bounding box appears around your selection. This allows you to do these basics – Move, Resize, or Rotate your layer. See the information below to see how this works in Photoshop or Elements. Note: This works basically the same in both Photoshop and Photoshop Elements.

Move Layer: Once you have chosen the Free Transform Command you can put your curser on the item and move it in your project.

This works basically the same in both Photoshop and Photoshop Elements.

Resize or Scale: when you have selected the Transform Command and place your cursor over one of the handles at the top or bottom corners of your item you will see a two-headed arrow that you can use to drag inward to reduce or drag outward to enlarge.

To constrain the proportions when resizing drag from one of the corner handles. This works basically the same in both Photoshop and Photoshop Elements — but Note: In Photoshop you need to also hold down the Shift key while you are dragging to constrain the proportions.

Rotate: When you are using the Transform Tool you can rotate the layer by positioning your cursor just outside the bounding box and when you see a curved double-head arrow – just rotate your item.

This works basically the same in both Photoshop and Photoshop Elements

How is this different from using the Move Tool?

If you have been digital scrapbooking for a while you might wonder why you would ever use the Transform Command? Doesn’t the Move Tool do this anyway? The answer is Yes, and NO!

Answer –yes: If you select the Move Tool and have Show Bounding Box selected in the top menu then you can basically do all the simple tasks like Move, Resize, and Rotate.

Answer – No: When you are in any tool and you Select the Free Transform Command (Ctrl  + T) then you go directly to the Transform Command and it is different from just using the Move Tool. For example, the top menu changes to a menu specifically just about Transforming! This is not the same top menu that is in the Move Tool. If you are used to using the Move Tool for these functions instead of the Transform Command you will notice right away how the top menu looks very different in the Transform Command vs. Move Tool. You will have specific menu items that directly relate to only the Transform Command! See the image below that is showing the Transform Command top menu. All the adjustments are about transforming the layer (see #1) also you can go to the Skew Transform command by clicking on the menu button in Photoshop Elements (see #2)

Photoshop has even more options on the top Menu. The settings for transforming (see #1) for more options in transforming -  click on the Warp button (see #2)

When you click on the Warp Button a grid comes up on your layer (see #1), then you can select how you want to transform your item! (See #2)

If you have Photoshop try this out! Pick one of the ways to transform and give it a try!

In this example above, I picked the Squeeze Transform selection in Photoshop, and see what it did to my digital scrapbooking tag!

When you are doing digital scrapbooking or photo editing projects these different ways to transform your items is very helpful. Try them out and see what they do – then next time you are scrapbooking see if transforming some of your elements might add to your projects!

Want to Know More about the Transform Command?

These are some of the basics about the Transform Command that every new digital scrapper or photo editor needs to know if they want to use Photoshop or Photoshop Elements and the Transform Command!

Check back tomorrow as we give out more advanced Transform Command information!

Enjoy!

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The kit we used in this blog:

Enjoy these Velvet Textured spring-inspired Digital Scrapbooking Papers in this kit. The Spring Velvet Digital Paper Kit 1 (11×8.5″ or 8.5×11″) comes with gorgeous colors like pink, purple, green and yellow for Spring, St. Patrick’s Day, and Easter backgrounds, all only as just a start to how you can uses them! These papers can be used in a variety of ways in your digital scrapbooking projects, and can be rotated to work in a vertical or horizontal layout! Being able to rotate and use as 11×8.5″ or 8.5 x11″ makes these papers useful for many digital scrapbooking projects like calendars, recipe albums, photo books, and more! Also because this paper kit is formated in US paper size, it makes it easier to print out on home printers! This kit comes with a bonus tag embellishments kit too: three tags, one with clovers, one with a flower, and one tag with Easter eggs!

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If you want to learn more about Digital Scrapbooking or Photo Editing please check out our Scrap Shop for great video tutorials!

Also, if you would like to buy the digital scrap kits see Digital Supplies at Digital Scrapbooks and More Scrap Shop!

However, Photoshop has some additional Eyedropper features that Elements doesn’t have so we are going to cover them in today’s blog.

When you click on the Eye Dropper Tool in Photoshop you have several tool options like Eyedropper tool, Color Sampler Tool, Rule tool, Note Tool and Count Tool.

Beyond the Eyedropper Tool, the others are only found in Photoshop.

This gives Photoshop many more options for those digital scrapbooking or photo editing.

Here is what each tool in the Eyedropper Section does:

Eyedropper Tool: The Eyedropper Tool is used to quickly change color in the color picker tool (See yesterday’s blog for more info on this one). However one difference in Photoshop that is important to talk about is that the option bar that appears when the Eyedropper tool. In Photoshop when this is selected it has several extra options including letting you sample from all layers or just the current layer!

This makes Photoshop the graphic program you would want to pick if you want these kinds of specific choices while working on a project. Elements doesn’t have this features.

Also, these tools below are only found in Photoshop. I am using Photoshop CS4 Extended version – so some differences maybe in other Photoshop versions as well.

Color Sampler Tool:  Color Sampler Tool allows you to view color values in defined spots of your image. Here is how you can use the Color Sampler Tool:

First, in the Toolbox, select the Color Sampler Tool (#1). Then, click on the image where you want to set the first sample (#2). A Sampler Information Box (#3) appears to show the current location and color values. You can set up to 4 color samples on your image using this tool. The color samples or they are called “Samplers” get saved in your image, so you can know color values in defined spots even after you reopen the image. In the Options bar, you can change sample size (sampler’s range). Point Sample reads out values from a single pixel; 3 by 3 and 5 by 5 read average values from larger areas.(See yesterday’s blog that explains point sample and 3 by 3 or 5 by 5 averages)

Also, you can move samplers with the Color Sampler Tool to any other spot to read color values from. As default a sampler’s readout on info palette box depends on color mode of your image (like a scrapbooking page – that might be in RGB color mode); you can however choose other readouts: right-click on a color sampler and choose in menu box other color modes. To hide / show annotations use [Ctrl+H] shortcut. To delete a sample, either use  menu box or Alt-shift-click on it (mouse-click holding [Alt+Shift] keys pressed).

Wow! Are you still with me??  One simple reason you might want to use the Color Sampler Tool is to find out the color codes in your image or scrapbooking project. It sounds harder than it is – once you try this tool it will become clearer! Trust me it sounds harder than it is!!!

See the image below with the Color Sampler Tool I can find out what exactly the color’s code is! This can be helpful if I wish to type in the exact color in Photoshop or even other computer programs to have every thing in my project match!

There is more to the Color Sampler tool for more advanced work – but I think this is a good start. Try it out and see how simple it is to use this tool —- even though it might sound harder than it is!

Ruler Tool: The Ruler tool helps you position images or elements precisely. The Ruler tool calculates the distance between any two points in the workspace. So basically this tool measures distances, locations, and angles.

When you measure from one point to another, a nonprinting line is drawn, and the  Info palette box appears and give you information about the measurements. For example in my scrapbooking page, I drew a line from one icicle to another and I could find out the exact distance by looking at the Information Palette Box. This information box gives me more information about measurements in my project. This is helpful if I am positioning some thing exactly in my digital scrapbooking page. Ps. the line I draw out with this tool is for my reference only – it will not print when I send my project to my printer!!!

Note Tool: You can attach notes to an image in Photoshop. This is useful for associating review comments, production notes, or other information with the image.

Notes appear as small non-printable icons on the image. They are associated with a location on the image rather than with a layer.

You can hide or show notes, or open notes to view or edit their contents.

In Photoshop you might want to put a note about image in your scrapbooking page like when and where the photo was taken.

You might want a note about some tricky scrapbooking technique you used in this scrapbooking project. You can make the note so you can remember how you did that technique in this scrapbooking page so you can use again. All notes can be hidden and you don’t have to print them! So they are like using posted notes in your scrapbooking project!!!!

The Counting Tool: counts objects in an image. (Photoshop Extended version only)

You can use the Count Tool to count objects in an image (like how many snowflakes). To count objects manually, you click the image(s) with the Count tool and Photoshop tracks the number of clicks.  This is helpful for me as I always lose count in my head. Now I just click on the items I want to count and Photoshop keep the count for me!

The count number is displayed on the item  you are counting (like the snowflake), and in the number is shown in the Count Tool options bar. Count numbers are saved when you save a file, so if you come back to the scrapbooking project you don’t have to write down the number it has been saved for you.  This tool ends up be more useful than you first might think it really is surprising how many times we count and recount things in scrapbooking!

Photoshop can also automatically count multiple selected areas in an image, and record the results in the Measurement Log panel.  Sometimes in digital scrapbooking you want to keep track of how many embellishments or patterns so this would be a way of doing that.

Ok … are you still hanging in there? These are great tips and tools if you just try them out then you will see that some of these extra tools are really helpful in some digital scrapbooking tasks we do everyday.  All tool discussion sound harder than they are – once you try them they will make more sense and really be easy to use. But first you have to know about them to use them – so hopefully now you will feel more confident to try them and see how they can help some of your projects!

At last after this article these tools are not hidden any more!

Try a few of these extra tools and let us know how you used them in your digital scrapbooking or photo editing projects!

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If you want to learn more about Digital Scrapbooking or Photo Editing please check out our Scrap Shop for great video tutorials!