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USING PHOTOSHOP ELEMENTS 8
Getting started
Last updated 7/26/2011
When working in Photoshop Elements, use Adobe Bridge to find and manage your photos and Adobe PDF
documents, even if they’re stored in different locations. Adobe Bridge automatically organizes photos by date as they
download. You can further sort and categorize photos by adding star ratings, stacking photos, and assigning keyword
tags to help you identify people, places, and events. You can quickly view every photo you’ve taken of your dog. For
example, click the keyword tag you have created in your dog’s name to view every photo of your dog. You can also
search for images based on date range, caption, filename, media type, and more. For the most comprehensive and up-
to-date version of the Adobe Bridge Help, see
Adobe Bridge. You can also find video tutorials that teach you how to
use Adobe Bridge. The Adobe Bridge Help document includes detailed information about the following:
• Working with Adobe Bridge
• Viewing and managing files
• Working with images and dynamic media
• Running automated tasks with Adobe Bridge
• Adobe Bridge keyboard shortcuts
• Workspace
Accessing Adobe Bridge from Photoshop Elements
❖ Do one of the following:
• Click File > Browse With Bridge
• Click the Bridge icon .
Editing photos
Photoshop Elements offers several levels of editing, from simple one-click fixes to advanced color correction and
composition. The Photoshop
Elements workspace provides three editing modes: Quick Fix, Guided Edit, and Full
Edit. Quick Fix offers quick preview and slider controls for adjusting lighting and color and sharpening entire photos
or selected areas of photos. Click the triangle beside Edit Full, and then select Edit Quick to navigate to Quick Fix
mode. Edit Full mode provides a complete editing toolset and controls. You can adjust the exposure of specific areas
of a photo using professional darkroom tools, such as dodge, burn, and sponge. You can also use fine-tune exposure
with the enhanced Brightness/Contrast control, or use Color Curves adjustments to get the perfect exposure.
In Edit Full mode, you can also remove imperfections or unwanted elements, brush away wrinkles and flaws, and apply
artistic filters and effects.
If you are not sure how to proceed, switch to Edit Guided mode. This mode provides step-by-step assistance on how
to perform common tasks, such as rotating and straightening photos, correcting skin tone, and performing color
corrections. Click the triangle beside Edit Full, and then select Edit Guided to navigate to Edit Guided mode.
