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USING PHOTOSHOP ELEMENTS 8
Painting
Last updated 7/26/2011
If you want the color always to be available, you can add the sampled color to the Color Swatches panel. You can also
specify the size of the area that the Eyedropper tool samples. For example, you can set the eyedropper to sample the
average color values of a 5-by-5- or 3-by-3-pixel area under the pointer.
Selecting a foreground color with the eyedropper.
A. Point sample B. 5 by 5 Average sample
1 Select the Eyedropper tool in the toolbox.
2 (Optional) To change the sample size of the eyedropper, choose an option from the Sample Size menu in the
options bar:
• Point Sample to get the precise value of the pixel you click.
• 3 By 3 Average or 5 By 5 Average to get the average value of the specified number of pixels within the area you click.
3 Do one of the following to choose a color:
• To select a new foreground color from an image, click the desired color in your image. To select a color that appears
elsewhere on your computer screen, click inside your image and drag away from it.
• To select a new background color from an image, Option-click the color you want.
As you click and drag the Eyedropper tool, the foreground color box changes.
4 Release the mouse button to pick the new color.
Note: You can temporarily switch to the Eyedropper tool while using most painting tools, which allows you to change
colors quickly without selecting another tool. Simply hold down the Option key. Once you’ve chosen your color, release
the Option key.
More Help topics
“About foreground and background colors” on page 205
Choose a color from the toolbox
❖ Do one of the following:
• To set the foreground and background boxes to black and white, click the Default Colors icon .
• To switch the colors in the two boxes, click the Switch Colors icon .
• To change the foreground color, click the topmost color box in the toolbox, and then choose a color from the Color
Picker.
• To change the background color, click the bottom color box in the toolbox, and then choose a color from the Color
Picker.
More Help topics
“About foreground and background colors” on page 205
A
B
