Course Description

Photoshop Elements 8 Basics: Setting Sail class is all new for Photoshop Elements, and will cover Photoshop Elements 8 for Windows and Mac. This is the first of a two part course and contains Lessons 1-6. It must be taken before taking the second class, More Photoshop Elements 8 Basics, which contains Lessons 7-12. You will learn the tools and interface, using the Effects palette and how to set preferences to make Elements work your way (as well as how to reset corrupted preferences). You will learn about selections and using Save for Web and much more! This class does not cover the Organizer. Because of the scope of the Organizer and the fact it is as feature-packed as a separate program, it has its own classes, and is not included in the Mac version of Elements. This is a 5 week, self-paced, online course. If you need additional help understanding the material presented, you can communicate with the instructor and fellow classmates. The instructor will monitor and track your progress throughout the class. LVS Online offers many wonderful learning tools to help you get the most out of your online course, including an online portfolio service that manages all your course registrations, certificate of completion option, a class discussion board to interact with your instructor and fellow classmates, free hosting account, and a student upload area. LVS is a Corel Training Partner. LVS students may purchase Corel products at a significant savings. Follow this link for details. LVS students are eligible to receive software and hardware at a discount. Follow this link for details. Students are also eligible take advantage of special offers made available specifically for LVS by famous software developers such as Andromeda, AV Bros, Extensis, Harry Heim, namesuppressed, Nik Multimedia, and Ulead. Details are provided in the classinfo link found in the confirmation of registration. Show off your LVS Online spirit with an item from the LVS Store If you would like to receive more information regarding this course, click on the "Contact Us" link in the Information section and we'll try to answer any of your questions within the day.

Course Requirements

Photoshop Elements 8 for Windows and Mac. Homework must be reviewed by the instructor in order to earn a certificate. Students have the option of using the Student Upload Area or free web hosting made available for LVS students. Details are provided in the classroom. If you prefer to use your own web space, you must know how to upload your files to a server. Free tutorials are available: Basic HTML page WS_FTP SmartFTP Students should have working knowledge of their operating system and must understand directories and paths: Free Windows Class Here Directory Structure Tutorial Here Zip files may be necessary to complete the exercises provided each week. WinZip, PKZip, Windows Compression or similar program is required to unzip these files. Winzip Tutorial Here Windows Compression All lessons are available in PDF format. Adobe Acrobat Reader is required to view/print the lessons. Plan to devote 3 - 4 hours per week on the lesson and assignment; on this class that may vary according to how much experimenting you choose to do with actions and the other subjects of the class.

Course Prerequisites

None

Course Syllabus

Lesson 1 Welcome First Class Info Tips for Working with Photos What's New in PSE 8? Resetting Tools Resetting Preferences The Interface Workspaces Toolbox Opening, Closing, and Saving Images Save for Web Lesson 2 Navigating Images: Zoom and Hand Tools Navigator Palette Working with Palettes and the Palette Bin Applying Effects Using the Project Bin Automatic Corrections Using the Recompose Tool Setting Preferences: Elements your Way! Lesson 3 Using the Quick Edit Workspace Creating Photo Vignettes Using the Marquee Tools Feathering a Selection Basic Image Cropping Using the Smart Brush Tool Editing Smart Brush Effects Selective Coloring the Easy Way Lesson 4 What is a Selection The Select Menu Refine Edge Using the Marquee Selection Tools Using the Lasso Tool Using the Magnetic Lasso Tool Using the Polygonal Lasso Tool Using the Magic Wand Creating a Simple Composite Image Lesson 5 Using the Selection Brush Using the Quick Selection Tool Using the Magic Extractor Using the Defringe Command Making a Picture-in-Picture "Snapshot" Stroking Selections Using the Shear Filters Adjustment Layers Lesson 6 Working with Color Color Basics Using the Color Picker Using the Swatches Palette Color Management in PSE 8 Using the Undo History Palette Resizing and Resampling Images PhotoMerge Features

Course Excerpt

Adjustment Layers I want to show you another way to apply some filters and effects that leave the settings totally editable, even after you have saved and closed the image and your Undo History is gone. Note: Keeping the image editable only works on an image that has been saved and closed if you have saved the image as a PSD file. This is because a PSD file saves layers and saved selections with the image. Because we have not closed our image we will have access to the Undo command and the History palette. We talked last week about layers, and we have been using them this week too. Now I want to show you layers of a different kind: Adjustment Layers. Normally when you make changes to the image---for example, if you use the Hue/Saturation/Lightness filter from the Enhance > Adjust Color > Adjust Hue/Saturation menu item, the pixels of the image are changed. This is called "destructive editing". If you use an Adjustment layer, the editing is non-destructive because the editing actually takes place on another layer, and can be adjusted or even deleted at any time. The pixels of the image remain intact. There are several different kinds of adjustment layers and we'll use them in various ways over the course of these classes. If the effect or filter you need to use is available as an adjustment layer, this is usually the best choice because you can make changes as mentioned before even after you have saved and closed the image, as long as you save it as a PSD file. These range from solid color layers to several photo adjustments like layers and the Photo Filter we used in last week's Picture Perfect segment. Now we'll use an adjustment layer to change the background of the photo. Continued... Please note: Lessons provide step-by-step instructions with detailed screen captures.

Course Goals

By the end of the twelve lessons contained in parts 1 and 2 of this course, you will understand the interface, palettes, options bar and toolbox. You will know how to use the different workspaces and have a good understanding of selections, one of the most important skills you can learn in Elements. You will also work with the color swatches and learn to use the History palette to reverse mistakes! You will have a very good understanding of the tools and many techniques using Photoshop Elements.!

Course Reviews

New Class January 2010