Learning Adobe Photoshop

Elements 7
By Greg Bowden

Chapter 3

Modifying
Images

Guided Computer Tutorials

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© Greg Bowden

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First published 2009

ISBN: Module 1: 1 921217 72 3

Module 2: 1 921217 73 1

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 Chapter

3
Modifying Images
Photoshop allows you to make extensive changes to graphics. In this chapter we will
look at a few examples including distorting images and applying filters and effects.

Selecting the Correct Layer

Each time you pasted an object into the Pets background the new object was placed in a
separate layer. So the background is in one layer, the cat in another layer and the dog in a
third layer. To edit an object you must select the layer that it is in.
1 Load Photoshop Elements in EDIT MODE and open your PETS.PSD file.
2 When you wish to edit part of a picture you select the appropriate layer.

3 Select the MOVE TOOL and click on

the CAT. It’s layer (Layer 1) is selected
in the LAYERS palette.

The Liquify Filter

The LIQUIFY filter allows you to modify the appearance of an object.
1 Display the FILTER menu, highlight DISTORT and select LIQUIFY. The cat should be
displayed in the LIQUIFY dialogue box.

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Learning Adobe Photoshop Elements 7

2 The LIQUIFY TOOLS are displayed at

the top left of the dialogue box and
the TOOL OPTIONS (Brush Size, Brush
Pressure, etc.) at the right.

A The Hand Tool

The HAND TOOL allows you to drag the image around the view area.
1 Press CTRL+ a few times to zoom in on the cat.

2 Select the HAND tool and drag the

cat to the top left of the view area.

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 Modifying Images 3
B The Warp Tool
The WARP TOOL pushes pixels (screen units) forward as you drag the mouse.

1 Select the WARP TOOL (the top tool)
or press the W key.

2 Move the cursor, which is a circle,

over the cat’s tail. Hold down the
mouse button and drag the tail to
the left or right and up or down to
distort it.

3 Click on the REVERT button in the OPTIONS at the right of the dialogue box and
the image will be returned to its original state (you can also press CTRL+Z to UNDO
the last step of the effect).

4 Set the BRUSH SIZE box to 30 in

the TOOL OPTIONS and warp the
tail again to see the effect that the
different brush size has.

5 Click on the REVERT button at the right of the dialogue box or press CTRL+Z to
UNDO the effect.

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Learning Adobe Photoshop Elements 7

6 Set the BRUSH PRESSURE to 20 and

try warping the tail again. The
smaller BRUSH PRESSURE makes the
warping more gradual.

7 Click on the REVERT button to UNDO the effect.

8 Increase the BRUSH PRESSURE to 80

and try warping the tail again.

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 Modifying Images 3

9 Experiment with some other warps

around the face and ears.

C The Reconstruction Tool

The RECONSTRUCTION TOOL gradually rebuilds parts of your image back to its original
state. It is very handy if you change the image more than you intended and you just
want sections to be a little less pronounced.

1 Select the RECONSTRUCTION TOOL
(the third last tool). You can also press
E to select it.

2 Click a few times on some of the

changes that you made and the
program will gradually return that
section to its original state.

3 Click on the REVERT button to restore the image to the original shape.

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Learning Adobe Photoshop Elements 7

D Twirling
You can spin part of an image either clockwise or counter clockwise.

1 Select the TWIRL CLOCKWISE TOOL
(the third tool). You can also press R to
select it.

2 Set the BRUSH SIZE to 70, the BRUSH

PRESSURE to 80, move the brush over
the cat’s face, hold down the mouse
button for a second and the cat’s
face will be twisted in a clockwise
direction.

3 Revert the image to its original shape.

4 Select the TWIRL COUNTER

CLOCKWISE TOOL (the fourth tool).
You can also press L to select it.

5 Hold down the mouse button for a

second with the brush over the cat’s
face and its face will be twisted in a
counter clockwise direction.

6 Revert the image to its original shape.

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