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Editing shapes

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  1. Photoshop Elements User Guide
  2. Introduction to Photoshop Elements
    1. What's new in Photoshop Elements
    2. System requirements | Photoshop Elements
    3. Workspace basics
    4. Guided mode
    5. Making photo projects
  3. Workspace and environment
    1. Get to know the Home screen
    2. Workspace basics
    3. Tools
    4. Panels and bins
    5. Open files
    6. Rulers, grids, and guides
    7. Enhanced Quick Mode
    8. File information
    9. Presets and libraries
    10. Multitouch support
    11. Scratch disks, plug‑ins, and application updates
    12. Undo, redo, and cancel actions
    13. Viewing images
  4. Fixing and enhancing photos
    1. Resize images
    2. Cropping
    3. Process camera raw image files
    4. Add blur, replace colors, and clone image areas
    5. Adjust shadows and light
    6. Retouch and correct photos
    7. Sharpen photos
    8. Transforming
    9. Auto Smart Tone
    10. Recomposing
    11. Using actions to process photos
    12. Photomerge Compose
    13. Create a panorama
    14. Moving Overlays
    15. Moving Elements
  5. Adding shapes and text
    1. Add text
    2. Edit text
    3. Create shapes
    4. Editing shapes
    5. Painting overview
    6. Painting tools
    7. Set up brushes
    8. Patterns
    9. Fills and strokes
    10. Gradients
    11. Work with Asian type
  6. Guided edits, effects, and filters
    1. Guided mode
    2. Filters
    3. Guided mode Photomerge edits
    4. Guided mode Basic edits
    5. Adjustment filters
    6. Effects
    7. Guided mode Fun edits
    8. Guided mode Special edits
    9. Artistic filters
    10. Guided mode Color edits
    11. Guided mode Black & White edits
    12. Blur filters
    13. Brush Stroke filters
    14. Distort filters
    15. Other filters
    16. Noise filters
    17. Render filters
    18. Sketch filters
    19. Stylize filters
    20. Texture filters
  7. Working with colors
    1. Understanding color
    2. Set up color management
    3. Color and tonal correction basics
    4. Choose colors
    5. Adjust color, saturation, and hue
    6. Fix color casts
    7. Using image modes and color tables
    8. Color and camera raw
  8. Working with selections
    1. Make selections in Photoshop Elements
    2. Saving selections
    3. Modifying selections
    4. Move and copy selections
    5. Edit and refine selections
    6. Smooth selection edges with anti-aliasing and feathering
  9. Working with layers
    1. Create layers
    2. Edit layers
    3. Copy and arrange layers
    4. Adjustment and fill layers
    5. Clipping masks
    6. Layer masks
    7. Layer styles
    8. Opacity and blending modes
  10. Creating photo projects
    1. Project basics
    2. Making photo projects
    3. Editing photo projects
  11. Saving, printing, and sharing photos
    1. Save images
    2. Printing photos
    3. Share photos online
    4. Optimizing images
    5. Optimizing images for the JPEG format
    6. Dithering in web images
    7. Guided Edits - Share panel
    8. Previewing web images
    9. Use transparency and mattes
    10. Optimizing images for the GIF or PNG-8 format
    11. Optimizing images for the PNG-24 format
  12. Keyboard shortcuts
    1. Keys for selecting tools
    2. Keys for selecting and moving objects
    3. Keys for the Layers panel
    4. Keys for showing or hiding panels (expert mode)
    5. Keys for painting and brushes
    6. Keys for using text
    7. Keys for the Liquify filter
    8. Keys for transforming selections
    9. Keys for the Color Swatches panel
    10. Keys for the Camera Raw dialog box
    11. Keys for the Filter Gallery
    12. Keys for using blending modes
    13. Keys for viewing images (expertmode)

Select or move a shape

Use the Shape Selection tool  to select shapes with one click. If you convert a shape into a bitmap element by simplifying the shape layer, the Shape Selection tool will no longer select the shape (use the Move tool instead).

If a layer contains multiple shapes, you can reposition all the shapes together using the Move tool. However, if you want to reposition a specific shape in a layer, you must use the Shape Selection tool.

  1. Use the Shape Selection tool  to select shapes:
  2. To select the shape, click it.
  3. To move the shape, drag it to a new location.

Transform a shape

  1. Select the Shape Selection tool  , and then select the Show Bounding Box option.
  2. Do one of the following:

    • Click the shape you want to transform, and then drag an anchor to transform the shape.

    • Select the shape you want to transform, choose Image > Transform Shape, and then choose a transformation command.

Change the color of all shapes in a layer

  1. In the Expert mode, double-click the thumbnail of the shape layer in the Layers panel.
  2. Select a new color and click OK.
    Note:

    If the color of a shape doesn’t change when you pick a new color, check to see if the layer has a layer style (represented by a style icon in the Layers panel). Some layer styles override the base color of a shape.

Apply a layer style to a shape

You can apply effects—such as drop shadows and bevels—to shapes quickly and easily using layer styles. Keep in mind that a layer style is applied to all shapes in a layer. For example, if you apply a drop shadow style to a layer that contains multiple shapes, all of the shapes will display a drop shadow.

Before (left) and after (right) applying a layer style to a custom shape.

  1. Select a layer that contains a shape or in the Layers panel, click the New button  and draw a shape.
  2. Open the the Effects panel , click the Styles tab. 
  3. Double-click the thumbnail you want to apply to the shape.

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