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Guided mode Black & White edits

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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. Preferences
    4. Tools
    5. Panels and bins
    6. Open files
    7. Rulers, grids, and guides
    8. Enhanced Quick Mode
    9. File information
    10. Presets and libraries
    11. Multitouch support
    12. Scratch disks, plug-ins, and application updates
    13. Undo, redo, and cancel actions
    14. 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. Quick Actions
  7. 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
    21. Pixelate filters
  8. 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
  9. 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
  10. 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
  11. Creating photo projects
    1. Project basics
    2. Making photo projects
    3. Editing photo projects
    4. Creating Photo Reels
  12. 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
  13. 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)

The Guided mode provides you with guided edits - a wizard-like interface to accomplish certain predefined effects. Each guided edit has an associated image. As you move the mouse horizontally over the image, the portion to the left of the slider displays the image before the effect is applied. The portion to the right of the slider displays the image after the effect is applied.

Black and White guided edit

Use the Black and White Guided Edit on your photographs to create black and white images from colored images. You can apply from a range of black and white presets to create a crisp, black and white photo, or add a diffuse glow effect to the photos to obtain a surreal, dreamy result. 

  1. With a photograph open, in the Guided mode, select Black and White.

    Original image

  2. Select a preset that you would like to work with, on the selected photograph.

    Note:

    If you do not like the effect of a preset, choose another preset. In this step, Photoshop Elements does not apply one preset on top of another. Each time you select a preset, the selected photo is reset to its original state and the preset is applied afresh.

    Apply a preset to the photo

  3. (Optional) If you have a central subject or would like to highlight an aspect of your photo, you can apply a diffused glow. Click the Diffuse Glow button to apply a minimal amount of glow to the photo. To change the diffused glow effect to specific portions of the photo:

    1. Click Add (to apply diffused glow) or Remove (to remove the effect).
    2. Choose the size of the brush that will be used to apply the action.
    3. Choose how hard or soft the glow must be by sliding the Opacity control.
    4. Paint across portions of the photograph.
    Apply the optional diffuse glow

  4. (Optional) To increase the contrast between the highlighted areas and other portions of the photo, click the Increase Contrast button.

    Note:

    Click the Increase Contrast button multiple times, to increase the contrast.

    Increase the contrast to make the effect more dramatic

  5. After you get the desired result, click Next to choose how you would like to proceed:

    • Save - Save / Save As: Preserve the newly-created image in any of the available formats.
    • Continue editing - In Quick / In Expert: Choose where you would like to continue working on the image - in Quick mode or Expert mode.
    • Share - Flickr / Twitter: Choose to place your image online through one of the social or sharing services available in Photoshop Elements.

B&W Color Pop guided edit

Use the B&W Color Pop Guided Edit to highlight one single color in an image and de-saturate the other colors. You can choose to go with a default color (Red, Yellow, Blue, or Green), or use the options available to refine the effect.

  1. With a photograph open, in Guided mode, select B&W Color Pop.

    Original picture

  2. Choose a color that you would like to retain on the picture. If you notice multiple tones of the color on this image, click Select Custom Color and then use the color picker to click on a sample in the photo.

    Isolating a shade of blue on the pair of jeans

    When you complete this step, areas of the photo that are the same color you selected appear saturated. The rest of the photo starts to resemble a black and white photo.

  3. To include less or more tones of the selected color, move the Fuzziness slider to the left or right.

    Use the Fuzziness slider to select more tones and shades of blue in the picture

  4. (Optional) Click Refine Effect, and then add or negate to the B&W Color Pop effect on portions of the photo. The Size slider enables you switch the size of the brush, and the Opacity slider determines the strength of the effect applied.

    Use the Refine Effect button for options to view portions of the image in their original color. In this case, the wheels have been restored using the Add button, and setting Opacity to 100%.

  5. Click Increase Saturation to make the color you have chosen pop. This makes the objects of that color stand out from the relatively flat black and white photo.

    Click Increase Saturation to make the selected color pop

  6. After you get the desired result, click Next to choose how you would like to proceed:

    • Save - Save / Save As: Preserve the newly-created image in any of the available formats.
    • Continue editing - In Quick / In Expert: Choose where you would like to continue working on the image - in Quick mode or Expert mode.
    • Share - Flickr / Twitter: Choose to place your image online through one of the social or sharing services available in Photoshop Elements.

B&W Selection guided edit

Use the Selective Black and White Guided Edit to desaturate the colors of portions of a photograph that you select. When you desaturate portions of a photograph, the other areas of the photograph automatically appear highlighted. After you make selections, you can fine tune your selection.

  1. With a photograph open, in Guided mode, select B&W Selection.

    Original image

  2. Click the B&W Selection Brush. From the available options, choose to either Add or Subtract areas that you would like to convert to black and white. Use the Brush Size slider to determine how much area is affected in strokes across the photograph.

    Note:

    If you are applying this effect around an object that has multiple, fine edges (for example, hair), click the Refine Edge to further fine tune your selection.

    Select the portion that you want to convert to black and white

  3. To add or erase the black and white effect to more portions of the photograph selectively, click B&W Detail Brush, select an action and brush size, and then paint on the effect.

     

    Fine tune the selection to ensure required portions are not being converted to black and white

  4. To cause an exact opposite of the effect produced so far, click Invert Effect.

    Check out the same photo with the effect inverted

  5. After you get the desired result, click Next to choose how you would like to proceed:

    • Save - Save / Save As: Preserve the newly-created image in any of the available formats.
    • Continue editing - In Quick / In Expert: Choose where you would like to continue working on the image - in Quick mode or Expert mode.
    • Share - Flickr / Twitter: Choose to place your image online through one of the social or sharing services available in Photoshop Elements.

High Key guided edit

Add an ethereal, dreamy effect to your photos to give them an upbeat and positive feel.

Picture before applying the high key effect (left), and after

  1. Open a photo, and in the Guided Edits room > Black and White tab, click High Key.

    Note:

    Pictures that have been taken in excess light, or are over-exposed will appear bleached out when the High Key effect is applied. Slightly darker images will produce better results.

  2. Click Color or B&W, to choose whether you want to work with a color or black and white high key effect.

    The high key effect is added.

  3. Use the Add Diffuse Glow button to emphasize the high key effect by adding a glow to the brighter portions of the image. Click this button more than once to continue to add a diffused glow across the picture.

  4. After you get the desired result, click Next to choose how you would like to proceed:

    • Save - Save / Save As: Preserve the newly-created image in any of the available formats.
    • Continue editing - In Quick / In Expert: Choose where you would like to continue working on the image - in Quick mode or Expert mode.
    • Share - Flickr / Twitter: Choose to place your image online through one of the social or sharing services available in Photoshop Elements.

Line Drawing guided edit

For more information on the features used in this Guided Edit. See Precisely convert to black and white, About Levels adjustments, Add Noise, and Adjust saturation and hue.

Low Key guided edit

Emphasize shadows, highlight edges, and add a dramatic finish to your photographs by applying the low key effect.

Picture before applying the low key effect (left), and after

  1. Open a photo, and in the Guided Edits room > Black and White tab, click Low Key.

  2. Click Color or B&W, to choose whether you want to work with a color or black and white low key effect.

    The low key effect is added. Darker colors are pushed darker, brighter objects seem to be slightly overexposed. Contrast is high.

  3. Use the Background Brush and Reduce Effect buttons to find the exact effect you want to apply to your photo.

  4. After you get the desired result, click Next to choose how you would like to proceed:

    • Save - Save / Save As: Preserve the newly-created image in any of the available formats.
    • Continue editing - In Quick / In Expert: Choose where you would like to continue working on the image - in Quick mode or Expert mode.
    • Share - Flickr / Twitter: Choose to place your image online through one of the social or sharing services available in Photoshop Elements.
Note:

For best results, avoid skipping a step or performing the steps in a random order.

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