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Importing files

  1. Get to know Photoshop Elements
  2. Photoshop Elements User Guide
  3. 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
  4. Workspace and environment
    1. Get to know the Home screen
    2. Workspace basics
    3. Preferences
    4. Tools
    5. Contextual task bar
    6. Panels and bins
    7. Open files
    8. Rulers, grids, and guides
    9. Enhanced Quick Mode
    10. File information
    11. Presets and libraries
    12. Multitouch support
    13. Scratch disks, plug-ins, and application updates
    14. Undo, redo, and cancel actions
    15. Viewing images
    16. Importing Files
  5. 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. Restore Photos
    8. Combine Photos
    9. Sharpen photos
    10. Transforming
    11. Auto Smart Tone
    12. Recomposing
    13. Using actions to process photos
    14. Photomerge Compose
    15. Create a panorama
    16. Moving Overlays
    17. Moving Elements
    18. Moving Photos
  6. Adding shapes and text
    1. Add text
    2. Edit text
    3. Spell Checker
    4. Create shapes
    5. Editing shapes
    6. Painting overview
    7. Painting tools
    8. Set up brushes
    9. Patterns
    10. Fills and strokes
    11. Gradients
    12. Work with Asian type
  7. Quick Actions
  8. Generative AI
    1. Generate Image
    2. Insert Object
  9. 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
  10. 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
  11. 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
  12. 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
  13. Creating photo projects
    1. Project basics
    2. Making photo projects
    3. Editing photo projects
    4. Creating Photo Reels
  14. 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
  15. 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)

Open from Mobile

Introduced in Photoshop Elements 2026.

Effortlessly transfer photos from your mobile device to Photoshop Elements Editor by generating a unique QR code. Scan the code with your smartphone camera to instantly access your media library and transfer desired files using the mobile browser. 

  1. To generate a QR code:

    • Select the Open > Open From Mobile.
    • Select File > Open From Mobile.

  2. Upon selecting Open from Mobile, a QR code will get generated. 

    Note
    • Uncheck the ‘Save to Computer’ option if you don’t want the transferred photos saved to your computer and only want them to open in the Editor.
    • To change the save location, click the path shown and select a new one.
  3. Scan the QR code with your mobile camera.

    This will open your default Mobile browser with a Sign-in screen.

  4. Sign in with the same Adobe ID you used in Photoshop Elements Editor.

    Note

    To check which Adobe ID is signed in within the Editor, click Help menu.

  5. After successful Sign-in, click Select to select and transfer the photos.

    Note

    You can transfer up to 50 photos at a time.

  6. Select the photos you want to transfer, and then start transferring.

  7. During the transfer, you can track progress on both your mobile device and in Photoshop Elements Editor. Wait until the transfer is complete.

  8. After the transfer is complete, select Continue to open the transferred photos in the Editor.

Import images from a digital camera using WIA (Windows only)

Certain digital cameras import images using Windows Image Acquisition (WIA) support. When you use WIA, Photoshop Elements works with Windows and your digital camera or scanner software to import images directly into Photoshop Elements.

  1. Choose File > Import > WIA Support.

  2. Choose a destination in which to save your image files on your computer.

  3. Make sure that Open Acquired Image(s) in Photoshop is selected. If you are importing a large number of images, or if you want to edit the images later, deselect this option.

  4. To save the imported images directly into a folder whose name is the current date, select Create Unique Subfolder Using Date Today.

  5. Click Start.

  6. Select the digital camera from which to import images.

    Note

    If the name of your camera does not appear in the submenu, verify that the software and drivers were properly installed and that the camera is connected.

  7. Choose the image or images you want to import:

    • Click the image from the list of thumbnails to import the image.

    • Hold down Shift and click multiple images to import them at the same time.

    • Click Select All to import all available images.

  8. Click Get Picture to import the image.

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