Learning Photoshop Elements

Step-by-Step
Lesson One

Selection Tools Overview Before students get started using Elements in integrated projects, they must first master the Elements toolbar. This lesson will concentrate on learning some of the most basic tools on the Elements toolbar, the selection tools. Creating a simple object like a castle is a good way to start. Instructions 1. Open Photoshop Element and set up a canvas as below:

2. We will be using these selection tools in this lesson: When you hold the top button down on the left side, you can access both the Rectangular Marquee Tool and the Elliptical Marquee Tools.

Both these tools are selection tools.

When you hold down the button here you have three section tool choices: the Lasso Tool, and Polygonal Lasso Tool and the Magnetic Lasso Tool.

3. Select the Rectangular Marquee Tool and draw a box: Note the menu on your options bar has now changed to reflect the options you have when you use the Rectangular Marquee tool. We will be working with the add to and subtract from buttons on this bar.

You will notice that the selection is bordered by moving dashes, sometime known as marching ants. These ants designate which pixels on the canvas that you have selected.

4. On the Options bar, select add to selection and draw another rectangle.

5. Now connect the two rectangles at the bottom. Notice how all the selections you have made have blended together to make one big selection.

6. Add towers to your castle using the same Rectangular Marquee tool and the add to selection option. Any time you make a mistake, or want to try something over again for a new result, simple click on edit>undo, or step backward as far as you wish to go.

7. Make poles and flags on top of your castle. Poles are made with the same Rectangular Marquee tool but triangular flags need the Polygonal Lasso Tool located on the next button down. When using the Polygonal Lasso Tool, click the mouse each time you want to draw in another direction. It is best to start and end your selection near the same place on the canvas. If you find the sticks to your mouse like a spider web, simply double click your mouse, and it will release!

Remember to check and make sure the add to selection option is still active before you make flags

8. Now we will add some windows by punching some holes in the selection. Select the Rectangular Marquee Tool once again but this time use the subtract from selection when you make windows.

If you picture disappears, or your windows dont show up just select edit>undo and check your selection buttons, chances are the add to selection or subtract from selections tools are wrong.

9. Using the same tools and options select a door.

10. Now lets add a tree. For this step you will need to use the Lasso Tool.

Making a tree trunk can be challenging, make sure you have the add to selection option active and just add branches to your truck.

11. Add leaves to your tree using the same tools.

12. Your selections are finished. Now it is time to color the selected areas. Select edit>fill.

From the Fill box window, select an option from the drop down menu.

13. In this example, we will fill the selection with the foreground color, which is black.

Foreground

Background

14. To stop the marching ants select, Select>Deselect.

15. Your castle is finished, practice making other pictures using the selection tools. Here is another example to get you started: