This is the absolute best video! Out of all the videos I have searched you have explained how to do this perfectly!! Thank you so much and please keep up the elements tutorials!
You are welcome! PSE can do some amazing things if you know how to approach it. For many projects it is just as useful as the more expensive Adobe Photoshop. George
MrMoonpie001 nailed it. This is a great video for the refined edge. I now feel like I'm getting a very good understanding of this multi-featured tool. Excellent, George!
Thanks John! The Refine Edge tool is one of those basic tools that need to be mastered to get the most out of photo editing with Photoshop Elements. George
Thank you for the concise and easy to understand and follow tutorials! I have a question, though. When doing something like this, do you first crop and make all adjustments to your photos and make this your last step? That seems like a logical thing to do, but what if you haven't done that? For instance, I wasn't sure how I wanted to crop a certain photo, so I waited until the end. In the meantime, I realized I should have done a little whitening on the teeth. How do you suggest doing those steps and any other adjustments I might want to make?
Searched high and low for a good instruction video on blurring the background using Elements 13. Almost all were useless. Yours however, showed me exactly what I needed for success. Great video. Many thanks indeed.
Hi George. Thank you for sharing, superb educational videos. Please note that the link to download free project files sends to a Not Found page. Once more thank you, with best regards.
There are several factors in photoshop lessons. One resource I found that successfully combines these is the Trevs photo blue print (check it out on google) it's the most incredible guide i've heard of. look at all the great info.
Best use of the refine tool and its limits I seen so far. You showed me how to resolve the problems I have with that tool. I have a photo with a tree that has gaps in the leaves showing the sky behind. The refine tool does not do a good job when placing a new sky background showing through the gaps in the leaves. I have done a 'work-around' with using a blend mode and some blurring in the gap regions. I hope you might do something like that with PSE. It is easy to do with PS without doing the "work-around" but not PSE. I also like the gradient edge use in the video.
+DrinkingStar Thanks! The Refine Edge tool can do some amazing things and is one of the first tools I go to when working a difficult selection, but it is not always perfect and sometimes it won't work at all since it depends on an easily identifiable difference between the foreground subject and the background. Also as will all selections it can leave some edge haloing. One trick that I really should do a video on is using filters to expand or contract a layer mask by a pixel or two. Here is how it is done, click on the layer mask for the layer (make sure the light blue outline is showing around the layer mask), now go to Filter Menu-Other-Maximum, this will make the white part of the layer mask larger by a set pixel amount. Filter Menu-Other-Minimum will make the white part of the layer mask smaller by a set pixel amount. Sometimes this is all that is needed to shrink or grow the layer mask just a bit to clean up the selection.
Hi I used the quick lasoo tool in the same manner and I now have a white halo bordering around my subject? Tried smoothing edge and feathering didn't work? Is this related to gradient at all?
Hi Sherrie, the quick tools never make perfect selections so I usually recommend against those and taking the time to make a good selection manually. Not sure about the white halo, that almost sounds like you are applying a gradient to the image instead of applying the gradient to the layer mask. George
That was, without a doubt, the best example of how to make a selection I have ever seen using the refined tool! The refined selection tool is probably the most misunderstood of all the elements selections! You preformed that like the hands of a well crafted surgeon. Now on to effect. I might as well put that $800.00 back into my pocket since there is no need to go out and purchase a Mr. Fancy Pants lens, just to get a nice depth of field shot! You showed that this can be accomplished as well in post production. Even with my el-cheep-o Cannon Power Shot G6 a little work on the aperture and or shutter speed and I can pull off some real dandies! Thanks again George!!! Great, great lesson! Rich
+MrMoonpie001 Thanks Rich, this is one of those basic techniques that everyone who is doing digital photography should learn. Very useful. On the Refine Edge tool, great little tool but sometimes it just doesn't do the whole job. On my video about moving the animals around it worked perfectly, on this video it needed some additional help. All depends on the original photo.
I sometime find remaking a selection in the refined tool works better. I don't know what is behind this perhaps it tries a different logarithm or formula on it. Maybe it is just the selection retry is slightly different, in any event it is better than the old days. Do you think the refined tool or content aware is improved in version 14 over 13? Thanks Rich
+MrMoonpie001 Hi Rich, Adobe did a redo of the Refine Tool in PSE 14 and it is an improvement. It is also moved to the Options panel below the image where it is easier to use. I will be doing a series of PSE videos including one on how to use the new Refine Tool later this month.
Great video. I am using the latest version, PSE 18. I purchased your online course. Brand new to these techniques. Question: After you do the edits, is the next step to select all, copy to a new file and save that file as a jpg, then save your working file as a psd? Thanks for your help
Hi Shirley, it is easier than that. First just save the file, it will save as a psd and will save all of your work. Now do a Save As to jpg or use the Save for Web tool to save to jpg and you are all set. George
OMGosh Ive been doing it another way that didnt give such clean results as yours. This is great! Thank you! Only question I have is do you flatten or merge the layers when done???
Hi, normally I don't flatten or merge my layers. I leave all the layers intact in the PSD file. I then use either the Save As function or the Save for Web to save the image to the format that I need. Most save functions automatically flatten the image during the save process so no need to flatten the PSD file. That way I can always go back later and make adjustments and do a new Save As if I need to. Plus I tend to do a lot of my layout work in Adobe InDesign and you can place PSD files directly into InDesign and the placed image stays linked to the original PSD so if I make changes to the PSE it automatically updates the InDesign file as well. George
Hi, are you asking about giving a photo the old Kodak Ektachrome look or giving it a metallic chrome look? Here is a video on doing metallic chrome lettering th-cam.com/video/H7Z_lqYnI7M/w-d-xo.html George
I was wondering what version of PSE you were using. My toolbar on the left, does not have the descriptive names -- "view" "enhance" "modify", etc. I also can't get a photo to open in a totally separate window.
Hi Wanda, this video was recorded in Photoshop Elements 13. Here is a video showing how to set up floating document windows: th-cam.com/video/X26Ga4j4O9w/w-d-xo.html George
Hi, improving the focus or sharpness of a picture depends on how out of focus the original is. You can do a bit to improve things but this really only works if the image is just a bit out of focus. Here is a video on the techniques: th-cam.com/video/6NkacizSpq0/w-d-xo.html George
Hi Conrad, the grey checkerboard shows where the transparency is. So if that is showing on the image it means that there is nothing behind the layer with the transparency. This project requires 3 layers, the original background layer hidden and untouched as a safety, then 2 copies of the background layer above that. The top layer is the in focus layer and this is the layer that should have the transparency on it. The next layer (the middle layer) will be the new blurred background layer for the image. So you are looking through the transparency of the top in focus layer to see the blurred layer right beneath it. My guess is that either you don't have a layer below the in focus layer or you are doing the whole project on the background layer. Make sure you follow along with the project step-by-step and don't skip ahead or you will miss the important first part about setting up the layers. George
Hi Sue, I really like the new version 15. All of my Elements TH-cam videos since this past October have been in Photoshop Elements 15. It is a big jump from PSE 10, Adobe updated the interface in version 11. They actually simplified a lot of the program and the current version is very comfortable to use. Only one comment, if you use the Slideshow tool in PSE 10 don't uninstall that since Adobe changed the Slideshow function in 11 and it is basically useless now. I keep PSE 10 installed on my system just for the Slideshow function. There is no problem having more than one version of Photoshop Elements installed on your system at the same time, but to keep things simple do all of your Organizer work in the latest version that you have. I have PSE 7, 9, 10, 13, and 15 installed on my system right now (to more easily answer help questions). PSE 15 is the one that I use though. IF on the other hand you are thinking of upgrading to the Adobe Photoshop program instead of Photoshop Elements then you would need to get either CS6 on eBay or someplace or the current version from Adobe (currently CC 2017). I use both CS6 and CC 2017, going with CS6 for quick stuff and CC 2017 for more advanced stuff. Only reason I keep CS6 installed is that it loads much faster than CC 2017 so for a quick fix I will go there. George
Hi, make sure you don't click too fast while you are making the selection. A double click will close the selection by connecting the starting point with the point you double click on. So, take your time and you will be fine. George
It appears the link is no good anymore. This is what I get when I click on it. May want to consider taking the link out if it is no good. Sorry, no such page. It seems we can’t find what you’re looking for. Perhaps searching, or one of the links below, can help.
🔴 If you enjoy this video show your support by clicking on the Thanks Button
Thank you George. It is soo generous of you to share this knowledge. This is a very useful technique.
You're welcome Peggy! I am happy to share.
Great Tutorial! Learned 2 techniques in 1 video! Thank you!!
You're welcome!
Thank you very much for your great Videos. You know, how to teach things. Best wishes from Germany.
You are welcome!
This is the absolute best video! Out of all the videos I have searched you have explained how to do this perfectly!! Thank you so much and please keep up the elements tutorials!
You're welcome Amanda! Don't forget to share the video to help me grow the channel.
George
www.howtogurus.com
One of my FAV PSE instructional videos by you. Thank you, teach! :-) Regards.
Glad you enjoyed it!
Thank you so very much! I'm just starting, and this is amazing! Thank you so very much for your time!
You are welcome! PSE can do some amazing things if you know how to approach it. For many projects it is just as useful as the more expensive Adobe Photoshop.
George
Thank you so much for this video! You are a good teacher!
You're welcome Charlotte!
George
MrMoonpie001 nailed it. This is a great video for the refined edge. I now feel like I'm getting a very good understanding of this multi-featured tool. Excellent, George!
Thanks John! The Refine Edge tool is one of those basic tools that need to be mastered to get the most out of photo editing with Photoshop Elements.
George
🔴🅿 Get My New Photoshop Elements 2023 Course www.georgepeirson.com/Photoshop-Elements-2023
excellent............what a beautiful result
+Gail Carey Thanks Gail, this is a nice gentle way to keep the focus on the newlyweds.
George
Thank you for the concise and easy to understand and follow tutorials! I have a question, though. When doing something like this, do you first crop and make all adjustments to your photos and make this your last step? That seems like a logical thing to do, but what if you haven't done that? For instance, I wasn't sure how I wanted to crop a certain photo, so I waited until the end. In the meantime, I realized I should have done a little whitening on the teeth. How do you suggest doing those steps and any other adjustments I might want to make?
The sequence really doesn't matter, I usually do the big things first and the detail stuff later
Thank you!
You're welcome!
George
Great tutorial; thanks for making & posting :)
You're welcome,
George
Great Tutorial Thank You So Much
+Divine313Style You're Welcome! : )
Searched high and low for a good instruction video on blurring the background using Elements 13. Almost all were useless. Yours however, showed me exactly what I needed for success. Great video. Many thanks indeed.
You're welcome! The best way to learn Photoshop Elements is with my online training course at howtogurus.com.
George
This was very helpful. I finally understand something!
Thank You!
George
Hi George. Thank you for sharing, superb educational videos. Please note that the link to download free project files sends to a Not Found page. Once more thank you, with best regards.
Thanks! You can find all of my new PSE projects on my other channel here: www.youtube.com/@HTGPhoto. The links on this channel will no longer work.
Do you really want to learn Photoshop Elements? Get my PSE Course here: howtogurus.com/photoshop-elements-online-course/
Do you really want to learn Photoshop Elements? Get my PSE Course here: howtogurus.com/photoshop-elements-online-course/
Wow, thats a helpfull video
Thanks John!
George
There are several factors in photoshop lessons. One resource I found that successfully combines these is the Trevs photo blue print (check it out on google) it's the most incredible guide i've heard of. look at all the great info.
Best use of the refine tool and its limits I seen so far. You showed me how to resolve the problems I have with that tool. I have a photo with a tree that has gaps in the leaves showing the sky behind. The refine tool does not do a good job when placing a new sky background showing through the gaps in the leaves. I have done a 'work-around' with using a blend mode and some blurring in the gap regions. I hope you might do something like that with PSE. It is easy to do with PS without doing the "work-around" but not PSE.
I also like the gradient edge use in the video.
+DrinkingStar Thanks! The Refine Edge tool can do some amazing things and is one of the first tools I go to when working a difficult selection, but it is not always perfect and sometimes it won't work at all since it depends on an easily identifiable difference between the foreground subject and the background. Also as will all selections it can leave some edge haloing. One trick that I really should do a video on is using filters to expand or contract a layer mask by a pixel or two. Here is how it is done, click on the layer mask for the layer (make sure the light blue outline is showing around the layer mask), now go to Filter Menu-Other-Maximum, this will make the white part of the layer mask larger by a set pixel amount. Filter Menu-Other-Minimum will make the white part of the layer mask smaller by a set pixel amount. Sometimes this is all that is needed to shrink or grow the layer mask just a bit to clean up the selection.
+How To Gurus Isn't that cool! I just tried that on a picture, another tool in the belt!
Thanks
Rich
Hi I used the quick lasoo tool in the same manner and I now have a white halo bordering around my subject? Tried smoothing edge and feathering didn't work? Is this related to gradient at all?
Hi Sherrie, the quick tools never make perfect selections so I usually recommend against those and taking the time to make a good selection manually. Not sure about the white halo, that almost sounds like you are applying a gradient to the image instead of applying the gradient to the layer mask.
George
That was, without a doubt, the best example of how to make a selection I have ever seen using the refined tool! The refined selection tool is probably the most misunderstood of all the elements selections! You preformed that like the hands of a well crafted surgeon.
Now on to effect. I might as well put that $800.00 back into my pocket since there is no need to go out and purchase a Mr. Fancy Pants lens, just to get a nice depth of field shot! You showed that this can be accomplished as well in post production. Even with my el-cheep-o Cannon Power Shot G6 a little work on the aperture and or shutter speed and I can pull off some real dandies!
Thanks again George!!! Great, great lesson!
Rich
+MrMoonpie001 Thanks Rich, this is one of those basic techniques that everyone who is doing digital photography should learn. Very useful. On the Refine Edge tool, great little tool but sometimes it just doesn't do the whole job. On my video about moving the animals around it worked perfectly, on this video it needed some additional help. All depends on the original photo.
I sometime find remaking a selection in the refined tool works better. I don't know what is behind this perhaps it tries a different logarithm or formula on it. Maybe it is just the selection retry is slightly different, in any event it is better than the old days. Do you think the refined tool or content aware is improved in version 14 over 13?
Thanks
Rich
+MrMoonpie001 Hi Rich, Adobe did a redo of the Refine Tool in PSE 14 and it is an improvement. It is also moved to the Options panel below the image where it is easier to use. I will be doing a series of PSE videos including one on how to use the new Refine Tool later this month.
I am assuming the refined tool and the refine image as the same thing, is that correct thinking?
Thanks
Rich
+MrMoonpie001 Hi Rich, technically it is called the Refine Edge Tool and is part of the Selection tools.
Great video. I am using the latest version, PSE 18. I purchased your online course. Brand new to these techniques. Question: After you do the edits, is the next step to select all, copy to a new file and save that file as a jpg, then save your working file as a psd? Thanks for your help
Hi Shirley, it is easier than that. First just save the file, it will save as a psd and will save all of your work. Now do a Save As to jpg or use the Save for Web tool to save to jpg and you are all set.
George
Thank you!
: )
OMGosh Ive been doing it another way that didnt give such clean results as yours. This is great! Thank you! Only question I have is do you flatten or merge the layers when done???
Hi, normally I don't flatten or merge my layers. I leave all the layers intact in the PSD file. I then use either the Save As function or the Save for Web to save the image to the format that I need. Most save functions automatically flatten the image during the save process so no need to flatten the PSD file. That way I can always go back later and make adjustments and do a new Save As if I need to. Plus I tend to do a lot of my layout work in Adobe InDesign and you can place PSD files directly into InDesign and the placed image stays linked to the original PSD so if I make changes to the PSE it automatically updates the InDesign file as well.
George
have you got a video on chrome looks?
Hi, are you asking about giving a photo the old Kodak Ektachrome look or giving it a metallic chrome look? Here is a video on doing metallic chrome lettering th-cam.com/video/H7Z_lqYnI7M/w-d-xo.html
George
I was wondering what version of PSE you were using. My toolbar on the left, does not have the descriptive names -- "view" "enhance" "modify", etc. I also can't get a photo to open in a totally separate window.
Hi Wanda, this video was recorded in Photoshop Elements 13. Here is a video showing how to set up floating document windows:
th-cam.com/video/X26Ga4j4O9w/w-d-xo.html
George
What version of Elements are you using in this tutorial? It looks pretty old.
You are right, this video was recorded back in 2016 and used PSE 13, but the techniques work the same in the latest version as well.
Do you know how to make a out of focus picture sharper
Hi, improving the focus or sharpness of a picture depends on how out of focus the original is. You can do a bit to improve things but this really only works if the image is just a bit out of focus. Here is a video on the techniques: th-cam.com/video/6NkacizSpq0/w-d-xo.html
George
When I use the gradient tool the white and grey checked image comes over my photo... Any idea what's wrong?
Hi Conrad, the grey checkerboard shows where the transparency is. So if that is showing on the image it means that there is nothing behind the layer with the transparency. This project requires 3 layers, the original background layer hidden and untouched as a safety, then 2 copies of the background layer above that. The top layer is the in focus layer and this is the layer that should have the transparency on it. The next layer (the middle layer) will be the new blurred background layer for the image. So you are looking through the transparency of the top in focus layer to see the blurred layer right beneath it. My guess is that either you don't have a layer below the in focus layer or you are doing the whole project on the background layer. Make sure you follow along with the project step-by-step and don't skip ahead or you will miss the important first part about setting up the layers.
George
Thank you so much! I subscribed, this channel is so helpful :)
You're welcome Conrad, glad to have you aboard.
George
I currently have elements 10 and I don't care for it . do you like a different version of photoshop?
Hi Sue, I really like the new version 15. All of my Elements TH-cam videos since this past October have been in Photoshop Elements 15. It is a big jump from PSE 10, Adobe updated the interface in version 11. They actually simplified a lot of the program and the current version is very comfortable to use. Only one comment, if you use the Slideshow tool in PSE 10 don't uninstall that since Adobe changed the Slideshow function in 11 and it is basically useless now. I keep PSE 10 installed on my system just for the Slideshow function. There is no problem having more than one version of Photoshop Elements installed on your system at the same time, but to keep things simple do all of your Organizer work in the latest version that you have. I have PSE 7, 9, 10, 13, and 15 installed on my system right now (to more easily answer help questions). PSE 15 is the one that I use though.
IF on the other hand you are thinking of upgrading to the Adobe Photoshop program instead of Photoshop Elements then you would need to get either CS6 on eBay or someplace or the current version from Adobe (currently CC 2017). I use both CS6 and CC 2017, going with CS6 for quick stuff and CC 2017 for more advanced stuff. Only reason I keep CS6 installed is that it loads much faster than CC 2017 so for a quick fix I will go there.
George
thanks for your suggestion. I recently bought and love it...very user friendly. elements 15
My lasso keeps closing the selection. And NOT how I want it too :( Need help...
Hi, make sure you don't click too fast while you are making the selection. A double click will close the selection by connecting the starting point with the point you double click on. So, take your time and you will be fine.
George
Thank you :-)
You're welcome
George
It appears the link is no good anymore. This is what I get when I click on it. May want to consider taking the link out if it is no good.
Sorry, no such page.
It seems we can’t find what you’re looking for. Perhaps searching, or one of the links below, can help.
Hi Bruce, thanks for spotting this, the link is now fixed. www.georgepeirson.com/f040
George
Thank you!
You're welcome Jules!