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You have a digital camera and now you want to get all those great pictures loaded onto your computer, but how? And then, how do you edit the photos to correct your mistakes and organize them for easy access? Sams Publishing has the answers to all of your digital photography questions in one easy-to-understand book. Sams Teach Yourself Digital Photography and Photoshop Elements 3 All In One will help you quickly get comfortable with your digital photography tools and technology. You'll learn to:
Digital Camera Settings and Controls
Introduction.
What Is Photography?
A Brief History of Photography
Get a Lens, Friends...
Mr. Eastman's Invention
It IS Rocket Science!
Space Frozen in Time
Magic Moments
The Photograph As a Communications Tool
The Photograph As an Abstraction of Reality
Color Is Critical
I. THE BASICS.
1. Understanding the Digital Revolution.
Considering Digital Graphics
Advantages of Digital Photography Over Film
Disadvantages of Digital Photography
Computers As a Photo Tool
Making Versus Taking a Picture
How Photos Are Used Today
Magazine and Newspaper Photographs
Advertising/TV Photography
Law Enforcement
Weddings
Photos in Web Publishing
Summary
2. The Digital Camera.
How to Make a Simple Camera
How the Camera Works
Lenses and Focusing
Camera Pros and Cons
How Digital Cameras Work
Inside the Camera
Color and the CCD
Bit Depth and Resolution
Resolution
Overview of Current Digital Cameras
Snapshot Cameras
Intermediate Cameras
Professional/Prosumer Cameras
Disposable Cameras
Memory Cards
Using Video Cameras for Still Photos
Summary
3. Technical Details.
Understanding How Lenses Work
Focusing
Focal Length
Visual Angle
Zoom Versus Prime Lenses
Distortion
Depth of Field
Manipulating Exposure Controls
Aperture
Shutter Issues
White Balance
Learning Workarounds for Camera Settings
Focus Workarounds
Flash Workarounds
Exposure Workarounds
Caring for Digital Cameras
Lens and Screen Cleaning
Batteries and AC Adapters
Summary
II. TAKING BETTER PICTURES.
4. Seeing Photographically.
Comparing What You See and What the Lens Sees
Organizing Perception = Composition
Framing a Picture
The Shape of the Image
The Shape of the Subject
The Shape of the Space
Dealing with Print and Screen Formats
Learning the Rule of Thirds
Discovering Perspective-The Illusion of Reality
Linear Perspective
Aerial Perspective
Contrast in Sharpness
Vertical Location
Overlapping
The Importance of Scale
A Matter of Comparison
Using the Horizon
Choosing Your Viewpoint
Finding Balance and Symmetry
Building Relationships
Working with Texture and Pattern
Texture
Pattern
Summary
5. Telling a Story.
How Does a Picture Communicate?
Symbols
Shared Experiences
Creating a Mood
Using Color
Color Defined
Using Limited Palettes
Working with Tonality
Monochrome
Planning Photo Essays
Shooting a Photo Essay
Release Forms
Summary
6. Controlling the Environment.
Natural Backgrounds
Indoor Settings
Using Backdrops and Props
Finding Interesting Backgrounds
Props for All Occasions
Improving on Nature
Dulling Spray
Tapes
Clothing and Makeup
The Glamour Drape
Food Photography
Tricks of the Trade
Designing Photos for Type and Image Enhancement
Planning for Type
Catalogs
Summary
7. Painting with Light.
Using Available Light
Larger Source = Softer Light
Smaller Source = Harder Light
Balancing Daylight and Artificial Light
Using Built-in Flash
Using Studio Lighting
Choosing Lights
Keys, Accents, and Fills
Cookies, Flags, and Gobos
Tabletop Lighting
Shooting Tables
The Jewelry Tent
Pitching a Tent
Summary
8. Shooting Portraits.
Portrait Posing
Couples and Group Portraits
The Flattering Portrait Trick
Children and Other Animals
Babies
Toddlers
Older Kids
Pets
Farm and Zoo Animals
Wildlife
Motion in a Still Picture
Summary
III. PUTTING YOUR PHOTOS TO WORK.
9. Saving and Uploading Your Pictures.
Getting from the Camera to the Computer
Transferring an Image
Using a Card Reader for Image Transfer
File Formats and File Sizes
Saving File Space
Using File Compression with Saved Images
Other Formats
Storage Media
Scanned Images
Using a Scanner
Scanning Film
Scanning Small Objects
Summary
10. Better Pictures Through Digital Wizardry.
Can You Improve on Perfection?
Moral and Ethical Issues
Software for Image Enhancement
Microsoft Picture It! Photo Edition
Jasc Paint Shop Pro
Adobe Photoshop CS
Adobe Photoshop Elements
Other Photo Software
Summary
11. Welcome to Photoshop Elements.
Opening Elements
Getting Help
Tool Tips
Recipes
The Help Button
Summary
12. A Tour of the Desktop.
Finding Your Way Around
Understanding the Shortcuts Bar
Starting a New Image
Using the Tools in the Toolbox
Utility Tools
Selection Tools
Miscellaneous Tools
Painting Tools
Toning Tools
Colors
Tool Shortcuts
Understanding the Options Bar
Using the Menus
Taking a Look at the File and Edit Menus
Using the File Browser
What's on the Edit Menu?
Taking a Look at the Image Menu
Rotate
Transformations
Divide Scanned Photos
Crop/Resize
Modes
Taking a Look at the Enhance Menu
Adjust Smart Fix
Adjust Lighting
Adjust Color
Taking a Look at the Layer Menu
Taking a Look at the Select Menu
Taking a Look at the Filter Menu
Taking a Look at the View Menu
Taking a Look at the Window Menu
Using the Photo Bin
Setting Preferences
Summary
13. Handling Photoshop Elements Files.
Starting a New Image File
Browsing for a File
Saving Your Work
Choosing a File Format
Choosing Other Save Options
Adjusting Resolution
Saving for the Web
Attaching Files to Email
Exporting a PDF
Undoing and Redoing
Using the Undo History Palette
Summary
14. Printing Your Pictures.
Choosing a Printer
Inkjet Printers
All in One Printer/Scanner/Copier Combinations
Laser Printers
Dye-Sublimation Printers
Imagesetters
Preparing the Image
Choosing a Paper Type
Selecting Page Setup Options
Previewing an Image
Printing the Page
Making Contact Sheets and Picture Packages
Contact Sheets
Picture Packages
Summary
15. Posting Your Work on the Web.
Internet Limitations and What They Mean to You
Optimizing Images for the Web
JPEG (Joint Photographic Experts Group)
GIF (Graphics Interchange Format)
PNG (Portable Network Graphics)
Optimizing a Graphic Step by Step
Preparing Text for the Web
Preparing Backgrounds
Making Transparent Images
Making Pages Load Faster
Creating a Web Gallery
Emailing a Picture
Summary
16. Keeping Track of Your Pictures.
Photoshop Elements Organizer
Understanding Organizer
Starting an Album
Maintaining Links in Organizer
Finding Your Photos
Making Photo Collections
Searching for a Photo
Working with the Photo
iPhoto for Macintosh
Importing Photos
Arranging and Sorting Your Pictures
Editing a Photo
Creating Albums
Sharing Your Photos
Summary
IV. WORKING WITH THE TOOLS.
17. Making Selections and Using Layers.
Using the Selection Tools
Making Selections with Marquees
Selecting with the Lasso Tools
Making Selections with the Magic Wand
Using the Selection Brush Tool
Selecting and Deselecting All
Modifying Selections
Inverting a Selection
Feathering a Selection
Changing Your Selection with Modify, Grow, Similar
Saving and Loading Selections
Stroking and Filling Selections
Using the Paint Bucket Tool to Fill a Selection
Working with Layers
Managing Layers
Adding a New Layer
Moving or Removing a Layer
Grouping Layers Together
Changing Layer Opacity
Summary
18. Working with the Brush Tools.
The Brushes Palette
Brush Options Dialog Box
Tablet Options
Brushes
The Airbrush
The Brush
The Impressionist Brush
The Color Replacement Brush
The Eraser
The Pencil
Summary
19. Adding Type.
Using the Type Tools
Adding Horizontal and Vertical Type
Choosing Fonts
Using the Type Mask Tools
Working with Layer Styles and Text
Editing Layer Styles
Warping Text
Summary
V. SIMPLE IMPROVEMENTS.
20. Cropping and Resizing a Photo.
Cropping
Thinking About Good Composition
Resizing
Resizing an Image
Resizing a Canvas
Resizing a Portion of an Image
Rotating an Image
Flipping Images
Rotating by Degrees
Straightening Images
Straightening and Leveling "By Hand"
Straightening Selections
Skewing Selections
Distorting Selections
Changing the Perspective of a Selection
Summary
21. Too Light/Too Dark: Adjusting Brightness, Contrast, and Color.
Quick Fix
Using the Automatic Correction Tools
Auto Smart Fix
Auto Levels
Auto Contrast
Auto Color Correction
Adjusting by Eye with Color Variations
Adjusting Color with Color Cast
Adjusting Color with Hue/Saturation
Removing and Replacing Color
Compensating for Lighting Mistakes
Correcting an Image, Step by Step
Summary
22. Removing Red Eye, Dust, and Scratches.
Making Basic Cleanups
Removing Small Objects with the Clone Stamp Tool
Removing Small Objects with Copy and Paste
Fixing Red Eye
A Pound of Prevention...
A Couple of Cures
Fixing Red Eye from Scratch
Removing Dust and Scratches
Using the Dust & Scratches Filter
Using the Despeckle and Unsharp Mask Filters
Removing Dust and Scratches with the Clone Stamp
Summary
VI. PHOTO RESCUE.
23. Using How Tos and Tutorials.
Using How Tos
Doing a "To Do"
Following a Tutorial
Going Online for Help and Inspiration
Websites for Ideas and Help
Photoshop Elements User Newsletter
The National Association of Photoshop Professionals
Summary
24. Repairing Black-and-White Pictures.
Easy Fixes
Correcting Lack of Contrast
Dodging and Burning
Painting Over Small Blotches
Preparing an Old Photo for Repair by Removing Sepia
Repairing Serious Damage
First Steps
Repairing Tears
Applying Vignetting
Cleaning Up a Picture, Step by Step
Applying Tints
Summary
25. Making Color Repairs.
Correcting Color Cast
Lightening Shadows and Improving Contrast
Making Selective Color Adjustments
Image Correction Tools
Blur and Sharpen
The Sponge Tool
Adjusting Saturation
The Smudge Tool
Making Repairs When Nothing's Really Wrong
Hand Coloring a Black-and-White Photo
Summary
26. Removing and Replacing Objects.
Drag-and-Drop Copying
Removing a Person
Replacing a Face
Putting Back What Was Never There
Summary
27. Using the Improvement Filters.
Working with Filters
Using the Sharpen Filters
Using the Blur Filters
Smart Blur
Gaussian Blur
Radial Blur
Motion Blur
Adding or Removing Noise
Despeckle
Dust & Scratches
Median
Add Noise
Using the Render Filters
Clouds
Difference Clouds
Lens Flare
Lighting Effects
Texture Fill
3D Transform
Adding Texture
Adjusting the Effect of Filters
Summary
VII. GETTING CREATIVE.
28. Color Modes and Color Models.
Color Models
RGB Model
CMYK Model
HSB Model
The Modes and Models of Color
Bitmap and Grayscale
RGB
Indexed Color
Color Bit Depth and Why It Matters
Calibrating Your Monitor
Summary
29. Creating Art from Scratch.
Choosing Colors
Using Color Pickers
Using the Swatches Palette
Other Tips for Selecting Colors
Using the Shape Tools
Changing the Style
Setting the Geometry Options
Drawing Additional Shapes
Finding More Custom Shapes
Selecting a Shape
Using the Brush Tool
Setting Brush Options
Painting with the Impressionist Brush
Adding New Elements to an Existing Picture
Using the Pencil Tool
Setting Pencil Options
Replacing One Color with Another
Using the Eraser Tools
Erasing with the Eraser Tool
Erasing with the Background Eraser Tool
Summary
30. Using the Artistic Filters.
Using the Watercolor Filters
Dry Brush
Spatter
Simulating Oil Painting
Underpainting
Palette Knife
Paint Daubs
Working with Pastels, Chalk, Charcoal, and Pen
Rough Pastels
Smudge Stick
Chalk & Charcoal
Conté Crayon
Graphic Pen and Halftone Pattern
Sumi-e
Creating a Neon Effect with Glowing Edges
Adding a Neon Glow
Texturizing with Grain
Sponging an Image
Summary
31. Making Composite Images.
Working with Lighting and Scale
Using Layer Styles to Create Composites
Using Adjustment Layers to Fix Image Problems
Adding an Adjustment Layer
Editing the Adjustment Layer Mask
Understanding Blend Modes
Applying Effects
Making an Effect from Scratch
Creating Drop Shadows from Scratch
Making Reflections
Using Distortions to Blend Composite Images
Putting Together Stitched Panoramas
Working with Photomerge
Considerations When You Shoot a Panorama
Summary
32. Going Wild with Your Images.
Posterizing Colors
Adjusting the Threshold
Liquifying an Image
Replacing Colors with Gradient Map and Invert
Using Gradient Map
Creating Your Own Gradient
Using Invert
Animating a GIF
Setting Type in a Circle
Using the Magic Eraser
Adding Metallic Effects
Using Weird Effects
Plastic Wrap
Diffuse Glow
Ocean Ripple
Wave
Solarize
Pixelate Filters
Crystallize
Pointillism and Mosaic
Stylize
Find Edges, Glowing Edges, and Trace Contour
Wind
Emboss
Combining Filters
Texturizer
Rough Pastels and Film Grain
Third-Party Filters
Orbs
Summary
VIII. APPENDIXES.
Appendix A. Glossary.
Appendix B. Photoshop Elements Menus.
Mac Menus
Windows Menus
Appendix C. All the Shortcuts...
Index.