Photoshop Elements: Quick Fix

For readers using Elements, most of the previously mentioned controls are the same. However, elements also  offers the options to work in a...

For readers using Elements, most of the previously mentioned controls are the same. However, elements also  offers the options to work in a different editing mode-Quick Fix. Accessed on the top right of the screen, it provides a speedy method of using many of Photoshop's tools and functions. It also provides several automated controls for controlling contrast and color. While standard Edit is preferred for most work, there can be times when Quick Fix is useful to make very minor changes.

• Quick Fix work space. In Quick Fix, the complete screen is filled by the work-space, with controls for General Fixes, Lighting, Color, and Sharpening to the right, and some tools to the left. Open images from either the Open icon or from the File menu. Many of the color effects used with the Standard Edit can be found in the Menu bar.
• View. There are four possible viewing modes, and this is one of the most useful features found in Quick fix. After only will display each change to the image as it is made. And before, Only will show how the original file looked when it was opened. It is useful sometimes to use this to look back to see how much work has been done. Before and After (Portrait) and before and after (Landscape) display both these modes together, either vertically or horizontally, so comparisons can be made easily.
• General fixers. Use Smart Fix to try to correct color and contrast in one action. Either set the amount manually or use the Auto function. This may work with very normal lighting conditions, but manual (or Advanced settings in Standard Fix) will probably give better result.
• Lighting. Contrast and level can also be set automatically or controlled easily by adjusting the Lighten Shadows, Darken Highlights, and Midtone Contrast sliders.
• Color. There are four sliders to change an image's color, as well as the Auto function. Saturation will alter the color intensity, while Hue will change the Color. Temperature makes the photograph colder or warmer by increasing the level of either blue or red, and Tint adds the opposites of these colors-green and magenta.
• Sharpen. Use this simple version of the Unsharp Mask to add "sharpness" to an image. It works by increasing the contrast to the edge details.
• Reset. If things go wrong when making changes to the image and you need to start from the beginning. Click Reset, found in the top right of the After window, to revert the image to its original state.
• Tools. There are five basic tools use in Quick Fix. Magnifying (for enlarging and reducing the viewing window): Magic Selection (for isolating Areas of the photograph to be changed): Crop tool (for changing the composition): and Red Eye (for removing the unpleasant results sometimes found in portraits taken with a direct-flash lighting). Red eye also has an auto setting in General Fixes.
• Saving Images. Converted images can be saved be either clicking the Save icon or selecting Save from the File menu. This will change the original file to how it has been corrected. To leave the original file intact, and create a new file with all the changes, Select Save As (again from the file menu).
• Moving to Standard Edit. At any time, Standard Edit can be Chosen and the work-space will be converted automatically, though all changes made to the image will remain in place.