Datasheet

Part I: Getting Started

Juggling all your interface options

With all the settings you can use for any given tool, it can become downright

frustrating trying to figure out exactly where to select an option for the edit

you want to make. To help simplify the process of using tools and selecting

options for the tools, here’s what you might do in a normal workflow:

1. Select a tool in the Tools palette.

Obviously, you need to know what task you want to perform, so select-

ing the proper tool to complete the task is important to know up-front.

2. Take a quick look at the Options bar.

Before moving to other options choices, be certain you look over the

choices in the Options bar. If you want to use a tool like the Brush tool or

the Clone Stamp tool, perhaps you want to make a decision about what

size brush tip you want to use. This choice is specific to the selected

tool and therefore appears as an Options bar choice.

3. Open a palette for more options.

If you, for example, want to use the Brush tool to apply some color to an

image, after selecting the Brush tip in the Options bar, open the Color

Swatches palette and select a color.

4. Open the More menu.

Maybe the color you want to use doesn’t appear in the Color Swatches

palette. Your next stop is the More menu. From the menu choices, you

can load different swatch libraries that provide more color options.

Try following the same sequence when you want to edit images in Elements

by first selecting a tool, then checking out the Options bar, opening palettes

related to providing choices for the task at hand, and finally clicking the More

button for additional choices in the palettes.

Looking at the Shortcuts bar

You find the Shortcuts bar just above the Options bar and below the Menu

bar. The Shortcuts bar, shown in Figure 1-9, serves two purposes. Tools in the

Shortcuts bar are available for quick access to some of the most common

tasks you perform in Elements. Secondly, buttons appear for quick access

to Elements’ other functions that involve organizing documents, browsing

photos, or viewing a calendar.

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