The basics

ADVANCED PHOTOSHOP ELEMENTS 5.0 FOR DIGITAL PHOTOGRAPHERS
11.01 Controlling brush characteristics
Suitable for Elements – 5.0, 4.0, 3.0, 2.0, 1.0 | Diffi culty level – Intermediate
Tools used – Painting tools | Palettes used – Brush Presets, Brush Dynamics
Elements provides users with the ability to change a range of brush options quickly and easily.
Color, Size, Mode and Opacity are the most accessible options.
The color of the brush can be altered by changing the currently selected foreground color. Do
this by clicking the foreground swatch located at the bottom of the program’s toolbar. Select
a new color from the Color Picker that is displayed and then click OK to exit the palette. Any
drawing or painting from this time forward will be in the new color.
Brush size, blending mode and opacity
are altered by the values set in the
Brush’s option bar. The size of the
brush is measured in pixels with higher
values producing a brush with a larger
diameter. The Brush’s Blending mode
controls the way that the color that is
being applied interacts with the color
already in the document. Notice that
the options you have here are the same
as the Blending modes available in the
Layers palette – with the exception that
when painting on a layer, two extra
options, Behind and Clear, are also
available as Blend modes. The Opacity
setting controls how transparent the painted color will be.
Elements also comes packaged with a host of pre-designed brushes
that can be acessed by clicking the Presets button to the right
of the Brush Preview thumbnail in the options bar. The designs
are grouped under headings that indicate the style of brush –
calligraphic, special effect, faux fi nish. Even though these brushes
are supplied with all the major characteristics pre-designed, you
can customize any brush by altering one or more of its settings.
In addition to the basic changes of size, color, Blend mode and
opacity many more brush characteristics can be altered via the
Brush Dynamics palette. The palette is opened by clicking the
More Options button located in the Brush’s options bar. Here
you will fi nd controls for a further seven brush characteristics.
At fi rst the options and their effects may seem a little strange and
confusing. To help you get to know the way that each setting will
Brush options >> The style of brush that you use in Elements can
be changed by either altering the brush’s characteristics manually
using the options available in the options bar and the Dynamic
palette, or by selecting one of the pre-designed brushes that come
supplied with the package.
(a) Brush options bar. (b) Brush Presets palette. (c) Brush Dynamics
palette. (d) Tablet Options palette.
Blend modes >> Controls how the
brush’s color interacts with existing
colors. (a) Normal. (b) Darken.
(c) Lighten. (d) Hard Light.
(e) Difference. (f) Luminosity.
Book resources at: www.adv-elements.com
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PRODUCING EFFECTIVE
GRAPHICS