The basics

326 ADVANCED PHOTOSHOP ELEMENTS 5.0 FOR DIGITAL PHOTOGRAPHERS
FREE FORM
PHOTO LAYOUTS
12.08 Adding your own backgrounds and graphics
Suitable for Elements – 5.0 | Diffi culty level – Advanced | Related techniques – 12.01, 12.02, 12.03, 12.04
Not satisfi ed with the graphics or backgrounds supplied by Adobe with Elements 5.0? Well why
not make your own. It is not diffi cult to create your own graphics and background artwork.
After all these are just pictures that Elements treats in a special way. Careful copying of the
customized fi les you produce to a specifi c Elements folder will then see your designs appear as an
entry in the Artwork and Effects palette.
Before you start
Custom graphics and backgrounds are added to a settings folder that is usually hidden from
view in the Windows fi le browser. Before you can start to add your own content you must fi rst
make these hidden folders visible. Do this by displaying the Windows’ Control Panel (select
Control Panel from the Start menu). Next choose the Appearance and Themes option and in
the following screen the Folder Options. Choose the View tab in the Folder Options dialog that
is displayed. Scroll down the options to locate the Hidden fi les and folders heading. Select the
‘Show hidden fi les and folders’ option. Click the OK button to apply the changes to your folders.
You should now be able to view the Application Data folder in the C:\Documents and Settings\All
Users\ directory.
WARNING: Be careful adding to and deleting fi les from any of the hidden directories
that are now displayed. These folders are generally hidden from the user’s view because
they contain settings that affect the way that your programs function. And yes, just in
case you are wondering, you proceed from this point onwards at your own risk. Deleting,
overwriting or adding a fi le to the wrong area can cause Elements to stall when opening.
If this occurs then backtrack your changes and if all else fails you may have to reinstall the
program to fi x the problem. Scared? Well don’t be. Just be careful and all should be fi ne.
Revealing the Artwork directories >>
By default Windows hides the
directories where Backgrounds and
Graphics fi les are kept. Your fi rst task
is to reveal these folders.
Book resources at: www.adv-elements.com