In this tutorial, you will build on the Photoshop Elements Overview tutorial and:
When finished, this image will look something like this:

 

Images: Adding Text, Objects and Styles (Drop Shadow)


For this tutorial, you will want to use your cropped, re-sized image from the Overview Tutorial. If you have misplaced that file, feel free to download this version which has already been cropped, color corrected and re-sized.

Open Aerial Bermuda Image:

You can open an image two ways:

  1. When you first open the program, you will have a dialog box that asks if you want to create a new image, or open another, among other options. Click 'Open" then find the image where you saved it on your hard drive. 
      2.  -- or --
  2. If your program is already open, select "File" from the menu at the top of the screen, select "Open", and find the image on your hard drive.

Using the Text Tool

To add text, you'll use the text tool. Notice the small black arrow at the bottom right of the text tool box? That means there is more than one kind of text tool. The text tool has two options: horizontal text (with the horizontal arrow) and vertical text (with the vertical arrow). For this tutorial, you are going to use horizontal text.

Apply a layer of text:

  1. Click the text tool on the tool palette to the left of the screen. 
  2. With the text tool selected, click on the point in the picture where you want your text. Type "Bermuda".
  3. Notice the top of the screen, in the Tool Options palette (look at the picture below). These palette options change with each tool you select. Here, you can change the type of text, color, size etc. Play with the options.
  4. To change the text, make sure your text tool is selected, then highlight the text with your cursor, then change size or color.

 
 

Move the text around on the photograph:

  1. To move the text, you need to change tools.  In the tool palette, click the "move" tool. 
  2. Click and drag text to where you want it.

 

Add a Shape to your Image

You may want to add a shape to your image, a star or heart, or even a big arrow to call attention to a part of the image. Photoshop has a Special Shapes tool that does the drawing  for you. For this image, we are going to add a star to the bottom right. Using shapes can be confusing because there are so many shapes: the selection tool (which is used to select a shape once it has been drawn, line, special (like hearts, stars and images) polygon, oval, rounded rectangle and rectangle. 
     
  1. Select the shape tool, and click and hold to select the custom shape tool (the heart) from the tool palette.
  2. On the Tool Options Palette at the top of the screen, you can see all the options for the shape tool.  Select the star.
  3. After selecting the arrow, drag your cursor on the picture to create a star.
  4. To re-size your star, click on the star then click on one of the handles around the arrow. To rotate it, move your cursor just outside your shape until you get curvy arrows, then click and drag.
  5. To move your star, click on the move tool (in the tools palette on the left) to move the star to the desired location.



 

Understanding Layers

Let's pause and understand a fundamental component of Photoshop Elements: layers. A layer is like a transparent film placed on top of a photograph. Photoshop allows you to place layers on top of pictures in order to give the original various effects.  When you add text to your image, Photoshop Elements automatically creates a new layer for it. Photoshop also adds a new layer for shapes. You can add layers  if you want as well.

In the Pop-up Palette, click the "Layers" tab.  Click it and drag it down to 'tear it off'.

Your image now has three layers: 

  1. the background (this one houses the original picture) and
  2. the text layer
  3. the object layer, with the arrow. 
To visualize this, think of a transparency with the words “Welcome to Bermuda” written on top, placed  on top of the original photo, and a second transparency with an arrow on it..


Moving Something within a Layer:
Now that you understand what levels are, think about how they work. Imagine you have an object in Photoshop and you want to move it, so you select your "move" tool. Photoshop doesn't understand what object you want to move so you have to tell it. 

To move something in a layer, remember to select that layer first. To select a layer, just click on that layer in the layers palette.

To move one layer on top of another, click that layer in the palette, and drag it above or below the other layer.

Why Can't I Move the Bottom Layer? Why is it Locked?
The bottom layer, the background layer (the italicized layer), is always locked. You can't move it. You can throw this layer away, or you can duplicate it by dragging it over the "New Layer" icon, but you can't move it as long as it is italicized and as long as it is the background.





Use Layer Styles to Add a Drop Shadow

You've started using some of the Pop-Up Palettes from the top right of the screen. You'll use the Layers Styles Palette to add a drop shadow to the text: drop shadows often make text easier to read when it is on top of an image.

To add a drop shadow to the text: 

  1. Look in the Layers Palette, and select the text layer.
  2. Click on the "Layers Styles" tab in the Pop-Up Palettes in the top right of the screen.
  3. In the Pop-Up Window, Click "Drop Shadow". Select  the shadow you prefer.
  4. CLick the Layer Styles tab to pop it back in with the rest of the Palettes.



Save the Image to use on a Web Page

In the previous tutorial, we learned how to save an image two ways: once in the Photoshop File Type and once for the web. Now that you are using layers, this is especially important. When you save as a gif or jpeg, you image is flattened, you lose all the layers. If you think you are going to want to open the image later and move the layers around, you will want to save in the Photoshop PSD file type. So, again, we're going to save this file twice:

For future Photoshop work, you will want it as a Photoshop file:

  1. First, save it as a Photoshop file for use in the next tutorial.  From the menu, select "File" -> "Save As". 
  2. In the dialog box, rename it "text_bermuda".
  3. Change the Format to  "Photoshop (*.PSD,*.PDD)".
  4. Click "Save".
Now, save it for the web: screen shot save for web.
  1. From the Menu, select "File" -> "Save for Web".
  2. Elements does a wonderful thing. It shows you the original image (on the top)  and what it will look like compressed for the web. Compression makes the file download faster, but it is is a trade off... some of the image quality gets lost. GIF and JPEG formats work in slightly different ways. Generally, JPEG is better for photos. Play with the settings on the right, until you are happy. We used JPEG Maximum.
  3. You can leave the name the same. You should have two files: one named "text_bermuda.PSD" and one named "text_bermuda.jpg". The "text_bermuda.PSD" image is a higher quality image, but the "text_bermuda.jpg" image can go on a web page.
 
  • Pop-Up palettes. We've covered some of the pop-up palettes at the top right of the screen: experiment with others. Experiment with the "History" tab. 
  • Shape options. We used the shape tool to add a big arrow. What if you want a long line with an arrow head on the end? Select the line tool. On the pop-up menu, check the "add Arrowhead" options. Experiment with line width and arrowhead concavity.
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