Adobe Photoshop Elements 9 Part F

This is the 6th installment in my blog post series on Adobe Photoshop Elements 9 based on what I learnt on the VTC video training course. The gradient tool brings up a toolbar when selected which includes many options in particular types of gradient like linear gradient which is just a simple gradient. A gradient is a fill colour where the colour gradually changes to one or more colours. To apply the gradient you drag a line across the image where you want it applied. You may also have to adjust the opacity of either the image or the gradient. There is a custom shape tool which when selected there are flyout buttons of common shapes although you can also define your own shape. There is a taskbar that appears with things like fill colour. There is a blur, sharpen and smudge tool where you can adjust the strength of these prior to applying them in the taskbar. There is a sponge, burn and dodge tool which also brings up a taskbar. The sponge tool can desaturate or saturate an area of an image. Dodge lightens and comes from the old photographic practice of touching a negative with an object to lighten that area. Burn darkens an image. In the effects window there are various filters which display the most common options and have a show all command to show all of them. There are also among other things layer effects which can be applied to a layer like drop shadow. In the layer window you can change the opacity. You can also select filter/ filter gallery command for more options in applying an effect. There is various clip art in the effects window. Some you can apply but some have a gold bar which means you must pay via the adobe website to use them. They charge a flat rate which lets you use any. They are called premium clip art. Much of the same commands as are in the menubars are in the toolbar. Beginners are probably better off using the toolbar as some of the commands on the menubars can be almost fatal to your images. Under the window button you can choose what commands you want displayed in the toolbar by either selecting or deselecting the tick boxes.