need help with editing!

[mdonahoe1]

Can somebody tell me how to select part of a photo, such as the center of this flower, and change the color, or maybe select the background and add a pattern? I have Photoshop Elements 8 and have no clue how to use it!! If it is too complicated to explain in this forum, that is ok. I also have Photoshop Elements 8 for Dummies, which I should start reading!! Thanks for the look!

Marianne

[eyerkish]

Can somebody tell me how to select part of a photo, such as the center of this flower, and change the color, or maybe select the background and add a pattern? I have Photoshop Elements 8 and have no clue how to use it!! If it is too complicated to explain in this forum, that is ok. I also have Photoshop Elements 8 for Dummies, which I should start reading!! Thanks for the look!

Marianne
Hi Marianne,

You can utilize the quick selection tool, the lasso tool, or the magic wand tool to select only the areas of the image you want. Once done, you can edit them to your liking. I use Photoshop CS4 and I have attached a quick screen shot that I hope will help. Please excuse my horrible arrows that were drawn freehand with my mouse. This should get you started, then you just need to play around with it a bit. If you need more help, let me know and I'd be glad to walk you through it.

[Kaye]

Can somebody tell me how to select part of a photo, such as the center of this flower, and change the color, or maybe select the background and add a pattern? I have Photoshop Elements 8 and have no clue how to use it!! If it is too complicated to explain in this forum, that is ok. I also have Photoshop Elements 8 for Dummies, which I should start reading!! Thanks for the look!

Marianne

Hi Marianne,
Firstly, this is an amazing shot and an amazing reflection you have captured here. You have done very well with this. I really love it.

Re selecting part of a shot: I must agree with what Eddie has said. I also use Photoshop CS4, and do not know Elements 8.
I believe you will have similar selection tools in Elements.
I normally use the Magnetic Lasso tool, or the normal Lasso tool for rough/quick selections.

I would not add a pattern in the background, as your shot is so good, and think this will distract from your flower.
I personally would use Clone Tool (should also be in Elements 8). To do this when in Clone tool, you select a near part of the darker background probably by Alt/Click and just clone it over the top of the parts you do not want in the background anymore. I do understand that if you are not familiar with your editing program, this will all sound like DOUBLE DUTCH to you (if you know this expression).

I am just trying a very quick edit which I will post (hope that is OK) without overdoing the darkness or colours just to give you an idea .... (I am not sure what lesson 7 is, so have just posted something simple.)

8088

To add the green colour to the shot, (as it was in B&W), I used Colour Replacement Tool. Any colours can be added by painting them in.

Marianne, please feel free to ask more. Just hope I have helped a little.

[Pat]

Hi Marianne. I don't have Elements so I can't give you a blow by blow. You can find out anything you want to know by searching (googling) "Photoshp Elements Tutorials", or "Elements 8 selection tools", or "replacing color in elements 8".
You'll come across a lot of tuts for Elements 7, but they should pretty much be applicable to 8.
And yes, read your books and manuals. :)

[mdonahoe1]

Thanks so much for all of your help. I realize I must sit down and open the manuals and read. It is so much more fun to shoot, shoot, shoot. But I promise to get with the programs. With the inspiration I get from the forums, I am sure to improve!! Thanks again,

Marianne

[coffee]

I did a quick edit on this image. Not the best but if you want to know the steps I can work them up.

[mdonahoe1]

Thanks Joseph! I tried to do in in PS but had some trouble. And then I saved it for later. When I opened it up, the edits were gone! Ah! You've don a nice edit job here!

Marianne

[Chinook]

Hi Marianne,

I really do love your photo. I have just joined the forums & started the course. Can you please tell me how you would take a shot such as this?

Thank you Lillian

[mdonahoe1]

Thank you, Lillian! First let me tell you that I am a BEGINNER!! I have learned a lot from the course, but the forums have taught me so much more. By just submitting a photo, others critique it and enhance it and offer personal help! It is an amazing group of people! Now, to the photo. I placed the flowers and berries on my black granite countertop with no light in the room behind it. With suble lighting in the kitchen, I set my camera on a tripod and played around with settings. I probably took 20-25 shots of this very subject! The one submitted was shot with F 5.6, shutter speed of 6 seconds and ISO 200. The one thing I've learned above all else is shoot, shoot, shoot. Thanks for your comments!

Marianne

[StephenK]

Hi Marianne :^)

This edit was composed in photoshop so several things done here aren't available in Elements... but for those who are curious
here's the way I'd color the components.

I'm including the resulting edit along with a capture of the workflow. I like to set my color changes behind a channels
mask, since this helps preserve the gradient nature of any particular element within an image.

Love the shot! :^)


http://i289.photobucket.com/albums/ll202/StephenKr/ScreenHunter_01-Nov.jpg