Using Adobe Photoshop Elements to Create a Composite Image By Evdoxia Trikoupis (*presentation created using Microsoft PowerPoint XP)

Notes This presentation assumes that one is familiar with –opening documents –closing documents –saving documents –save for web This presentation assumes that a teacher will use slide text and/or images as a springboard to further discussion. Please note that the title screen advances on mouse click. This screen will advance automatically after 20 seconds. All other screens advance automatically after 30 seconds.

Before You Begin It is useful to have an approximate idea or “vision” of what the final product may look like. In this case, these 5 images will be manipulated separately using Adobe Photoshop Elements then combined to form one image.

Layers in Photoshop Elements The most useful feature of Adobe Photoshop Elements is the “Layer”. To work with Layers, it is best to have the Layers Palette visible on the screen, whether you’re creating a new image or manipulating an existing image.

Layers in Photoshop Elements Keep the original version of your image as a “Background”. In the Layers Palette, right click on the “Background” layer to make a “Background Copy” which you may later rename to reflect the effect(s) you have applied to the layer. Layers can be used to work with images or with text.

Enhancing Brightness/Contrast The original images are all dark. It is useful to lighten at least one of the images. There are several ways to adjust colour depth. Here, a layer containing background image was lightened using Color - Enhance - Brightness/Contrast.

Using Layers, Styles and Effects The remaining images will be manipulated in separate files. Individual layers containing each of these images will then be added to the ‘rose garden’ layer.

Opacity Opacity refers to how transparent an image is: at 100% opacity, the image is solid. As this % is lowered, the image becomes more transparent. On a duplicate layer, the opacity of the church picture was adjusted to 58%.

Enhancing Colour There are several ways to enhance colour in an image. To apply specific colours to an image, use Enhance - Color – Variations.

Layer Styles and Effects Layer Styles are predetermined effects which can be applied to individual layers. Effects are predetermined effects which are applied to images – however, Effects flatten any existing layers.

Applying An Effect An Image Effect from the Effects Palette has been applied. The Image Effect used here is Vertical Color.

Layers and Effects Creating this image involved a multi-step process: Open original image Use Elliptical Marquee Tool to select an area Right click on the selected area and choose Select Inverse Use the Delete key to remove unwanted portion Apply Brushed Aluminum Border image effect from Effects Palette

Adjusting Image Size When working with images, it is often necessary to adjust the size of an image. In a composite, this is especially true and, it is here, once again, that one’s “vision” of the final product will be useful.

Adjusting Image Size To resize an image, use Image – Resize – Image Size. The Constrain Proportions box should be checked so that the relative proportions of the original image are retained. It is recommended that the individual pieces of a composite be resized before being placed on the background image.

Adjusting Image Size Resizing an image is a two-step process: Image-Resize-Image Size then enter specific size in pixels or inches [pixels are recommended]

Putting Layers Together The images for the composite were manipulated in separate files. Use Select – All to select the image or the active layer from the current file. Then use Edit-Copy [Ctrl-C] to make a copy which will be transported into the new image…..

Putting Layers Together (con’d) Once the base file has been opened, use Edit- Paste [Ctrl-V] to paste the image layer over the existing image. Remember -- images on layers can still be resized in the new file by clicking and dragging the layer’s resizing handles and moved around by clicking and dragging the layer itself.

Adding Text It is best to create a separate layer for text. Use Layer-New-Layer to create a blank layer. To add text to an image, use the Horizontal Type Tool. Text options are visible in the Options Bar once the Horizontal Type Tool has been selected from the Tool Box. (text)

Putting It All Together Before and After: The layers used to build the composite are shown on the left. The final composite is shown on the right.

Putting It All Together

Useful Web Site A useful PowerPoint tutorial may be found at The homepage states clearly which general areas will be covered in the lessons. Within each lesson, the user is taken through features such as Formatting, Drawing, and Slide Creation using precise images. The site is useful to learners who prefer a concrete presentation style.

Credits The wedding photos were taken by relatives and guests at the wedding of Dr. M. A. Trikoupis and Mr. K. Huber on June 22, The image for the base of the composite was downloaded from The image, entitled “A Woodland Rose Garden”, is by Kent B. Krugh. The sound effect for ‘camera click’ was downloaded from (*July 2003)

Additional Resource Wooldridge, Mike. Adobe Photoshop Elements: Teach Yourself Visually. New York: Wiley Publishing, Inc., 2002.

Final Thought With Adobe Photoshop Elements, the possibilities are endless. Use the program to adjust images, to combine images, or to design something new and unique. Your designs are limited only by your imagination – the sky’s the limit!!