Preparing Digital Entries for Shows Post 4 Reviews Photoshop Elements

Preparing Digital Entries for Shows- Post 4

PHOTOSHOP ELEMENTS 7

A good way to crop and size your digital image can be accomplished with software called Photoshop Elements. Version 7 is available on www.amazon.com for under $75. Photoshop Elements is a product of Adobe. They periodically upgrade the program but the functions are essentially the same. Element 8 is available, but the author of this document only has version 7 on one computer and version 4 on another computer. It's all pretty much unchanged. These directions are written for Photoshop Elements on a pc.

You can view an introductory tutorial on Photoshop Elements 7 by pasting this link in your browser: http://www.adobe.com/designcenter/photoshopelements/articles/lrvid2309_pse.html

When installing the program, it is recommended you uncheck all of the installation boxes unless you want Elements to be your photo default. After you've installed the program, here is how to prepare your digital image for submission to PSA:

 A welcome screen will appear. Click the "edit" button.

 A new screen will appear. At the top is a ribbon. Click the word "file." A drop down list will appear. Click the word "open."

A new screen will appear. It will probably default to your Pictures Folder on your C drive. If you have saved your digital image elsewhere, navigate to the image you wish to edit. Click on that image. Then click "open."

 Your digital image will fill the Photoshop elements screen.

 Next, on the ribbon at the top of your screen, click "image." Your will get a drop down list. Click the work "crop." Manipulate the broken line by pulling the various little squares located at the corners and on each side of your image. When you have eliminated the extraneous parts of the digital picture, leaving only the image of your painting, click the little green check at the bottom right of the image.

 Next, go back to the ribbon at the top of your screen and click the work "image." This time on the drop down list, click the work "resize." Another drop down list will appear. Click "image size." In this window, first set your pixel dimensions, changing the longest side to 900 pixels. Under Document Size, change Resolution to 300. Make sure the three boxes at the bottom of this window are checked: Scale Styles, Constrain Proportions and Resample Image. Next click "OK" in the upper right hand corner.

 Go back to the top ribbon and click "file." In the drop down box, click "save as." A new window will appear. At the bottom, you will be asked for the file name. Rename it according to the instructions on the prospectus. Make sure the Format box displays JPEG. Then click "save."

 You will get one last window which says JPEG Options. Make sure the quality is 12. Then click "OK."

 You can now find your edited jpeg in whichever folder you saved it. 

This guide originally written for members of the Pastel Society of American has been copied, with permission,  from the author, Sallie Atkins of the Southeastern Pastel Society.