Part 1. Learning the Ropes

Back when ships needed favorable winds to get anywhere, new recruits had to learn which ropes to pull to carry out the captain’s orders and set sail. This first part of the book is for novice sailors—people who feel more comfortable if they can begin at the beginning—while their ship is still safely docked. Just turn the page to sign on for a brief orientation session: You’ll quickly learn the commands, controls, and features of the Photoshop Elements work area. For example, you’ll find out what a tool is and how to select one from the toolbox. After you’ve got your bearings, we can shorthand the steps in later parts and just say, “Click the Crop tool,” and move on.

If you’re feeling adventurous, don’t worry about sailing ahead to another part of the book. You can do most of the tasks in any order, and you can always come back to this part if somehow you get turned around.