Chapter 1. The Basics

Before you start working in Photoshop Elements, take a look around the work area to familiarize yourself with the program's tools and menus. When you first launch Photoshop Elements, you immediately see the Welcome screen, which allows you to quickly open and create new files or download images from a digital camera or scanner. The work area includes the document window, where you'll view your images, along with many of the tools, menus, and palettes you'll use as you get better acquainted with the program.

This chapter presents a quick tour of the palettes and menus you'll use when you first create or open a new file in Photoshop Elements. You'll learn more about how to use these tools in subsequent chapters of this book.