Graphics Programs Reference
In-Depth Information
TIP
When you're finished, Elements presents you with a layered file with a layer
mask on the layer that contains the moved object. Sometimes it's simpler to just
edit this layer mask (
Editing a Layer Mask
) than to try to fix the outline within
Photomerge Compose.
8.
When you're finished, click Done
.
If you decide you'd rather forget the whole thing, click Cancel instead.
Correcting Lens Distortion
If you ever photograph buildings, you know that it can be tough getting good shots with a
fixed-lens digital camera. When you get too close to the building, the lens causes distortion,
as shown in
Figure 11-7
. You can buy special perspective-correcting lenses, but they're ex-
pensive (and if you have a pocket camera, they aren't even an option). Fortunately, you can
use Elements' Correct Camera Distortion filter to fix photos after you take them. This is an-
other popular Photoshop tool that Adobe transferred over to Elements, minus a couple of ad-
vanced options.
Correct Camera Distortion is a terrifically helpful filter, and not just for buildings. You can
also use it to correct the slight balloon effect you sometimes see in closeups of people's faces
(especially in shots taken with a wide-angle setting). You can even deploy the filter for creat-
ive purposes, like producing the effect of a fish-eye lens by pushing the filter's settings to
their extremes.
Here are some telltale signs that it's time to summon Correct Camera Distortion:
▪ You've used the Straighten tool on your image but things still don't look right.
▪ The image's horizon is straight, but the photo has no true right angles. In other words, the
objects in the photo lean in misleading ways. For instance, buildings lean in from the
edges of the frame or lean away from you.
▪ Every time you straighten to a new reference line, something else gets out of whack. For
example, say you keep choosing different lines in the photo that ought to be level, but no
matter which one you choose, something else in the photo goes out of plumb.
