Editor Expert - Adobe Photoshop Elements 11 for Photographers - page 188

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EXPERT

The Arrange menu pro-
vides multiple ways to dis-
play open documents in
the Editor workspace.
Here the same three
photos are shown in four
different arrangements.

Tools
Unlike menu items, tools interact directly with the image and require the user to manipu-
late the mouse to define the area or extent of the tool's effect. Over the years the number and
types of tools found in digital photography packages have been distilled to a common few
that find their way into the toolbox of most programs. Amongst these familiar items are the
Magnifying Glass or Zoom tool, the Brush, the Magic Wand, the Lasso and the Cropping
tool. In addition to these few, each company produces a specialized set of customized tools
that are designed to make particular jobs easier. Of these, Elements users will find the Red
Eye Removal tool, Custom Shape, the Selection Brush, Cookie Cutter, Straighten, Healing
Brush and the Quick Selection tools particularly useful.

With each version of the program the Elements' engineers work hard to bring new tools and
features to users. In version 7 it was the Smart Brush Tool, in Photoshop Elements 8 it was
the Recompose Tool and in version 10 there was a set of tools
labeled with Text on a ... and extras like the Crop Overlay grid
option in the Crop tool. More details on these tools can be found
later in the chapter.

Some tools contain extra tool modes or hidden options. Clicking
the tool in the toolbox displays the options bar at the bottom
of the screen. Here you will find not just the options for the
tools, but also the different tool modes. These used to exist on
sub-menus in previous versions of the software. Selecting a new
tool mode from those listed will replace the current icon in the
toolbox with your new choice. To switch back simply reselect
the original tool or repeatedly press the tool's hot key.

Selecting a tool in the toolbox displays the tool's other
modes, its options or related tool choices in the Op-
tions pane at the bottom of the workspace.