Photoshop Album For Dummies

by Barbara Obermeier

Author of Photoshop 7 All-in-One Desk Reference For Dummies

Contents at a Glance

Introduction

Part I: Getting Started with Photoshop Album

Chapter 1: Introducing Album
Chapter 2: Performing Basic Tasks
Chapter 3: Working with Resolution, Color Modes, and File Formats

Part II: Importing, Organizing, and Managing Photos

Chapter 4: Importing Files
Chapter 5: Organizing, Categorizing, and Cross-Referencing Photos
Chapter 6: Giving Your Photos a Better Identity
Chapter 7: Managing Your Photos 

Part III: Finding, Viewing, and Editing Photos

Chapter 8: Locating Your Photos 
Chapter 9: Viewing Your Photos
Chapter 10: Setting Up Your Editing Environment
Chapter 11: Making Quick Fixes
Chapter 12: Extra-Strength Editing

Part IV: Sharing and Printing Photos

Chapter 13: Spreading Photographic Joy Electronically
Chapter 14: Getting Your Images on Paper
Chapter 15: Using Online Services to Share and Print Photos

Part V: Creating Larger Projects with Photos

Chapter 16: Using the Workspace
Chapter 17: Creating Projects
Chapter 18: Taking Creations to the Next Level

Part VI: The Part of Tens

Chapter 19: Ten Tips for Composing Better Photos
Chapter 20: Ten Great Digital Camera Accessories 
Chapter 21: Ten Cures for Ten Problems 
Index

e-books shop
Photoshop Album For Dummies

About the Author
Barbara Obermeier is principal of Obermeier Design, a graphic design studio
in Ventura, California. She is the author of the Photoshop 7 All-in-One Desk
Reference For Dummies and coauthor of Photoshop 7 For Dummies, Illustrator
10 For Dummies and Adobe Master Class: Illustrator Illuminated. She has contributed
as coauthor, technical editor, or layout designer for 18 books. Barb
also teaches computer graphics at the University of California, Santa Barbara,
and at Ventura College.

Author’s Acknowledgments
I would like to thank my phenom project manager, Nicole Haims, who,
as always, demonstrated her unparalleled expertise at getting a book on
the shelf; Bob Woerner, who always manages to get great titles for me;
Andy Cummings, who makes the For Dummies series a nice place to work;
David Herman, the best technical editor this planet has seen; Kim Darosett,
who can magically massage text to make it sound so much better; and the
dedicated production crew at Wiley. Special thanks to my friend and fellow
author, Ted Padova, who is always there to cheerlead, commiserate, and
remind to buy lottery tickets.

Introduction
If I had a dime for every time I wrote “Organize Photos” on my to-do list,
only to leave it undone, I’d have enough cash to retire to some tropical
hideaway and do nothing but photograph coconuts all day. Unfortunately, no
dimes came my way, and I find myself here. The good news, however, is that
Adobe has given me, and you, Photoshop Album. Within this inexpensive
piece of software lies all of the tools you need in order to import, organize,
and manage your collection of photos. And it doesn’t stop there. Album is
also capable of handling video and audio clips and, as an added bonus, lets
you flex your creative muscles with the capability to create fun and interesting
projects — all with simplicity and ease.
Because of Album I finally crossed “Organize Photos” off my to-do list for good.

About This Book
For some people, me included, launching a new program for the first time is
like driving in a strange city with no road map. Sure, you could drive around
and probably find where you need to go — eventually. But you would waste a
lot of time going down the wrong streets, stopping and asking for directions,
and pulling over to call people for help. You get the picture. Armed with a
map, on the other hand, you’re a virtual road warrior.
That’s how it is with Album. Even though it’s a user-friendly program, it’s not
without its quirk or two. Sure, you could figure it out — eventually. Consider
this book your handy road map to Album. Armed with it, you don’t have to
worry about driving in circles.

What’s in This Book and How to Use It
This book is divided into several parts that correlate to the feature you’ll find
in Album. If you’re brand new to Album, you may want to start at the beginning
and continue forward somewhat linearly. If you’ve already got your
images into Album and are wondering what to do next, feel free to check out
the chapters on organizing, managing, and creations. If you’ve been working
in Album awhile and have a specific topic or a problem you want help with,
flip to the index to find what you need, read up, get out, and move on with
your business. Here’s a brief overview of what you’ll find within the spine.
Part I: Getting Started with Photoshop Album
In these first chapters, I introduce Album and its features. This part is the
place to start if you have just installed the program and haven’t a clue as to
what Album can do for you. I cover the basics, like the Album interface, setting
your preferences, and getting help if you find yourself lost. The most
important chapter in this part is Chapter 3. Here’s where you’ll find the lowdown
on working with resolution, color modes, and file formats. These topics
pop up throughout the book because understanding resolution and formats
is key to working with digital images. If those topics are new to you, don’t
skip this chapter.
Part II: Importing, Organizing, and Managing Photos
Before you can really reap the benefits Album has to offer, you need to
import and organize your files. These chapters show you how to import your
files from a variety of sources, such as your digital camera and your Photo
CDs. The info in this part also shows you how to create and use tags, captions,
and notes for optimum identification and organization. Finally, I show
you how to work with different versions of your photos and how to create
new and backup copies of catalogs — the database backbone of your collection of files.
Part III: Finding, Viewing, and Editing Photos
The chapters in this part deal with locating and looking. Album has numerous
ways to find your images and clips quickly and efficiently, so you don’t
waste time scrolling thorough endless numbers of thumbnails. Find out how
to change your viewing options — from various thumbnail sizes to creating
instant slide shows. Discover how to sort your images, by date, folder, media
type, and more, depending on what’s most meaningful and efficient for your
purpose at the time.
In this part I also give you details on repairing and enhancing your images.
I offer some advice on setting up your editing environment, and I show you
how adjusting contrast, eliminating red eye, and fixing color casts are just a
mouse-click away. And I give you some tips in how to seamlessly integrate an
outside image editor, like Photoshop Elements, into your imaging repertoire
so that you can take care of digital fixes that Album can’t handle.
Part IV: Sharing and Printing Photos
Part IV describes all the ways you can spread the love with your photos,
clips, and creations. Album makes it quick and easy to e-mail attachments,
print, and even post images online. In fact, sharing images in a variety of
ways with Album is so fool-proof that you’ll end up recommending the program
to even the most computer-challenged of your family and friends.
Part V: Creating Larger Projects with Photos
After importing, organizing, and editing your inventory of files, you’ll want
to check out these chapters. Here you can find how to make all of the great
creations Album is capable of — slideshows, photo books, calendars, eCards,
and much more. Before you know it, you’ll be a creations addict and will have
made enough personalized gifts to last until the year 2010.
Part VI: The Part of Tens
These three chapters are chock-full o’ tips. If you find that people are nodding
off when you show them your vacation slideshow, maybe a few tips in
composing better images will help remedy the situation. And, if you’re looking
to add to your repertoire of digital camera goodies, take a gander at
Chapter 20. Here you’ll find a brief description of some practical and fun
camera accessories. Finally, if you encounter the occasional snafu, look at
Chapter 21. You may find that the cure to your problem lies in these few pages.

Conventions Used in This Book
If you’ve worked on a computer even a short time, you’ve probably discovered
that sometimes commands require using the mouse along with the keyboard.
Working in Album sometimes involves that keyboard/mouse combo.
For example, “To select more than one item, press the Ctrl key and click on
additional items.”
When you see a command arrow (➪) in the text, it means that you should
select a command from the menu bar. For example, “Choose Edit➪Preferences”
means to click on the Edit menu and choose Preferences from the list of commands.


Table of Contents
Introduction..................................................................1
About This Book...............................................................................................1
What’s in This Book and How to Use It .........................................................1
Part I: Getting Started with Photoshop Album...................................2
Part II: Importing, Organizing, and Managing Photos........................2
Part III: Finding, Viewing, and Editing Photos.....................................2
Part IV: Sharing and Printing Photos ...................................................3
Part V: Creating Larger Projects with Photos .....................................3
Part VI: The Part of Tens .......................................................................3
Conventions Used in This Book .....................................................................3
Icons Used in This Book..................................................................................4
Feedback, Please ..............................................................................................4
Part I: Getting Started with Photoshop Album .................5
Chapter 1: Introducing Album
Album and Organization .................................................................................7
What Album Does and Why You Need It .......................................................8
Chapter 2: Performing Basic Tasks
Using the Quick Guide ...................................................................................13
What You Can Do in Album...........................................................................16
Getting photos ......................................................................................16
Organizing, managing, and finding photos........................................16
Viewing photos .....................................................................................17
Editing photos.......................................................................................18
Sharing and printing photos ...............................................................18
Creating with photos............................................................................19
Checking Out the Album Interface...............................................................20
Working with the Photo Well...............................................................20
Using the Workspace ...........................................................................21
Using the Menu bar ..............................................................................22
Saving time with the Shortcuts bar....................................................22
Working with the Options bar.............................................................23
Using the Find bar ................................................................................24
Getting to know the timeline...............................................................24
Viewing info in the Properties pane...................................................25
Working with the Tags pane................................................................25
Setting Your Preferences ...............................................................................27
Setting general preferences.................................................................27
Setting other preferences....................................................................28
Getting a Helping Hand..................................................................................29
Using Help .............................................................................................29
Checking out the Adobe Web site ......................................................32
Using Context-Sensitive Menus and Tool Tips ...........................................33
Chapter 3: Working with Resolution, Color Modes,
and File Formats
Getting a Handle on Resolution....................................................................36
Introducing pixels.................................................................................36
Understanding the pixel-resolution connection...............................37
Changing the resolution by enlarging the pixels..............................38
Working with output and printer resolution.....................................39
Working with Camera Resolution.................................................................41
Working with scanner resolution .......................................................43
Working with monitor resolution .......................................................44
Understanding Color .....................................................................................45
RGB color ..............................................................................................45
CMYK color ...........................................................................................46
Grayscale...............................................................................................48
Indexed Color........................................................................................48
Bitmap....................................................................................................48
Working with Different File Formats ............................................................50
Graphic file formats .............................................................................50
Choosing a format for your digital photos or scanned images ......56
Converting one file format to another ...............................................57
Audio file formats .................................................................................58
Video file formats .................................................................................60
Part II: Importing, Organizing, and Managing Photos ....63
Chapter 4: Importing Files
Gathering Your Source Materials .................................................................65
Importing Files from Your Hard Drive .........................................................67
Importing photos by using menu commands...................................67
Importing photos by dragging and dropping ..................................70
Searching for files on your hard drive ..............................................70
Importing Photos from Cameras and Card Readers..................................73
Getting Photos from a Scanner.....................................................................76
Importing Photos from CDs, DVDs, and Adobe Resources ......................79
Setting Import Preferences ...........................................................................82
Camera or card reader preferences ...................................................82
Scanner preferences.............................................................................83
Preferences for offline photos ............................................................84
Getting Photos from Adobe PhotoDeluxe or
Adobe ActiveShare Albums.......................................................................85
Getting Images Off the Web...........................................................................87
Chapter 5: Organizing, Categorizing, and
Cross-Referencing Photos
Organizing Photos in the Photo Well ...........................................................90
Selecting a viewing arrangement........................................................90
Using the timeline.................................................................................91
Changing the Date of a Photo .......................................................................92
Creating Subcategories and Custom Tags...................................................94
Using the Tags pane .............................................................................95
Working with tag categories................................................................96
Using the Favorites and Hidden tags .................................................99
Creating tag subcategories ...............................................................101
Creating custom tags .........................................................................101
Using folders to create subcategories and tags .............................102
Attaching, Editing, and Deleting Tags........................................................104
Attaching tags to photos ...................................................................104
Removing tags.....................................................................................105
Modifying and deleting tags..............................................................105
Chapter 6: Giving Your Photos a Better Identity
Renaming Your Photos ................................................................................109
Renaming a single file ........................................................................110
Renaming a group of files ..................................................................110
Using Captions with Your Images ..............................................................112
Adding a caption ................................................................................112
Editing and deleting captions ...........................................................112
Adding Notes to Photos ..............................................................................113
Adding Audio Captions ...............................................................................114
Viewing Information About a Photo ..........................................................116
Chapter 7: Managing Your Photos
Organizing Files into Catalogs ....................................................................121
Creating new catalogs .......................................................................122
Changing the default catalog folder .................................................124
Copying catalogs ................................................................................125
Opening catalogs................................................................................126
Removing items from the catalog ....................................................126
Keeping Your Catalog Safe and Sound.......................................................127
Backing up your catalog ....................................................................127
Recovering and restoring your catalog ...........................................130
Archiving Your Photos ................................................................................132
Working with Different Versions of Photos...............................................133
Naming edited files.............................................................................133
Reverting to an original photo..........................................................134
Replacing an original photo with an edited version......................134
Duplicating photos ............................................................................135
Updating thumbnails .........................................................................136
Reconnecting to missing files ..........................................................137
Part III: Finding, Viewing, and Editing Photos .............139
Chapter 8: Locating Your Photos
Finding Photos by Date ...............................................................................141
Using the timeline...............................................................................141
Using the calendar .............................................................................143
Finding Photos by Caption, Note, or Filename.........................................145
Finding Photos by Their History................................................................146
Tracking Down Files by Media Type..........................................................152
Finding Files with Unknown Dates .............................................................153
Locating Images by Their Color .................................................................153
Using Tags to Find Files...............................................................................154
Using the timeline with tagged files .................................................155
Searching with the Find bar and tags ..............................................157
Finding Favorite or Hidden files ......................................................157
Chapter 9: Viewing Your Photos
Choosing a Viewing Size..............................................................................159
Sorting Images in the Photo Well ...............................................................163
Sorting by media type........................................................................164
Sorting by arrangement.....................................................................164
Viewing Instant Slide Shows .......................................................................166
Viewing photos as a slide show........................................................166
Setting instant slide show preferences............................................168
Viewing Video Clips .....................................................................................170
Chapter 10: Setting Up Your Editing Environment
Keeping Your Lighting Consistent..............................................................173
Removing Distractions ................................................................................174
Using a neutral background..............................................................175
Choosing a work area with neutral walls ........................................175
Sitting Pretty .................................................................................................176
Find a Vendor and Stick with It...................................................................176
Running Tests, Tests, and More Tests .......................................................177
Calibrating Your Monitor ............................................................................177
Using Adobe Gamma..........................................................................178
Using another calibration utility ......................................................180
Chapter 11: Making Quick Fixes
Improving Images with Fix Photo ..............................................................181
Choosing a viewing option................................................................182
Introducing editing tools ...................................................................184
All you ever wanted to know about reverting ................................185
Quick and Dirty Edits with Single Click Fixes...........................................186
Using Manual Fixes ......................................................................................190
Rotating images ..................................................................................191
Cropping photos.................................................................................192
Removing the dreaded red eye ........................................................194
Improving contrast with Brightness and Contrast ........................197
Fixing shadows and highlights with the Lighting option ..............199
Intensifying with Color Saturation ...................................................200
Chapter 12: Extra-Strength Editing
Comparing Photoshop Elements
and Photoshop..........................................................................................203
Elements ..............................................................................................204
Photoshop ...........................................................................................205
Specifying an External Image Editor in Album .........................................205
Fixing a Photo in an External Image Editor...............................................206
Editing in Elements or Photoshop ...................................................206
Editing in an application other than Elements or Photoshop ......209
Bringing Photos into Other Applications..................................................210
Copying and pasting to other applications.....................................211
Exporting images................................................................................212
Dragging and dropping into other applications .............................213
Part IV: Sharing and Printing Photos ..........................215
Chapter 13: Spreading Photographic Joy Electronically
Sharing Photos Via E-Mail ...........................................................................217
Setting Up Album for E-Mail........................................................................218
Setting your preferences ...................................................................218
Creating your contact book ..............................................................220
E-Mailing Photos and Creations .................................................................222
Chapter 14: Getting Your Images on Paper
Basics on Getting High-Quality Prints .......................................................229
Getting Intimate with Your Printer.............................................................230
Setting Print Options ...................................................................................231
Printing Your Images....................................................................................232
Printing individual photos ................................................................232
Printing a picture package ................................................................235
Printing a contact sheet ....................................................................237
Printing creations ...............................................................................239
Finding Images You’ve Previously Printed................................................241
Tips for Getting Better Prints .....................................................................242
Check your resolution .......................................................................242
Watch your file format .......................................................................244
Crop and clean up ..............................................................................245
Use a good printer..............................................................................246
Use good paper...................................................................................248
Chapter 15: Using Online Services to Share and Print Photos
Signing Up for Online Services ...................................................................249
Checking for New Online Services .............................................................251
Sharing Photos Using Online Services ......................................................251
Ordering Prints from Online Services .......................................................254
Ordering Creations from Online Services .................................................256
Downloading Templates from Online Services ........................................257
Part V: Creating Larger Projects with Photos ...............261
Chapter 16: Using the Workspace
Getting Cozy with the Workspace..............................................................263
Working with Workspace Items..................................................................266
Adding tags to Workspace items ......................................................266
Creating a slide show from Workspace items.................................266
Sharing, exporting, e-mailing, and printing
items from the Workspace.............................................................267
Making creations from the Workspace ............................................271
Finding photos from the Workspace................................................271
Chapter 17: Creating Projects
Making Creations with the Creations Wizard ...........................................273
Creating albums..................................................................................275
Creating slide shows ..........................................................................280
Creating greeting cards......................................................................284
Creating eCards ..................................................................................286
Creating calendars .............................................................................290
Creating Video CDs.............................................................................292
Creating photo books ........................................................................293
Editing Creations..........................................................................................295
Opening Saved Creations ............................................................................297
Chapter 18: Taking Creations to the Next Level
Creating a Web Photo Gallery.....................................................................299
Creating an Adobe Atmosphere 3D Gallery..............................................304
Making a 3D Gallery ...........................................................................305
Viewing and navigating the Adobe Atmosphere 3D Gallery .........308
Using Your Photos on Your Desktop..........................................................309
Using photos as desktop wallpaper.................................................309
Using photos as a screen saver in Windows XP.............................310
Going Beyond Album...................................................................................312
Getting your images onto stuff .........................................................312
Documenting projects........................................................................313
Photo Potpourri ...........................................................................................313
Part VI: The Part of Tens ............................................315
Chapter 19: Ten Tips for Composing Better Photos
Establishing a Focal Point ...........................................................................317
Using the Rule of Thirds..............................................................................318
Moving from Center .....................................................................................318
Getting Close to Your Subject.....................................................................320
Cleaning Up Your Background....................................................................321
Lighting Your Subject ..................................................................................323
Getting Creative with Light .........................................................................325
Using an Unexpected Angle ........................................................................325
Keeping It Sharp ...........................................................................................327
Using a tripod .....................................................................................328
Catching fast-moving subjects..........................................................328
Understanding Digital Camera Focus Issues ............................................328
Giving Direction............................................................................................329
Getting Vertical.............................................................................................330
Using Leading Lines .....................................................................................331
Telling a Story...............................................................................................332
Chapter 20: Ten Great Digital Camera Accessories
Essential Accessories ..................................................................................335
Extra batteries ....................................................................................335
Extra memory cards...........................................................................336
Useful Extras.................................................................................................337
Flashes .................................................................................................338
Tripods or monopods........................................................................338
Lenses ..................................................................................................339
Filters ...................................................................................................340
Lights, reflectors, scrims, action ......................................................340
Compact printers ...............................................................................340
Paper and media.................................................................................341
Just for fun ..........................................................................................341
Don’t leave home without it..............................................................342
Chapter 21: Ten Cures for Ten Problems
Update Now!..................................................................................................343
You Can’t Import Files .................................................................................344
Your Devices Aren’t Talking to Each Other...............................................345
You Can’t Print from Album........................................................................347
Your Catalog Has Gone South.....................................................................348
Your Files Are “Broken”...............................................................................349
Your Images Are below the Optimum Resolution....................................350
Your Files Are Marked with “?”...................................................................351
You Can’t Edit Your Photo...........................................................................352
You Can’t Read Your PDF Creation ...........................................................352
You Can’t Burn Files onto Your CD or DVD Disc ......................................353
Index........................................................................355


Screenshot

e-books shop

Purchase Now !
Just with Paypal



Product details
 Price
 Pages
 387 p
 File Size
 10,071 KB
 File Type
 PDF format
 ISBN
 0-7645-4212-5
 Copyright
 2003 by Wiley Publishing, Inc 
  ●▬▬▬▬▬❂❂❂▬▬▬▬▬●
●▬▬❂❂▬▬●
●▬❂▬●

═════ ═════

Previous Post Next Post