Adobe 29180155 User Guide - Page 190

ADOBE PHOTOSHOP ELEMENTS 4.0 185 User Guide Tips for creating visual effects with filters Use the following techniques to create special visual results with filters: • Feature the filter edges. If you're applying a filter to a selected area, you can soften the edges of the filter effect by feathering the selection before you apply the filter. • Apply filters in succession to build up effects. You can apply filters to individual layers or to several layers in succession to build up an effect. Choosing different blending modes in the Layers palette blends the effect. For a filter to affect a layer, the layer must be visible and must contain pixels. • Create textures and backgrounds. By applying filters to solid-color or grayscale images, you can generate a variety of backgrounds and textures. You can then blur these textures. Although some filters (for example, the Glass filter) have little or no visible effect when applied to solid colors, others produce interesting effects. For such colors, you can use Add Noise, Chalk & Charcoal, Clouds, Conté Crayon, Difference Clouds, Glass, Graphic Pen, Halftone Pattern, Mezzotint, Note Paper, Pointillize, Reticulation, Rough Pastels, Sponge, or Underpainting. You can also use any of the filters in the Texture submenu. • Improve image quality and consistency. You can disguise faults, alter or enhance images, or make a series of images look similar by applying the same filter to each. See also "About filters, effects, and layer styles" on page 177 "Filter categories" on page 186 "Filter Gallery" on page 187 "To use the Styles And Effects palette" on page 177 "To apply a filter" on page 185 "To improve performance with filters and effects" on page 178 To apply a filter 1 Choose the area you want to apply the filter to: • To apply a filter to an entire layer, deselect any selected areas, and then select the layer in the Layers palette. • To apply a filter to a portion of a layer, use any selection tool to select an area. 2 Choose how to apply the filter: • To use the Filter gallery, choose Filter > Filter Gallery, select a category, and click the filter you want to apply. • To use the Styles And Effects palette, choose Window > Styles And Effects. In the Filters portion of the Styles And Effects palette, select a category, and double-click the filter you want to apply. • To use the Filter menu, choose Filter, then choose a submenu followed by the filter you want to apply. If a filter name is followed by ellipses (...), a Filter Options dialog box appears. 3 If a dialog box appears, enter values or select options. To start over and reset the filter options, press Option, and click Reset in the dialog box. 4 If available, select the Preview option to preview the filter in the document window. Depending on the filter and how you are applying it, use one of the following methods to preview the filter: • Use the + button or - button under the preview window to zoom in or zoom out on the preview.