Getting started: Using the new Smart Brush tool

You can use this tutorial with Adobe® Photoshop® Elements versions 7 and 8.

Discover the brand new Smart Brush tool in Adobe® Photoshop® Elements. The Smart Brush tool makes it easier than ever to apply an adjustment to an area in an image in just one step.

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Requirements

To complete this tutorial, install the following software:

Adobe Photoshop Elements 7 or later

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Using the Smart Brush tool

The Smart Brush tool includes a large collection of adjustments available from the Smart Paint Adjustments menu.

1. Start Photoshop Elements.
2. Open a photo in the Editor workspace, and make sure Full Edit is selected.
3. In the toolbox, select the Smart Brush tool.

   The Smart Paint Adjustment menu opens, as shown in Figure 1. If yours does not open automatically, click the arrow to the right of the Smart Paint Adjustment field in the Options bar. This menu lists all of the adjustments that are available for the Smart Brush tool and it puts them in categories. By default the Category menu is set to All Purpose.

   

   Figure 1: Smart Paint Adjustment menu

4. Click to open the Category menu at the top, and choose Color.

   Using the adjustments in this menu, you can change the color of an object.

5. Scroll down the list and choose a color preset, such as Hers.
6. Close the Smart Paint Adjustment menu.
7. Locate something in your photo that has a solid color. Then, drag to paint over the area to replace the existing color with the color you selected.

   Note: Optionally, change the size of the paint brush tip

   As you paint, the Smart Brush tool selects the range of color on which you drag. The Smart Brush then applies the adjustment to it automatically, as shown in Figure 2.

   

   Figure 2: Using the Smart Brush tool

   Note: If the tool selects more or less of what you want, use Add To Selection or Subtract From Selection to modify the selection.

   If you look at the Layers palette, you see that what the Smart Brush tool did is create an adjustment layer, complete with a layer mask. See Figure 3.

   

   Figure 3: Adjustment layer

   As long as that layer stays selected, you can continue to modify the selection using other options in the Smart Paint Adjustment menu.

8. Open the Smart Paint adjustment menu in the Options bar, and choose a different color preset, such as Button Down Brown.
9. The color of the selection changes.
10. Click Refined Edge in the Options bar.

    From the Refined Edge dialog box, you can smooth the edge of the adjustment, feather the edge, and contract or expand the edge of the adjustment.

11. Drag the Contract/Expand slider to the left to contact the current selection.

    You can now see a bit of the original color behind the adjustment.

12. Hold down the Alt key to change the Cancel button to a Reset button, click Reset.
13. Release the Alt key, and then click Cancel.

    You can have more than one adjustment on the same image. The trick is to go to the Layers palette and make sure you don't have the Adjustment layer selected.

14. In the Layers palette, click the background layer to select it.

    Now, you can go back up to the Smart Paint Adjustment menu in the Options bar and create an adjustment layer.

Modifying an existing adjustment layer

One of the nice things about Smart Brush adjustments is that they remain editable. You can change the adjustments at any time by selecting their layer in the Layers palette.

1. Double-click the icon on the left side of the adjustment layer you want to modify.

   The Gradient Map dialog box appears, as shown in Figure 4.

   

   Figure 4: Gradient Map dialog box

2. Click the arrow to the right of the current gradient, and choose a different gradient.
3. Click OK to accept the change.

Quick Fix adjustments

The Smart Brush tool is the underlying technology behind several other tools in the Quick Fix workspace.

1. Click Quick in the Task pane to open the Quick Fix palettes.
2. Explore the options in the Touch Up palette, shown in Figure 5.

   

   Figure 5: Quick Fix Touch Up palette

   Notice, there is a red eye removal tool, whiten teeth tool, a blue skies tool, and a black and white high contrast tool. All of these tools use the same technology as the Smart Brush tool. But they apply their changes with one click, and don't offer the manual adjustment options.

Where to go from here

If you enjoyed this tutorial, check out these other resources to help get you started using Photoshop Elements.

• Photoshop Elements Essentials for Windows tutorials on lynda.com
• Photoshop Elements shows on Adobe TV
• Photoshop Elements Help and Support
• Creating text
• Editing text

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