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Hidden Power Monthly
July 17, Vol.5
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The Newsletter for Elements Users


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In this issue:
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Links
Hidden Power Actions III
Long Answers
Short Answers
Actions Corner


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LINKS
--------------------------

The Hidden Power website:
http://hiddenelements.com

The Hidden Power forum:
http://www.retouchpro.com/forums/forumdisplay.php?
s=&daysprune=&forumid=142

The Hidden Power newsletter archive:
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/hpe

Hidden Power Tools:
http://hiddenelements.com/freetools.html


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Hidden Power Actions III
--------------------------

I was planning a major enhancement to Hidden Power Actions and then
promo opportunities 'got in the way.' The tools went to a magazine
called Digital Photography Techniques and a pretty big utility
distributor called ThePowerXChange.

In any case, now the enhancement is done.

*87 pre-installed actions
*The ability to install over 500 actions
*Manage an infinite number of actions in sets of 12 or groups of 84.

NEW TOOLS:
-------
Fade effect
Shadow Mask
Highlight Mask
Trim image
Reveal Image
1 slower Action playback speed control
Custom Drop Shadow
Custom Glow (inner & outer)
Custom Bevel
Custom Stroke

DOWNLOAD FROM:

http://hiddenelements.com/freetools.html

OR Adobe Studio:

PC: http://share.studio.adobe.com/axAssetDetailSubmit.asp?aID=7516

MAC: http://share.studio.adobe.com/axAssetDetailSubmit.asp?aID=7531


THANKS: to Susan Stewart for testing and suggestions.


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LONG ANSWERS
--------------------------
1. Which Came First, the Book or the Tools?
2. Color Management and Getting the Color You Want
3. JPEG 2000
4. How do I get Images from My Camera Into Elements?

-
1. Which Came First, the Book or the Tools?
-

> Did the tools in Hidden power Actions II and Action Pac I come out
after
> The Hidden Power of Photoshop elements 2 and are they suppose to be
an
> addition to it? Also are there any uninstalls available with
> Action Pac I or II?

Hidden Power Actions is new stuff that came out after the book --
mostly as a promotional package, but containing tools not in the
book. As far as I am concerned, everything you need is in the book,
but you can add these on, and they work in conjunction with the
original tools -- sometimes duplicating functionality. Some people
prefer certain tools, like the true layer masks or quick mask.

There is no formal means to uninstall the HPAIII package for PC
(there is one in MAc), however, all access can easily be cut off be
replacing the original Welcome/Index.html file -- or by deleting the
files. The complete file list can be had in the installation readmes
included with the packages. The additional actions are just actions --
action files from Photoshop. They don't cause any performance
problems and there is no EXE or other application file...the tools
become incorporated with Elements.

If you get in a really harried way about getting the tools out of
your computer, you can always re-install Elements, but I have not
heard one complaint that the tools caused any crashing, performance
problem nor any desperate cry to get rid of them...I don't think it
would ever really be necessary.


-
2. Color Management and Getting the Color You Want
-

> So if you use a color management workflow, what you
> see on your screen will be what you see when you print.

I think the statement above really makes profiling sound like a magic
wand.

WYSIWYG (what you see is what you get) is the goal whether you use a
color management workflow or not. You can work without profiles
embedded and do a fine job -- but it is still a benefit to calibrate,
test, check, and know how your service handles color. Note that you
should calibrate, test, check and know how the service handles color
whether embedding or not. I've been working without embedding
profiles for years, and only rarely consider using a profile. The
benefit of profiling is really something you will achieve AFTER you
can get decent results without them. And then it might be that you
may not need them. I find most people worry a lot about color
management when they are both unsure what it is and what to do with
it -- or when some other well-meaning person tells another that they
need it. I propose that most people SHOULDN'T use color
management...and you can get results anyway.

A well versed fellow from another group said: "In the real world of
press output, sRGB is not a huge problem, although many make a big
fuss about it's reduced gamut." Huzzah. People claim to see and need
a lot of things to fix their images, claim results by fire or ice, by
witches brew and dominatrics...some do get all the right results for
all the wrong reasons. I have seen more disasters with profiling and
people who half-know theory than I bet there would be without. If I
control my image and don't embed a profile, the image shouldn't
change; If I supply the RGB(whatever) and am depending on the profile
to work some magic, I'm at the mercy of the service and their
practices for the conversion... If you want an RGB print to match
what you see on the monitor, have a calibrated monitor and use an RGB
process (LED/CRT). It isn't all that expensive, and can be great for
single prints. You have to go after what you want, and understand how
to get it.

Workflow isn't necessarily one thing. You don't always have to embed
a profile. You can have several workflowS. The right approach to
getting a good image is to start knowing where you hope to end up,
and prep the image accordingly... whatever the voodoo you prefer to
use in between. If the results don't match from screen to print and
are unpredictable, you need to rethink your workflow.

Profiling is a potential complication -- and should be the first
thing to go when trying to solve problems. Some make it the starting
point -- perhaps for the wrong reasons. Calibrate, sure (so your
screen is right). Create an ICC profile, sure (so your previews are
right). But just cause there is a profile doesn't mean you are
obligated to embed (just as your service is not obligated to honor).

Color conversion is more horseshoes or handgrenades, for the most
part, than sniper-shooting. There isn't a right or wrong way, really,
no silver bullet. There are just ways that get results, and those
that don't. Just because you get a result one time using a particular
method doesn't mean ANYTHING, unless you know why it worked. More
than one method can produce an acceptible result. Knowing the benefit
of color spaces and the reality of their advantages can help you make
good decisions. Some decisions will make more or less of an impact on
the result...and some will be impossible to distinguish.

When in doubt, simplify.


-
3. JPEG 2000
-
> Photoshop Elements Help File tells me that I need the JPEG 2000
> Plugin to be able to save files in the JPEG 2000 format. Where can
I
> find this plugin?

That "help" file will tell you a lot of things -- like you can't use
Curves with Elements ;-).

As far as I know the JPEG 2000 plugin comes bundled with the RAW
plugin -- and I've not seen it available separately. The $99 price
tag would drive me away -- as it is something I bet they give away
later. I heard just the JPEG 2000 plugin can be had by Elements users
for free, but visiting the Adobe site does not bear this out -- or at
least I can't find it.

Better, there seems to be a free option available here:
http://www.fnordware.com/

I am wondering what you hope to accomplish with the format, and hope
it is the thing you really need. You can read a little more about it
here:

http://www.dpreview.com/news/0302/03021904adoberawplugin.asp

-
4. How do I get Images from My Camera Into Elements?
-
> How do I get my images from my digital camera into Elements?
> I had thought I needed breeze Downloader to get them off
> (driver issue aside) then Breeze Browser to do something else
> with them not really sure other than cataloging them and then
> send them to Photoshop Elements for cropping color adjusting
> red eye and all that stuff. Do I need to do these things like
> this or can you tell me if PSE does everything?


I am all for simplifying process. Let me tell you what I do.

1) take a picture (actually load up my camera's smartcard and
flashcard -- it
takes both)
2) connect my USB card reader
3) move the images to my hard drive
4) Open in Elements or Photoshop

My camera came with Camedia, which I used to use to initially open
the images, but JPEG and TIFF are common formats and don't really
require translation. When I started just opening the files in
Elements, it worked just as well, so I just stopped using camedia.

If you are using a camera with a proprietary format, or RAW formats
which don't translate easily, it may be best to use the software
supplied to open the images initially. If the manufacturer makes a
plugin (better be free), you might try using that to import to
Elements. My interest was to cut out the extra step of moving or
downloading to another software...so I could move to where I wanted
the images.

I am not directly familiar with Breeze Browser, but expect it will
probably not do much that you can't do in another way. However, don't
just throw it out until you are absolutely sure there is another
method of working wth your images. Camera makers supply software to
use your images on computers in case you don't have another choice.
Elements is a great sophisticated one, which can grow with your level
of expertise and understanding.

I hope that helps.



------------------
Short Answers (10)
------------------

-
1
-
> Page 85 #2
> when clicking on add luminosity i get a warning that states The
> object "previous history state" is not currently available.
---
On page #85, #2 the action was adjusted for images that needed to be
flattened. In the case of the image you opened, it did not need to be
flattened, so there was no flattening step. While it should have been
caught, if you ignore the warning by just clicking [continue], it
works fine.


-
2
-
> Page 85 #9
> according to the error resolution pages, i should be using points
74,0 with
> elements 2, but i get a warning stating An integer between 2 and 73
is
> required-closest value inserted.
---
on page 85, #9 I have both gotten this to work and not...and I can't
tell
when and why -- It may be a difference between elements 1 (which the
book was
initially written with) and Elements 2 when it was in Beta -- so
somethings may
have changed...In any case, step 9 doesn't match the figure, which is
why the
number change is suggested. Which is right? Answer: it barely
matters. If you
can set the point at either 73,0 or 74,0 the tangible difference is
almost
nothing (half of one percent overall). The ZERO is more important.>


-
3
-
> Page 86 #13
> when told to merge the masking tone with the
> mask layer, do i use the merge visable command?
---
On page 86, #13 it doesn't matter which method you use to merge the
two
layers, as long as only those merge. If you use merge visible, be
sure those are the only two visible layers (the book warns somewhere
about this...grouped
layers can cause merge problems when the base for the group is not
visible and the layers it is grouped with are). Probably the easiest
way is to select the
upper layer of the pair and merge down. As more than one method has
been
discussed, I left it open.


-
4
-
> Page 88 #1
> how do i open a flattened rgb image?
---
On 88, Open a flattened image or open one that is not flattened and
flatten
it. If you are asking about a command that will open an image and
flatten it,
there isn't one. My original steps broke out these things into two
setps (open,
be sure the image is flattened), but editorial was hard on me about
making
steps combined so as not to seem too basic -- or take too much room.


-
5
-
> Page 88 #2
> how do i set up the curves to look
> like fig. 3.32.
---
On 88 #2, just place points as they look like in the image. This is
approximately: 24,0 26,100 74,100 76,0. Again, you are looking to get
the points LIKE the example, what the example is exactly matters less
than understanding the idea of placement. I guess I considered the
lack of minor details more like tiny quizes: if you understood the
last application (and I realize there is a lot to remember), then you
can figure out what to do here.


-
6
-
> Do you recommend using Wacom tablets with PSE 2.0?
---
If you like tablets, then using one with Elements could be helpful.
Some people like them -- usually those with a trained art background.
Personally I use a trackball, and believe I've tried everything on
the market. I find the trackball far more steady and easy to control -
- for me more accurate than using a pen of any sort. It also has a
small footprint, taking up little space on the desktop...and never
moves on the table.


-
7
-
> The readmepc.rtf file from HPA II said
> there would also be a advanced.rtf file installed.
> I cannot seem to find this advanced.rtf file anywhere?
---
Look in the Elements program directory. It should be right there in
the main directory.


-
8
-
> Should I be posting this message to the Retouchpro forum
> or is it ok here?
---
You can send to the listserv (yahoogroup.com) or the retouchpro
forum. I answer email directly as well, but if it is a question other
people will have it is best just to send it to the listserv. It'll
end up there anyway -- like this one!


-
9
-
> I noticed in your third newsletter (on your web site)
> you mention a specific errata change, and that this
> should show up on the sybex web site. Unfortunately
> this is not the case.
---
There should be noplace that says the Errata are on the Sybex site.
Or they may be there (not all of them), but you should check my site
first ( http://hiddenelements.com ). I keep track and report them to
the publisher when they go to reprint.


-
10
-
> I've been reading your book and I am impressed so far.
> It has already explained a number of things I had been
> unable to figure out even though I have been using the
> program for over 6 months
---
You may be more impressed to know there are things in there that
people using the program 10 years don't know. If you get it all in 6
months, it is quite an achievement! If you still have questions
unanswered when you are done, please ask. The hard ones are the most
fun for me these days.


------------------
Actions Corner
------------------

1. Problems Installing Batch Actions
2. Free Tools Password?


-
1. Problems Installing Batch Actions

<<I downloaded them and believe I followed the directions but they
don't appear. I placed the .atn file in the proper folder, but when I
go to Batch I don't see them.>>

Click on the drop menu for Convert File Type. The field says "Visit
http://hiddenelements.com"...I had to get a plug in, just in case. I
mean doing all this stuff for free is all well and good, but if you
only get the free stuff you've barely got a quarter of what Elements
can really do. It isn't good for either of us ;-)


-
2. Why Use the Welcome Menu?

<<I don't think the enhancements should appear in the Welcome screen.
It is not appropriate. Which of your actions do you use before you
even have a picture in the workspace?>>

There aren't any that you use before a picture is open. The menu is
there for applying what I need after I open an image. If it goes
away, as it sometimes does, I access it again by choosing it from the
Windows menu. There is nothing on the initial screen you can't get on
the File menu. However, if you don't want to install over the
Welcome, you won't be able to get the tools. I had to put them
somewhere, and this screen was, in my opinion, the best choice.

Did you know (Mac/PC):

Cmd/CTRL + O Brings up the Open window
Cmd/CTRL + Shift + O Brings up the Browse window

You don't even have to click the button on the Welcome screen.

If you don't want to see the welcome screen at all, there is a check
box to toggle it off completely. This option was put in by Adobe,
because they realized the screen was not too important. You can shut
off the Hidden Power Welcome palette, keep it in the How-To menu, and
still open images from the browser or open menu using the two,
quicker shortcuts.

I am sorry if you don't feel it is appropriate. I would move it if
there was a better solution. I wish I had unlimited time to devote to
this, but I just can't. My bet is that if you use the tools and see
how handy they are, you won't miss the Welcome menu for long.



--------------------------------------------------------
Do let me know about questions and comments, and let me
know what you think about the newsletter. rl@...
--------------------------------------------------------

Brought to you by Richard Lynch
in conjunction with The Hidden power of Photoshop Elements 2

http://hiddenelements.com

Get it the book here:
http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/0782141781/newwriting/

Copyright © 2003 Richard Lynch
------------------------------