Selection Secrets of Elements 11

By Matt Kloskowski · January 3rd, 2013

· 41 Comments · Add to my favorites · Print

In the new Elements 11, Matt takes you through the brand new selection techniques and how they all work.

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This entry is filed under Elements Basics, Members, Selections and Blending, Video Tutorials.

41 Replies to Selection Secrets of Elements 11:

Tim
January 3, 2013 at 10:12 am

I asked if there was a way to copy the ‘crib sheets’ of your tutorials. All I see here is a video version which is very hard for me to retain all the details when I go to edit my photos. So just sending me the same info that is on the web page is not helpful. I hope that you will continue to put the tutorials in both video and hard copy for us old school people.
Tim Wright Subscriber
- Adalberto
  January 4, 2013 at 5:26 am
  
  I agree with Tim, specially because english is not my mother tongue and it´s hard for me to follow on video
- Verneitta
  January 4, 2013 at 10:44 pm
  
  I’d also like to see the cheat sheet.
Jean
January 3, 2013 at 10:21 am

You’ve done it again…a great tutorial..I was going to wait to upgrade to 12 but I’m just going to go ahead and upgrade now. Thanks..Don’t know what I would do without these tutorials. Jean
Larraine
January 3, 2013 at 10:23 am

Excellent tutorial – although I agree that a crib sheet would also be helpful.
Koen
January 3, 2013 at 11:23 am

Maybe it helps others. Some time ago I found a few tutorials (video but also text – PDF) on this subject published for Photoshop CS5 (I think this feature appeared first in version 5). Most of it is applicable to Elements. Unfortunately the help in Elements doesn’t help at all.
Of course the video of Matt is the best one for us. Thanks, Matt.
John
January 3, 2013 at 12:52 pm

Just watched the video and had a go on a subject with very whispy hair – fantastic. The Refine Edge options are just magic. Thanks Matt for a brilliant tutorial.
Irene
January 3, 2013 at 1:52 pm

This is a great tutorial but unfortunately, the video gets stuck a little over the half way point. I have Quick Time installed and I tried everything I could to watch it to the end.
This selection tool was one of the main reasons for my upgrade from PSE9.I hope you add the crib sheet. It makes it so much easier to follow the written instructions until I memorize all the steps.
Thank you.
- Dianne
  January 7, 2013 at 8:07 am
  
  Did you download the movie to your computer before you played it, or did you just play the video online at the web site? I downloaded the video and had no problems with replay. Might just give that a try, if you haven’t already.
  - Irene
    January 8, 2013 at 5:22 pm
    
    I had done that already. Thanks for your answer.
Hl
January 3, 2013 at 1:53 pm

Hi
I agree with Tim. I really need the added boost the written “crib sheets” provides. I too am OLD School
HLT
Raymond
January 3, 2013 at 1:56 pm

That’s a very good tutorial. I find it better than the one that is on this site from Adobe.

I like to have a step by step tutorial that goes from point A to point Z.

With it I undersand the menu of Refine edge. Thanks Matt.
James
January 3, 2013 at 3:03 pm

Excellent tutorial Matt. Thanks for taking the time, much appreciated.
Shirley
January 3, 2013 at 3:19 pm

I agree that having the “crib” or “cheatsheet” is a BIG help. I find that I have to take notes while watching the videos. The tutorials are superb though.
Joan
January 3, 2013 at 3:34 pm

Matt–you are the best!
Steve
January 3, 2013 at 5:07 pm

Thank you Elements Techniques and Matt, I understand the controls now.
Linda
January 3, 2013 at 6:45 pm

I have a new computer with Windows 8. I cannot view any of your videos in Google Chrome or Internet Explorer. Is there a solution for this? Thank you.
Kenneth
January 3, 2013 at 8:42 pm

Great and timely tutorial. This feature is main reason i upgraded to PSE 11. Hope in the future there will another advance tutorial on this great tool explaining the other features in Refine Edge toolbox i.e. ‘Smart Radius’.
Steve
January 3, 2013 at 9:22 pm

Thank you very much, Matt and PET. This is a great video, very helpful. Matt, your voice is easy to listen to and you are good at explaining each process.
I also agree with others . . . PLEASE include cheat sheets with videos—they really are helpful.
Gaik Hoon
January 3, 2013 at 10:06 pm

Heaps of thanks Matt, for the great video and also the tips at the end of the tutorial on setting expectations!
Lana
January 4, 2013 at 11:18 am

I agree! I really miss having the cheat sheets. I have a 3-ring binder just for PET cheat sheets, and now there are not cheat sheets!!!
Francine
January 4, 2013 at 6:11 pm

please include cheat sheets with your tutorials. It really is so helpful!
Thanks
Mary
January 4, 2013 at 7:24 pm

Great tutotial Matt, as usual. But it certainly would enhance the experience if you would include cheat sheets. Thanks
Linda
January 4, 2013 at 9:48 pm

Great tutorial, thank you. I always use the cheatsheets; they are extremely helpful. Will there be a cheatsheet to go with this video?
Verneitta
January 4, 2013 at 10:41 pm

Wow! This is awesome. It is just what I needed. thank you so much.
Francine
January 5, 2013 at 1:56 pm

Is there a book that has his selection tips-What is it?? it is not the magizine
Carl
January 5, 2013 at 4:14 pm

Good tutorial. I hadn’t seen anything from Adode to persuade me that it was worthwhile me upgrading, in fact learning that the interface had virtually been turned upside down to what I am used to has put me off, but seeing the improvement that has been made to the selection tool might push me to change.

Thanks Matt.
Bernard
January 6, 2013 at 2:49 pm

This software is getting more magical all the time. A great tutorial.
Richard
January 7, 2013 at 10:16 am

Another great tutorial, Matt. Folks are asking for the cheat sheet, and that would be nice, but what I’m doing is making my own. Takes a little time, but it’s also a great way to cement the steps into a Swiss cheese brain.
Louise
January 7, 2013 at 2:37 pm

Cheat Sheets, please. I, too, am Old School. Need the written instructions rather than someone sitting there telling me and me needing time to work through it time and again.
- Richard
  January 7, 2013 at 4:52 pm
  
  I have just finished making my own cheat sheet. I will gladly share it with anyone. Just reply to this comment. I’ll try to figure out where to post it.
  - Wynn
    January 8, 2013 at 1:42 pm
    
    I also would love a copy of your “Cheat Sheet” I find I need the written word too. Thanks so much.
    Wynn
Francine
January 7, 2013 at 5:36 pm

would love the cheatsheet-thanks
- Richard
  January 7, 2013 at 8:28 pm
  
  Francine, I will post this cheat sheet in the Elements Village. But first I need to join up & take a look around. As soon as I put it up, I’ll let you know. Will happen ASAP.
John
January 8, 2013 at 2:50 pm

I agree with all the comments praising Matt’s videos! I much prefer to quickly view the videos rather than reading thru a long description. Then I try my own version which may not be exactly the same, but when I finish, I know how to do what I need to. Elements 11 is worth the cost of upgrade, but I wish I could integrate it better with Lightroom. LR is by far the best way to make subtle corrections.
- Dianne
  January 8, 2013 at 3:28 pm
  
  I’m not familiar with Light Room … but have you tried Guided Edit for subtle corrections? I’m not sure if that would fit the bill, but I teach Guided Edit at our Computer Club and am amazed at how much it will do, at the same time it explains processes and even picks the correct tools for you. Then you can go back into Full Edit to finish up if you need to.
Richard
January 8, 2013 at 4:34 pm

Wynn & Francine, I was just about to post my cheat sheet at Elements Village when I saw that one is now available by Matt himself. So I won’t bother posting. I do have several other sheets I’ve made, & I may post some there. Thanks for your comments. Rick
Mendel A
January 21, 2013 at 11:19 pm

Thanks Matt for the video on the new smart selection tool .. I can’t think of a better way of starting the New Year then with a video from you explaining the new feature (or features) that Adobe has built into Elements.
I tried your techniques and had excellent results but then I had to review the movie again because I kept forgetting how best to use the refine edge radius to do most of the work. Great explanation.

I was kind of disappointed about how Adobe didn’t leave the user with “options” to change the screen and panels as they did in previous versions. It almost seemed as thought they wanted to dummy up the program – but that is only my opinion – it actually made it more difficult for me to work with this version.

One thing that I do is (working on a Windows computer ) that when I right click after making a selection that a lot of the options appear in the drop down dialog box that appears. This shortens the selection options and comes up with many of the same results a tad quicker. I’m sure you have already found this out on your own.

Again thanks & Have a Wonderful 2013.
Del
Samuel H.
January 28, 2013 at 7:15 am

Thank you Matt for another excellent tutorial. Before viewing this tutorial I did not realize that this feature was here. One thing I don’t think you mentioned is that in order for the Refine Edge tools to appear the Quick Selection tool must be selected. If, in refining the selection, you use the selection tool the Refine Edge disappears. That is what I did when I tried this technique for the first time and at first I thought my copy of Elements 11 did not have the tool. Eventually, however, I figured it out and the tool works great.
Mary L
February 16, 2013 at 3:13 pm

I have been working with a previous tutorial by Matt on the selection tools. One question I would like help with is how the various refine edge commands (smoothing, feathering, etc.) are affected by the resolution of the image being used.

I noticed that the previous video was built around an image of 4×6 at 300 dpi. When I teach these techniques, we often use smaller file sizes. Is there a good way to translate the settings between images of differing resolutions?

Thanks.

Mary Lou
Huguette
April 13, 2013 at 1:29 pm

I can’t obtain the brush shown in this video “Refine Edge”seemed to be locked.

Can someone please help me.

Thanks for your trouble.