How to Add Effects to Photos

In the days of digital photography, even the technologically challenged look for ways to beef up the point-and-shoot images they take of family and friends. Many who are into digital scrapbooking also like to edit their digital images to make them more appealing for page layouts. With the aid of a simple version of Adobe's Photoshop Elements, you can add filters and effects to your everyday photos that will give them the pizazz you desire without a lot of difficulty.

Difficulty: Moderately Challenging

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• Digital image files Photoshop Elements 4.0 or higher

Using Filter Effects

1. Download virtualPhotographer from OptikVerve Labs (see the link below). This is a free plug-in for Photoshop Elements that provides you with a slew of filters to change the appearance of your digital images. The installation instructions for virtualPhotographer are available through the link provided.

2. Install virtualPhotographer per the instructions provided. Open the image file you wish to edit in your version of Elements. Select the "Filter" tab in the task bar and then select OptikVerve Labs, followed by virtualPhotographer. These actions will open the virtualPhotographer window.

3. Peruse the various filters available under the "Main" tab of virtualPhotographer, both in color and black and white (such as ambience, dream or glamor) to see what effect each has on your image in the preview box.

4. Adjust the intensity of each filter under the "Style" tab. For a less-harsh effect, use the pull-down menu to change the filter from "soft" to "softer" or "softest." Each level provides a more-subtle effect on the original image. You can also use the scroll bar to customize the effect to your liking.

5. Once you finish making the desired changes to the image, select "process" in the lower right corner of virtualPhotographer. The changes will now appear on the image in Photoshop Elements.

6. Save the new image as a copy of the original. This gives you the opportunity to go back to the original images and make different changes if you change your mind.

Applying Overlays

7. Visit a digital scrapbook supplies website (see the links below) and search for overlays. Overlays come in a variety of styles. Choose those that appeal to your personal tastes and download the files as instructed. Save the files just as you did for your images, but in a separate folder--possibly labeled "overlays."

8. Open the overlay you want to try in Elements. With the overlay selected in your Photo Bin, click on "Select" in the task bar and choose "All." Then go to "Edit" in the task bar and select "Copy."

9. Bring up the image you want to add the overlay effect to in Elements. Under "Edit" in the task bar, select "paste." The overlay should appear on top of the image you just opened. Using the mouse, drag the edges of the overlay until they cover the entire image you selected.

10. Choose the overlay layer in the Palette Bin (to open, select Palette Bin in the lower right corner of Elements). Using the pull-down menu on the left (directly under the word "Layer"), select the various options to see what effect they have on the overlay and how they change the appearance of your image. Select the effect that provides the best results.

11. Preserve the newly edited image as a copy of the original. This gives you the opportunity to go back to the original images and make different changes if you change your mind.

Tips & Warnings

• If, after seeing the filtration changes you made on the image in Elements you decide you don't like the effect, simply select "Edit" in the task bar and choose "Undo virtualPhotographer" to take the image back to its original state. In Section 2, Step 3, if the overlay does not appear but the outline of the overlay is visible, select "Layer" in the task bar, then "Arrange" and choose "Bring to Front." This will cause the overlay to appear on top of the image so you can see it.
• If the virtualPhotographer window does not open in Section 1, Step 2, you didn't follow the installation instructions correctly. Visit the link provided and go through the installation process again.