June 2016
- Creating a Mock Movie Poster
- How to Add Lighting Effects to a Background
- Natural Selection – best ways to select objects
- Subscriber Showcase
Photoshop Elements Techniques back issues
Welcome to the Photoshop Elements Techniques (PET) magazine archives. Here, you’ll find PDFs of 85 issues published from 2004 through 2016, along with any sample files associated with each issue. Each issue is listed below, with the list of articles in that issue, and links to download the PDF and the extras files. The extras are compressed as ZIP archives, which should expand properly on both Windows and Mac computers.
These issues (and extras) are free for personal use, but may not be sold, reposted, or redistributed. The copyrights for all of the content remains with the individual authors and CDP Press. (See our FAQ for more information.)
To help you look for articles by subject, author, title or tag, we have also created an online index page for PET, including an alphabetical list of article titles, a list by author, and by tag. Each article listed in the index has a link back to the issue page where that article can be found. (We also have a separate index for the PDF cheatsheets from the PET website, if you're looking for those.)
Note about downloading
This page and the index have been designed to help people looking to get a specific article or issue of Photoshop Elements Techniques. If you wish to download all of the issues, we have created a set of links to make the process easier (for you, and our web server.) Go to the Magazine Downloads page for those links and more information about getting these files.
If you'd like to show some appreciation for our work, you could think about buying Complete Digital Photography (print and ebook versions are available in our store); we think it's a great book for photographers. Or, if you shop at Amazon, you could use our Amazon link: we get a small commission with any purchase you make.
If you have other questions about PET or working with these files, please see our FAQ.
2015-2016
May 2016
- A Guide to Common Photo Fixes
- Business Card Creation
- Getting Started with Compositing
- Subscriber Showcase
April 2016
- Clone Your Images to Perfection
- Creating a Fantasy Storybook Image
- The Top Elements Filters for Photographers
- Subscriber Showcase
March 2016
- Create Crazy Images with Displacement Maps
- Creating Color Infrared
- Easy Steps to Create a Scrapbook Layout
- Elements Keyboard Shortcuts
- Subscriber Showcase
February 2016
- Correct Camera Distortion
- Inspirational Poster
- Tips & Tricks
- Subscriber Showcase
January 2016
- Creating a Comical Caricature
- Creative Clipping Masks
- The Sky Isn’t the Limit
- Subscriber Showcase
December 2015
- Bright & Sparkly Snow Photos
- Mix & Match Lighting in Layers
- Removing Stray Hairs
- Subscriber Showcase
November 2015
- How to Spice up Your Photos Using the Quick Edit Mode
- Let It Rain
- Restoring Old Photos
- Subscriber Showcase
October 2015
- Elevate Your Elements Skills
- Five Edits to Bring Out the Details in Your Photos
- The Smart Brush Tool
- Subscriber Showcase
September 2015
- Chasing the Sun
- Pursuing the Perplexity of Patterns
- Shiny Text
- Subscriber Showcase
August 2015
- Focus Stacking for Depth & Clarity
- Selective Lightening & Darkening
- The Straighten Tool
- Subscriber Showcase
July 2015
- Creating a Lens Flare Brush
- Double the Fun
- Identify the Edits That Your Photo Needs
- Subscriber Showcase
June 2015
- 11 Mistakes You’re Making in Elements
- Editing Wildflower Portraits
- Using Your Camera as a Scanner
- Subscriber Showcase
May 2015
- A Better 3-Way Sketch
- Layers 101
- Selective Color in a Jiffy
- Subscriber Showcase
March/April 2015
- Liquify Filter
- Luminosity Masks
- Graphic Design for Everyone
- Phoenix Highlights and Shadows
- Restoring an Old Family Photo
- Better Kid Photos
- Subscriber Showcase
January/February 2015
- The Perfect Blend
- Say Goodbye to Blah Photos
- Valentine’s Day Love
- The Ultimate Guide to Sharpening
- May We Have Your Attention?
- Finding Great Waterfalls
- Subscriber Showcase
2013-2014
November/December 2014
- Moving & Removing Objects
- Not Just any Old Photo
- Poster Mania
- Recompose: The Art of Resizing
- Pop-Art Splatter Portrait
- Editing Headshots Using Lightroom
- Subscriber Showcase
September/October 2014
- Creating and Managing Your Custom Brushes
- Getting the Shot: Solitary Tree
- Masking with the Shape Tools
- Recycled Rusty Rubbish
- The Eyes Have It
- Where’s the Logo
- Subscriber Showcase
July/August 2014
- Color Your World
- Create a Fun & Creative Facebook Cover Photo
- Lightroom 5: Smart Previews
- Name Your Frame
- The Best Vacation Photo Fixes
- The Brush Tool
- Truckloads of People
- Subscriber Showcase
May/June 2014
- A Model Holds Her Own
- Comic Relief
- Create a Bookmark Your Kids Will Love
- Lightroom’s Adjustment Brush
- Make Your Grad a Star
- Quick Compositing & Quick Selections
- The Content Aware Move Tool
- Subscriber Showcase
March/April 2014
- 8 Quick and Easy Ways to Make Your Type POP
- Atmospheric Lighting Adds Mist-ery
- Mix It Up
- Photos in Motion
- Processing Multiple Files
- Restore Old Photos
- Subscriber Showcase
January/February 2014
- Designing Custom Wine Labels
- Instant Aging
- Splash of Color
- Stained Glass Class
- Tablet Talk – Create Custom Brushes
- The Splatter Zone
- Top 10 Tricks for Getting the Most from Layer Masks
November/December 2013
- Advanced Portrait Editing
- Behind the Lightroom Preset
- Can I Get an Extension Please
- Get Your Neon On
- Print Your Own Holiday Cards
- The Dynamic Duo
- Create Your Own Holiday Greetings
- More Wacom Tips for Element Users
- Subscriber Showcase
September/October 2013
- Blueprints For Better Architectural Images
- Create Your Own Photo Booth Photos
- High Tech Hollywood Effects
- Lightroom Vignettes
- Making a Good Impression
- Slices of Life on Display
- Soft Glamour Glow
- The Secret to Getting Good Prints
- Subscriber Showcase
July/August 2013
- Digital Scrapbooking: Create a Layout Using a Template
- Full Steam Ahead
- Getting That Hollywood Look
- Guided Guidance
- How to Install Custom Shapes and Layer Styles
- Lightroom 5 – What it Means For Elements Users
- Portrait Editing Made Easy
- Tips for Editing Large Batches of Photos with Lightroom and Elements
- Wacom Tips – Part 2
- Subscriber Showcase
May/June 2013
- Create Photo Montages
- Creating an Edgy Poster Effect
- Digital Scrapbooking – Create a Scrapbook Layout
- Illustrating in Elements
- Integrating Lightroom and Elements
- Making Your Own Diffuser
- Posing Playbook – Part 2
- Stop Glaring At Me
- Wacom Tips for Photographers
- Subscriber Showcase
March/April 2013
- Chalk One Up
- Creating Cool Canvas Borders For Your Prints
- Don’t Let Cloudy Skies Get You Down
- Lightroom Camera Profiles
- Make a Scene With 3D Text
- Posing Tips from the Posing Playbook
- Sharpening Your Photos in Camera Raw
- The All-In-One Zoom Lens
January/February 2013
- 3D Text Effect
- Camera Raw Essentials in Elements 11: Setting the Exposure
- Create Photos with an Edge
- Keep Your Camera Dust-Free
- Photographing in Snow
- Put Your Own Stamp on It
- With a Nip and a Tuck
- 7 Steps to Getting Organized in Lightroom
2011-2012
November/December 2012
- Restore Lost Treasures
- Create Some Mood Lighting
- Easy Grunge
- Flawless Fades
- Share Your Passion
- Subscriber Showcase
September/October 2012
- Give Old Prints New Life
- A Shot in the Dark
- Banish Boring Skies
- Color Your World
- Merge Multiple Exposures
- Turn Photos to Sketches
- Subscriber Showcase
July/August 2012
- Look Sharp
- Customize Your Desktop
- Elements Tips and Tricks
- Getting Creative with Custom Wallpapers
- It’s a Small World
- Photograph the Invisible
- Stack ‘Em High
- Tips for the Texturizer Filter
May/June 2012
- Selections Made Simple
- Decoding the Color Picker
- Light Portraits Like a Pro
- Seeking Shadows
- Set Text on the Right Path
- Vintage Color
- Subscriber Showcase
March/April 2012
- Find the Perfect Shot
- Get Cooking with the Cookie Cutter
- Cookie Cutter Tool: Extending Your Background
- Elements Tips and Tricks
- Unlocking Layer Styles
- Let There Be Light!
- Speed up the Action
January/February 2012
- Make the Switch to Raw
- Build New Worlds
- Find Your Focus
- Get Creative with Color
- Winterproof Your Photography
- Word Play
- Subscriber Showcase
November/December 2011
- Tame Your Text
- Let It Snow!
- Capture True Colors
- Design Your Own Photo Card
- Elements 10 Arrives
- Quick Collages
- Tips & Tricks
- Subscriber Showcase
September/October 2011
- Adjustment Layers for Photographers
- Honest Retouching
- Create Haunting Halloween Images
- Frame It
- Tips & Tricks
- Transform Your Light
- Subscriber Showcase
July/August 2011
- Protect Your Photos
- 3 Stress-Free Portrait Touch-Ups
- Break out of the Box
- Creative Scanning
- Rise to the Surface
- Shooting with the Histogram
- Subscriber Showcase
- Tips, Ideas and Links for Out of Bound Images
May/June 2011
- Inside the Enhance Menu
- Composite Master Class
- Edge Sharpening Secrets
- Grasping the Gradient Tool
- Make it Special with Wax Seals
- Photo Tips: Take Control Of Motion
- Tips & Tricks
- Subscriber Showcase
March/April 2011
- The Smart Brush Tool
- Save the Day
- Exposure Compensation
- Correcting Color with Neutral Gray
- Cropping by the Rules
- Cutting Through Haze
- Hand-Tinting a Black and White Photo
- Tips & Tricks
- Subscriber Showcase
January/February 2011
- Find Photos Fast with the Organizer
- 3 Fast Fixes for Pet Photos
- Applying Multiple Effects to a Dingbat Graphic
- Font Resources on the Web
- Have Fun With Dingbats
- Hone Your Photo Skills
- The Secret to Smoother Skin
- Tips & Tricks
- Subscriber Showcase
2009-2010
November/December 2010
- Calm Red Skin
- Designing Storyboards
- Introducing Photoshop Elements 9
- P.E.T.’s Best Tips and Tricks for Photoshop Elements
- Picture-Perfect Gift Tags
- Take Better Family Photos
- Subscriber Showcase
September/October 2010
- Personalize Vintage Clip Art
- Vintage Clip Art Resources
- Get Better Prints
- Create Three Classic Film Looks
- Don’t Fear Your Flash
- All Sewn Up
- Subscriber Showcase
July/August 2010
- A Smarter Way to Sharpen
- Faking a Blue Sky
- The Brush Tool
- Find Great Brushes Online
- Inside Elements+
- Protect Your Images Online
- Steady Your Shots
- Tips and Tricks
- Subscriber Showcase
May/June 2010
- Wipe Glare from Glasses
- Argyle Pattern Play
- Taking Control of Autofocus
- Filmstrip Photo Collage
- Filmstrip collage resources and examples
- Tool Tips: Image Size
- Fun With Panoramas
- Subscriber Showcase
March/April 2010
- The Magic Wand and Quick Selection Tools
- Inside Photomerge Exposure
- Turn Photos Into Illustrations
- Boost Your Elements Experience with Plug-Ins
- Tips & Tricks
- Create Your Own Digital Stamps
- Digital Stamp Resources
- Subscriber Showcase
January/February 2010
- Four Essential Photo Fixes
- Portrait Retouching Secrets: The Nose Reduction
- The Content Palette
- Create a Quick Collage Using Blend Modes
- Removing Unwanted Objects From Your Photos
- Subscriber Showcase
November/December 2009
- Photomerge Scene Cleaner
- Quick & Easy Calendars From Templates
- Tool Tips: The Shape Tools
- Shape Tool Examples
- Selective Blur and Sharpen
- Enchanted Fairy-Tale Book Effect
- Subscriber Showcase
September/October 2009
- Heighten Drama with Dodge and Burn
- Getting In On The Action
- Actions Resources and Q&A
- Creative Cut-Outs
- Creative Clipping Masks
- Tips & Tricks
- Subscriber Showcase
July/August 2009
- Setting Camera Raw Defaults
- Making the Most Out of the Organizer
- Sketching Magic
- Easy Creative Edges
- Tool Tips: Crop, Cookie Cutter & Straighten Tools
- Subscriber Showcase
May/June 2009
- Easy Selections With the Polygonal Lasso
- Tips for Improving Your Selections
- Layers 101: Understanding Elements’ Foundation
- Four Times Johnny = Fun
- Saturation Infatuation
- Fixing Crooked City Skylines
- Subscriber Showcase
March/April 2009
- Strategies for Better Black & White Photos
- Advanced Black and White Editing
- Learning to Love Levels
- Enhancing Hair Highlights
- Bringing an Old Image to Life
- Tips & Tricks
- Add Excitement to Your Photos with Textures
- Using Textures with Photos: Examples, Tips & Links
January/February 2009
- Printing Your Photos Online
- Let the Reduce Noise Filter Clean Your Digital Photos
- The Orton Effect
- Frame Your Words
- Frame Your Words: Samples, Tips & Font Links
- Desperados: Making a Wanted Poster
- Tool Tips: Healing Powers
2007-2008
Vol. 5 No. 6
- Making A Special Holiday Card
- Wrap Up A Sweet Surprise
- Coping With Raw’s Essentials
- Round Up Those Pixels With The Lasso Tools
- Enhancing The Sun’s Rays
- Liberate Your Photography By Changing Your Point Of View
- Tips & Tricks
- Wonderful World Of Word Art
Vol. 5 No. 5
- Inside Photoshop Elements 7
- Adding Dimension To Your Scrapbook Elements
- Focusing On Light
- Bokeh: Getting The Perfect Soft Background
- Elements Q & A
- Tips & Tricks
- Yipes, Stripes! Weaving Wave Filter Magic
Vol. 5 No. 4
- Triptychs: Creating With The Power Of Three
- Digging In With Camera Raw
- Macro Photography: Taking A Closer Look
- Making Quick Selections For Quick Changes
- Showcase Family Photos With Personalized Bookmarks
- Tips & Tricks
- Tool Tips: Image Size
- Understanding Resolution When Resizing Images
- Zapping Shines And Shadows
Vol. 5 No. 3
- Shooting In Raw
- Capturing The Magic Of Light
- Creating Textured Text In A Mask
- Elements Q & A
- Get A Little Glow On
- HDR Made Easy
- Making a Tag Frame
- Tag, You’re It!
- The Eyes Have It
- Tips & Tricks
Vol. 5 No. 2
- Blend Modes, Part 2
- Create Grungy Backgrounds With Custom Brushes
- Elements Q & A
- Four Steps To A Great-Looking Photo
- From Photo To Coloring Book
- From Simple Photo To Keepsake
- Grunge Brushes: Free Online Resources
- Photoshop Express
- The Exposure Triangle
- Tips & Tricks
Vol. 5 No. 1 (2008)
- Blend Modes Explained, Part 1
- Elements Q & A
- Let It Snow!
- Let There Be Light
- Ready, Set, Go!
- Sharpening the Eyes in a Portrait
- Simply Digital Photography
- Think Outside the Box
- Tips & Tricks
Download this issue.
[No available extras.]
Vol. 4 No. 8
- Add Drama To Black-and-White Photos
- Elements Q & A
- Lights Out: Transform A Daytime Image Into Nighttime
- Make Some Waves With An Aquatic Background
- Preserve Your Memories With Style
- Reverse The Aging Process
- Split Toning In Elements
- Tips & Tricks
- Turning The Page On Curls
Vol. 4 No. 7
- 7 Reasons You’ve Gotta Try The New Camera Raw
- Achieve Selection Perfection: Techniques The Pros Use
- Darker Skies, Brighter Foregrounds
- Elements Q & A
- First Snow, Lasting Memory
- Focusing On Filters
- Never The Twain Shall Meet
- Reflecting On Product Shots
- Tips & Tricks
Vol. 4 No. 6
- Elements 6 Top Ten
- A Touch Of Urban
- Color Management 101
- Create A Euro-Style Background
- Elements Q & A
- Pen, Ink & Watercolors
- Scrapbook Like A Roving Reporter
- Tips & Tricks
- Whimsical Woodcut
Vol. 4 No. 5
- Breaking Through Borders
- Create A Magazine Cover Like The Pros
- Creating A Panorama
- Creating Believable Watercolors
- Elements Q & A
- Painting With Pixels
- Put Me In, Coach
- The Wide World Of Filters Series: In The Line Of Fire
- Tips & Tricks
Vol. 4 No. 4
- Beginners’ Workshop
- Elements Q & A
- Fixing Towers That Lean
- Magic Picture Within A Picture
- Nothing But Blue Skies Ahead
- Now Showing…
- Slice And Dice Your Photos
- Tips & Tricks
- Touched By An Angel
Vol. 4 No. 3
- A Moment In Time
- Buckets Of Fun
- Elements And Lightroom— A Dynamic Duo
- Elements Q & A
- Lights, Camera…Couch!
- Selective Focus
- Sensational Serigraphs For Warhol Wannabes
- Take Your Photo For A Spin
- Tips & Tricks
Vol. 4 No. 2
- All Grunged Up
- Beginners’ Workshop: Working with Gradients
- Color Your World Beautiful
- Digital Crafts Made From Scratch
- Displaced Art
- Elements Q & A
- Lookin’ Sharp
- Open Up The Windows To The Soul
- Stamp Of Approval
- Tips & Tricks
Vol. 4 No. 1 (2007)
- Animal Elements
- Beginners’ Workshop: Impressionist Brush
- Give Your Images A Color Boost
- How To Create Whimsical Frames
- Layer Styles: Revamped, Retooled And Better Than Ever
- Make A Statement!
- Reality Check: Creating Fantasy Art From Photographs
- Tips & Tricks
2004-2006
Vol. 3 No. 9 (Bonus)
- A Quicker Way To Get Creative
- Color Curves Ahead
- Conquer The Elements: An Elements 5 Overview
- Don’t Settle For Dull, Boring Black-and-White Images
- Instant Art: Create Eye-Catching Effects With Just One Click
- Show Off Your Photos In A Flash With Interactive Galleries
Vol. 3 No. 8
- Back To The ’60s: Make Pop Art!
- Beginners’ Workshop: Brush It On
- Beveled Memories: Creating Photo Corners
- Fabulous Feathering
- Hide And Seek: Making Faux Layer Masks
- Mix Up Your Media
- Moving The Light
- Tips & Tricks
- Warm Up And Cool Down With Filters
Vol. 3 No. 7
- Three Ways To Erase
- Burnin’ Up Your Flat Photos
- In Living Color
- Making A Splash With Your Underwater Photos
- Put It In Motion
- Seeing The Light: Analyze And Adjust Your Lighting
- The Many Flavors Of Layers
- Tips & Tricks
- Writing And Doodling Spectacular Backgrounds
Vol. 3 No. 6
- Altered Images: Creatively Coloring Comic Art
- Beginners’ Workshop: Cloning and Healing
- From Pixels To Patterns
- Gettin’ Scrappy
- Restoration Station
- The Best Of Both Worlds
- The Right Resolution: Lesser-known Tips About Pixels And Inches
- Tips & Tricks
- Wrapping It Up With The Warp Tool
Vol. 3 No. 5
- Beginners’ Workshop: Straighten & Red Eye Removal Tools
- Controlling Composition And Depth Of Field
- Create Scrapbook Backgrounds
- Creating A Picture Package
- Creating Golden Text
- How To Buy A Digital Camera, Part 1
- Restoration Station: Repairing Tintypes
- Simulating A Polarizing Filter On A Sky
- Tips & Tricks
Vol. 3 No. 4
- Batch Processing Multiple Images
- Camera Flash Vs. Natural Light
- Color Variations In Black-and-white
- From Digital Photo To Polymer Clay Art
- Getting the Best Crop
- Choose The Best File Format When Saving Images
- In Honor Of …
- Restoration Station: Tintype TLC
- Tips & Tricks
Download this issue.
[No available extras.]
Vol. 3 No. 3
- Adding a Burned-In Edge to an Old Photo
- Creating Corner Ribbons
- Creating Stained Glass
- Creating Text That Fits The Message
- Photo Cube
- Save For Web Simplified
- Tips & Tricks
- Understanding Type, Pixels & Resolution
- Unlocking The Power Of Layer Styles
Vol. 3 No. 2
- Beginners’ Workshop: Selection tools and the Select menu (Part 2)
- Creating Greeting Cards With Photoshop Elements
- Creative Image Output Options
- Filter Spotlight: Find Edges
- Highlights: Photoshop Elements 4 For The Macintosh
- Moving Photoshop Elements Layers Into Premiere Elements
- One Photo, Two Images
- Photo Strip
- Restoration Station
- Tips & Tricks
Vol. 3 No. 1 (2006)
- Beginners’ Workshop: Selection Tools
- Creating Dramatic, Complementary Color Text Effects
- Filter Spotlight: Cutout
- Make Your Own Borders
- Removing Mold & Mildew in Old Photos
- Sharpening In Elements
- Template Design
- The “Ins And Outs” Of Using Keyboard Shortcuts
- Tips & Tricks
Vol. 2 No. 8
- Brushing Basics
- Christmas Ornament
- Great Selections Are Key To Successful Editing
- Restoration Station
- So, You Want To Sell Something On eBay?
- Tips & Tricks
- Tool Time: Zoom, Hand, and Eyedropper tools
- Undocumented Secrets Of The Magic Extractor
Vol. 2 No. 7
- Beginners’ Workshop: The Toolbox
- Digital Photography Tips: Shooting Better Pictures
- Digital Punch Art
- Filter Spotlight: Diffuse Glow
- One Photo Collage
- Quick Portrait Retouching Techniques
- Restoration Station: Restoring a Discolored Image
- Selectively Fixing Exposure Problems
- Tips & Tricks
Vol. 2 No. 6
- A Beginner’s Guide to Gradients
- Beginners’ Workshop: Adjust Quick Fix Mode
- End Of Summer Blues
- Making Photos Into Paintings
- Photo Restoration Basics
- Tips & Tricks
- Wielding Levels For Total Color Mastery
Vol. 2 No. 5
- Create A Smile With Liquify
- Going Out Of This World With Elements
- The Classic Look Of Torn Edges
- Tips & Tricks
- Toolbox Shortcuts
- Using the Healing Brushes
Vol. 2 No. 4
- Beginners’ Workshop: Motion Blur
- Clipping Layers For Better Backgrounds
- Creating A Panorama
- Elements Q & A: Loading Textures
- General Guidelines for Creating a Panamora
- Mastering The Photoshop Elements Organizer
- Postcards With Pizzazz!
- Tips & Tricks
Vol. 2 No. 3
- Create An Old-Fashioned Photo
- Creating A Sketch Effect
- Creativity In The Raw
- Elements Q & A
- Remove And Restore Color For A Hand-Painted Look
- Rescure A Flawed Photo With Smudge Painting
- Saving Custom Brush Sets
- Tips & Tricks
Vol. 2 No. 2
- A Quick Cleanup for Portraits
- Beginners’ Workshop: The Power of Adjustment Layers
- Correcting Wash-Out And Smoothing Wrinkles
- Creating a Polaroid Look
- File Format Uses
- Give Your Photos The Edge
- Painting With Filters
- Types of Adjustment Layers
- Understanding Graphic File Formats
Vol. 2 No. 1 (2005)
- Adding Objects Behind Existing Objects
- Backscreen The Flexible Way
- Beginner’s Workshop: Composition and Cropping
- Double-Duty Photos
- Elements Q & A
- Get A New/Old Look
- How To Add A Personal Touch
- When A Quick Fix Isn’t
Vol. 1 No. 1 (2004)
- Beginners’ Workshop
- Elements Q&A
- More on Removing Blemishes
- Removing Blemishes
- Too Much Flash Or Wish That You Hadn’t?
- What’s New in Photoshop Elements 3
