INTRODUCTION
Photoshop Elements can be used to change a common background into an interesting watery look.

PREPARE PHOTOSHOP ELEMENTS TO RECEIVE PICTURE
Open Photoshop Elements > close the Welcome window > make sure the Layers palette is visible > if Photoshop Elements is maximized, click the Restore button > click the blue Title bar and drag to the side leaving part of the working area visible.

PROCEDURE FOR ACQUIRING IMAGES
View this lesson on the Web (http://leisurevillage.us/nt/classnotes.html) > select flower2 > if your browser is maximized, click the Restore button > click the blue Title bar and drag to view both the flower and part of Photoshop Elements > click the picture and drag it onto Photoshop Elements > click the Maximize button > double-click the Hand tool (this maximizes the picture).

CREATE 2 DUPLICATE LAYERS
Click More (on the Layers palette) + Duplicate Layer > accept the Duplicate Layer settings > click OK.  Repeat to create a second duplicate layer.  Right-click the “Background copy 2” title + Rename Layer > type Flower + OK.  Flower should be blue (the selected layer) > close the eyes of all other layers.

SELECT WITH MAGIC WAND AND SELECTION BRUSH TOOL
Select the Magic Wand Tool > (on the Options toolbar) set Tolerance to 80 > select Add to selection  > click around on the flower until most of the outer edge of the flower is selected > select the Selection Brush tool > set size to 30 px > erase marching ants inside the flower > click Select + Inverse (everything except the flower is selected).

ERASE THE BACKGROUND OF THE TOP LAYER
Select the Eraser tool > set Size to 400 > click around to erase the background > if background is colored, select the Magic Eraser tool and click in the colored area (background is erased) > hold the Ctrl key and tap the D key to delete the marching ants.

CREATE A NEW LAYER AND REPOSITION IT
Click More + New layer > set foreground color to blue > use the Paint bucket tool to color the layer.  Click the Layer 1 title and drag it to just above the original background picture.

CREATE WAVE EFFECT
Select the Background copy layer (click the title) > select Filter + Distort + Ocean Ripple.  Set Ripple Size and Ripple Magnitude to 12 > set the Opacity (on Layers palette) to 75%.

CONCLUSION
Try different effects – turn on/off different eyes, change Fill Layer color, change opacity of Background copy layer etc.  These techniques can be applied to many of your own pictures.

GOOD WEB SITES
LEISURE VILLAGE: http://leisurevillage.us and http://leisurevillage.org
BILL’S HOME PAGE:  http://bzus.com