INTRODUCTION
The Photoshop Elements 6 Quick Selection Tool makes it easy to select any part of an image.  It has the ability to distinguish between colors that are very close together.

OPEN A PICTURE
Hold the Ctrl key and tap the letter O key > find the folder that has pictures > double-click the folder to view the pictures inside > click the View Menu icon and select Thumbnail or Medium Icon view > select a picture and click Open.

LAYERS
If the Layers palette is not visible, click Window + Layers.  Right-click the image title “Background” in the Layers palette and select Duplicate Layer > accept the default name and click OK > click the new layer “Background copy” to make it the active layer.

SELECT AN OBJECT
Tap the “A” key to select the Quick Selection Tool > select the area to be converted (or all area not to be converted and inverse the selection later) > click-click-click to select (hold Alt and click to deselect areas that are not wanted in the selection).  Now select the Zoom Tool and draw a rectangle about 1 inch square > scroll around the edge of the selection and add to (or delete from) the selection to improve the result.  If a large unwanted area is selected, click the Undo arrow.  When complete, if you selected an object (and not the background), click Selection + Inverse (this selects the background and not the object).
 
APPLY EFFECTS TO THE BACKGROUND
From the Effects palette, select Photo Effects (blue rectangle) > from the Selection Type drop-down menu, select Show All > select Carving + Apply.

PLAY WITH OPACITY
With the Background copy selected in the Layers palette, click the Opacity drop-down arrow and move the slider to the left, letting a bit of color to show through.

CONCLUSION
The Quick Selection Tool of Photoshop Elements 6 improves the selection process where edge colors are close together.  Selecting an object is just the beginning of things that can be done to enhance your pictures.

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