scrapping with photoshop

[zanthia]

I am a long time PSE user ( i use PSE 10) trying to scrap with full photoshop but having a horrible time with it . What am i doing wrong ?

I create new 12 x12 document - open up 12 x 12 paper - drag in and not centered so have to manually repostion it. also name is gone just layer one. In elements it is centered and name is there.

is there any workaround for a photo bin - with tabs I only can have 4-6 open before scrolling off the screen. I am used to having a dozen or more open at same time so i can decide at a glance what to use. Opening an element , dragging in than clicking to close is so many extra clicks

 

[Vicki Robinson]

Let's see if I can help! We don't want you frustrated!

One main difference between PSE and the full version is you don't need to open each element or paper separately, which PSE MUST do.

Once you have your new document open, you can simply drag your papers and elements directly into your open document window from your Windows Explorer or Mac Finder. Hold down the shift key as you drag and it will center. The elements/papers WILLL NOT open in their own document/tab if you add them this way, and each layer will contain the file name. This is why you don't need a Photo Bin — your Explorer/Finder is how you choose your elements. It's actually way faster and easier.

If you drag each element/paper onto the Photoshop icon on your desktop, it will open in it's own document window/tab and will then have to drag it into your document, which will cause it to be named Layer 1 because the system cannot read the actual file name.

Does that help?

 

[zanthia]

Let's see if I can help! We don't want you frustrated!

One main difference between PSE and the full version is, you don't need to open each element or paper separately, which PSE MUST do.

Once you have your new document open, you can simply drag your papers and elements directly into your open document window from your Windows Explorer or Mac Finder. Hold down the shift key as you drag and it will center. The elements/papers WILLL NOT open in their own document/tab if you add them this way, and each layer will contain the file name. This is why you don't need a Photo Bin — your Explorer/Finder is how you choose your elements. It's actually way faster and easier.

If you draft each element/paper onto the Photoshop icon on your desktop, it will open in it's own document window/tab and will then have to drag it into your document, which will cause it to be named Layer 1 because the system cannot read the actual file name.

Does that help?

thanks vicki for the quick reply - will give it a try tomorrow

 

[Cherylndesigns]

I've tried several times to use PS but always go back to PSE. I KNOW there's more that I could do in PS, but it's way outside my comfort zone. Good luck!

 

[zanthia]

Let's see if I can help! We don't want you frustrated!

One main difference between PSE and the full version is you don't need to open each element or paper separately, which PSE MUST do.

Once you have your new document open, you can simply drag your papers and elements directly into your open document window from your Windows Explorer or Mac Finder. Hold down the shift key as you drag and it will center. The elements/papers WILLL NOT open in their own document/tab if you add them this way, and each layer will contain the file name. This is why you don't need a Photo Bin — your Explorer/Finder is how you choose your elements. It's actually way faster and easier.

If you drag each element/paper onto the Photoshop icon on your desktop, it will open in it's own document window/tab and will then have to drag it into your document, which will cause it to be named Layer 1 because the system cannot read the actual file name.

Does that help?

yes it does vicki , thank you so much

What you said worked but i did not need to hold shift - tried it on both paper and elements as both were centered with the file names. Now I see all items are coming in as smart objects - how do i get rid of that. Tried right clicking layer in layer panel. I dont see how to simplify the layers as I know in PSE saving psd with smart objects increases file size quite a bit.

another question - in PSE i can right click on item in page and move layer around with bring/send to back or front There is no option here as right clicking just gives me name of layer. Also tried the layer panel and its not there too. So how would i do that.

While I can flip the entire image horizontally or vertically, i can not do that with a layer.

appreciate the help!

 

[zanthia]

I've tried several times to use PS but always go back to PSE. I KNOW there's more that I could do in PS, but it's way outside my comfort zone. Good luck!

I would rather stick with PSE but my version is not compatible with win 11 so I am looking at options . last year I bought a win11 laptop ( did return it) but could not get pse2025 free trial to launch

 

[Vicki Robinson]

1. To turn off Smart Objects, go Settings>General and de-select "Always Create Smart Object When Placing".

PSE calls it "Simply" but in Photoshop it's Rasterize. So choose that if there's a Smart Object you want to "simplify". If you've applied a Layer Style to a Smart Object, in addition to Rasterize, you'll see an option to Rasterize Layer Style, which, in most cases, you don't want to do because that will permanently attach the layer style to the element when it's rasterized.

In case you ever WANT to make something a Smart Object, you'll see "Convert to Smart Object" when you right click. This is handy to do when you want to transform an element bigger and try to keep as much detail as possible. Rasterize it when you're done.

2. Flip Layer Horiztonal/Vertical is in a different menu in PS. Go to Edit>Transform. At the bottom are the Flip Options.

3. Send to Back, etc. You'll need to use keyboard shortcuts for that. Go to Layer>Arrange and you'll see all of the options and their keyboard shortcuts.

 

[zanthia]

1. To turn off Smart Objects, go Settings>General and de-select "Always Create Smart Object When Placing".

PSE calls it "Simply" but in Photoshop it's Rasterize. So choose that if there's a Smart Object you want to "simplify". If you've applied a Layer Style to a Smart Object, in addition to Rasterize, you'll see an option to Rasterize Layer Style, which, in most cases, you don't want to do because that will permanently attach the layer style to the element when it's rasterized.

In case you ever WANT to make something a Smart Object, you'll see "Convert to Smart Object" when you right click. This is handy to do when you want to transform an element bigger and try to keep as much detail as possible. Rasterize it when you're done.

2. Flip Layer Horiztonal/Vertical is in a different menu in PS. Go to Edit>Transform. At the bottom are the Flip Options.

3. Send to Back, etc. You'll need to use keyboard shortcuts for that. Go to Layer>Arrange and you'll see all of the options and their keyboard shortcuts.

thanks again vicki.

wish there was an easy shortcut for the send to back/forward 3 keys is not good for me and just to get to layer arrange you have to scroll down the screen. so that is not very convenient.

think i will make my first page with ps - it will be a simple one , figure best to start small.

 

[Vicki Robinson]

When you're more familiar with PS you may want to try assigning your own keyboard shortcuts — which is something you can't do in PSE. You just need to be careful not to use a shortcut combination already assigned to other keys, but PS always warns you if you try to do that.

There are always tradeoffs when you try new software. If you're really unhappy, you might want to double-check the PSE system requirements against your computer and if it seems that your's is sufficient, try installing the demo version of PSE 2025 again.

Tech specs | Adobe Photoshop Elements 2025

System requirements for Adobe Photoshop Elements.

www.adobe.com