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USING PHOTOSHOP ELEMENTS 8
Painting
Last updated 7/26/2011
Original image (left), and after erasing the clouds (right)
1 In the Layers panel, select the layer containing the areas you want to erase.
Note: If you select the Background, it automatically becomes a layer when you use the Magic Eraser.
2 Select the Magic Eraser tool in the toolbox. (If you don’t see it in the toolbox, select either the Eraser tool
or the Background Eraser tool , and then click the Magic Eraser tool icon in the options bar.)
3 Set options in the options bar, as desired, and then click the area of the layer you want to erase.
You can set any of the following Magic Eraser tool options:
Tolerance Defines the range of colors that will be erased. A low tolerance erases pixels within a range of color values
very similar to the pixel you click. A high tolerance erases pixels within a broader range.
Anti-alias Smooths the edges of the area you erase, making the edge look more natural.
Contiguous Erases only pixels that are adjacent to the one you click. Deselect this option to erase all similar pixels in
the image.
Sample All Layers Samples the erased color using combined data from all visible layers. Deselect the option if you want
to erase only the pixels on the active layer.
Opacity Defines the strength of the erasure. An opacity of 100% erases pixels to complete transparency on a layer and
to the background color on a locked layer. A lower opacity erases pixels to partial transparency on a layer and paints
partially with the background color on a locked layer.
More Help topics
“About blending modes” on page 205
“About brush options” on page 219
“About the Layers panel” on page 50
“Smooth the edges of a selection by anti-aliasing” on page 93
