Adding a Citation to a Document using Photoshop Elements 2023

This is the first is an occasional series of blog posts on using Photoshop Elements 2023 for genealogists. Many of my genealogist friends know I'm also a photographer, so have asked me how I do some things with genealogy-related images. The problem is - I use Photoshop and Lightroom - which are probably overkill for most genealogists, and are a subscription-based package. I used to recommend Irfanview (and still do for some things) but I was finding it hard to do some of what I do in Photoshop in Irfanview. 

So enter Photoshop Elements 2023 - it has more features than Irfanview but isn't as user-hostile as Photoshop can be. And it's available for purchase as a stand-alone package - no monthly subscription fees! If you want to buy a copy of Photoshop Elements 2023 - I suggest purchasing it through Amazon using the affiliate link for Cyndi's List.

I use Photoshop Elements on a Windows computer so my instructions are for the Windows version. Mac version may be slightly different and I'm no help when it comes to doing things on a Mac. 

I hope you find this post, and future ones, helpful. 

Patty 


Getting Your Document Into Photoshop Elements 2023

From the first screen – choose Photo Editor


From the Editor – Choose Expert 


Open Your File (it helps if you know where it is)

Click on the work Open in the upper left corner

File Explorer (on windows) opens up – navigate to where the file you want to work with is

Double click on file name

It should open 


Cropping Anything You Don't Want in Your Final Image

Left hand column – Look for Modify section – look for two right angles that make a square icon


The crop tool will show grayed out for what is to be cropped – image shows through for what is saved.

Move the sides/corners to fit what you want the final crop to be

Click on the green check mark to make the crop



Expanding the Canvas

Depending on the size of the image and the length of the citation – I usually add between 500-1000 pixels at the bottom of the image

Image > Resize > Canvas Size

In the New Size section of the dialog box – change INCHES to PIXELS

Increase the Height by 500-1000 pixels

To have the new blank canvas appear below the image you need to anchor the existing image at the top center of the new canvas – So in the ANCHOR section – Click on the top row center arrow

Make sure the Canvas extension color is set to white

Hit OK 



Adding the Text

I find it easier to have my citation already written out in Word or Scrivener so I can just copy/paste it into Photoshop Elements. 

From the left column – in the DRAW section – click on the T

This will open the text tool options at the bottom of the PS editor



 

In the Text Tool options

To make your text horizonal – Click on the T in the upper left corner of the left side of the tool box

Choose your font

Choose your font size – for full page images like census pages – I’ll usually try 24pt

Color – Black – unless you want a different color text



 

Place your cursor where you want your text to start – I usually start a little below the bottom of the image in the added canvas and in just a bit from the left margin

 Click to get a dot – which shows you where your text will go

 

 


Add your text – either start typing – or copy/paste your citation from your word processor

Once your text is in place – if you want to change the font size – just highlight the text and change the size in the options box

If you want to add a return so your text doesn’t run off the page – put your cursor where you want the return to be – and hit enter

You can adjust the position of the text box by using the MOVE tool – Left tool bar – Select section – Crossed arrows



 

If there is too much white space at the bottom – use the crop tool again to get the canvas to the size you want.

If everything looks good – time to flatten the image

Layer > Flatten Image



 

Saving Your Image

File > Save As >

Save as dialog box will open

Navigate to where you want to save the image

Rename it (something other than what the unedited one is called)

Choose JPG from the drop down menu

 




JPEG Options box will open

Quality 12  Maximum

Format Options – Baseline Standard

 OK

This gives you the highest quality JPG – you can always make a smaller image for the web or other use at some other time.







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