Adobe Photoshop Elements Image Menu - Details on Mode, Converting Color Profile, and Magic Extractor

Mode is where you can change your color mode in your image. There are four options for changing the color, along with two other choices regarding color modes. The four options for your color modes are:

• Bitmap - Bitmap photos’ pixels are either black or white. There are no shades of gray in the image at all.

• Grayscale - Grayscale images are your typical black and white photos. They can be any combination of black, white, or gray depending on the colors and shadows in the image before it was converted. Be warned, though, that if you convert an image to grayscale a lot of photo options will not be available to you.

• Indexed Color - This option allows for you to choose the amount of color range in your photos. At most, it will be 256 colors. If a color in your photo does not match up with one of those colors, Elements will choose the color closest to it, or simulate its color using the existing colors.

• RGB Color - This color mode that will more than likely be used the most. It gives access to all of Element’s tools and allows for the widest variation of colors.

The other two options are 8 Bits/Channel, which allows you to convert 16-bit files (usually when working with RAW images) so that you can work with them within the Elements program, and Color Table which shows your image colors as swatches when you are working with an indexed color image.

Converting a color profile allows you to change the image colors for the photo you’re working with. Clicking on Remove profile will take out any of the data that Elements has created. You can also choose between sRGB (usually the default selection with photos) and RGB (most commonly used if you plan on printing your photo.) Many inkjet printers don’t understand sRGB which is why it’s converted to RGB.

This is a great tool to have if you want to keep only a selection of your photo. Along the same lines as selection tools like the marquee or magic wand, the magic extractor will allow you to choose what you want to keep in your photo. When you click on Image>Magic Extractor a dialog box appears with your photo, some rules along the top, and choices along the left and right side. If necessary, you’ll want to change the colors for the foreground and background selection tools (default of red and blue) if they’ll interfere with your image colors. Make marks (lines or dots) around the part of the image you want to keep using the foreground color. Use the background color to make marks around the area you want to discard. Once you’ve finished, click preview to show what Elements believes the finished product should be. Click OK if you’re happy with it, or Reset at the bottom if it doesn’t look as you want it to.