View of the desktop for Adobe Photoshop Elements 2.0

1. Menu Bar

Gives you options for working with your photos and documents

2. Shortcuts Bar

Displays icons you can click on to access commands that are used frequently such as opening new or old files, saving documents, opening the File Browser, etc. Hover your mouse over an icon to get a pop-up telling you what the icon does.

3. Options Bar

Lets you customize a tool. Each tool has its own set of customizable options.

4. Tool Box

Displays the icons for all the tools. Hover your mouse over a tool to get a pop-up telling you the name of the tool.

Tools with a black triangle in the lower right corner have hidden tools beneath them. Click and hold briefly on a tool to access the hidden tools.

5. Palette

A rectangular window that contains information and options specific to a particular task. To move a palette, click on the bar across the top or the name tab and drag it to a new location. To close a palette click the close box on the right (PC) or the close button on the left (Mac).

6. Palette Well

A space in the upper right portion of your desktop (on the same level as the Shortcuts Bar) where palettes can be stored out of the way yet remain close at hand with only the name tab showing. Click on a palette’s tab and drag it into or out of the Palette Well.

Accessing Palettes

If I tell you to use a palette and you can’t see that palette open on your desk top, check the Palette Well first. If you don’t find it there, go to the Menu Bar, choose Window, scroll down to the palette you want to open, and let go of your mouse.

The palette will appear by the Palette Well. Drag it onto the desktop by it’s tab, and you’re ready to use it.