How To Recolor An Element
 

There are MANY different ways to recolor an element. I am gonna show you how I personally do it.

Using PSE 8, I open up the element that I would like to recolor:

I am using this cute red arrow from Sahlin Studios "Enjoy The Moment" kit.
http://i577.photobucket.com/albums/s...8at41020PM.jpg

Once I have the element open, I am gonna create an Adjustment Layer. At the bottom of my layers palette there is a half grey/half white circle, click that circle. When you do, you will be given a list of different adjustment layers to create. You will want to choose the Hue/Saturation option:
http://i577.photobucket.com/albums/s...8at41030PM.jpg

When you choose the Hue/Saturation option, it will open up this diagram:
http://i577.photobucket.com/albums/s...8at41038PM.jpg

Those little sliders are what you will use to change the color of the element.
Hue: Changes the color.
Saturation: Changes the amount of color.
Lightness: Changes the shade of the color.

I wanted to make the arrow purple. So to do this, I just played with the different sliders until I found the color that I wanted. There are no set numbers when it comes to changing the color. So you just have to play around until you get a color that you like.
http://i577.photobucket.com/albums/s...8at41116PM.jpg

Once I get the element to the color that I want, I close the Adjustments Palette (double click the Adjustments tab) just to get it out of my way.

Now you can do one of two things. If i know for a fact that my element is the color I would like it to be, then I merge (right click on adjustment layer and select "merge down") the 2 layers (the element and the adjustment layer) together. But if you are not sure if the element if the color you would like it to be, then do not merge the layers that way you can come back and adjust the color again. To do this all you gotta do is double-click on the box with the picture of little gears. It will open up those sliders for you again!

For me, I found the color I would like to use, so I go ahead and merge the layers together:
http://i577.photobucket.com/albums/s...8at41126PM.jpg

And that is it! Make sure you DO NOT save the recolored element over the original element! IF you are gonna save the recolored element, make sure you use the Save As option. Otherwise you will lose the original element, and that is no bueno. =)

Here is my final element:
http://i577.photobucket.com/albums/s...8at41132PM.jpg

This is WONDERFUL Tanya, Thank you!
you will be happy to know that I am following your other tutorial on how to add pics into a template as I write. Right after that I will follow with the elements! THANK YOU! :woohoo:

Can someone please let me know who to recolour an element in SBC+ I can't seem to figure it out. Thanks for your help

Danielle

Thanks Tanya!
I was going to ask that question! I'll give it a try soon!

Wow, Tanya... thanks so much! I didn't know about 'adjustment' layers. I just tried this out with something that was multicolored and the result was kind of funny (still usable though). I will def try this next time. Much better than trying to use the paint bucket (which always loses the shading). I also tried the 'Color Replacement Tool', but I could never get the color I wanted (but I may not be using it right).

(oh, my little circle appears above my layers so if you don't see it below, look above).

Thanks for all the tut's!

Dude! Thanks Tanya! The way I did it when I tried to figure out was WAY harder.

no problem ladies!!

I will PM Jennifer (Disney Baby) about getting one for ya!!

Great tutorial Tanya, it's one of the reasons I have a hard time going back to regular paper. LOL

If you want to do this right on the element (not as a separate layer), just click Control-U, and the same hue/saturation/lightness bar will open up. :)