1. Double-click on any empty space
The Open dialog box appears. Locate on your computer the "ASAP" directory (default path is C:\ASAP\) and open a sample image file. The image opens in its own window.

2. Close the Hints and How To palettes by clicking on their buttons at the top right corner

NB In photoshop Elements 3, you have to drag the palettes out of the the Palette Bin first.

3. Pull the image window by its title bar to reposition it

4. Drag the Toolbox, Options* bar and Shortcuts* bar just to get a feel for customizing your workarea
*Not applicable in Photoshop Elements 3.

5. Double-click on a palette's title bar to minimize it . Then double-click again to maximize the palette.

6. Press [TAB] key; all the palettes disappear; press it again to get them back
In photoshop Elements 3, you can also hide the "Palette Bin": Window > Palette Bin.

*Attention! This tutorial was composed for Photoshop Elements 1.0 and 2.0. Instruction for Photoshop Elements 3.0 available here.