Photoshop Q&A Thread

[Maize&Blue]

Hello everyone!

There seems to be quit a few people out there that are using some form of Photoshop. With that I have decided to open up a thread for question and answers to be posted.

Now that everything has kinda slowed down on my end, it has freed up some time for me to start up this thread again and do some minor designing. I will do my best to answer any questions you may have with the knowledge I have of Photoshop. Everything I know about Photoshop has been self taught and/or has been learned by utilizing the many tutorials on the web. I am currently using CS4, and I am not sure how comparable it is to the ever so popular Elements but I will do my best to help you out.

If there is anyone else out there that has any input on any of the questions that may be on this thread, please feel free to add.

Thanks everyone and Happy Designing.
Keith

 

[Scooby3x1y]

Keith,

I would love to ask you one. The three months before Christmas, I was doing quite a bit of DISigning. Creating my original stuff, etc. I have not done it now in 5 months and can't remember some basics. I put my background on and another layer I put the text. I had it so when I put the text on, it cut the background out in the shape of the text. I can't remember how to do it!!!! It's ticking me off....

Anyway, can you refresh my memory? I can see it is something you have to do often to keep your skills fresh.

 

[Dom13]

Seems like you're looking to make a clipping mask which is the easiest way to make a name fill.

Make sure the text is the lower layer of the two. Position the mouse between the two layers on the layers palette while holding down the Alt key. The Mouse cursor should change to overlapping circles. Click the left mouse button and your background should be "clipped" to the out line of the text.

 

[Scooby3x1y]

Yes, I want to do it kind of like your name, or this. I did this before I took my life hiatus. I tried your suggestion, I couldn't get it to work. I'm using photo explosion.

 

[Maize&Blue]

If your background image is above your text layer, try right clicking on the background image in the layer panel, and see if there is an option "create a clipping mask". If there is click that.

 

[Maize&Blue]

Yes, I want to do it kind of like your name, or this. I did this before I took my life hiatus. I tried your suggestion, I couldn't get it to work. I'm using photo explosion.

Thats a cool background. Can you send it to me?

 

[weHEARTmickey]

Scooby, I'm dealing with the same sort of issues! Can't remember some of the stuff I used to do everyday on photoshop Here's my problem (of the day!) ...

Some of the sweet dissers helped me find a couple of great TS Little Bo Peep images. When I save those, they are .gif files. When I open the file in photoshop, it is LOCKED, & I can't edit it at all. Any advice? TIA!!

 

[Noey&Me]

Hello Maize&Blue!
I have sat here for hours and looked at your photobucket. Beautiful work. So pretty and nice!
So here is my friendly requests! Far from all of them but a start! Very dear family friends from Texas going to Disney for the first time and your designs will make it all the more special. Thank you!

Under your Custom designs...
1. Tinkerbell sitting cross legged in the left corner, bordered in green, back color is purple - Lauren.
2. Pink w/all princess's but can you write "2010 Trip to
Disney World" in that top area with Lauren on bottom part.
3. Mickey sitting on the name with goofy, pluto and donald playing in the letters. Name is wrote in black w/blue background, can I get Noah, Ethan, Nate, Will, Holden and Lauren.

Under Holidays...
1. Halloween - Mickey's not so scary Halloween Party with the oval purple trim, can you put The Deeter Family.
2. Christmas - Wishing You and Yours A Merry Christmas in on angles around the tree (I think Stitch is on top the tree) and put From The Deeter Family.

Thank you so much in advance for your talent!!!
Noey&Me

 

[hunter1211]

Scooby, I'm dealing with the same sort of issues! Can't remember some of the stuff I used to do everyday on photoshop Here's my problem (of the day!) ...

Some of the sweet dissers helped me find a couple of great TS Little Bo Peep images. When I save those, they are .gif files. When I open the file in photoshop, it is LOCKED, & I can't edit it at all. Any advice? TIA!!

I was having this problem yesterday too and was going to ask about it, but forgot. I hope some knows how we can edit them.

 

[youcansmellit]

I'm not sure the difference from regular Photoshop and Elements is? I know its a stripped down version, but what did they take away? I have been working as a Retoucher for over 10 years now I can help with any photoshop questions. I also enjoy working with illustrator and the rest of the Creative Suite if anyone has an interest in these.

 

[serene56]

Scooby, I'm dealing with the same sort of issues! Can't remember some of the stuff I used to do everyday on photoshop Here's my problem (of the day!) ...

Some of the sweet dissers helped me find a couple of great TS Little Bo Peep images. When I save those, they are .gif files. When I open the file in photoshop, it is LOCKED, & I can't edit it at all. Any advice? TIA!!

Copy the whole image, make a new image and paste it in there. I do that just to make sure that I don't mess up and lose the original image by saving the changes, but it will also make the layer unlocked.

 

[Dom13]

Making a copy is an excellent suggestion! Always a good idea to work on a copy and keep the original intact.

The reason you can't edit a gif is gif is a limited color format, 256 colors to be exact. If you go to Image>Mode and change the mode to RGB from Indexed you will have full editing capabilities.

As for the Clipping mask in Photo Explosion...I have no idea if that works the same as PSE. With my Star Wars Names I actually make a mask (I don't use the clipping mask method) where the text and the white background are merged and are on top of all the individual images. The letters are transparent. It's the easiest way to get the metallic border.

 

[weHEARTmickey]

Making a copy is an excellent suggestion! Always a good idea to work on a copy and keep the original intact.

The reason you can't edit a gif is gif is a limited color format, 256 colors to be exact. If you go to Image>Mode and change the mode to RGB from Indexed you will have full editing capabilities.....

Thank you so much!! This worked

Copy the whole image, make a new image and paste it in there. I do that just to make sure that I don't mess up and lose the original image by saving the changes, but it will also make the layer unlocked.

I'm sorry, but this didn't work for me When I tried to copy (from the edit menu), or duplicate layer (by right clicking on the layer in the layer window) none of those options were available. Thanks anyway...probably user error

 

[Maize&Blue]

You got it! You will be receiving a Private Message with you designs in the next couple of days.

Thanks
Keith

Hello Maize&Blue!
I have sat here for hours and looked at your photobucket. Beautiful work. So pretty and nice!
So here is my friendly requests! Far from all of them but a start! Very dear family friends from Texas going to Disney for the first time and your designs will make it all the more special. Thank you!

Under your Custom designs...
1. Tinkerbell sitting cross legged in the left corner, bordered in green, back color is purple - Lauren.
2. Pink w/all princess's but can you write "2010 Trip to
Disney World" in that top area with Lauren on bottom part.
3. Mickey sitting on the name with goofy, pluto and donald playing in the letters. Name is wrote in black w/blue background, can I get Noah, Ethan, Nate, Will, Holden and Lauren.

Under Holidays...
1. Halloween - Mickey's not so scary Halloween Party with the oval purple trim, can you put The Deeter Family.
2. Christmas - Wishing You and Yours A Merry Christmas in on angles around the tree (I think Stitch is on top the tree) and put From The Deeter Family.

Thank you so much in advance for your talent!!!
Noey&Me

 

[Scooby3x1y]

Thats a cool background. Can you send it to me?

Sure will! It's in your PM box.

 

[Scooby3x1y]

Thank you so much!! This worked


I'm sorry, but this didn't work for me When I tried to copy (from the edit menu), or duplicate layer (by right clicking on the layer in the layer window) none of those options were available. Thanks anyway...probably user error

I was told once that if you do a save as, and then save as a Jpeg. Or, export as a jpeg. Worth a try I guess.

 

[Scooby3x1y]

I'm not sure the difference from regular Photoshop and Elements is? I know its a stripped down version, but what did they take away? I have been working as a Retoucher for over 10 years now I can help with any photoshop questions. I also enjoy working with illustrator and the rest of the Creative Suite if anyone has an interest in these.

From what I've been told, it does pretty much everything PS does. It just may not do the crazy technical experienced things you pros do... I believe that it will do most things.

 

[Maize&Blue]

Sure will! It's in your PM box.

Got it, thanks!! It looks awesome!

Keith

 

[LoriH91]

So excited to find this thread!! I have PS Elements. I've had it for over a year, & I'm just now attempting to do more than basic photo edits. I managed to add DISigns together to make my stroller tags & erase & add in my own text to a few.

 

[Scooby3x1y]

I did it but I don't know how I did it