Newbie.. with question on layers

[AngelicKim]

Hi, I have had PSE3 for a while but never really taken time to figure out layers very well. I am glad to finally find this forum. I have tried searches for info on PSE3 and even been on Adobe and this is the first time I have found this forum. I have been reading it all afternoon and taking notes.

I recently took numberous photos at a NASCAR race. We had great seats close to the start/finish line but they were low, in row three. So, there is a chain link fence in the photos. Can I do layers to get rid of the chain link fence? If so, how.

Any help or comments would be greatly appreciated.

AngelicKim

[David Asch]

Yes, well, errm, no! The only way to remove elements from a photo is to use selections and/or clone tools. Think of image layers as sheets of acetate or tracing paper. You can build stacks of them, each can have copies of the image or different images entirely. That's how montages are built up.

When I said yes, it's always wise to duplicate the original background image onto its own layer. That way, if you mess up, you can revert to the original.

[AngelicKim]

Thanks, I didn't think I could do it but thought it was worth the question considering just about everything else that Elements can do.

[Wendy]

Hi ...

... and welcome to the forum :)

When you are doing something like this you can clone onto a layer above the image ... that way you can simply discard it if you don't like the effect.

There is a layers course on the site ... it may be worth looking at that. Its is excellent and I certainly learned a lot from it. Here is the link:

http://www.photoshopelementsuser.com/training_courses/

Wendy

[TonyW]

Why don't you post an example photo - I'm sure there are a few people here that will have some suggestions on how to get rid of that fence.

Tony

[AngelicKim]

Thanks Wendy and Tony. I will check out the layer course. I will resize one of the photos to upload. I doubt anything can be done but it would be great if it could be.

AngelicKim

[GaryK]

Hi Kim

Welcome. :)

It never hurts to let somebody else have a look. Some people take this sort of thing as a challenge :D

[AngelicKim]

Ok, I have chosen this one from the Craftman Truck race because a local salon "Salon 500" wants a copy of it to have it signed by the driver (who won this race) because he is from Grand Rapids, MI. It is the main photo I wanted to try to get the fence out of for that reason.

Good luck to anyone who wants the challenge.

I hope the photo is here somewhere. I had to do it as an attachment

[TonyW]

Attachments are a bit small to work on. You might want to put a bigger one on Pixentral - here are some instructions I borrowed from Wendy:

First resize your image using "save for web"
Set the longest side to 750 pixels and click on Apply
then adjust the quality slider until the image is around 150K.
and save it with a new name.

http://www.pixentral.com/index.php

Follow the instructions on the site and then when your image is uploaded copy the URL from just above the image and paste it into a message here.

Tony

[AngelicKim]

I though that was pretty small but being my first day on here I was a little lost and that was the only way I could get it on. Here is the link for Pixentral.
Thanks for the help.

http://www.pixentral.com/show.php?picture=10ROlk57lJZQhnTAf2bDIehzVTUH0

AngelicKim:)

[TonyW]

I took a shot at it and got rid of some of the fence but certainly not all. Can't post it at the moment as the storm we had last night did something bad to the computer I have it stored on - and it's in being fixed :( . With a bit of luck I'll have it back tomorrow with the picture still on it.

Tony

[kate3]

Welcome!
Great question.. i, too, have a lot of photos w/ chain link fences in them.
thanks for asking!!

[AngelicKim]

Sorry to hear about your computer. Hope you get it back with everything still there. We had some bad storms last night too. Can't wait to see what you did with the picture.

AngelicKim

[TonyW]

Computer back and working - here's where I got to with that picture. Would be a lot of work to get rid of the fence entirely but you can make it a bit less prominent. I cloned over that obtrusive post on the left, selected everything except the truck and applied a motion blur - the sort of effect you'd get if you panned the camera while taking the shot with a slowish shutter speed. Getting rid of the fence in front of the truck would take a lot of fiddly cloning - you could blur it too but then you'd have a blurred truck which wouldn't look too good.

http://www.pixentral.com/hosted/13aocwMmKjuncPuT3TpejVrbeB9UDc_thumb.jpg (http://www.pixentral.com/show.php?picture=13aocwMmKjuncPuT3TpejVrbeB9UDc)

Tony

[AngelicKim]

Tony, thanks for the help. I'll play aound with your suggestions later. Right now am about to pull my hair out trying a new project that could possibly be a magazine cover next month. I have the idea but not being too familiar with Elements I am not doing so well with it. I have done it before by accident and can't figure out how I did it and I have been reading everyones tips on here and I just can't seem to get it to work. The magic wand has me frustrated right now. I am about to go back to an old program I have and do it. I know how to do it on there but it takes alot of tweaking to get it to look right. Which is why I got Elements to start with. It looked do much easier. Basically all I am trying to do is take an object out of one photo and ad to another one. I think I will just walk away for a couple of hours and come back to it. :confused: :(

Thanks again,
AngelicKim

[Wendy]

Hi ...

This may help:

Lets say its a person you are trying to select and move to another image ...

Select the lasso tool (just the orginary one)
Set it to "Add to" (those little boxes up at the top of the screen ..hover your cursor above then and you will see the one I mean)
Zoom in very close using the zoom tool (it looks like a little magnifying glass)
and start your selection.
Just go round the edge a little at a time and then do a sort of circle inside the person to join up to the beginning of the selection.
Now you can pause for a moment before continuing ..
To continue just start again and you will see that you are adding to the selection.


When you have gone all the way round stop and check your selection. Make sure that all of the person is selected.
If you have parts that need a little more adding in the use "Add to Selection" ... but if you need to remove a little then change over to "Subtract from Selection". Do this until you are happy with it.

Now do Edit>Copy then Edit>Paste
and you will have the person on their own layer
You can then eithe add a new background behind them ot you can drag and drop them into another image :)

Wendy.

[AngelicKim]

Wendy, thanks so much. I don't know what I was doing wrong but I wasn't getting the option to due the copy and paste. I was trying that. I did your suggestions but I have one other problem. The object I did, which was actually a toad, is too large in the new picture and it pasted into the center of the background picture and I didn't get a option to move it where I want it. I think what I have to do size wise is double check the resoultions on the two pictures to match but how do I move the toad where I want him?

AngelicKim

[AngelicKim]

Oops. I just figured that part out. I went to image> transform> free transform and moved him.

[Wendy]

Hi ...

When you paste the Toad into the image and he is too big ...

Select the move tool
Click on the Toad
do View>Fit on Screen
then move to the corner of the box you will see around the Toad
Click in the corner, hold down the mouse button and drag inwards

that will make it smaller :)

Wendy

[AngelicKim]

Sorry about that. A hazard of using a laptop. My hand gets lazy and hits the touch pad and sends things before I am ready.

Anyway. I was also able to resize the toad to size I needed. I can't believe how easy this was and that I was having so much trouble with it.

All of you on this forum are so great and helpful. This has got to be my favorite forum ever. Since signing up here here the other day it is the only fourm I go to now. I have been waiting a few days sign up for the full subscription to the site to see if it was helpful and worth it and all of you have proved that it is more than worth it. I have seen many tuts that I can get only as a full subscriber that I am anxious to read and learn. Those alone are worth the price.

Thanks again to all the great people here.

AngelicKim

[AngelicKim]

Ok, this is not the actual background I will be using but one I was playing with at the time. Just wanted to post the toad. I still have to take the photo for the actual background. Also, I wanted to ask all of your opinions on my idea for the magazine cover this photo will be considered for. The magazine is called Paint and Powder. It is for the liquid and powder paint industry. In the September issue the company my husband works for is being featured (he is even in the article, he is the plant manager). Powder paint in environmental friendly and therefore I came up with the idea of using the picture of the toad I already had and put the toad in a picture of an outdoor environment next to a pile of powder paint. I think if I can get it just right it will be really cool. The editor of the magazine say it sounded great to him. He is tired of the basic boring photos they put in their magazine all the time.

Here is a link to the toad. Keep in mind that the toad has not been fully edited, put only a quick test from Wendy's very valuable instructions.

http://www.pixentral.com/show.php?picture=1lDtQgYdftpjQhQH5RHmFvAVxtm5Fw1

Any suggestion or comments on my idea will be greatly appreciated. This could be a great opportunity for me.:D

AngelicKim

[TonyW]

Good idea and it should work but I have to be honest and that looks too much like a squashed toad. Can you get a picture of one sitting up and taking notice? Like this:

http://www.pixentral.com/hosted/1RNW6xqzJZgmtbAMlbWkLLtKAqHN_thumb.jpg (http://www.pixentral.com/show.php?picture=1RNW6xqzJZgmtbAMlbWkLLtKAqHN)

Rather than trying to cut it out you could just put it in a circle and fade it into the paint circles - that would be a easier than trying to make a selection. Just my 10c (and I'm no design expert :) )

Tony

[Wendy]

Hi ...

I tend to agree with Tony on this one ... I like the idea but I'm just not too keen pn that particular image of a Toad. It does look a bit squashed :(

Wendy

[AngelicKim]

Thanks Tony and Wendy. I thought it looked smashed too. Getting another toad picture shouldn't be too hard. There a lot in our yard we can't get rid of. They like to come on out and tease our Springer. Last year I actually saw one stand on its hind legs and walk. Unfortunately my camera wasn't close by. I am going to try to find one and catch it and palce it next to the pile of powder. If that doesn't work I'll try to find another image somehow, like the one Tony has.

Thanks for your comments on my idea. I hope it works out. I think my nervousness :eek: of the cover posibility is what made me so frustrated before Wendy gave me her instructions.

AngelicKim

[Wendy]

Hi ...

Do hope that you manage to get a good photo ... and don't be nervous about doing the cover. If you get stuck we will all help you :)

Wendy

[AngelicKim]

Thanks Wendy. Like I said before. This is a great forum with a great bunsh of people.

AngelicKim:)

[TonyW]

Hope you find your toad :) . They are inquisitive (although I think mine's a frog). I had the camera about 3 feet from its eye and it never moved. Took it near Tobermory on the Bruce Peninsula - straight across Lake Huron from the UP. BTW I'm not that far away - just across the border from Port Huron, Mi

Tony

[AngelicKim]

Tony, great shot. I have driven through there on the way back from Niagra Falls a few years ago. Port Huron is about 3 hours away from where I live. Michigan is such a beautiful state. I want to go to the UP and see some of the waterfalls up there.

If I get stuck can I use your frog, lol

AngelicKim

[TonyW]

You're welcome to it - if you get stuck send me a PM with an email address and you can have the original :)

Tony

[kayser]

AngelicKim- Good luck with your project- it sounds like you have a good idea, and there are plenty of people here to help if you get stuck. I have a picture similar to Tony's in my gallery:
http://www.photoshopelementsuser.com/gallery/view_img.php?id=8486

I had to look up Kentwood to see where you are. I'm originally from Michigan and was just back there recently sailing on Lake Huron and visiting Mackinaw Island. I got a TON of good pictures of places in northern Michigan; some are in my gallery. I didn't get a chance to go to the UP this trip but we've visited Tahquamenon falls and the shipwreck museum up there in the past, among other things. There are definitely beautiful things to see there.

[AngelicKim]

Kay, thanks. I looked at your gallery a couple of days ogo and loved it. I especially like the Lake Huron and Mackinaw ones. If you didn't find Kentwood, it is the far southeast corner of Grand Rapids. We have been here for 7 1/2 years now and we love it. We are from Columbus, Ohio origianlly. Michigan is so beautiful. I always take my camera where ever we go and snap away.

AngelicKim

[AngelicKim]

Ok, got a new picture of a toad. Couldn't get him to stay put by the powder pile. Barely got this shot before he got away. Does this one look more diminsional to use?

I was telling my Dad about how helpful and nice everyone is in this forum and he said he wished people where that way in some of the forums he follows. he is into the Cowboy Action Shooting sites.

AngelicKim

[GaryK]

Here is a coloured frog for ya. :D

http://www.pixentral.com/hosted/1tdjnxrWW7yT8vWlqjLlSfheZxcEl_thumb.jpg (http://www.pixentral.com/show.php?picture=1tdjnxrWW7yT8vWlqjLlSfheZxcEl)

[AngelicKim]

Gary, thats cool. My first thought for this was to colorize the toad but my husband wanted me to do with the pile of powder. I think the colored frog or toad is cooler. Maybe I'll just do it both ways and see how the editor likes it. How did you do that anyway?

Kim

[GaryK]

I just used the color replacemant brush .. set to color (blending mode).
In the brush tool, third brush over on the option bar.

Picked each colour separately and stayed within the lines. I would probably try to do each colour on a separate layer. I did this on one just for fun.

Hey.... you could put the company logo in the frogs' eye.:D

[AngelicKim]

The logo in the eye is a great idea. Their logo is round. Thanks. You guys are all giving me so much help with your suggestions, instructions and everything else, I am liable to miss my deadline to get it in for all the work it will take me to do all this stuff I've never done. But it is a learning experience and the deadline isn't set in gold. After all, it is for the Septmeber issue that won't be released til mid September.

AngelicKim

[AngelicKim]

How is this? The center color in the frog matches the logo. What a coincedense.

http://www.pixentral.com/hosted/1UwcmPgFsQhrJxviWWnznFmxRTQJbk_thumb.jpg (http://www.pixentral.com/show.php?picture=1UwcmPgFsQhrJxviWWnznFmxRTQJbk)

This is getting fun. :D

AngelicKim

[Wendy]

Hey that looks good !! :)

Wendy

[AngelicKim]

This afternoon I was able to get out in the yard an find a new toad. Wish it was a bigger one. I am going to make it bigger but wanted to share what I got with you. Also, I am considering using the colorized frog. I am also going to crop out some of the background. I will also be getting rid of the shadow of the head. Let me know what you think.

http://www.pixentral.com/hosted/1HlO4aVPMd12xXNiJOivRnIPmlHuP_thumb.jpg (http://www.pixentral.com/show.php?picture=1HlO4aVPMd12xXNiJOivRnIPmlHuP)

http://www.pixentral.com/show.php?picture=1HlO4aVPMd12xXNiJOivRnIPmlHuP

AngelicKim

[AngelicKim]

I have been playing with this all afternoon and this was an accident at first but I went with it and colored both toads. What do you think? Now I need to concentrate on the other pictures for the article. I the article, I have spent to much time on this. I have to upload by midnight.

http://www.pixentral.com/hosted/1uoHQfz9kJvLdKJJXxvmbTEImB6M_thumb.jpg (http://www.pixentral.com/show.php?picture=1uoHQfz9kJvLdKJJXxvmbTEImB6M)

http://www.pixentral.com/show.php?picture=1uoHQfz9kJvLdKJJXxvmbTEImB6M

AngelicKim

[karen donnybrook]

Angelickim,

That looks good. How about a dusting of blue and green "powder" just in front of the two frogs.

Karen

[AngelicKim]

Karen, thanks for the idea. I'll see if I can do that and how it looks.

AngelicKim