Custom Shapes

[Wags374]

Okay - maybe I'm just having a blonde week.... I know how to create and save brushes, but I can't figure out how to save custom shapes. Is there a way to do it in PSE3?

I was thinking it would be rather handy to have the typical size & shape tags as custom shapes so that I could just punch out a tag when I needed one.

[Wendy]

Hi Jane ...

You can't make & save proper custom shapes in Elements ... you really need Photoshop to do that.

Good idea about the tags ... if I get time I will take a look and maybe make some :)

Wendy

[NRiceDesigns]

Good idea about the tags ... if I get time I will take a look and maybe make some

Hmmmm, when you have nothing else to do Wendy, how about some "vellum" envelopes in various shapes? Right... if I don't do it myself, I'll never learn.

Check this out Wendy... although you said a few months ago you weren't "into" scrapbooks, you could be selling your designs, either in a digiscrap online catalog or ebay.
http://store.digitalscrapbookplace.com/index.php?main_page=product_info&products_id=3133

[Wags374]

Yes - several of the people that have kits in the exchange could certianly be selling them.

Wendy - thanks for the offer. I have a page of basic shapes in black that I "paste into selection" with, but I just think it would be quicker to have them as custom shapes that I can just cut stuff out with.

I've looked around the web and haven't been able to find any. Bet you could sell those to digital scrappers. :)

[Wendy]

Nita ...

Vellum envelope are easy ... just needs a sheet of vellum and the tut on making a envelope :D :D

The globe interesting it looks as though its made using a layer style ... its just a little too flat for my taste. I like my globes round :) but it makes a nice addition to a kit.

I have thought about selling kits but being in the UK I thought it may get too complicated ... so I haven't done anything about it :o

Wendy

[Wendy]

Jane ...

Post you basic shapes on Pixentral and I will make some custom shapes for tags ... :)

Wendy

[Wags374]

Ok - I've never used Pixentral before so I hope this comes out okay. I saved them as a .png file.
http://www.pixentral.com/hosted/1CZPyfR86PMsSRVuRGV41rTzq4p530_thumb.png (http://www.pixentral.com/show.php?picture=1CZPyfR86PMsSRVuRGV41rTzq4p530)


They are showing up distorted and I have no idea why....

Maybe I can just email you the .png file?

[Wendy]

Hi Jane ...

Oh its OK ... I have been away and made some so I didn't need them.

I'll take another look at the ones I have made tomorrow (its just gone midnight here in the UK :) ) and then I will see about getting them posted ...

Wendy

[GaryK]

I'm in question mode today. :)

When you make a custom shape in PS does t save as a .CSH?

I've been trying that inskscape program a bit, but I don''t see any way to save as a csh.

[Wendy]

Hi Gary ...

Yes they save as .csh files ... :)

Wendy

[Wendy]

Hi ...

I have now made 20 custom shape tags ... has anyone any more shapes they would like to see added to the set before I finish it off ??

http://www.pixentral.com/hosted/126BgIkI639nAqlPNFPKJ4ebTHoOV_thumb.jpg (http://www.pixentral.com/show.php?picture=126BgIkI639nAqlPNFPKJ4ebTHoOV)

Wendy :)

[Wags374]

Wowsers!!!!!

Those are awesome - way beyond anything my feeble imagination could come up with.

Thanks, Merci, Todah, Danka, Gracias...

[kimi_boo]

Wendy, we are just so LUCKY to have you!!! :D :D

Maybe this is a good thread to ask this question. I wanted to make a little gold circle like the one in the image bellow. Is that do-able??? I am ready to erase everything around it and save it alone. :( I thought it was coming with the kit when I bought it. NO.

http://www.pixentral.com/hosted/10LgSypqzRlfJPDZbRETYftuAYl1_thumb.jpg (http://www.pixentral.com/show.php?picture=10LgSypqzRlfJPDZbRETYftuAYl1)

[kimi_boo]

I have a shape request. It is just a request.... do not feel obligated. :)

http://www.pixentral.com/show.php?picture=18DzjEZUUIrScqlFGpAgZUTxdFX

I didn't look to see how old this thread is. ... I know mine is not straight. I was trying to hurry.

[GaryK]

Kimi

If you have a look at Daves newest tut, you should be able to make that ring. :)

[kimi_boo]

Gary, I never thought of that. :D

[kimi_boo]

Here is my circle. I need some input. I did a stroke on the inside. It looks kinda wobbly?? Suggestions Please.

http://www.pixentral.com/hosted/15UjWGv9IlhYb0x7Qk8KspSiOy1I21_thumb.jpg (http://www.pixentral.com/show.php?picture=15UjWGv9IlhYb0x7Qk8KspSiOy1I21)

Will check when I get back. Going pull weeds in the front flower bed with hubby. :(

[Wendy]

Hi Kimi ...

I have added your shape to the list and will make it later this evening :)

I'll just try out the tut on your ring and let you know how it works ...

Wendy

[Wendy]

Hi Kimi ...

I found an easy way to do the ring...

I started off with a new file 1000 x 1000 300 res
created a new layer then used the elliptical marquee to make a circle
forground colour cbaa4d
Next did Edit>Stroke 30 pixels centre (that gives the best circle)
from then on I used Dave's tut ..

Here is how it turned out:

http://www.pixentral.com/hosted/1HxjNeMF4Ui8lvru89wQMb3qieWEKG_thumb.jpg (http://www.pixentral.com/show.php?picture=1HxjNeMF4Ui8lvru89wQMb3qieWEKG)

Make the stroke larger and you get a thicker ring ... you can also use Image>Transform on it to change the angle :)

Wendy

[GaryK]

I got pretty much the same as Wendy using one of the Circle custom shapes.

Sorry .. I deleted it before saving :rolleyes:

Redid it.

http://www.pixentral.com/hosted/1XXUXLqWNu3Cu4TCINSx0hXZa2797J1_thumb.jpg (http://www.pixentral.com/show.php?picture=1XXUXLqWNu3Cu4TCINSx0hXZa2797J1)

[Wendy]

Gary ...

I never thought of using a custom shape :eek: :D :D

Wendy

[GaryK]

Wendy

I don't use them very often... but for some reason this thread just made me think of them. :D:p

[Wendy]

Gary ...

Oh my ... you would have thought that it would made me think of that too :)


Wendy

[kimi_boo]

The both of you are just too good!! :D

That is the look I am after. I will try again. :o :o

Wendy thanks so much for adding my shape. The others must not have read this thread. You covered almost everything but, I thought someone else would have a request.

Again... what would we do without you? Thanks!! :D

[Wendy]

Hi Kimi ...

I won't be able to send them in until Monday so if you think of any others do let me know :)

Wendy

[kimi_boo]

My gold ring came out just fine!! :D Thank you both again. It's saved and ready to be used.

[Mary]

Wendy - those tag shapes are wonderful and I know I will find them to be VERY useful - thank you!:)

[Caroleen]

Here's a website that you can also use for tags: http://public.fotki.com/photospot/digitalscrapbookelements/tags_tabs_slides/tagtemplates/

You have to click on the tag then right click and save it to here you can use it. Easy to do if I can do it!

[Wendy]

Hi Caroleen ...

One of the advantages of using Custom Shapes is that they are Vector Graphics so you are able to resize them and they will always stay crisp without getting any jagged edges.

You are able to use the shapes either as Custom Shapes or use them with the Cookie Cutter to make tags from a patterned layer. :)

Wendy

[shnupita]

Hi wendy... how are you???

Please let me know when you have the tags ready..

they seem awesome..

How's everything?

[Wendy]

Hi Shnupita ...

Haven't heard from you in ages ... and I haven't seen any new photos from you in ages either. I bet she has grown a lot since the last photo ... would be really nice to see some recent ones. Have you been busy ?

I will post a message one the Tags are uploaded :)

Wendy

[Wendy]

Hi ...

The tag set has now been added to the subscriber area :)

http://www.photoshopelementsuser.com/forum/showthread.php?t=13053

Wendy

[BettyC]

Thank you, Wendy! And congratulations for getting your very own download area! Wonderful!

[Wendy]

Hi Betty ...

Guess that means I will just have to make some more things :)

Wendy

[marhaven]

I'm pretty new at this. I was playing with the tutorial on Making a Cutout and it refers me to Adobe Studio Exchange Download for Francisco's Corners "shape" - I can't figure out how to use these "shapes" as my Preset Type doesn't have shapes in the drop down....I see by this thread you apparently can't add custom shapes in PSE, so is there a wordaround, or is the tutorial for regular PS? I am confused. And blond.

I have PSE4.0

Well, I said I was blond. Never mind.....but I honestly don't know how they got into my shapes pull down. It was definately magical. Back to work...

[BettyC]

Marhaven, if you install something into PSE when PSE is opened, it won't show up--you have to close down & restart PSE. It's best to put things into the program files when the program is closed, I think.

[Wags374]

To think I only asked for 6 - talk about running with an idea!! :D

You are so awesome for doing this for us Wendy! Really appreciate it!!!

[marhaven]

Marhaven, if you install something into PSE when PSE is opened, it won't show up--you have to close down & restart PSE. It's best to put things into the program files when the program is closed, I think.

I think I found the answer by accident. If I "run" the file it inserts it into my shapes drop down menu, but when I go back to listing all shapes they are no longer there. I guess it keeps a person from loading too many shapes permanantly into the drop down. LOL. So, I'm good to go until I run into the next wall.

[Wendy]

Hi marhaven ...

... and welcome to the forum :)

The instructions on Adobe Exchange for installing custom shapes (and most other items) are the Photoshop ones ... Elements need a slightly different approach.

One way of working out where things go is:

Go to your Adobe software folder and look in the folder marked Presets.
Inside there you will find a whole series of folders and these are the ones that most (but not all) downloads go into.

Files ending in .abr go in the Brushes folder
.aco in the Colour Swatches folder
.csh in Custom Shapes
.grd in Gradients
.pat in Patterns
.asl in Styles

You need to close Elements down before you install things and then start it up afterwards :)

Hope this helps ... and do let us see your cut out image when it is finished :)

Wendy