Now I have a problem

[Shari]

I finished the layers course. I decided to do the last bonus on a photo of my own. Everything worked except the background border. Matt starts with a white background - how does he do that. When I put my photo in the editor as he says and resize I get my photo smaller but on top of the original photo - there is no white background. I tried starting with a new white document but that did not work for me. I need to know how you actually start with the white layer as background - then bring in my photo to free transform. It must be something simple but if I cannot write it down at the beginning of the tutorial I am lost.
Thanks anyone.
Shari

[mom to 4]

Shari:

Doesn't he start with "New" , Set the color to white??

My notes start with ....White background....Picture layer.....so I am certain he must have created a "New" and just set the color to white in the "New" box....

[Shari]

Hi Colleen,
That is what he did I guess but he did not say it. My notes start with resize photo. I went back and checked before posted and he started by resizing but there was a white background layer in his layers pallette. So I start with new and white background and how large do I make it?? Thanks - once I have done it once I will write it down and I will be ok.

[sharlmitch]

Hi Shari,

My notes start with resize photo too.
I just looked at the one I did from the video using my own photo, and I started with a new white layer for the background at 5x7. Did you put an ajustment layer on your photo? Mine shows an ajusment layer is grouped with the photo between the background. I'm not good at giving this type of instruction but you have to erase the edge of the photo on the ajustment layer to get the border.

I printed mine out as 5x7's and they came out great!
So maybe start with the size background you want to print.

I'm sure someone else will be along shortly with a better explanation.

Sharon

[kimi_boo]

Mine notes start...

Resize photo smaller
shift + alt = center

I remember we resized so when you made the edge effect you had extra white.

[mom to 4]

My notes start with "white background" on my top line. I usually start on the line below the top line. So I could have added that later after I tried it. Can't remember. It may well be that I noticed him click on the "new" button, and he may not have actually said it. I'll check my tape. Tomorrow!

I just checked my notes, and no where do I have a size. My notes begin:

White bkgrnd
Picture Layer
tranform Shift-alt on photo to resize.
create rectangular section (about top 2/3rds)
create new layer
fill w/white.........etc

You know, I always think I am going to remember this stuff when I write it down (that I will have written down enough), but, I never do...

I will double check my tape and get it exactly and I will check to see if anything is said about size!

[Shari]

Thanks everyone. Everything worked OK when I did the project the first time. I just did not start with the white background because I did not hear it mentioned. I saw he had a white background but did not know how to do it. I am a REAL beginner in some instances. Now I have it. I made a new white background to start - my photo was really huge but I was able to resize. The photo I was using was not the best format either so tomorrow when I have more energy I will try again. Thanks all.
Shari

[Wendy]

Hi Shari ...

Do let us see your finished image :)

Wendy

[mom to 4]

Shari:

I checked my tape. He did NOT mention creating the background. He started off by saying "We have a photo and a background......." and if you looked over in the layers palette, there was the white background and the photo layer. I sometimes think people who KNOW HOW to do something are so used to the very basics that they just think we all know that ....... and some of us (me included) don't.

Oh, also, he never said what size to resize it to either....

Even given those occasional glitches, I still think that $20. was the best money I spent in a long time!