Grant's Tools and PSE5

[Grant]

There is now a version of Grant's tools (http://www.cavesofice.org/~grant/Challenge/Tools/Files.html) that work with Photoshop Elements 5. These tools are due to the hard work of Tony White. So with much tanks to Tony White I am unveiling the PSE5 version of Grant's Tools (http://www.cavesofice.org/~grant/Challenge/Tools/Files.html).

Tools: http://www.cavesofice.org/~grant/Challenge/Tools/Files.html

--

[MarieBoyer]

I just went to grab them and I did not see specific instructions for version 5. Does that mean installation is the same for all versions? Thanks!

[kevq]

Grant,
when I try to download for 5, it only downloads alignment tools.
Seeing that 5 has its own alignment tools, I don't need it. What I would like is the layers mask as you so kindly did for 4.
Kev.

[TonyW]

Kev: Looks like Grant got the links switched. The Alignment Tools are the Abbreviated Tools (which include the layer mask) and the Abbreviated Tools are the Alignment Tools as you noticed.

Here are the instructions:

Unzip and put the two folders into the following location:

C:\Documents and Settings\All Users\Application Data\Adobe\Photoshop Elements\5.0\Photo Creations\special effects

Note that in Windows this is a hidden folder so "Show hidden folders and files" has to be enabled to be able to navigate to this spot. A good way to do this is to create a shortcut to this special effects folder on your desktop.

Restart PSE5 and Grant's Tools (with thumbnails) will appear in Artwork and Effects under Special Effects.

Let me know if you have any problems installing.

When done it should look like this:

451

Tony

[kevq]

Tony,
thank you, I'll download them now.
Kev.

[kevq]

Tony,
Grant's tools now safely installed and working. Feel much happier now I have the layer mask.
Thanks to you and a slightly upside down Grant:D
Kev.

[MarieBoyer]

A good way to do this is to create a shortcut to this special effects folder on your desktop.

Tony: Thanks so much!!! Great instructions. Off to follow them right away.

Can I bother you for the "how to" on creating a shortcut to a file? So, if I have a shortcut on my desktop, as soon as I drop some new special effect into the shortcut, it goes automatically into the real file? That seems so easy; I cannot believe I have never done this before.

[Grant]

Woops .... Doh ....

I have switched the names back to what the should be ... so I do hope they work now. Not having Elements 5 on my present computer I couldn't test the products. Much apologies to all.

--

[TonyW]

Marie: Right click on your desk top and you'll get a box that has several options in it. Left Click on New and then on Shortcut. You'll get a shortcut creation wizard appear where you can browse to that Special Effects folder. When you get there and have the special effects folder highlighted click OK and then Next and Finish and it's done. Then all you have to do is drag and drop on the shortcut. It does make it a lot easier especially in cases like this where the folder you want to get at is buried deep in the system.

BTW once you have the special effects folder shortcut you can click on it will open and you can get to the other folders there (like layer styles). Since some of the things you'll be adding later need to go in those folders that one shortcut gives you easy access to those as well.

Tony

[nkeevers]

Thanks Tony. I was just opening up two windows and dropping them into folder. This is much easier.

[Pauline]

Well I just copied this thread to my desktop so when the time comes I'll be prepared. I just could not live without layer masks. I am still hoping that I will be sent pse 5 as part of my prize from the scrappy awards. No work yet. :( I love cs2, but still use elements for some stuff.

[kevq]

Grant,
not to worry. Nice of you to have given us these helpful tools.
Kev.

[MarieBoyer]

Marie: Right click on your desk top and you'll get a box that has several options in it. Left Click on New and then on Shortcut. You'll get a shortcut creation wizard appear where you can browse to that Special Effects folder. When you get there and have the special effects folder highlighted click OK and then Next and Finish and it's done. Then all you have to do is drag and drop on the shortcut. It does make it a lot easier especially in cases like this where the folder you want to get at is buried deep in the system.

BTW once you have the special effects folder shortcut you can click on it will open and you can get to the other folders there (like layer styles). Since some of the things you'll be adding later need to go in those folders that one shortcut gives you easy access to those as well.

Tony

Thank you, thank you, thank you. This should be made a permanent tip somewhere. Wonder if we could start some sort of version 5 "sticky" with this type of ("how to") information in it.

[AngelicKim]

I just ordered PSE5 from Amazon and saw this thread so I thought I'd go ahead and download them now so I'd have them to install when it arrives. i have tried several times now and I still cannot get the Abbreviated Tools.

This is what I get.
The page cannot be found
The page you are looking for might have been removed, had its name changed, or is temporarily unavailable.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Please try the following:

If you typed the page address in the Address bar, make sure that it is spelled correctly.

Open the www.cavesofice.org home page, and then look for links to the information you want.
Click the Back button to try another link.
Click Search to look for information on the Internet.



HTTP 404 - File not found
Internet Explorer

I have closed the window and come back to the thread and clicked the link again and I have tried refreshing the page but I can't get it. I got the Alighment tools just fine.

[TonyW]

Hmm - whatever Grant did to fix it seems to have broken the link and the Alignment Tool link is I believe still the Abbreviated tool file. I believe Grant might be away so if anyone needs the files before he's back and fixes it just send me a PM with an email address and I'll send what you need.

And Kev is right - there are alignment tools in PSE5 which work rather well but I'd got used to using Grant's so that's why I included them. They aren't really needed now.

Tony

[Dorrie H.]

Tony,
I sent Grant a PM regarding the error on his page.

Kim, If you are not going to use the Alignment Tools, then just download the Grant Tools under the heading of Alignment Tools on his page. Yes it really is Grant's tools, not Alignment Tools. At least for the moment. When you click the download you will see that it says GrantsToolsPSE5.zip

[John L Gray]

I downloaded the alignments tools okay. When I try to download the abbreviated tools I get a message that "The page cannot be found".

Tony thanks for the great idea of special effects folder shortcut.

John

[AngelicKim]

Dorrie, I downloaded the link for the Alignment tools and checked them and the file is the alignment tools. But it looks like I don't need them from what Kev and Tony have said.

Thanks Tony, I will send you a PM now.

[Dorrie H.]

Kim,

So sorry, you are absolutely correct...I Assumed (and you know what that does) that because the file name was "GrantsToolsPSE5.zip" that it was not really the Alignment tools...:o

So now I guess we'll have to wait for Grant to fix the error on his page, or maybe Tony can send us the correct file.

[AngelicKim]

Dorrie, I do know what it means when we assume:D . I sent Tony a PM but since it is his birthday today and I am waiting for PSE5 to arrive later this week, he doesn't have to send it to me today. Hint, hint there Tony. Enjoy your birthday I can wait for the file.

[eweidman]

When I try to download Abbreviated Tools I am getting an Error Message from my Browser: "Requested URL was not found on this server". Please help as to how to download. Thanks, Ed Weidman.

[TonyW]

I assumed wrong to. Will email the right files to all who ask as soon as I've finished cooking the turkey (it's Thanksgiving as well as my birthday :) ) and I'm on turkey duty.

Tony

[eweidman]

Tony, when I try to download the Abbreviated Tools I receive the following Error Message from my Browser: " Requested URL was not found on this Server" Please help. Thanks, Ed Weidman

[TonyW]

Ed: Send me a PM with an email address and I'll send you the file

Tony

[John L Gray]

Tony,

Thanks for sending Grants tools. Enjoy the turkey as I'm having chile dogs for lunch.

John:)

[AngelicKim]

Thank you Tony. Now get back to your turkey and your birthday.:D

[TonyW]

Change of plan (the turkey is almost ready). Until Grant fixes the link you can get the Abbreviated Tools from here (http://www2.ebtech.net/~lara/Grants%20Tools.zip)

Tony

[Benny Pedersen]

Kev: Looks like Grant got the links switched. The Alignment Tools are the Abbreviated Tools (which include the layer mask) and the Abbreviated Tools are the Alignment Tools as you noticed.

Here are the instructions:

Unzip and put the two folders into the following location:

C:\Documents and Settings\All Users\Application Data\Adobe\Photoshop Elements\5.0\Photo Creations\special effects

Note that in Windows this is a hidden folder so "Show hidden folders and files" has to be enabled to be able to navigate to this spot. A good way to do this is to create a shortcut to this special effects folder on your desktop.

Restart PSE5 and Grant's Tools (with thumbnails) will appear in Artwork and Effects under Special Effects.

Let me know if you have any problems installing.

When done it should look like this:

451

Tony

Hi Tony :D

If she don't need to navigate, then
I'm not sure that the "Show hidden folders and files" has to be enabled - so
just Right Click on Desktop and create a Shortcut from the Right Click pop up
menu. If a shortcut has a hidden destination, then you could use it anyway.
- Copy and Paste the URL into the shortcut data from Tony's text above.

Unzip a ZIP (Right Click and drag onto the shortcut) file should also work (but I can't test it now on my current OS, witch isn't Windows).

Benny,
Tips of the day: (Use the Shortcut, then) press Backspace to step up one folder....

[MarieBoyer]

Benny,
Tips of the day: (Use the Shortcut, then) press Backspace to step up one folder....

Kev & Benny: I say that you guys should start a "Tip of the Day" thread too! They are all probably buried inside threads! You both are awesome!

[John L Gray]

Marie,


I would second your idea of a thread started for "Tip of the Day". I just finished reading the PSE 40 Secrets thread. Good stuff.

John:)

[Grant]

A big sorry for the balls up my mind has been elsewhere this last month ( wandering in Lunenburg Nova Scotia). It seems in my haste I typed one too many "A"s for my file naming. Boy ... you should have all know that :eek: All kidding aside I think it should work now.

--

[Wendy]

Hi Grant ...

I just download both sets and they download just fine :)

Wendy

[TonyW]

Thanks Grant for fixing - I do believe the file names may be still switched although the links are correctly named. The larger file is the abbreviated tool set, the smaller one is the alignment tools.

Tony

[tbrannon]

Thanks Grant & Tony!
You guys are great to get this set up for us. Got this saved and ready, hopefully my oder will get here soon. I CAN'T WAIT!!!

Happy Belated B-day Tony.

[Benny Pedersen]

Kev & Benny: I say that you guys should start a "Tip of the Day" thread too! They are all probably buried inside threads! You both are awesome!

Thanks.

Hmm, that would not be easy, and the tips should not only be those
that you could find in the Adobe Help Pages, such as Press H to get the Hand tool - those are too obvious and anyone know them anyway. Another case is
one of my later tips about the NB. This is very usefull for some like me.
- The problem is that such things do not show up each day so there simply isn't fine tips enough for one each day.

After been here in Elements forum and work with my stuff, I'm now
almost able to make any/all shortcuts. But a problem still exist here and that is the 'Alt+[' or 'Alt+]' - such characters can't be done on a "normal" keyboard. To get the '[' char, then I have to press the 'AltGr+8' keys, and
'AltGr+9' to get the ']'. It won't work in Elements.

I wrote an e-mail to Adobe yesterday - but I don't think they got a solution.
Edit, Oct 16: I just got an e-mail from Adobe, Tommy Nordkvist;
So now I'm sure, the Adobe Danish Customer Service is working much better
than expected! So now everything just work fine :-)
http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/d/da/KB_United_States.svg/800px-KB_United_States.svg.png

Benny,
My new brief tutorial that is under construction should have
lots tips - And 97% of all readers should afterwards also get
better pictures, etc...

Try input 'Layers Keys' into the search field of PSE

[Light and Shadow]

Hi everyone. I'm new to the board and just aquired PSE5. I wanted to say thank you for the info and tools for PSE. I have downloaded and installed the tools.

I've used a number of editing softwares and know enough to get into a lot of trouble. I see and hope to learn alot from the forums.

Thanks
Sherman

[Wendy]

Hi Sherman ...

Glad that you managed to install the tools OK ... once you use the layer mask you will wonder how you managed without it :)

Wendy

[kimi_boo]

Hi Sherman and Welcome! :)

Question guys... I made the shortcut. Tony thank you very much!! When I open it I have... filters, layer styles and photo effects.

Can you be exact about where I am putting Grant's tools?

And I can't seem to find where to move my brushes too?

[Wendy]

Hi Kimi ...

You can put the tools in Photo Effects or Special Effects :)

Your brushes just go in the usual brushes folder ...

Wendy

[MarieBoyer]

I downloaded Grant's Tools but no quick mask nor quick mask converter. Did get the layer mask though. How to fix that? Or just live without?

[TonyW]

Marie: Quick Mask doesn't work in PSE4 or PSE5. You don't really need it though because the selection brush tool does essentially the same thing (just toggle between selection and mask mode).

Tony

[AngelicKim]

I am trying to install the tools but I do not have the Photo Creations folder. I did the install over and choose repair and it added more files but the Photo Creations folder is not there. I have checked and Show all hidden files is checked. Any suggestions?

[kevq]

Kim,
are you going to -

C:\Documents and Settings\All Users\Application Data\Adobe\Photoshop Elements\5.0\Photo Creations\special effects\photo effects

if you're looking under your user name, you won't find photo creations.
If you are looking in this file then I'm sorry I can't help.
Kev:confused:

[AngelicKim]

Thanks Kev, that was it. I was looking under my name not all users. Never had to do that before with anything else.

[kimi_boo]

Made my shortcut and moved Grant's tools.:D Added the layer mask to my favorites. (even that took a little while to figure out:o)
I added the entire folder into photo effects.
I tried adding my Panos effects and Wendy's orb the same way and they are not working.
What the heck am I doing wrong??????

[AngelicKim]

I forgot about the advice to use the shortcut. I just added Jodi's frames too. Both now show in the Special Effects folder but I got a program error when I opened v5 and they are not in the palette where they should be. I am restarting and hopefully it works.

[kevq]

Kimi,
just a thought, have you got them in folders, that may be the problem.
Also double check that you did put them in Photo Effects. You didn't have elements running when you added them to your short cut folder, did you?
Kev.

[Wendy]

Hi Kimi ....

First make sure that the "Show hidden folders and files" option is turned on in Windows. Then create a Shortcut on the desk top to:

C: Documents and Settings>All Users>Application Data>Adobe>Photoshop Elements>5.0>Photo Creations>Special Effects>Photo Effects

Create a folder "Wendy's Or"b and put the .atn file in it (remove the psd file as you don't really need that) and then drop the folder on the shortcut ... restart Elements and the action then shows up in Special Effects>Photo Effects.

Fingers crossed :)

Wendy

[AngelicKim]

Ok, I followed all the instructions and Grants Tools and Jodi's Missing styles are not showing in the palette but they are showing in the special effects folder with the filters, photo effects, and layer styles. What could I be doing wrong. I did not have PSE 5 running when I did it.

[AngelicKim]

Never mind. I click the PSD file in Grants Tools and drug it to my desktop out of the folder and low and behold, both Grant and Jodi now show up.

[kevq]

Kim,
it looks to me that your path for the short cut only goes as far as Special Effects you need to go down one more to Photo Effects.
Hope this helps.
Kev:) :confused: :)

[AngelicKim]

Kev, moving the PSD file helped for the the Styles and Tools to show but then there were no images for Grant's tools and they didn't work. I took your advice on moving Grant's tools the to the photo effects after I put the PSD file back. Now they both are showing and working. Thanks so much.

[kimi_boo]

Next..... Wendy, how do I get your tag shapes to show up in the shapes.
I added the folder but that seems to be wrong.

[Wendy]

Hi Kimi ...

Just take the .csh file out of the folder and out the file in Presets>Shapes ,, the restart Elements and they should show up OK :)

Wendy

[kevq]

Kim,
glad everything is OK now.
Kev:) :) :)

[kimi_boo]

So are you saying to put the folder in with the shapes? I added the folder and they don't show that way. Even took them out of the folder and added that way. No??
The orb I can fight with later but I wanted my tags. :o
I have tried a few ways and I still can't get them to show. Will they show as Wendy's tags or just more shapes?
I cannot believe how hard I am making this!! :eek:

[montrealf]

I was gonna wait, but that's a good price for me.

[kimi_boo]

Hi Kimi ...

Just take the .csh file out of the folder and out the file in Presets>Shapes ,, the restart Elements and they should show up OK :)

Wendy

Wendy.. can I just put the .csh file in with the other .csh files and have it show that way?

I tried.. that does not show either. :mad:

I am getting way to frustrated. walking away now.....

[kevq]

Kimi,
follow the yellow brick road.

C: Documents and Settings>All Users>Application Data>Adobe>Photoshop Elements>5.0>Photo Creations>Artwork Click on artwork and you will see the shapes folder. That is where Wendy's tags go.
Good Luck
Kev:) :)

[TonyW]

Kev: You're up late :D . I haven't yet figured out shapes - they show up in two places. In the Presets folder in the main program and also under Artwork in the "hidden" place. I haven't tried yet but my guess is that if you put it in the first it will show up as a custom shape tool and cookie cutter. If you put it in the second you'll only find it in the Artwork and Effects. I was waiting for someone to experiment. Have you tried both places yet?

Tony

[kimi_boo]

Kev...... that was it! I was still going about this the old way. :mad:
They show up fine in the shapes now but no they do not work with the cookie cutter tool. The name shows but it tells me the file could not be found.

Edit: I made another shortcut so I would not forget.

[TonyW]

Kimi: Have you tried putting the csh file in both places? I think you might have to to get the cookie cutter tool to work. Glad to see that you're doing the experimenting for us all :D . Just make sure you tell us the secrets when you get it figured out :)

Tony

[kimi_boo]

Tony... what other place. I will be glad to try if you can give me directions on where. :confused:

Right now I have it in Artwork, Shapes

[TonyW]

Kimi: I just did some testing. Shapes need to go into two places for everything to work.

If you put a custom shape (csh) file into:

C:\Program Files\Adobe\Photoshop Elements 5.0\Presets\Custom Shapes

It will show up in the list of shapes for the custom shapes tool and the cookie cutter (just as in PSE4) - like this for the cookie cutter:

458

If you want it also to show up in Artwork then you also have to add it to:

C:\Documents and Settings\All Users\Application Data\Adobe\Photoshop Elements\5.0\Photo Creations\artwork\shapes

When you put a shape there you should make a new folder and put the csh file into that. That way the name you used for the folder will appear in the right hand drop down box. So if you want to add a csh file to Artwork of Halloween shapes - make a new folder called Halloween and drop the Halloween.csh file into it. It will show up like this:

459

Tony

[kevq]

Tony,
have tried this and it doesn't work for me. Nothing shows up under cookie cutter, well not Wendy's shapes.
Am I missing something?
Kev:confused:

[TonyW]

Kev: Should work - when you put it in custom shapes you don't use a folder, when you put it in shapes you do. That's the only difference (but I haven't tried Wendy's yet)

Tony

[AngelicKim]

Kev, I also had a problem with Wendy's tags. I got them in the cookie cutter but not the artwork palette. In C:\Program Files\Adobe\Photoshop Elements 5.0\Presets\Custom Shapes, I copied the file and pasted it there. In C:\Documents and Settings\All Users\Application Data\Adobe\Photoshop Elements\5.0\Photo Creations\artwork\shapes, I had to copy the shapes icon to the first folder of the tags as they didn't show in the palette with the second folder there. If this doesn't make sense what I mean is, Wendy's tags are like this "wendyscustomshapetags >Wendy's Custom Shape Tags > there are 3 files in this folder. I copied the .csh file and pasted it into the second file. Restarted v5 and they are in both places now.

[AngelicKim]

Tony, I didn't see your post. I left my shapes in their folders in both with the above modification to Wendy's tags.

[John L Gray]

Tony,


I must be having one of my senior moments. Wendy Tags are showing in Poto Creations\artwork\shapes.

When I put Wendy's tags in cookie cutter file doesn't show up in the list of shapes.

This is what I entered;
C:\Program Files\Adobe\Photoshop Elements 5.0\Presets\Cutom Shapes\W's Scrapbook Tags.csh

What am I doing wrong?
Thanks,

John:confused:

[graficalicus]

CSH files don't have a palette in Artwork & Effects - only graphics. Only JPEG, PNG and PDF files using the RGB Color space can be added to the Artwork and Effects Palette.

Custom Shapes will show up in the Custom Shapes options bar drop menu, just like always. The only difference in 5 (as far as this goes) is the addition of the graphics palette, which is completely and totally independent of the "old fashioned" way of adding brushes, textures, custom shapes, etc...

**Actions (mine, Benny's, Richard's, Jody's, Panos', Grant's) are a completely different beast than the things mentioned below and have a lot of other criteria to look and act right in PSE 5. Mine all come with self-installers (i.e., click the button and they go where they should go and show up where they should show up - no hassles. Don't believe me? Grab a free pack or two below in my sig ;) ) but the others require manually adding them and manipulating the individual pieces. The main thing here is - Actions are different.

See the below example for Brushes (but it works the same for Shapes, Styles, Patterns, Textures, Color Swatches, Contours & Gradients:

Loading Extras

There's a lot of mis- and half- and tough-to-follow information floating around these days concerning adding "stuff" to Elements 5 - - here's a quick tutorial:

For brushes, textures, patterns, etc - they get loaded into their respective folders as always -
<SrcDrv>\Program Files\Adobe\Photoshop Elements 5.0\Presets

To load and use them -

choose the paint brush, up at the top in the options bar you'll see the footprint for the brush and a down arrow - click the down arrow and choose "Load Brushes" - you'll be prompted to save the current set (save if you want; if you've made no changes, there's no need to save )

http://i48.photobucket.com/albums/f219/graficalicus/openbrushes.gif

then load the set you want from the familiar dialog -

http://i48.photobucket.com/albums/f219/graficalicus/brushes.gif

There's no need to restart, no need to shut down, no need to "delete the cache" - - just choose 'em and use 'em. :cool:

Adding additional elements to the Graphics Palette:

The easiest way is to create a new directory here -

<SrcDrv>\Documents and Settings\All Users\Application Data\Adobe\Photoshop Elements\5.0\Photo Creations\artwork\graphics\

- and simply drop your new graphics into it. **NOTE: Only JPEG, PNG and PDF files using the RGB Color space can be added to the Artwork and Effects Palette.

For this section, you do need to restart PSE for them to appear in your palette. Only objects added to the directory tree above (<SrcDrv>\Documents and Settings\All Users\Application Data\Adobe\Photoshop Elements\5.0\*.* )require a restart.

Other extras do not - just put them wherever you want, and simply load them from their respective palettes as always.

Hope that helps!

[Light and Shadow]

Hi Wendy and Kimi,
thank you for the welcome. Wendy I have an idea how layer masks are supposed to work but I not sure how to go about it with the Grant Tools. I started a new layer, clicked the effect tool and selected the black as the forground color. I see my black in teh layer palette but not on the image work area. What should I be doing or seeing?

[kimi_boo]

Sherman I know we have videos here that deal with mask. Here is the one I watched that finally made it sink in. Not the best quality but it works. :D

http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=-7723020561810181483&pr=goog-sl

[kimi_boo]

Kev, I also had a problem with Wendy's tags. I got them in the cookie cutter but not the artwork palette. In C:\Program Files\Adobe\Photoshop Elements 5.0\Presets\Custom Shapes, I copied the file and pasted it there. In C:\Documents and Settings\All Users\Application Data\Adobe\Photoshop Elements\5.0\Photo Creations\artwork\shapes, I had to copy the shapes icon to the first folder of the tags as they didn't show in the palette with the second folder there. If this doesn't make sense what I mean is, Wendy's tags are like this "wendyscustomshapetags >Wendy's Custom Shape Tags > there are 3 files in this folder. I copied the .csh file and pasted it into the second file. Restarted v5 and they are in both places now.

Kim... can you please explain again?? :confused:

I have the folder in the artwork shapes. (that now works fine) I have the .csh in Presets, Custom Shapes.
When I go to the cookie cutter it has the Wendy's name showing but when I cick on it.... I get a message saying it cannot find the file.

Did you put the entire folder in Shapes also, not just the .csh??

[Wendy]

Hi Sherman ...

Grant did some instructions on his tools ... here is the link:

http://www.cavesofice.org/~grant/Challenge/Tools/RunTools.html

Just click on the images for more information ...

Wendy

[Benny Pedersen]

Graffi, your PSE knowledge is better than I thought :eek:

Do you think that I could get the Saw Blade thing from
http://www.photoshopelementsuser.com/forum/showthread.php?t=15079 into a cookie cutter tool, or maybe a brush using your new Graffi Tools ?
As you should see, I have no experience about saving brushes, etc...

Benny

[graficalicus]

Graffi, your PSE knowledge is better than I thought

Heh - - thanks, ... i guess... :confused: :D

Do you think that I could get the Saw Blade thing from
http://www.photoshopelementsuser.com...ad.php?t=15079 into a cookie cutter tool, or maybe a brush using your new Graffi Tools ?

you mean like the attached files?! :cool:

I ran the .bat file, then used the BrushMaker utility (http://www.graficalicus.com/graffishop/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=1&products_id=36) to make a brush from it - then I flipped it and ran a Filters>Distort>Polar Coordinates filter to make it round - then made a brush from that - - :D

and since I was having so much fun, I made them into custom shapes, too - - both brush & shapes files are attached - - wee-hoo!

(whoever wants 'em - Download & unzip, then drop the *.abr file into \Program Files\Photoshop Elements #\Presets\Brushes\ (or the Mac equivalent), and the *.csh file into \Program Files\Photoshop Elements #\Presets\Custom Shapes\ - - )

[Benny Pedersen]

http://hjem.get2net.dk/b_pedersen/tut/BrushSize540.gif

Graffi, Now I see why Brushes should be used with the size that
they are constructed. Of couse we should not up size bitmaps
but fact is that it is not very fine to down size too.

This also explains why Wendy's Fairy Bruses is large, about 1000 px.

My 'Saw Blade' Action, and your 'Saw Blade' Brush work fine when its 800 px.

Maybe the Anti-Alias thing would do a better selection. I will now make
some experiments about the limits, etc...

Benny :)

[kblakely]

I have tried to follow the directions to make the Grants tool work in Adobe 5

I have made a desk top short cut file put the downloaded file in that short cut file and yet when I open Adobe editor they are no where to be found. I am getting very frustrated. Can someone. PLEASE walk me thru it.

I do not know what to do next. I have located the "hidden" file and pasted the proper files in it but after that I am lost...

Please help me.

Thanks,

Karen

[Benny Pedersen]

ArtWork palette or something like :)

I have version 4 on my current PC.

After using your shortcut, then what do you read in the
address drop down menu ?
http://hjem.get2net.dk/b_pedersen/tut/address.gif

[Wendy]

Hi Karen ...

When you downloaded the filder did you unzip it OK ... That should have given you a folder which you then installed into Elements .

To do the shortcut you:

First make sure that the "Show hidden folders and files" option is turned on in Windows. Then create a Shortcut on the desk top to:

C: Documents and Settings>All Users>Application Data>Adobe>Photoshop Elements>5.0>Photo Creations>Special Effects>Photo Effects

To install the action just drop the folder on the shortcut ... restart Elements and the action then shows up in Special Effects>Photo Effects.

Let me know how you go on with that :)

Wendy

[Dorrie H.]

I don't have a folder named "Photo Creation" here's a screen shot of my folders via Windows Explore: http://www.pixentral.com/hosted/1PxBxuAvZfnGvQMmc7T51oJBz7DduQ_thumb.jpg (http://www.pixentral.com/show.php?picture=1PxBxuAvZfnGvQMmc7T51oJBz7DduQ)

Now what do I do :confused:

[kblakely]

Okay so now I have on my desk top the unzipped files for the 2 grants folders. Now when i restart elements it should appear. I have tried doing this several times but nothing shows up.

I copied the file location okay and have a file that is named photo effects.

This is driving me crazy, I am either real slow or stupid I don't know which.

I will let you know what happens after I do open elements one more time.

Karen

It did not work. They are not there. ........

[Benny Pedersen]

Dorrie and Karen, I'm working on it.. just give me some few minutes...

(Grant is not working here either :D )

Dorrie your screenshoot is shot in 'C:\Program Files' not in 'C:\Documents and Settings'

C:\Documents and Settings\All Users\Application Data\Adobe\Photoshop Elements\5.0\Photo Creations\special effects\

[TonyW]

Hope I'm not confusing anyone because I have them in Special Effects and not Photo Effects (for me it works better there) but here's my screen shot location. Just put a folder with the Grants Tools actions in it in Special Effects.

466

Tony

[Dorrie H.]

Benny,

Thank you so very much...I got it now. Boy that's different from what I did before in the other versions. You're wonderful.:)

Tony,

Thank you for the screen shot, that is a great help. :)

[Benny Pedersen]

Benny,
Thank you so very much...I got it now. Boy that's different from what I did before in the other versions. You're wonderful.:)
...Snip...


:-)

The ShortCut should be this, and No need to show hidden stuff:
C:\Documents and Settings\All Users\Application Data\Adobe\Photoshop Elements\5.0\Photo Creations\special effects

Copy, then paste (Ctrl+V) the above
into the Address drop down menu, or
into the StartMenu, Run, or
as suggested: Paste into, so create a new shortcut.
Edit Oct 19, 2006: Or use the shortcut in the folder inside the attached ZIP
- grab the scortcut and delete both the folder and the ZIP.

Right Click+Drag the Grant ZIP while Right Clicking and drop it onto the ShortCut,
Release your Right Mouse Button.

Open PSE5, Ctrl+N to make a new document.
Hit F7 key to show the Effects palette.

http://hjem.get2net.dk/b_pedersen/tut/grant.gif

e.g. the 'Masks Layers.atn' file now got this address:
C:\Documents and Settings\All Users\Application Data\Adobe\Photoshop Elements\5.0\Photo Creations\special effects\GrantsAlignmentToolsPSE5\Grants Tools\Masks Layers.atn

Notice that I moved both the folders within the ZIP file into the special effects folder.
Note: The ZIP file that was downloaded today Oct 18, (Layer Mask Action) has nothing to do with an Alignment Tool. To fix this, rename the GrantsToolsPSE5 folder
(One Left Click, Press F2, Press Home, Press _) e.g.
from GrantsToolsPSE5
to _GrantsToolsPSE5
then rename the other folder (as before, press F2...)
from GrantsAlignmentToolsPSE5
to GrantsToolsPSE5
then rename folder
from _GrantsToolsPSE5
to GrantsAlignmentToolsPSE5

Benny

[Dorrie H.]

Just wanted to say Grants Tools are successfuly installed, thanks to all the help given here. You guys are GREAT!

[kblakely]

Yahoo I finally got it installed. Thanks so much ... I had a fresh look at it this morning and low and behold I figured it out. I would not have if I did not have the great people on this board.

Karen

[kimi_boo]

Yeah.... but I still haven't figured out how to get my shapes to show up in the cookie cutter????????????????????????????????:( :( :(

[TonyW]

Kimi: Have you put them here (with no extra folders, just the .csh files)

C:\Program Files\Adobe\Photoshop Elements 5.0\Presets\Custom Shapes

It should look like this:

468

Tony

[AngelicKim]

I have to say that I liked Grant's curve tool better than the PSE5's tool. Can I copy the PSE3 file to v5 and be able to use it?

[TonyW]

Kim: Sorry - Grant's curve hasn't worked since PSE3. But if you want something more sophisticated than the PSE5 one you can always use the free smartcurve plug-in:

http://free.pages.at/easyfilter/curves.html


That works in both PSE4 and PSE5.

Tony

[AngelicKim]

Thanks Tony I will check it out.

[LeonaKohn]

Graffiti,

I did it! I downloaded brushes to PSE 5 using your add-o-matic. It was so easy it made me think I did something wrong. It worked perfectly for me. I only tried brushes. I opened PSE 5 and there were the brushes. Thank you.

Have you created the 12 x 12 custom size page for PSE 5 like you did for 4? I really did like having that feature in PSE 4 and it would be real handy to have it in 5. Please, please, please if you have it will you post it?

Thank you for all the features you create and are so generous to give to us less computer skilled people.

Leona

[graficalicus]

It was so easy it made me think I did something wrong. It worked perfectly for me. I only tried brushes. I opened PSE 5 and there were the brushes. Thank you.

You're welcome! I actually slowed down the original action packs because of what you said - "thought I did something wrong" - in the original ones, it happened so fast that folks didn't believe they actually did anything - - so I slowed the script down and made it do the crawl!

Have you created the 12 x 12 custom size page for PSE 5 like you did for 4?

Sure - you can use the same one as 4: C:\Program Files\Adobe\Photoshop Elements 4.0\Required\Default New Doc Sizes.txt

-just copy and paste it over to 5:

C:\Program Files\Adobe\Photoshop Elements 5.0\Required\Default New Doc Sizes.txt

Ain't programming simple?! :)

[randy_nacol2002]

Graffi,
As usual your beta works great Thanks muchly.. Your the best.

[Shari]

I don't understand how to use this. Could someone please explain step by step. It sounds great. I just got PSE5 and have tons of things to transfer from 3 and don't know how. Thanks.
Shari

[Shari]

Boy - this is not my night. Maybe I should give up and watch the hockey game with Ron. Tony, I tried to load the smartcurves. It shows up under filters with three boxes but each one says 'Could not place document because no Parser or file format can open the file' Do you know what that is all about??? Thanks.
Shari

[AngelicKim]

Shari, Smart Curves goes in the plug-ins folder not the photo effects. Unzip it to C:Program Files>Adobe>Photoshope Elements 5>Pug-Ins

EDIT: After you install the plug-in it will show in PSE5 under filters at the bottom of the menu as easy.filter>SmartCurve

[Shari]

Thanks Kim - I couldn't find plug-ins in PSE5. So I put it in filters but that did not work. Where are plugins please.
Shari

[Wendy]

Hi Shari ...

Its here:

C:\Program Files\Adobe\Photoshop Elements 5.0\Plug Ins

Wendy :)

[Dorrie H.]

Graffi,

Sorry I didn't get a chance to try out your new download/install program before it was removed. What I'm curious about now is that in your messagae abobe you say you are gong to charge....978 dollars or am I reading your post incorrectly. That would be a bit much...$978.00 WOW!!

[kimi_boo]

Dorrie... It's a joke.:D

[Dorrie H.]

Kimi,

I hope so..........:D

[Dorrie H.]

Graffi,
Thank you for all your hard work...it IS appreciated.

[AngelicKim]

Grafi, I have tried the link for beta 0.6 and can't get the page to open. Is anyone else having this problem or is it just me?

[DMurray407]

Kim, it just worked for me-what a really cool tool! It probably is really worth $978!

[AngelicKim]

Yes it is pretty cool. I got the page now. My computer froze up and after I restarted it I was able to get the page to open.

BTW, thanks Grafi. Last week I was having trouble with PSE5 everytime I added something from your site but found that if I restart my computer afterwards it works fine. You have some great stuff.

[graficalicus]

Yes it is pretty cool. I got the page now. My computer froze up and after I restarted it I was able to get the page to open.

BTW, thanks Grafi. Last week I was having trouble with PSE5 everytime I added something from your site but found that if I restart my computer afterwards it works fine. You have some great stuff.

Make sure PSE5 is not running when adding anything - although it shouldn't matter.... Restart, and you're good (just like adding anything). What kind of trouble were you having, BTW? None of the Graffi stuff does anything to the program itself; it just adds the actions & thumbs where they need to go. You're only the second person I've ever heard from that mentioned anything about issues!

Anyway, this Add-O-Matic is ready for release. I've sent it to several folks (and will probably send it to a few more) for final testing - -and everything is green so far.

Stay tuned - - I'm making a vid for it, then the product page for the shop - then it's a go!

[AngelicKim]

Grafi, I have closed PSE5 before installing anything new. I just added some of Panos' stuff too and got the slow down again so it must be something with my computer. I can install things and then start PSE5 and it is really slow or unresponsive to a point. If I close it again and then restart it everything works fine.

I love using your Beta, it makes adding the extras so much easier and faster. Especially since some things go in one directory and some in the other. i.e Program Files....... or Documents and Settings.........

[Dorrie H.]

Grafi, I have closed PSE5 before installing anything new. I just added some of Panos' stuff too and got the slow down again so it must be something with my computer. I can install things and then start PSE5 and it is really slow or unresponsive to a point. If I close it again and then restart it everything works fine.

Actually I think it's the Panos Actions that are the problem..I experienced the same thing. I even had to restart my computer to get it back up to speed. Once I deleted the Panos Actions and restarted the computer everything was fine again.

[AngelicKim]

Dorrie, that could be, I have pretty much been doing them both about the same time. I didn't have any problems with Grafi's Add'O'Matic final version.

[chas3stix]

Hi all,
I've been reading this thread with interest. I added Grant's Tools and put it in its own folder but it won't work in the Photo effects folder but it does work outside of it. Go figure. What i need now are instructions how to add Wendy's orb and Jodi's Cd. Appreciate any help you can give. (BTW this is for PSE5)
Chas

[AngelicKim]

Chas, Jodi's CD is a tricky one. I'll see if I can find the post on it where she gave instructions. Wendy's orb is to make a folder here, C:>Documents and Settings> All Users> Application Data> Photoshop Elements> 5.0> Photo Creations> Special Effects. Then add the Orb file to the folder. Same as you should have gotten with Grants Tools.

EDIT: Here is the post for Jodi's CD. Go down to post #14.

http://www.photoshopelementsuser.com/forum/showthread.php?t=14901&page=2&highlight=jodi%27s+missing+styles

[chas3stix]

Kim,
Thanks I'll watch for your next reply.
Chas

[AngelicKim]

Chas, Oops, sorry I did an edit on the other reply. It has the link for Jodi's instructions.

Here it is again
http://www.photoshopelementsuser.com/forum/showthread.php?t=14901&page=2&highlight=jodi%27s+missing+styles

[chas3stix]

Kim,
I dragged and dropped Wendy's orb from PSE3 and it doesn't work. I put it in the same folder as Grant's tools. This maybe a hint ...PSE5 can't display Wendy's orb read me file...??
Chas

[AngelicKim]

Chas try to put it in its own folder.

[AngelicKim]

Chas, sorry, I forgot a folder in the transition. After the Special Effects folder do Photo Effects and make the folder Wendy's Orb there. Do the same with Grant's Tools.

[Wendy]

Hi ...

Just take the folder ... remove the .psd file and then put it here:

C: Documents and Settings>All Users>Application Data>Adobe>Photoshop Elements>5.0>Photo Creations>Special Effects>Photo Effects

Restart Elements and it will work just fine :)

Wendy

[chas3stix]

Wendy,
It's still a no-go. All I get is a copy of the orb icon with a bounding box around it.
PSE5 says it can't read the readme file because of a parser issue?
Chas

[chas3stix]

Wendy,et all,
I got the orb to work. There was another .psd file that kind of put the program in a bind. All is well.
Re doing Jodi's Cd is something else......
Chas

[AngelicKim]

Chas glad you got it figured out. Jodi's CD isn't really hard. Just time consuming.

[chas3stix]

Kim,
Another glitch has occured with Grant's tools. When applying the layer mask, I get an error message that says the command "make" is not known. And the color channels change a color photo into a black and white one. Is this normal?
The RGB channel restores the color.
Chas

[AngelicKim]

Chas, never heard that happened before. Maybe someone else has. If it were me I would close PSE5 and delete Grant's Tools and then reinstall.

[chas3stix]

Kim,
I'll give it a try.
Chas

[graficalicus]

make sure you're not running the layer mask on a background layer - the mask shows or hides whatever is beneath it, and if there's nothing beneath it, well, it's sorta pointless, eh..?! :D

[chas3stix]

Grafi,
Thanks for steering me in the right direction. BTW I've got the layer mask working now. I had Grant's Tools in the wrong folder. Duh......
Chas

[graficalicus]

trial & error, man - that's the best way to learn it!:D

[Shari]

Kim,
Another glitch has occured with Grant's tools. When applying the layer mask, I get an error message that says the command "make" is not known. And the color channels change a color photo into a black and white one. Is this normal?
The RGB channel restores the color.
Chas
Chas - I have the same thing happening. I just deleted Grants tools from my 5. I am getting fed up and think I will just concentrate on learning PSE5 and it's new features and leave all the extras until all the kinks are worked out. The mask did not work for me either.
Shari

[Wendy]

Shari ...

The error message is when you try to apply a layer mask to a background layer ... masks just don't work on background layers so it gives you an error :) Try adding another photo into your image and then apply the layer mask to the top layer ...

Wendy

[chas3stix]

Kim,Wendy,Graffi,et al,
Just wanted to let you know that I've added Jodi's missing styles to PSE5 and all is well. Thanks to all for your help.
Chas

[Wendy]

Hi Chas ...

Oh that is good news ... glad that you now have them working :)

Wendy

[Benny Pedersen]

http://www.graficalicus.com/images/Tutorial_Images/PSE5_Thumbnails/6.png

Graffi, it seems that none have figured out that they do NOT always show up
alphabetically in the Effects palette. Try modify one item later and it show
up as clutter.

Pls show this (don't copy all my stuff :():
page=172358#post172358 (http://photoshopelementsuser.com/forum/showthread.php?p=172358#post172358)

Btw. the below trick is included in the above but is made so the thumbs.psd file also work in "my" order for versions below 5.
PSE5 may show you the alpha order, not date modified but only if the files has
the same date, which is why none have figured this out (I think) :eek:

FF(*) 20(+)
FF2020(*++)M...
FFFF20202020(**++++)S...
FFFFFF202020202020(***++++++)O...

Benny,
Btw. It also seems that none have figured out that those Whatever.PSD files in Elements Version X could be renamed thumbs.psd and still work for all versions - so the Action writer would only have to make one download that should work for all versions of Elements !

[graficalicus]

Graffi, it seems that none have figured out that they do NOT always show up
alphabetically in the Effects palette. Try modify one item later and it show
up as clutter.

the screenshot is a "work in progress" - the user should keep adding the effects until the thumbs file is filled.

PSE5 may show you the alpha order, not date modified but only if the files has
the same date, which is why none have figured this out (I think)

nope - it's alpha order - I've been modifying mine, and they all have different dates, and they always showin the same alphabetical order.

You can trick it - put an "=" at the front, and it won't display, but will make that action first in the stack ;) (so in this case, name the action "=Letterboxed.atn", and it will be first!)

It also seems that none have figured out that those Whatever.PSD files in Elements Version X could be renamed thumbs.psd and still work for all versions - so the Action writer would only have to make one download that should work for all versions of Elements !

true - but many actions came with a separate thumbnail file for each actions - so there would be 10 actions & 10 .psd files there, too - won't work in 5. Also, the layer order has to match the action order :(

[Benny Pedersen]

the screenshot is a "work in progress" - the user should keep adding the effects until the thumbs file is filled.


Yes ofcause


nope - it's alpha order - I've been modifying mine, and they all have different dates, and they always showin the same alphabetical order.


Nope it's time order.


You can trick it - put an "=" at the front, and it won't display, but will make that action first in the stack ;) (so in this case, name the action "=Letterboxed.atn", and it will be first!)


Yes, I saw Abobe did it that way - but not why. (I still have 15 days on my PSE5 trial version before the 30 days are gone).


true - but many actions came with a separate thumbnail file for each actions - so there would be 10 actions & 10 .psd files there, too - won't work in 5. Also, the layer order has to match the action order :(


Maybe true but why should one download bad things. Moreover, it shouldn't
be a problem to put them in the same thumb file and the same folder, or simply put them in 10 folders. Maybe the problem is that the Actions writers don't create them better...

[graficalicus]

very weird, Benny - -

I've got all my test actions with thumbs in a test folder (like you do) and I edit the actions in PS constantly - so they all have different dates. the thumbs still represent them in order... :confused:

Spaces, dashes, underscores & other characters (like "=") can force these actions to the front of the stack (it orders non-ABC characters first)

Hmm.....

On another note, I'm starting to get into PS scripting (javascript) to generate the thumbnails for actions users add -

I'll PM you later (I'm at work, and have been way busy lately!)

[Benny Pedersen]

Yes very weird but now I got it.
For the first time, I installed some of your Actions, 'Crystal balls' and 'graffi_Parchment.atn' (I don't remember how I got them for free) :D
I tried 2 or 3 of them and got an idea after I saw your Parchment thing:
Picture (http://www.photoshopelementsuser.com/forum/showthread.php?p=173935#post173935) okay I didn't use your Action but now I have seen some of your stuff.

It's not alpha or time order as build in file data but the time order as you put them into the folder.
I moved the 7 actions in the 'graffi sampler folder' and the thumbs.psd file into the
C:\Documents and Settings\All Users\Application Data\Adobe\Photoshop Elements\5.0\Photo Creations\special effects\Graficalicus\ folder - I moved them one or two each drag and drop - but without selection them in alpha order. Since an explanation was somehow included in my
previous post (http://photoshopelementsuser.com/forum/showthread.php?p=172358#post172358), I had the suspicion - now I saw it :)

Benny

[mustang]

ALERT. I just (25 Nov.'06) downloaded Grant's Tools and found the files are misnamed. The "Alignment" file contains the files for the "Abbreviated" file (i.e., channels, mask). Also, for PSE 5, be sure to use the install instruction given above. The instructions on the Grant's Tools site are for PSE 3.

[CompooperTeacher]

Seeing that 5 has its own alignment tools . . .


What alignment tools? I can't find them. Even tried the help file with a search for "align objects". Thanks!

[TonyW]

What alignment tools? I can't find them. Even tried the help file with a search for "align objects". Thanks!

They're in the move tool options - Arrange, Align and Distribute. Type "Move Tool Options" into Help and it tells you how they work.

Tony

[dbs_help]

I first heard of your site through the book, The Missing Manual, and am trying to install your "Grant's Tools" in Photoshop Elements 5.0 with no luck. I have the two unzipped folders in the C:\Documents and Settings\All Users\Application Data\Adobe\Photoshop Elements\5.0\Photo Creations\
special effects directory and have since reloaded PSE5. When I look at the drop-down menu under the "Artwork and Effects" pane, I don't see "Special Effects" in the listing?? What am I missing?

Thanks in advance:

[Wendy]

Hi ..

I left a message in the thread you started :)

Wendy