photoshop elements 5

[walleyedogs]

New user and member,
How do you select part of a backgroud you want and make the rest of the background the same. I have looked in the manual and just can't find it. Thanks for your help!

[GaryK]

Hi

Welcome to the forums.:)

Without seeing the photo I would suggest using the clone tool.

[Wendy]

Hi ...

... and welcome to the forum :)

Why not post your images to somewhere like Pixentral and then let us see the image ... that will make is easier for us to help you :)

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

Wendy

[GaryK]

Hi

What we tend to do is use "save for web" .. set the longest side to about 750-800 pixels and the size (quality) to between 100-150 k.
Then go to Pixentral and browse to where you saved the photo..hit send.
Once your photo shows on the screen at Pixentral (takes a few seconds) then tripple click on the "Forums" section below you picture (it all has to turn colour) copy the link, come here, reply and paste the link into your reply.:)

[kimi_boo]

Easy enough...

go to file save for web.
resize your image so the largest size is around 600-700.
save.

When you get to Pixentral just browse for your new image.
hit send.
copy the address on the top or
copy the address under the picture that says forum.

[kimi_boo]

Hi Gary... ;)

[GaryK]

For the clone tool...:)

Make a copy of your picture or your background layer. (just don't want you working on the original)

Find an area you want to copy.. hold down the alt key while clicking with the clone tool active and you get sort of a crosshair type of thing. This will be the area you want to copy. let go of the keys.
Move to the area you want to cover and start painting your copied area over top.

[GaryK]

Hey Kimi.

good answer.:D :D

[walleyedogs]

here you go, hope it works! http://www.pixentral.com/hosted/1I6vpeTnaoMXR8fIIBxX83L4rZ7u1L0_thumb.jpg (http://www.pixentral.com/show.php?picture=1I6vpeTnaoMXR8fIIBxX83L4rZ7u1L0)

[walleyedogs]

http://www.pixentral.com/hosted/1I6vpeTnaoMXR8fIIBxX83L4rZ7u1L0_thumb.jpg (http://www.pixentral.com/show.php?picture=1I6vpeTnaoMXR8fIIBxX83L4rZ7u1L0)

[apasskey]

Hi walleyedogs - welcome to the forum. So - do you want the bottom rectangular part to look like the colored part on the top of the photo? Do you want the colored part everywhere? Do you want the colored part gone? There are probably lots of folks here who will help you now that your photo is posted! Andie

[Wendy]

Hi ...

... and welcome to the forum :)

Well that one is so easy to select that I probably would select the shelf and put in onto a new background.

To do that just:

Select the lasso tool (Polygonal 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 clicking from one point to the other.

When you have gone all the way round stop and check your selection. Make sure that all of it is selected
If you have parts that need a little more adding in then use the ordinary lasso set to "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 it on its own layer
You can then add a new background behind.

Wendy

[walleyedogs]

Thanks everyone for all your help.

[drileyapple]

How do you get to Pixentral? I'm real new to this stuff and this forum. I have a picture I'd like to post to see if I can get some suggestions about what to do. Thanks, Diane

[Wendy]

Hi Diane ...

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.

then go to
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 :)

Wendy