Lines into rectangle

[dynamic]

Hi!
I know Photoshop isn't a design program, it's a photo editing program, but unfortunately I don't own a design program, so I'm trying to use Photshop Elements to make kind of design.
This time I'm making a dvd paper, the paper you put in the dvd box, and I want to make an area with the production details. It should be a big white/grey rectangle with black lines dividing the rectangle into smaller rectangles.
I am using the line tool, but when I do and zoom in, I see that at the sides of the lines (at all sides) there are like shaded, grey-like bars, depending on 1) where the line is put on the document and 2) how wide the line is, exactly.
What are these grey bars? Do they belong to the line or not? How do I create lines (vertical and horizontal) that have exactly the same width? (also after having created them). Or is there any smart shorter way?
Thanks!

[bwolford]

Can you post what you've got to date? Might be helpful. I don't quite understand your explanation.

Brice

[dynamic]

Trying to attach examples, I do'nt know if it's possible to see, you might have to zoom in on them to see the thin grey lines at the sides of the black lines.

[bwolford]

I think you have a monitor problem. I don't see the grey lines. Sometimes contrasty subjects can make it appear to have these "shadow" lines. Do they appear on the print out?

Brice

[Diana]

Hi,

If you see those shaded squares next to your line when you zoom in, it's because Elements works with raster graphics, rather than vector graphics. Google raster vector graphics and you'll find several explanations of the difference, I'm sure.

If you make your image a higher resolution and view it at 100%, you shouldn't see so much of that shading. If this image is something you'll be printing, I would start a new image at the dimensions you want at 300 ppi resolution. Then when you draw the lines, use the Pencil tool, rather than the Brush tool to get a harder edged line. And use a hard-edge brush selection from the Pencil Option Bar.

You probably already know this, but in case you don't, make sure you turn your grid on with View > Grid, and the easiest way to draw a straight line is to click once at the starting point, hold Shift key down and click once at the end point.

http://www.pixentral.com/hosted/1nwhaf27FupGH7TZvgjSVzk57N61_thumb.jpg (http://www.pixentral.com/show.php?picture=1nwhaf27FupGH7TZvgjSVzk57N61)

Hope this helps.

Diana

[dynamic]

Brice -
Yes, the thin grey lines appear on the print when I magnify it, changing the image size. I don't know exactly how they appear in natural size, but seems the black lines have different weight. My printer is in black and white and not so good for photos (gonna give the print to a printing facility for the final print). I have a good monitor, though.

[dynamic]

Diana - thanks, you mean "rather than the line tool" rather than "rather than the brush tool" ? :)
Shouldn't the line tool be the first to think of to make a line?

Already have 300dpi

[BrianZero]

Not sure if I understand you question ..
But seems to me you should try Creations

There is basic CD / DVD stuff to play with

Also there is a probably a load of free software [Somewhere]

[dynamic]

Creations... I'll check it. Thanks.

The grey bars equally appear if i just create a new document with 300 pix/inch and draw a big black rectangle with the rectangle tool. If I zoom in maximum on the edge of it, there is a grey line of the outer sides of the rectangle, before the chessboard starts. Why? Is there something fundamental here I have missed? I notice on the ruler the grey line is one pixel wide.

Then I tried the pencil tool and the grey line isn't there... Can somebody explain? :)

[dynamic]

This is what I'm trying to do... How would you do it?

[JulieM]

How about using the line tool? It is found with the Custom Shape Tool (just click on the tiny arrow under the speech bubble icon). You can draw a straight line by clicking your start point then holding down the shift key as you draw your mouse to where you want the line to end. Make sure "add to shape area" is selected, then draw your other lines. Hope this helps!

[hukari]

How about doing it in Word or Excel and pasting to PSE? The only eventual problem would be getting the right font size for the resolution you are using in PSE, as far as I can see. (But then, I've had glasses since the second grade!)

[Diana]

Diana - thanks, you mean "rather than the line tool" rather than "rather than the brush tool" ? :)
Shouldn't the line tool be the first to think of to make a line?

Already have 300dpi

I thought since you were getting "soft" lines that perhaps you were using the Brush tool to draw your lines. I guess I didn't read your post carefully enough....you did say you used the Line tool. Sorry.

When I'm drawing lines, I use the pencil tool. I guess I didn't think about using the line tool for drawing, I've always thought of it as more of a shape tool. It makes a new layer for each line unless you select "add to shape." But I guess it would work.

With the pencil tool you can draw all your lines on one layer and it's easy to draw a rectangle with five clicks.

I did compare a 3 pixel line made with the Line tool and one made with the Pencil tool and when I zoomed it to 500%, they were both equally clear on my document with no shading.

Sorry, I can't explain the shading you're getting.

Diana

[dynamic]

Well I can't either, but when I use the pencil tool the shading doesn't appear, so I've come further. I used 2 pixel pencil lines. Thanks. (Maybe the reason is the line tool is a vector tool and the pencil tool a raster one? I'm not sure about this. Still, why add grey pixels if I'm just drawing a straight line?)

By the way, is there a shortcut for reaching to topmost layer? I so often have to scroll up and down through all the layers in the layers palette.

[Byron Gale]

...is there a shortcut for reaching to topmost layer? ...d'mic,

Yes, there is. But it is different depending on your PSE version.

PSE1-3 use:

ALT-[ to select the next-lower layer, and ALT-] for the next-higher.
ALT-SHIFT-[ for the bottom layer, ALT-SHIFT-] for the top.

PSE4-5 use:
(same for next-lower/next-higher)
ALT-< for the bottom layer, ALT-> for the top.

Reka posted a Word file (http://www.photoshopelementsuser.com/forum/showthread.php?t=18624) which contains MANY keyboard shortcuts for PSE. I think it was compiled prior to v4, so be sure to try them out to verify which work in your version. If a particular key-combo does not work for you, experiment a bit using the chart as a starting point - maybe you'll discover what you need.

HTH,

Byron

[dynamic]

Big thanks, Byron! A blessing to you! This will save me a lot of valuable time. On my keyboard it is the å and ¨ keys instead of [ and ], but I found them.