Oh Graffeeeee! I have a question.

[Diana]

I was trying to follow one of your "I was framed" tutorials:
http://www.graficalicus.com/modules.php?op=modload&name=news&file=article&sid=64

In the 4th paragraph (the one with the Elements instructions), I can't get this to work. Where it states "Create a Levels Adjustment layer below the layer" which layer should it be below? Would you give me instructions to do this with Elements in a little more detail? I would really appreciate it alot. Thanks.

Diana

[Daviskw]

Hi Diana

I do believe there is a mistake in the instructions... but maybe I'm wrong.

Are you trying to make a clipping mask using a levels adjustment layer?

If so rather that <Ctrl>+Click... try ...< Alt>+ Click... between the layers... or Click on the solid white layer with the levels below it... and press Layer>Group with Previous

The levels layer should be directly below the solid white layer.... If we are at the same spot in the instructions.

Butch

[Diana]

Thanks, Butch. I thought it was Alt-Click to get the clipping group, which I tried, but then from there on I couldn't get the funky border effect with a transparent background. Maybe this tutorial doesn't give that.

I can get the border, but it has a white background so if I dragged the image to a colored background, the funky border has white under it.

I used to do this with Grants Quick Mask in version 3, but the version 5 Grants Tools doesn't have Quick Mask, so I was trying to find another way.

Here are the steps I used in version 3 with Grants Quick Mask:

Open a photo, Double click on the Background layer to make it a regular layer
Using the Rectangular Marquee, make a selection just inside the image
Double click on Grants Tools Quick Mask which will make the selected border an opaque red
Then apply Filter > Brush Strokes > Spatter (or other Filter)
Double click on Grants Tools Standard Mask to remove the mask
Now invert the selection with Select > Inverse
Press the Delete key to delete the excess edge
Ctrl-D to deselect.


And here's an example of an image I did and put on a colored background:
http://www.pixentral.com/hosted/1NFOJhLvYjiVYLoz0HS8pra7rwN7r0_thumb.jpg (http://www.pixentral.com/show.php?picture=1NFOJhLvYjiVYLoz0HS8pra7rwN7r0)


Do you know of any way of doing this in Elements 5?

Diana

[graficalicus]

There is another pack that has all sorts of Layer Mask (and a bunch of other) "goodies" in it. ;)

That tut was written awhile ago - about 2.5 years! Guess I need to update some of the content as well as the page layouts! Glad you got it to work, though -!

[Diana]

Graffi, Does your Mask pack include a Quick Mask that works in Elements 5?

Diana

[Daviskw]

Hi Diana

I used your picture as an example of how it can be done.

As you know always lots of ways to do things... here is one

Double click your background to change from a background layer.

Open a background you want to show thru and paste it below your main subject

Open a levels layer between the two…. make no adjustment press OK

Group the main subject... the top layer to the levels adjustment layer.... Layer>Group with previous.

Click on the levels mask and fill with black... or press Ctrl+I

Now use the marquee and on the mask make a selection to the size desired... fill with white

Deselect with Ctrl+D

Now on the MASK apply any filter you like

Butch


http://www.pixentral.com/hosted/1Nvthvj4hhecaC0upmAu2I1OEf6aN1_thumb.jpg (http://www.pixentral.com/show.php?picture=1Nvthvj4hhecaC0upmAu2I1OEf6aN1)

[Diana]

Thanks, Butch. I knew you'd come up with something for me!:D I've printed your post and I'll try it out later tonight.

Diana

[graficalicus]

Graffi, Does your Mask pack include a Quick Mask that works in Elements 5?

As far as I can tell, there is no such beast. At least, I've been unable to get a Quick Mask in Elements. It does have about a half dozen or so different mask options (regular mask, inverted mask, mask from selection, etc.), though

[Daviskw]

Hi Diana

If you like this type borders you can make and save templates. I made an example below using gray. That way I can insert, and using a Hue\saturation adjustment layer, change the Hue, saturation and lightness, as I like.

This is not a mask template and no mask is needed to use

To make this template

Open a blank document in a ratio of your choice. I made mine 4” by 6” at 300 dpi.

Make a duplicate background layer…. Layer>Duplicate Layer… or insert a picture you want to use as a background

On my top layer I filled with a neutral gray and added some texture.

Click on the background layer and add a Levels adjustment layer.... Layer>New Adjustment Layers>Levels... then OK… make NO changes just click OK.

Click on the top Duplicate layer and press Layer>Group with previous.

Click on the levels mask… the white box to the right on the levels adjustment layer.

Set the foreground color to black

Select the Marquee tool and make a selection the size you want the inside of the template.

Hold the Alt (PC)… Option(Mac)… and press the backspace key. This should fill your selection on the mask with black revealing the white of the background layer. Press Select>Deselect. Check layer configuration below;

http://www.pixentral.com/hosted/1EFFsojA5CnckKZRpJTbTHiWIdoXl_thumb.jpg (http://www.pixentral.com/show.php?picture=1EFFsojA5CnckKZRpJTbTHiWIdoXl)

Now is the time to add the edge detail to the template. Click on the levels mask to make it active.

I pressed Filters>Brush Strokes>Splatter… adjust the sliders to suit then OK

The edge detail should now be visible.

To make the center transparent…. Hold the Ctrl (PC)… Command(Mac) and click once on the levels mask…. You should see the marching ants.

We need to inverse the selection press …..Select>Inverse.

Now click on your top layer making it active and press the Delete Key. Now Press Select> Deselect.

Click on the background layer and drag it to the trash can… do the same with the levels layer.

Your template is done… Press save as and save in the TIF or PSD format.

Yours should look something like below with your picture or textures;

http://www.pixentral.com/hosted/1T3UNnWbCsaxL7nyAE6Rey1QeyUup_thumb.jpg (http://www.pixentral.com/show.php?picture=1T3UNnWbCsaxL7nyAE6Rey1QeyUup)

To Use;

Open your picture you want to add the border.

Open your template file... if needed, rotate to match orientation of new picture.

Click Image>Resize>Image Size…. MAKE NO CHANGES… just open the dialog box

On the main Menu click Windows… then click on the name of the picture you want to add the border to… then press OK

This will automatically resize the template to match the size of your picture.

http://www.pixentral.com/hosted/1Rpya8FLBfcxGJuO3PvrJ7fpZyL1X0_thumb.png (http://www.pixentral.com/show.php?picture=1Rpya8FLBfcxGJuO3PvrJ7fpZyL1X0)

Now select>All

Edit >Copy

Change to the picture you want to add the border and press Edit >Paste.

The gray border should be at the top of your layer pallet.

If you want the border to match a color in your new picture; click on the eyedropper tool and click on a color in your picture.

Click Layer>New Adjustment Layer>Hue/saturation… In the New Layer dialog box click Group with previous and press OK

When the Hue/saturation dialog box opens click “ Colorize” in the lower right hand corner of the dialog…… The color you selected with the eyedropper will fill the border.

http://www.pixentral.com/hosted/1ufahgWZo8Ioe6RGsRIQ5AgJ0Cga1_thumb.jpg (http://www.pixentral.com/show.php?picture=1ufahgWZo8Ioe6RGsRIQ5AgJ0Cga1)

Adjust the hue… saturation… lightness as desired… experiment with layer modes if you like. You can also add patterns… textures and layers styles. I like to add bevels and sometimes a gradient.


It is a long procedure but you need to do it once... then just copy and paste when you want a border... make and save a group of different edges.

I was using CS3 but I think I have remembered the menus for Elements correctly.

Butch

[Diana]

Butch,

I tried the border method you used on the rose and it works great. I only had to figure out how to make the image with the spatter border portable to another image as background and still keep the transparency.

I found I could link the top 2 layers and then drag the image to another background and the mask comes with it.

I also tried using a white background and then flattening it and then using the Magic Wand tool to select the white, deleting it and saving it as a .PNG image. That worked pretty good except it left a few little white specks in among the spatters. I tried unclicking Contiguous in the Magic Wand options, but then it wanted to select nearly white spots in my image (which I could deselect with the Lasso, but I wanted to keep this as simple as possible).

So I think the first portability option works best.

Thanks for the border template tutorial. I printed it out and will try it later today (when my husband goes to his golf league I'll have some free time to myself).

Thanks again for all your help. I'm trying to teach beginning Elements (free) to a group of about 10 people and the topic I'm preparing for one session is borders, frames & edges. I wanted several different kinds of techniques to show them that can be put in simple terms and shared with others. You've been a great help.

Diana

[Diana]

As far as I can tell, there is no such beast. At least, I've been unable to get a Quick Mask in Elements. It does have about a half dozen or so different mask options (regular mask, inverted mask, mask from selection, etc.), though

Hi Graffi,

The Grants Tools for older versions (2 & 3) do include a Quick Mask, but for some reason he left the Quick Mask out of the tools for the newer versions. Perhaps they are not compatible. But I really miss the Quick Mask. I wish someone could create an action for that.

http://www.pixentral.com/hosted/1djhk36ZaUh573Qjvhz3DBWjGnq1K1_thumb.jpg (http://www.pixentral.com/show.php?picture=1djhk36ZaUh573Qjvhz3DBWjGnq1K1)

Thanks for your input.

Diana