Stroke a selection problem .....

[bkarcher2]

I am a new at this and am having trouble with one step in making a very simple collage!...This is what I've been doing...First I make a blank file and then create a new layer..with the marque tool I go to stroke to stroke the selection and make rectangles with-in the new layer as guide lines...then I get my pics into the editor window and I make sure the new layer is at the top of the stack...NOW !... when I move a pic onto the collage and attempt to resize it... the pic gets dissected where ever it overlaps a guide line....by the way ... all these guide lines are marching away... should that be ?...I'm forgetting something here because I did it once but can't seem to get it to work again...Out of frustration I just arranged my pictures by eye but like the idea of making guide lines..You all are so good out there I hope I've explained it well enough for someone to have a solution for me.... Thanks..

[hukari]

Bkarcher2, have you tried the "Edit>Paste into selection" menu item? If you have a selection made, it should paste the image into it so you can only see what is inside the selection area. Then you need to do Ctrl+T to resize and reposition your image within the frame.

Let us know if this works out for you! Good luck!

[Wendy]

Hi ...

You probably need to deselect as that is probably causing the problem (Select>Deselect) :)

Wendy

[bkarcher2]

Thanks ...but when I deselect ....all my guide lines are erased....I think the problem lies in when I use the marque tool to draw the lines... they are marching ants not "solid lines" so when I switch to the Move tool to move a pic onto the page ...each marching ant rectangle gets a bounding box around it....Somethings wrong!...and I'm sure it's real simple !!!

[bkarcher2]

Thank-you but my " Edit>Paste into a selection" is whited out....I can get the pictures onto the new layer...without the guide lines...It's when I draw the guide lines that I can't resize the pictures...and I'd like to use the guide lines to sketch a layout of the collage...

[nkeevers]

First, are you talking about your guide presets or grid lines are going away? If you go to View...you will see grids or guidelines.

Are you making a new document and then trying to stroke? I'm comfused by your explanation. I'm assuming you are dragging a photo onto your new document and then using the rectangular marquee to stroke that picture?

[cats4jan]

Instead of telling us what you are doing - try telling us what it is you would like to do.

The marquee can be a trouble maker - it's best to deselect after it's served it's purpose - before moving on to your next step.

If you want some grid lines to use - try view> grid - that will give you some permanent lines for sizing and lining up.

[bkarcher2]

As I said before I'm a real beginner here ! Thank you for your patients ....I am trying to draw some guide lines (5 rectangles )with the marque tool for a photo collage on a new document....and then drag my pictures onto it and resize them "with-in" these guide lines..the lines are just rough and should not show up when printed....If I deselect the marque tool after I draw the guide lines as you suggest ...they dissapear... and then I'm left with a bank document with no guides to drag my pictures into......If you could re-read my first post you might be able to follow me and see where my mistake (s) are.... Thank- you again ....P.S I see you like cats too!

[bkarcher2]

No... I'm doing just the oppisite...I'm making a new document and using the rectangular marque to stroke lines onto it and THEN attempting to drag and resize my photos within the lines .....That's when the picture becomes dissected...This was so simple when I did it the first couple of times I can't beleive it won't work now!...I remember that when it did work ...the lines weren't marching ..they were just a light solid line..I must be not chicking the right option somewhere...Thanks for your in-put...and I hope I've made it clearer...This is my first post and every one has been so kind..I've also been looking at the galleries...they are AWESOME !!!....I am so far behind !.............

[cats4jan]

Are you trying to put a number of photos onto one canvas? Like this?

http://www.pixentral.com/hosted/1cjSL8RjjGKN5ZPfDVbJvhT1EoJUpQ_thumb.jpg (http://www.pixentral.com/show.php?picture=1cjSL8RjjGKN5ZPfDVbJvhT1EoJUpQ)

If you need precision, turn on the grid before you drag (or copy/paste) your photos on to to your new blank canvas - size them and move them into place with the move tool and the bounding box (pushing in on the corners keeps perspective while resizing)

The marquee tool does alot of weird stuff - I'm not sure it's your first choice - no matter what you are trying to accomplish.

[emkayess65]

Hi, are you actually stroking the rectangles with Edit >> Stroke >> choose a color >> choose # of pixels?
Actually I would put each rectangle on it's own layer so if you want to change the tilt or something you can.
You have way more freedom to twitch and tweak this way.
If you Edit >> Stroke the selection you will have a colored line frame on each layer. Get the selection by Ctrl+click on the layer and you will be able to Paste into.
If I misunderstood the question...sorry?
Welcome to the forum.
Slow down. Good luck with your project. Enjoy.

[cats4jan]

Or if you want to do all your strokes first - using the method Marie is suggesting - use "control d" to deselect your frame prior to moving on to creating your next frame. Keep each frame on its own layer for maximum control of your project.

Edit

Oops - Marie did already recommend keeping each frame on it's own layer.

And to reiterate another of her suggestions - when you select your frame for photo placement - make sure you use edit> paste into - not just edit> paste

Look what happened when I kept all four of my selections (rectangles) on one layer.

http://www.pixentral.com/hosted/1bzAhmsRfpnoDXzGiAfKdZI7h792ej0_thumb.jpg (http://www.pixentral.com/show.php?picture=1bzAhmsRfpnoDXzGiAfKdZI7h792ej0)

I made marquee selections of four rectangles using the marquee tool with "add selection" chosen

Then I was able to stroke all four at the same time because all four were still actively selected (marching ants} and all on the same layer

Then I opened the photo and used
select> all
edit> copy

Then I went to my frames and chose
edit> paste into selection

Parts of the one photo were then pasted into each of my rectangles.

I think it looks kinda cool. LOL

[bkarcher2]

Thanks to everyone helping me....I'm on vacation and can't try out all your suggestions till I get home...I'll let you all know how I do...I did manage to get to a Borders and purchase 3 more books on Elements....I'm determined to master this !!!!I know I'm crazy !....