cookie cutter does not work

[jamesfrmphilly]

in the tutorial it says click and drag the shape onto the image.
when ever i click, all i get is the shape menu.
it will not drag a shape.
it just toggles back and forth turning the shape menu on and off.

[Wendy]

Right lets start again from the beginning ... are you doing this:

Click on the cookie cutter tool
Select your shape (at the top of the screen)
Click on your image ... hold and drag

It maybe that the shape menu is getting in the way ... so try clicking once on your image (The shape menu should vanish then) and then click and drag.

Have you looked at the Video tips section here? ... there is a video clip on the use of the cookie cutter and it maybe easier if you actually see someone using it.



Wendy

[jamesfrmphilly]

yes, i have looked at the video and two books.
i can not get it to work.

in the video, he clicks on the shape and drags it.
when i do that same thing, i get the shape menu and no drag.
when ever i click, i get the shape menu.

have you been able to drag a shape?

[Jodi Frye]

I think it's time to reset your preferences. Usually when stuff doesn't work this usually cures it.

hold down alt+ctrl+shift a split second after launching the editor portion of the program. A pop up window will ask if you want to fix the settings..or something like that ( they changed the text since previous versions ) just click yes or ok and the program will launch from there with the default settings. If you don't get the pop up, try again.....it's a quick three finger/clickin process.

[editor]

I'm guessing that you're right-clicking. That pops up the shapes menu. Instead use the left mouse button and it should work.

[MikeH]

yes, i have looked at the video and two books.
i can not get it to work.

in the video, he clicks on the shape and drags it.
when i do that same thing, i get the shape menu and no drag.
when ever i click, i get the shape menu.

have you been able to drag a shape?

There is no need to reset your preferences, what you are trying to do isn't how it works!! Clicking on the shape opens the window - you have to select the cookie cutter from the menu and drag from there - you can't drag straight off the shape icon on the tool bar...

If you watch the video carefully, David clicks the small arrow to the right of the shape to open the menu and (evenually) selects the shape from the menu. David then clicks on the small arrow (not the shape) to close the menu. He has alreday selected the shape from the menu, that's why it may appear that he is dragging from the toolbar...

But what you can do is drag the current shape selected from the Cookie Cutter icon itself. So if you don't want to change the shape, just select the heart icon and then make your selection...

Mike

[Wendy]

I didn't think of that one :( ... comes of being a Mac user and not having a right click.


Wendy

[MikeH]

Wendy,

Whether you right or left click, it opens the menu, but per my earlier post, that's how it is...

Mike

[Wendy]

Mike,

I thought that he may be trying to do that ... and thats why I said in my original reply:

click on the image ... hold and drag.


Wendy

[jamesfrmphilly]

Mike,

I thought that he may be trying to do that ... and thats why I said in my original reply:

click on the image ... hold and drag.


Wendy
FYI - when you say "image" i think of the picture in my edit space that i am working with.
is that what you mean?

[MikeH]

No, by "Image" Wendy is referring to the cutting shape not your photo...

Are you clear now about this?

To use the Cookie Cutter Tool you first need to select which shape you want...

Press Q to select the Cookie Cutter Tool (or use the heart shaped icon on the Toolbox).

Go to the Options Bar and click the arrow to reveal the menu - if you click the shape it will also reveal the menu.

Find the shape you want from the Custom Shape Picker, then click and drag it over the image you are editing.

You can use the Cookie Cutter by just selecting the tool (Press Q) and then dragging over the image, but this will use the last shape selected.

Mike

[jamesfrmphilly]

after reviewing the video three more times: if i click with the cursor on top of my picture, i get the cookie cutter "image".

next problem, when i try to drag and position the shape over my picture, my picture disappears and i get a checkerboard pattern.

i am finding photoshop to be VERY difficult to use!
it's taking me three days just to get part way through one tool and i am an intelligent person.

i have gone to my local university and signed up for a class in photoshop.
this cost me $438 in addition to the $90 i have spent on books so far(the class requires yet another book).

so i am now pushing $600 in costs to try to learn how to use a $99 piece of software and i'm still struggling.

i am an intelligent person and i'm dieing here.

can anyone tell me what to do about the checker board pattern and how i can get my picture back?

[MikeH]

James,

The checkerboard should represent the area that you are cutting away. What you should finish up with is your photo cropped to the shape you selected surrounded by checkerboard - the area of your picture that lay outside the shape...

Did you release the mouse before you dragged the shape to the size you want?

You can get the photo back by clicking on the "No Entry" or "No Way" sign just unde the Date View Button a tthe top of the screen.

If you want help with this PM me and I will go through it with you step by step - I will stay on line... :)

Mike

[MikeH]

Mike,

I thought that he may be trying to do that ... and thats why I said in my original reply:

click on the image ... hold and drag.


Wendy

Wendy,

James sent me a PM saying that he's given up on it. :?

Shame, I think we have tried to help him...

Mike

[Wendy]

Oh that is such a shame! ....

I still remember how hard I found PSE2 when I first got it ... there were days when I just didn't think I would ever pick it up. However ... after a while it just seemed to get easier.


Wendy

[MikeH]

Wendy,

He said he's going to buy a cpy of CS instead :shock:

Mike

[Wendy]

Mike,

Oh Gosh ... I sometimes use CS and its much more complicated ... but there isn't a Cookie cutter :)


Wendy

[MikeH]

Wendy,

Looks like he's going to be pretty disappointed then... and all that money!

Mike

[MikeH]

Mike,

Oh Gosh ... I sometimes use CS and its much more complicated ... but there isn't a Cookie cutter :)


Wendy

Wendy,

If you have both, what do you use PE3 for instead of CS and visa versa?

Just interested...

Mike