shadow/stroke question (cs3)

[mom to 4]

Sorry, this is really a CS3 question, that I used to be easily able to accomplish in elements via Matt's July 8,05 tutorial. I cannot do the same in CS3 and I am sure I am just missing something.

I am making up a template. Three photos across. I want to put a stroke and a all around the photos once they are PLACED into the template. I tried to add the stroke and the shadow to the layer where I am going to place the photo ad it is perfect. Perfect right up until I PLACE the photo. The stroke and shadow disappear, and I understand why... because the photo is above. I thought when I merged them the stroke and shadow would show, it doesn't

Any suggestions??? Wendy???

[kimi_boo]

Colleen...
if your stoke with the shadow applied is above the picture layer you should be fine?

[mom to 4]

hmmmm... how to I explain this. My template is made.... blank tan square. I have the stroke & shadow applied. I go to PLACE, drop the pic, it is ABOVE the template layer, where I think it has to be right?????? No??? I I have my template I have to place my photo ABOVE that layer don't I? If I place it below, I will get the tan square over the photo. I am just lost!!!!!:confused::confused::confused:

[kimi_boo]

ok... your picture should go below the template and you stroke layer should be on it's own layer. If you have a tan square where the picture should go? (I would think it should be transparent) can you use your rectangle marquee to delete the tan part. Then you can slide your picture under and put your stroke layer above.

[mom to 4]

How do you put a layer style on a transparent layer???? I thought you had to have something there?????

[kimi_boo]

you will have to have your stroke on it's own layer and add the layer style to the stroke.;)

[mom to 4]

Ok, so if I put the stroke on its own layer and add the shadow to that, and keep my photo below the stroke (on my tan square) it should work???????

Ok, that sh=ounds easy enough, but how do I stroke a layer that has nothing.... wait I have to think about this, I might figure it out.... oh, my poor damaged brain!!!! :confused::(:o;)

[kimi_boo]

Colleeen.... make a new blank layer. use your rectangel marquee to draw a square where you want your image to be. now on your blank layer with your selection showing you can add a stroke.

[mom to 4]

I'm trying.... I will be right back

[mom to 4]

Ok,, I did that. I had to go to EDIT>stroke rather than the stroke from the layers palette, now, how to I add a drop shadow inside the stroke all the way around it (no just on the bottom and one side))??????????

kimi, I love you!!!!!

[kimi_boo]

inside the stoke?

make a copy of your stroke layer. hit "D" to set your colors to default highlight the one that it lower. go to edit, fill, make sure you check the box that says.. preserver transparency and pick foreground for color.

It should have filled your stroke layer black. make sure you have no marching ants and go to filter, blur, gas blur. play with it until you like the effect.

now this should give you a shadow all the way around. on the inside and outside. if you don't want it to show on the outside? erase it.

Does some of this help?

[mom to 4]

Help???? Kimi I am printing it off so I never forget!!! I have spent about 7 hours on this.... yesterday and today!!!

off to try the shadow... be right back

[kimi_boo]

Colleen... you should never make yourself that crazy. Just ask!! ;):)
I am happy to help.

[mom to 4]

lost again.

1. I duplicated my stroke layer.

2. Hit D (black is top color/white bottom)

3. Went to the original stroke layer

4.Edit>Fill

Foregound color
mode: Normal
check preserve transparency.

NOTHING HAPPENS!!!!

[mom to 4]

should I have marching ants around the stroke when I hit fill????

[kimi_boo]

is your stroke already black?
you should have two stoke layers. you will want to blur the one that is on the lower layer. that is also the one you want to make black.

it sounds like you are doing it correctly? :confused:

[kimi_boo]

should I have marching ants around the stroke when I hit fill????
no ants are needed.

[mom to 4]

I cannot get inside the stroke to fill with black. Yes, the stroke is already black but inside it is not. Don't I want that to be black now????

[kimi_boo]

ok.. now you kinda lost me?

if your stroke was black to begin with. all you have to do is make a copy and blur the bottom one.

do you want to fill the entire area where the picture will be with black?

[mom to 4]

I am thinkint that when I do this I should have a full black box where I cannot differentiate between the strok and the center, riight??? Am I supposed to be on the paint box tool?????

[kimi_boo]

why?????

your picture will be there and the stroke will be around the picture. if you fill with black, how will your picture show.

add your picture and see what you think. I need to feed the dog but I will check back. :)

[mom to 4]

What I am looking for is to have a black shadow all around the picture I insert inside the black stroke. Just like a drop shadow, only all around the edges, not over powering, but to make the photo look recessed.....

Did I miss something. Are you making the stroke bleed into the pictre to give the same effect?????

[kimi_boo]

yes... blurring the bottom stroke will give this effect. :)

[mom to 4]

I just want to have a little recessed look to the photo. I know Matt did it in his tutorial on 7/8/05 in the subscriber section, but I cannot get that to work in cs3. Ok, I will try to blurr the bottom stroke!!!

Thanks Kimi!!!

[kimi_boo]

adding an all around drop shadow will make it stand out. not really a recessed look.

here is a tut Wendy did.
http://www.photoshopelementsuser.com/subscriber/tutorials/tw_raisingimage.php

you are doing the same thing except only on the stroke.

hope this helps. :)

I will check back later. If you need me you can leave me a PM here or here.
http://www.photoshopcreativeelements.com/index.php

do let me know if you worked it out?
big hug!!

[Boater]

Hi kimiboo,
following your advice to mom to 4 re drop shadow using
Wendys tut couldn't understand why i kept getting a
recessed effect instead of a raised one finally when the
grey matter began to work, i realized why if you fill the
marching ants layer with the paint bucket instead of the
brush this is what happens. something else i've learned
by a mistake( what a programme Elem 5)
Norm

[mom to 4]

Don't feel bad, my gray matter has worked well since May 6th!!!!

That being said, I went back in and deleted all my layers and did it again, and it actually worked, and I didn't even have to put the stroke on a separate layer. God only know what the heck I have been doing.... both before and after!!!!! ;):D

[kimi_boo]

oh... Colleen. I am so glad you worked it all out. :D

Hi Norm. :)

[Boater]

Hi kimi,
thanks for your greeting, its comforting to know you guys are
always there to help
Norm