Trying to merge images together for book cover

[sodakotahusker]

I have brought my two images in and created layers with them. However I can't get the one image to fit over the other.
There is a brick wall and a picture of a girl. I want the girl leaning on top of the wall. However - if I bring the girl down where she should go - she hangs over the wall - so I send that image to the back. However a white part of the image of the brick wall then hides the bottom of the girl.
I had a friend put all the images together for me in Paint Shop Pro - but the resolution was not high enough and when I converted the images were distorted. I figured it was time I learn how to use this program, so I can be self sufficient - but I need some help getting there.
Thanks for any pointers you might be able to share with me about merging multiple graphics into on image and allowing some of them to overlap.

[JonE]

It's kind of hard to tell from your write up. How about posting a sample or two of the work onto pixcentral and then post it here for people to see and comment. You could scrub out the face if needed for privacy.

[sodakotahusker]

Here are the two elements I mentioned.
http://www.pixentral.com/hosted/1zqZtVZEf66Y1m7oPNYZvyey6dABv5_thumb.jpg (http://www.pixentral.com/show.php?picture=1zqZtVZEf66Y1m7oPNYZvyey6dABv5)

http://www.pixentral.com/hosted/1jpV2HyH39dFhAptmQnrf5J3HMg6G_thumb.jpg (http://www.pixentral.com/show.php?picture=1jpV2HyH39dFhAptmQnrf5J3HMg6G)



here is the image I'm trying to get
http://www.pixentral.com/hosted/1rChwIQPDJZil2GzvpaCE3dt1y32Hb_thumb.jpg (http://www.pixentral.com/show.php?picture=1rChwIQPDJZil2GzvpaCE3dt1y32Hb)



Thanks for looking at this!!!
Don (PS: I grew up 40 miles from Pipestone Minnesota)

[Bayla]

Don,

Looks and sounds to me as if you need some sort of layer mask so that you can mask out the portions you don't want to show. As Elements doesn't have one many of us here use the mask from Grant's Tools (http://www.cavesofice.org/~grant/Challenge/Tools/Files.html).

Bayla

[kevq]

Don,
here's a screen shot of one I did very quickly.
To cut the girl from her background I used the Magic wand tool.
the scrn shot shows the layer order.
I would suggest that you take Corey's class on Layers. Layers and Masks are the heart of Elements.
Kev.

http://www.pixentral.com/hosted/18LmmY0NubkyLnomTnOH68321nLr_thumb.jpg (http://www.pixentral.com/show.php?picture=18LmmY0NubkyLnomTnOH68321nLr)

[sodakotahusker]

That is great - but I need to know if you had to use Grants tools (or some other addon) - or if you did this only with the original Elements of PE?
Thanks!!!
Don

[kevq]

Don,
the ony tool I used was the Magic Wand Tool. With that I selected all the outside of the girl.
Kev.

[Bayla]

And here's what I did using a couple of layer masks from Grant's Tools. Like Kev I used the magic wand tool to select and then remove the background from the girl, then a layer mask to delete the bits of her that I didn't want showing in front of the wall. Then I used a second layer mask to bring bits of grass in front of the wall. (I also used a soft eraser brush to delete the edge of the wall)

http://www.pixentral.com/hosted/1UZAL2PrV9rjUZFh55PbjoLCGGY4jq_thumb.jpg (http://www.pixentral.com/show.php?picture=1UZAL2PrV9rjUZFh55PbjoLCGGY4jq)

Grant has a set of Videos (http://www.cavesofice.org/~grant/Challenge/Tools/RunTools.html) explaining how to use his tools, including the layer mask.

Bayla

[sodakotahusker]

Thank Bayla for the Grant tools suggestion. I have downloaded it.
Kev - thanks so much for your input. I was able to cut the white pixels from the wall and move the girl's picture over it just like I wanted. I could only see the bottom part of the girl however because the screen cut off. I'll play more with it tonight.
This is really cool stuff. I've been using PE for months just to resize pictures. It's time I learn to harnass its power.
I was checking out your gallery, Kev. Love the butterfly morph one!! I found Cory's (and others ) lessons there as well - thanks).
Thanks again!
Don

[sodakotahusker]

By the way - I'm using version 5. Am I missing any important functionality by not having 6?

[Bayla]

I'm using 3! (Although I do have 6 as well, I just had to temporarily uninstall as I'm having memory problems with my computer.) I find I can do nearly everything I want with 3 so I'm sure you'll have no problems with version 5.

Matt Koslowski's online course on Layers and Corey Barker's on Creative Elements can now be found over at www.kelbytraining.com (http://www.kelbytraining.com). Like Kev I'd recommend them both. Matt's course was done on version 4 and Corey's on version 5.

Bayla

[sodakotahusker]

The instructions for installing don't seem to apply to PE 5. The directories specified for putting the files in don't exist.

[Bayla]

Don,

Here are the instructions for installing Grant's Tools in PSE5 (with thanks to Tony!):

Unzip and put the two folders into the following location:

C:\Documents and Settings\All Users\Application Data\Adobe\Photoshop Elements\5.0\Photo Creations\special effects

Note that in Windows this is a hidden folder so "Show hidden folders and files" has to be enabled to be able to navigate to this spot. A good way to do this is to create a shortcut to this special effects folder on your desktop.

Restart PSE5 and Grant's Tools (with thumbnails) will appear in Artwork and Effects under Special Effects.

Bayla

[kevq]

Don,
I use both 5 and 6. 6 does have some things that 5 doesn't but I think you should stay with 5 until you feel more comfortable with Elements, then think about 6.
Kev.

[sodakotahusker]

Can you contact me about the possibility of using one of your pictures on a book cover? Thanks!!!
scaramouche9999 at yahoo dot com
Don