Centering A Selection Area

[Simenon]

Some weeks ago I read in a magazine tutorial of a keyboard sequence for automatically centering a selection area on a photo. Simple scenario: drawing a rectangular selection on a photo and then wishing to center that selection area within the photo's dimensions. Unfortunately, I have already forgotten the keyboard sequence, which did work just fine, and a quick dive into the many recent photo magazines (and their companion CDs) which I have on hand has failed to resurrect the sequence. Does anyone know the secret? Even the Missing Manual doesn't mention this.

Using Elements 4.

~ Simenon

[TonyW]

I can think of a couple of ways. The simplest is probably to set up a grid in Preferences with a Gridline at 50% with 1 subdivision. Turn on Show Grid and Snap to Grid and then holding down the Alt key click close to the grid intersection and drag the selection out from there. The selection should snap to the centre and should stay exactly centred when you drag it out.

There's another way using the Shift key and pasting to a new temporary layer but if the above does what you want it's simpler to do (and explain!).

Tony

[Simenon]

Hi Tony - the Grid was not involved in the explanation but I am sure the Shift key was. Wish I could remember more of the details.

~ Simenon

[GaryK]

I think the shift key only works when you are draggng in a layer or photo from another project. I just always use Grants or Graffis transform selection.

[frank abramonte]

If you copy the photo and use paste into it will be automatically positioned in the center of the new document.
However, if what your copying is larger then what your pasting into you won't see the edges, but it will be in the center.

[TonyW]

Hi Tony - the Grid was not involved in the explanation but I am sure the Shift key was. Wish I could remember more of the details.

~ Simenon

The shift way would go something like this. Make your selection, copy, deselect, paste while holding down shift. That will put your original selection on a new layer but centred. Select it (Ctrl click on the new layer), go back to the original layer and you now have a centred selection (the layer on which you pasted can be deleted). There would be variations on this depending on exactly what you want to do but the key is that shift paste centres the paste on the canvas.

I prefer the grid :)

Tony

[GaryK]

Once the two images are in the layers pallet you can highlight both using ctrl,then, with the move tool active, use the align choices from the top options bars.

[Tina_B]

Make your selection while holding down the space bar. As long ast the space bar is held down you can move the selection where ever you want. You can also move the selection with the arrow keys. I line the center of the selection up on the rulers at the top and side of the page.
Tina B

[Simenon]

I appreciate the feedback from one and all, but I am really not dealing with two images. Just a single image, a selection made on it which I want to auto-center on that single image - not copy to another layer or anything like that.

Tony - the grid snap using the Alt key does not seem to work in my PSE 4. I'll try your other method when I get back to my PC, but somehow that doesn't sound familiar. I may have to review a dozen or more videos to rediscover the tactic. If I have any luck I will post it here.

~ Sim

[TonyW]

Tina: That's a very good one. If you use the 50% grid I mentioned above when you move it around (with the mouse) it will snap to the centre when it gets close. That's a very good way to do it that I'll have to remember. Thanks.

Tony

[TonyW]

Tony - the grid snap using the Alt key does not seem to work in my PSE 4. ~ Sim

Strange: I just tried it on my PSE4 (Windows). You have to be close to the centre for it to snap and the Alt key just expands the selection from the centre. It maybe the timing of when you hold down Alt - sometimes it can be a bit touchy although when I just tried it didn't seem to matter if I Alt Clicked or Clicked Alt :)

Tony

[frank abramonte]

Simenon, it seems simpler to make a blank document the same size and resolution of the photo you want to center and use the copy and paste suggestion I made. Then trash the old photo.
It would take all of 15-20 seconds.

[Simenon]

Searching the Internet I did find this:

If you click with the mouse and then hold down the ALT key before dragging then the rectangle or ellipse will have their center where you first clicked.

That seems to work well when used in conjunction wirh the grid. I center the selection crosshairs at the center join of the grid and indeed the subsequent selection marquee does center.

I will investigate the other approaches mentioned here as well.

~ Sim

[Daviskw]

I’m not aware of any single key sequence for centering a selection.

But you can;

Make any selection with any tool...even an oddball one with the lasso.

Now with the selection active press

Ctrl+C
Ctrl+D
Ctrl+V

A new layer will be inserted in the pallet…Ctrl click on the thumbnail

Now drag the new layer to the trashcan.

Your even or odd selection will be exactly centered in your document.

Sounds complicated but really takes 5 seconds to do.

Butch

[Simenon]

Hi Butch - with slight modification I can make your scheme work. After the Control C-D-V the selection area is indeed pasted at the center of a new layer. If I Trash that layer though all the selection is gone including the marquee (though the Control + D takes that out before that point anyway, but if the Control D is not done the selection will not be centered on the new layer). However, what I want to center is the marquee itself and not the copy contained in the marquee, So after the selection is centered to the new layer using your Control commands, I select that new layer, use the Magic wand to select the blank space outside the copied area and then Inverse the selection. Then I use the Backspace key to the elements inside the marquee and I am left with a perfectly centered empty marquee over my original picture just as I wanted.

BTW, I don't believe my Snap To Grid feature is functioning which may be why Tony's suggestion does not work.

~ Sim

[Daviskw]

Hi there sim

When you press control V the selection is pasted center document on a new layer... You then hold the control key and click on this new layers thumbnail...this activates the selection. You missed this step in my directions I believe.

Then when you delete the new layer the selection alone remains in the center.

Butch

[Simenon]

Hi Butch - you are absolutely correct. I did not miss the mention of the Control key but thought I was supposed to hold it down while trashing the thumbnail. Just tried it and your original recipe does work. Thanks for the comeback. That sequence of commands may have been the one mentioned in the tutorial I haven't yet been able to locate.

Thanx everyone for your input and assistance with my problem.

~ Sim