Edge Fading Softly

[Grammy]

Could someone please walk me through how to make the edges of a photo fade away softly in Photoshop Elements 6? Thanks,
Terry

[Diana]

Hi Terry,

That's called a vignette. Here's my version:

Alt-Double-Click your photo to make the background a regular layer.

Ctrl-Click on Create New Layer icon in the layers palette header. This will give you a new blank layer beneath your photo.

Fill the blank layer with White: Edit > Fill Layer > Use: White

Select the Marquee tool - Elliptical or Rectangular, depending on if you want an oval or rectangular fade.

On the Photo layer, drag on your photo with the Marquee tool to select the area you would like to remain unfaded. You should have plenty of room between this selection and the edges of the photo. If you don't get the selection where you want it, Ctrl-D to deselect and try again.

Feather the selection: Select > Feather - Enter an amount 50 to 60 pixels - you may have to adjust this amount depending on the size and resolution of your photo.

Inverse the selection: Select > Inverse

Press the Delete key

Hope this is what you wanted.

Diana

[Grammy]

Diana,
Thanks a bunch! I followed your instructions and got the exact result I was looking for!

If you will tell me how, I'd like to attach the photo here and ask a little more advice about it.

Thanks again,
Terry

[Diana]

Sure, Terry. Many of us here use Pixentral to post examples of images. You should save your image in JPG format to your desktop or someplace else where you can easily find it to upload it.

You can find instructions for using Pixentral in this thread:

http://www.elementsvillage.com/forums/showthread.php?t=30761

Diana

[Grammy]

Thanks, Diana. I'm posting the original scan, and two "worked on" versions. I need to have one printed out without the faded edge for a frame and a smaller one with the faded edge for a bookmark. Please critique and give suggestions. Remember, I'm new, so don't know all the correct ways of doing things! But, I want to learn - so be real with me! I want somewhat of a gold cast (instead of sepia or b/w) since it is to use for their golden anniversary. I have taken out the people and bricks in the background and replaced it with a mottled one. I've touched up the specks and mans shiny forehead. I've removed the hands that were holding the man's arm (those of another woman!). The image seems to just be laid on top of the background, something not right with the edges to me. I appreciate your help with this special project!
http://www.pixentral.com/hosted/1j3BIDncPXUxFPA0JjBtcWTeLbf0wM_thumb.jpg (http://www.pixentral.com/show.php?picture=1j3BIDncPXUxFPA0JjBtcWTeLbf0wM)

http://www.pixentral.com/hosted/1ep611yAaNntKpTUDYxbFHqVztPw05_thumb.jpg (http://www.pixentral.com/show.php?picture=1ep611yAaNntKpTUDYxbFHqVztPw05)

http://www.pixentral.com/hosted/1UvQ1ZAp46dv0o3TTnyJ6Pia0PTG1_thumb.jpg (http://www.pixentral.com/show.php?picture=1UvQ1ZAp46dv0o3TTnyJ6Pia0PTG1)

Thanks,
Terry

[Diana]

Terry,

First of all, the edits, extraction of the subjects and the new background look very good. You are a quick study!:)

I copied your image and brought it into Elements and it could use a slight Levels adjustment to improve the lighting a bit. On the layer with the subjects, Press Ctrl-L and when the histogram pops up, drag the left slider to the right just a little until it meets where the "mountains" start.

http://www.pixentral.com/hosted/1bGglv2tuxkYCiJev3oFqGfOU9wrjE_thumb.jpg (http://www.pixentral.com/show.php?picture=1bGglv2tuxkYCiJev3oFqGfOU9wrjE)

To make the subjects blend in and look more natural, there are a couple things you can do. I hope you still have your image with the layers intact.

The edges of the extraction are a little hard and also have a slight light-colored fringe in some areas. You can remove that fringe and soften the edges at the same time by using the Eraser tool with a med-small soft-edged brush and run that around the edges, but not too far in from the edge, just slightly. Another tool that you can use to soften edges like that is the Blur tool, by running that around close to the edge.

If you notice in the original photo, there is a slight shadow behind and to the lower left of the subjects' heads. If you desire, you can try to add a slight shadow back in to perhaps make it look more natural.

Make a new blank layer between the cutout subjects and the new background. Click the Foreground color chip and from the Color Picker take a sample of one of the darkest colors in the couple's layer. With a soft-edged Brush, set to about 50% opacity, paint on the blank layer in the lower left edges of the subjects' heads, just until a little shadow starts showing behind them. Since this is a separate layer, you can use the Eraser with a soft brush if you get too much shadow, and/or you can lower the Opacity of the shadow layer to make the shadow more subtle. Or if you don't like it, you can drag it to the trash.

Adding a shadow in is where you'll really notice the light edge fringe if you don't get that taken off.

The background seems to have some white flecks in it, like it's textured or something. This is just my opinion, but it seems kind of distracting from the subjects. A slight Gaussian Blur filter might soften the background up a bit.

I hope you don't think I'm being too critical, but you asked and these are some of the things I would do if I were working on this project. It's a lovely photo and I think they're going to love it, even if you left it just as it is.:)

Diana

[mljrbg]

Terry, I think you did a fabulous job and with Diana's help your picture will be better than perfect.

Mary Lou

[Martha]

You really did a nice job with your photo! The extraction and the removal of unwanted parts look great
Martha

[Grammy]

Diana, Mary Lou, and Martha,
Thanks so much for the kind words :D. The compliments make me want to continue learning this program even more.

Diana, you weren't being too critical. You told me just what I wanted to hear! I felt the photo was a little dark and didn't like how the specks showed up on that background either. So, you noticed some of the same things I did, I just wasn't sure anything could be done for those areas.

I printed out a copy of the photos just as they are to take a look at the coloring. It matches the frame very well, so I'll leave the tint just as it is. However, Monday I plan to work on the areas you have given me instructions for. Tomorrow, I'll have my family here and playing with my 3 grandbabies, so Photoshop will have to wait another day!

I'll post here again when I've taken the steps you suggested. Thanks again very much for your help.

Terry

[Grammy]

Diane,
I've gotten back to the task of editing this photo again. Thanks so much for your insight on making the picture better.

When I went back to the photo I had attached here, I believe it had already been flattened. I couldn't see any of the individual layers. So...I started over!

I made a different background layer that didn't have all the specks in it. Then found the guassian blur and used it for the first time ever (I had to search and search for it! I'm glad you called it the guassian blur filter, that finally led me to find the filter tab on the right side of the window. Don't know if I'll ever remember how to find it again though!) That blur really makes a big difference.

I erased the edge of the subject layer as you suggested, then used a blur brush and went over the edge again. I also made the levels adjustment as you described.

Lastly, I made another layer and added the shadow behind the subjects heads. I hope I didn't make too wide of a shadow. But, if you think I did, it can be changed!

Now another problem...I can't remember how I got the photo the color it was before. I think I flattened the image to make final adjustments and then changed the image to black and white. Then somehow stumbled across something to change the color. It seems that I remember being able to choose the exact color I wanted, but I'm not sure. I remember at some point going tn the color variation area and selecting lighter or darker and also remove blue. When I did that however, the color didn't turn out the same.

I've got another image I'm working with that will go in the same frame (the same couple 50 years older), so they have to be the same color. I've already gotten the other image printed---but if I have to, I'll just turn the second image back to black and white and then recolor with the same method you suggest for the present one. The other image was just a simple scan, turn black and white, then change the color.

So, please critique again and offer any suggestions for the photo editing. Also, could you please tell me how to get my previous color back on the image. I have kept the layers seperate in this photo now!

New Photo Version with suggested adjustments by Diane - still needs color and soft edge as in before photo.
http://www.pixentral.com/hosted/1qYYLpbBuQ7EfZcGWBpDSGCXAgyoR0_thumb.jpg (http://www.pixentral.com/show.php?picture=1qYYLpbBuQ7EfZcGWBpDSGCXAgyoR0)


Photo before making changes as suggested by Dianne - but with edge and color I need to apply to new photo version.
http://www.pixentral.com/hosted/1tIMB7xWBnzHKpptwtJEIsIP9UAWzG_thumb.jpg (http://www.pixentral.com/show.php?picture=1tIMB7xWBnzHKpptwtJEIsIP9UAWzG)

Here is the original photo
http://www.pixentral.com/hosted/1vvhwH6GlEJYMWar9rx60HsR9S32ME_thumb.jpg (http://www.pixentral.com/show.php?picture=1vvhwH6GlEJYMWar9rx60HsR9S32ME)
Thanks a bunch, I'm looking forward to hearing from you again and moving on to the next steps!
Terry

[ljameso1]

Looks like you've made great progress. Might consider softening the shadow by either decreasing opacity on that layer and/or applying a gaussian blur.
As for the sepia tone try adding a photofilter adjustment layer and choosing the sepia one.

[Grammy]

Thanks, Linda. I'll try softening and the guassian blur on the shadows. Would you please explain a little more about how to go about getting the same color as I had in the middle photo of my previous post (the one with the faded edges)?

[Grammy]

Okay, here is the photo after completing the softening and guassian blur on the shadows as Linda suggested.

Anything else?

Still need to know the process to get the color back to what it was in the middle photo of my post here at 5:21 today. Please refer to that and let me know how I got that color (I can't figure out how to get it back :eek:).

http://www.pixentral.com/hosted/1v1kXt4Hexd8872Zav0seDGrPfX0T_thumb.jpg (http://www.pixentral.com/show.php?picture=1v1kXt4Hexd8872Zav0seDGrPfX0T)
Thanks,
Terry

[Diana]

I agree with Linda, Grammy. The shadow layer could use more Gaussian Blur and/or lower the opacity some so you can't see a definite edge to the shadow. The shadow of their heads should be more rounded, like their heads. Imagine a light coming from the upper right and making a shadow of their heads on the wall. Make sure you paint the shadow on a layer beneath the subjects' layer and "underlap" it so there's no gap between the shadow and the cutout people. It looks like there are some light areas between the shadow and the people.

Sometimes it takes experience to get a shadow to look natural. If you want to, you can just leave the shadow out and it will look fine.

Also, does her hair go straight down her back, or should there be a little indent where her hair curls under above her collar?

I experimented with your gold toned image and the closest I could come was #968b4c.

I don't know what method you used, but this is what I did. Make a blank layer above your image (you don't have to flatten it). Click on the Foreground Color and at the bottom of the RGB numbers at the # enter 968b4c, or experiment with other colors.

Fill the blank layer with Edit > Fill Layer > Use: Foreground Color. Then change the Blend Mode of that layer to Overlay. If it's too much color, you can lower the opacity of the color layer. Here's my quick try. I just used a readymade background I have.

http://www.pixentral.com/hosted/1z150s04ZkVr3YbBczFBfDwKCeNEh0_thumb.jpg (http://www.pixentral.com/show.php?picture=1z150s04ZkVr3YbBczFBfDwKCeNEh0)

Edit: I wrote the above before I saw your new post, I just hadn't clicked Send (I multi-task and work on 2 or 3 things at once when I'm on the computer). Your redo of the shadow looks much better.

Diana

[Grammy]

Diana,
Thanks again for your detailed instructions on fixing this photo! I will be gone all day today, but will work some more on the shadow and color change tonight. And yes, you are right about the hair, it should have an indention at the collar level. I kept looking, thinking something didn't look right with her head and back. Thanks for figuring it out for me! I guess all that area was dark when I selected the subjects, so the selection line took it all in. I'll take it out tonight.
Thanks again,
Terry

[Diana]

Grammy (do you have a first name we can call you?),

Here's perhaps an easier way to make your shadow, although more steps.


Make a new blank layer beneath your cutout subjects and make that layer active.
Ctrl-click on the cutout subject's layer to get a selection from that shape.
Go to Select > Modify > Contract and enter 4 or 5 pixels.
Edit > Fill Selection > Black
Deselect with Ctrl-D to get rid of the marching ants.
Then Filter > Blur > Gaussian Blur - drag the slider until you get a good soft shadow showing around your cutout - probably 50 or more.
Still making sure the shadow layer is active, get the Move tool, then press Ctrl-T to get free transform.
Drag the shadow to the left and down until it looks like their heads are shadowed on the background.
On the shadow layer, lower the opacity to about 75% or whatever looks good to you.

This is the method I use most often, I just didn't take the time to write out the steps for my initial instructions. Painting in the shadow works if you are more experienced with shadows, but this method takes the guesswork out of shape and size to make the shadow. The shadow will automatically be the right shape and you just drag it to the position you need. You do have to study each image you use it in to determine where the light source is coming from to know which side to move the shadow to.

Hope this works for you.

Diana

[Grammy]

Hi,
Diana, my name is Terry. I typed it on most of my posts, but maybe it wasn't visible. Thanks so much for all your help on this project. I've made the hair, overlay and shadow adjustments per your instructions. I really appreciate you being so specific with them. They were very easy for this newbie to follow. Thanks for sharing your shadow technique with me - I think I was able to get it looking a lot more natural this way.

Please let me know what you think of the photo with all the edits. I think it's come a long, long way from what I started out with thanks to the continued help and encouragement from you folks!

Thanks a bunch,
Terry
(always open to critiquing-that's the best way for me to learn :D)
http://www.pixentral.com/hosted/1Uf7DRvqGOrYRBfpWP22GPlpnbnT1_thumb.jpg (http://www.pixentral.com/show.php?picture=1Uf7DRvqGOrYRBfpWP22GPlpnbnT1)

[Diana]

Terry, yes indeedy, you do have your name at the bottom of your posts and I even used your name in one of my posts, duh.:o I guess I was just focusing on the big "Grammy" at the top.

Your latest version of your image looks GREAT! So glad my instructions were helpful to you.

Diana

[Grammy]

Thank you for your kind words about the photo, Diana. I could never have done it without your help! Let me remind you of my first attempt with this project before your excellent instructions on each step along the way...
http://www.pixentral.com/hosted/1ep611yAaNntKpTUDYxbFHqVztPw05_thumb.jpg (http://www.pixentral.com/show.php?picture=1ep611yAaNntKpTUDYxbFHqVztPw05)

Here is what you helped me make (with some help from Linda also)
http://www.pixentral.com/hosted/1Uf7DRvqGOrYRBfpWP22GPlpnbnT1_thumb.jpg (http://www.pixentral.com/show.php?picture=1Uf7DRvqGOrYRBfpWP22GPlpnbnT1)

Now I've referred back to your instructions from the very first post (remember, the one that started this whole process - the question asking how to make an "edge fading softly" into the background)! For some reason, this time the edges didn't fade as softly as they did previously. I followed your instructions in the original post you made here - except I had to choose the layers individually to get the fading out. It seemed to leave a larger white border instead of gradually getting soft though. Do you know what I've done wrong here?
http://www.pixentral.com/hosted/1CKANJZYUq4fjCmESHv6mfkrM9IMRj_thumb.jpg (http://www.pixentral.com/show.php?picture=1CKANJZYUq4fjCmESHv6mfkrM9IMRj)

I'm going to save all your instructions in this thread - if I can figure out how! Maybe you can help me out one more time with this project after all :eek:?! Please don't overlook my future posts because you are afraid you'll have to critique over and over before we're through! You're a great teacher and excellent about giving baby steps to achieve the desired results!

Thanks again,
Terry

[Diana]

Terry, the vignetting doesn't work that well trying to do it on each layer individually. You are multiplying the soft edges with all of them on top of each other, so they aren't that soft any more.

Try this - rather than flatten the image (you may want the layers later on for some reason), you can create a composite of all the layers at the top of the layers stack.

Make sure all the layers you want are visible. Press Ctrl-Shift-Alt-E to create a new composite layer at the top. Create a white filled layer beneath that. Then make your composite layer active and proceed with the vignette effect on that layer. Hopefully, that will get the effect you want.

Don't worry about me ignoring your future questions. I love an eager learner who doesn't give up until they get it right. I'm more than glad to help.

Diana

[Grammy]

Hi Diane,
It's me again! I'm so glad that you like to work with people like me. I just can't stand to have something "almost right". Gotta keep plugging along till it's something I can be proud of. I'm almost there :D

I tried the vignette as you suggested above, but I think it looks pretty much the same as my last vignette edit, missing the wide softened edge. Please take a look and see what you think.

new vignette
http://www.pixentral.com/hosted/1eRXDrDBNVjcO2KCUyCUZZvPN9zRo1_thumb.jpg (http://www.pixentral.com/show.php?picture=1eRXDrDBNVjcO2KCUyCUZZvPN9zRo1)

Thanks for any additional help you can offer with this. If this is as good as it gets, I'll still be happy with it. My friend that I'm doing this for was happy with that very first try :confused:. She doesn't pay attention to details though. She would have a fit if she knew how much time I've spent on this one picture! But, look how much I've learned! That's what makes the time invested worth it to me :).

Terry

[Diana]

Okay then, it may be that in your Feather step, you aren't making your pixel amount high enough. I tried your image with a Feather of 40 pixels and it turned out like this. If your working image is higher resolution (hopefully it is, for printing), you may need 50 px or more.

http://www.pixentral.com/hosted/1GZwro02YZWbEKcILCxR803HFIH5PX_thumb.jpg (http://www.pixentral.com/show.php?picture=1GZwro02YZWbEKcILCxR803HFIH5PX)

Diana

[Grammy]

Okay, I guess this is as good as it gets! I tried changing the feather adjustment to 80 here. It still has more white around the edge instead of the photo area faded up to the edge. I'm thinking it is this way because I had to place the white layer under the control-alt-shift-e layer of the photo. Here is what I've ended up with. I'd still like to have it gradually faded until the edge without as much solid white showing (the original faded versions seemed to have it), but I guess I have to move on to actually putting it on the bookmarks and printing them!

http://www.pixentral.com/hosted/15nQvZwMFrX8OsnvYaA6eR12suzWGZ_thumb.jpg (http://www.pixentral.com/show.php?picture=15nQvZwMFrX8OsnvYaA6eR12suzWGZ)

Thank you again for ALL your help with this! I sure have learned alot. Because I've had to practice so many times now, I can make the faded edge & add a layer and fill it without even looking at your instructions!

I'm off to complete the project!
Terry

[Diana]

Terry,

As long as you have the white layer beneath your composite layer, then put the vignette on your composite layer, it should work.:confused: There must be something else going on with a setting somewhere.

Try a couple other options.....

When you have the Rectangular Marquee selected, in the options bar, there is a Feather setting. Try putting 40 or 50 in that box instead of using the Select > Feather command and see if works better. With the rectangular selection feathered, you should get very rounded corners to your selection. Then inverse the selection and press Delete.

Or try this. After saving your image, go to File > Duplicate and, in the dialog that pops up, give the duplicate image a new name and check the box "Flatten Layers in New File." Then, working on the flattened duplicate, add the white layer beneath the image and apply the vignette to the image.

Diana

[Grammy]

Hi Diana,
I tried both of the suggestions, but still got the same result with the white edge and just a small amount of faded area on the inside around the marquee selection line. Looks the same as my last version either way I tried it. Thanks for trying to figure this out. Maybe I'm supposed to be satisfied with what I have :confused:.
Terry

[Diana]

Terry,

Could you do this for me. With your image active, the Rectangular Marquee tool selected, and with the layers palette visible, take a screenshot of your screen (press the PrtScn button on your keyboard).

Then go to the menu: File > New > Image from Clipboard. Save that as a JPG on your desktop, then upload it to Pixentral and post.

I'd like to see if I can identify anything from the screenshot that may be out of whack.

Diana

[Grammy]

Hi Diana,
I can't believe you are still helping me with this one photo! But, I've learned something new today from you - how to take a screenshot and post it here. Never taken a screenshot before! I had to really look on this laptop to find the key. I won't tell you how long that one took me!

Here it is. It has the marquee selected and the feather still at 80 pixels. Let me know if you need any more information.

Also, notice the color of the overlay layer. I chose the color you suggested, and placed it on the foreground. Then choose for that layer to be the foreground color. For some reason, it looks different in the layers palette than it does on the foreground color section. Is that normal?

Also, could you tell me how to get rid of this screenshot on top of my photo in editor? I'm afraid that if I close out of editor it will save this screenshot with my image! It will stay open till I hear from you!!

http://www.pixentral.com/hosted/14MY0Vh9ER2upNJNLsJCwuLhthkHg0_thumb.jpg (http://www.pixentral.com/show.php?picture=14MY0Vh9ER2upNJNLsJCwuLhthkHg0)

Thanks,
Terry

[Diana]

Okayyyyyy.... I see the problem. Your image has a resolution of 1001 pixels per inch.:eek: A resolution of 300 ppi is the optimum for an image for printing, and 72 ppi for an image made for the web.

http://www.pixentral.com/hosted/1sEzaiQgzUQ7ZMeFYITWwUH6e5IOl41_thumb.jpg (http://www.pixentral.com/show.php?picture=1sEzaiQgzUQ7ZMeFYITWwUH6e5IOl41)

You must have started out with a very large image and then resized it smaller with Resample image unchecked, which kept all those pixels and packed them into a 4x4" image.

So when you entered to Feather 80 pixels, it's such a tiny fraction of the actual pixels, you aren't seeing much feathering.

Go to Image > Resize > Image Size and make sure Resample Image is checked, then at the top of the Image Size dialog, change the Width to 1200 pixels, then click OK.

Next go to Image > Resize > Image Size and make sure Resample Image is UNchecked, and change the Resolution to 300, then OK.

This shouldn't change the way your image looks. To make sure, Zoom in to 100% (shortcut: double click the Zoom tool) to see how it looks at 100%. You shouldn't see any pixelation.

Now try the vignette process (probably feathering 50 pixels will be enough), and it should look much more feathered.

If you don't trust messing with the pixels on your original image, duplicate it (like I mentioned in Post #24) and try this on the duplicate .

As far as getting rid of the screenshot, it shouldn't be in the same image as your project image. If it were in the same image, you'd see it in the layers palette as a layer.

Do you have your project bin open at the bottom of the workspace? If so, you should see both your project image and the screenshot as separate images. Just make sure the screenshot is the active image in the workspace, then File > Close.

Hope this solves it for you.:)

Diana.

[Grammy]

Hi Diane,
You sure are smart and I'm glad you're my teacher :D! The original photo was an 8x10 and I'm pretty sure that I scanned it in at 600 dpi. I knew I wanted it to be a good resolution, because the couple wants an 11 x 14 and 4x6 of the image and the vignette version will be about 2x2.5 on a bookmark.
I wasn't really sure of the best way to scan and size the image, since I haven't done much of that before either.

I will try making the changes that you suggested to fix the vignette. I really appreciate all you have done to solve this! I'm so glad that you know what to do!

About the color, would you take a look at the foreground color and the overlay color on my screenshot. I chose the color you suggested for the foreground, then selected the frame to be same as foreground, but they don't look the same. Any suggestions there?

This afternoon, I went and got prints made of the image before being cropped and "vignetted" for the bookmarks. The 4x6 was very clear, but the 11x14 quality was terrible. Perhaps I need to change the resolution on that one also. I'll check to see if there is a setting somewhere to save it as a certain size then take that to be printed.

Off to do my next assignment from Teacher Diana! I'll report back soon!
Terry

[Grammy]

Hey,
I just noticed that I have graduated from a newbie to a "Casual Forum User"!
This project has probably taken half of the posts needed to get here! Thanks for sticking with me!
Terry

[Diana]

Terry, an 8x10 scanned at 600 dpi, then resized in Elements to 11x14 (not resampled) should still give you a resolution of over 400 ppi. I can't explain why your printed image would be terrible. In what way was it terrible.... pixelated, blurred, or what?

Congratulations on your promotion to Casual User.

Diana

[Grammy]

Diana,
Guess what?! WE DID IT :D!! This is exactly what that very first post was trying to get to! Now, after lots of editing that I didn't even know could be done, I've ended up with a much better image than I started out with!
Lookie here...
http://www.pixentral.com/hosted/1WW810rwyhHhMhL0pL6D75ecKf_thumb.jpg (http://www.pixentral.com/show.php?picture=1WW810rwyhHhMhL0pL6D75ecKf)

Whew, glad you figured that one out! It only took me 10 days and about 30 posts back and forth, but it sure looks good! Even if I do say so myself!

Now, on to try to get it sized right for the 11 x 14 without the vignette...
Terry

[Grammy]

Diana,
The 11x14 was very pixelated and splotchy. The coloring changed to more of a greenish gold. I tried having it printed at 2 different places with the same result, but slightly different colors from each machine.

I just realized that I used the same file I had used before cropping for the image you've been helping me with. You brought to my attention that the file was sized for 4 x 5.5 image. I looked back, and indeed I had chosen that size in my very first version of editing the photo from the original. My friend first wanted the image for a 3.5 x 5 frame and the smaller image for bookmarks. She just recently asked me for an 11x14 after seeing how it turned out (the printed photo BEFORE you helped me do all the improvements! Remember the first one with the grainy background, faded out subjects and hair flowing into her back?)

So, is it possible to change that file to make a 11x14 image without distortion instead of a 4x5.5? I saved all the files, and on this last set of edits, I duplicated the file before doing those pixel and resampling changes.

Thanks again,
Terry

[Diana]

Terry,

I'm so happy we fnally figured out what was happening and you ended up with what you wanted. That's the good news.

The bad news is, I'm afraid once you cropped and sized the image for 4x5.5, there's no going back to 11x14. The only thing you may be able to do is take the original scan, if it is indeed 8x10 at 600 dpi, and start over with it. :(

About the color, would you take a look at the foreground color and the overlay color on my screenshot. I chose the color you suggested for the foreground, then selected the frame to be same as foreground, but they don't look the same. Any suggestions there?

What do you mean you selected the frame to be same as foreground? Did you create a blank layer and fill it with the foreground color with Edit > Fill Layer, then change the Blend Mode to Overlay and lower the opacity? Or did you use another method?

Go to your image and Alt-Click on the eye beside the Overlay layer, so that's the only layer you see. Then click on your Foreground color chip and when the color picker comes up, click on that color to take a sample from it (although, at a lower opacity, you may get a different Hex#) You may be able to double check the Hex# in the color picker dialog is the same and the one you used originally. It does look different in the screenshot you posted. Maybe something happened somewhere and the color got changed.

You can always experiment with the color used for the overlay to get one you like better. These sites show colors with their Hex codes, which may help.
http://cloford.com/resources/colours/500col.htm
http://www.december.com/html/spec/color1.html

Diana

[ljameso1]

Grammy, You should be able to get close to 11X14 without starting over. Heres how. Duplicate your image and flatten layers on dupe. Go to image>resize>image size. Make sure resample is checked and in the drop down select bicubic smoother. In the document size area change inches to percent and put in 110% on both dimensions. Click ok. Repeat process until the document size is as close to want you want as possible. Don't be tempted to go faster(higher %). This way will result in best quality. I once turned a thumbnail into a 8X10 good quality print. good luck.

[Grammy]

Hi Diana,
I meant to say the layer, not frame. I followed the same instructions that you had in the last post.

I think I found the problem. When I went and did the color picker instructions from the last post, the color was indeed different than the foreground color. I changed it back, but noticed that it seemed to put the new color on top of the old color. Somewhere along the line, when I was trying out colors, that must be what had happened. So, I deleted the overlay layer and added in a new one, being sure that the foreground color was selected properly. It worked great!

Sorry you've had to deal with so many issues with this project. I am glad I had it though, because I've really learned a lot. I'll try to get it posted on the before and after section before too long.

Could you tell me how to save this thread so I'll have it for future reference?

Thanks,
Terry

[Grammy]

Hi Linda,
Thanks for that information. I'll try to work on that tonight. I'm cooking dinner tonight at our church, so I have to stop playing on Elements for now. I keep pushing my time to leave so I can get just one more thing done. I'm about one more thinged out!

Hey, I noticed you just made post #1000! Congratulations!
Take care,
Terry

[Diana]

Terry, Here's the way I save the forum threads, using Internet Explorer. First go to the 2nd blue menu strip above the posts, click on the Thread Tools dropdown, and select Show Printable Version. Then File > Save As - in the Save As dialog, you'll see the save format as .MHT. Navigate to the folder where you want to save the webpage, rename the file if desired, and click Save. When you want to view the page and click on that file, it will open with Internet Explorer, but you'll be able to view it offline. I'm not sure if this works with other browsers, such as Foxfire or Netscape, should you use one of those.

You can also use MS Word, or another word processor, to save a thread. Get the Printable Version view, then press Ctrl-A to select all of the text, then Ctrl-C to copy. Then open a blank page in your word processor and Ctrl-V to paste. Then Save.

As far as upsizing a 4x6, or smaller, image up to an 11x14, even with the 110% method, I believe you'll be disappointed in the quality. But if you want to try it, save yourself all those steps and download Graffi's free Sampler Action Pack (http://www.graficalicus.com/graffishop/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=4&products_id=70). One of the actions in it is Enlarge 110%. After installing it, then all you'd have to do is apply that action repeatedly to get the same end result as going through the Image > Resize steps a gazillion times. And the other actions included with it are very nice, too.

Diana

[Grammy]

Project Completed!

My friend and her parents loved the photos I created with your help! They looked beautiful together in a frame and on the bookmarks. She ended up to frame the large original engagement photo instead of me having to make the 11 x 14! So, I didn't need to go through that process. I am saving your instructions for future needs though!

The links for the colors were great! That helped me to choose a color and get the overlay like I wanted. I'll keep those links stored away also!

I have successfully saved this thread and am sure I will refer to it often for future projects. I can't thank you enough for your help and encouragement!

On to the next photo edit...my sweet grandbaby, Leah, at her dedication!
Thanks again,
Terry

[mikecox]

Alt-Double-Click your photo to make the background a regular layer.


I was just reading through your suggestions to see what I might learn from your approach to this question.

I did this and nothing seemed to happen. Well, the hourglass appeared for a short time but I didn't see anything else happen.

What should be happening in this step?

Ctrl-Click on Create New Layer icon in the layers palette header. This will give you a new blank layer beneath your photo.
Then I tried this and got the same results as when I clicked on the "new tab" icon. A new layer appeared above the background.

My approach is to do Ctrl-J, fill the background with white, used the marquee too to feather and "Layer via copy" the selected area, then delete the copy. Finally I adjusted the copied, feathered, area over the white background.

Of course in this example I copied a smaller part of the original image.

I find that, if the subject in the original image fills the image it is difficult to feather much; because the edges of the subjects get too faded.

[Diana]

Hi Mike,

Don't know why the Alt-click doesn't work to change the Background layer to Layer 0. Did you try it more than once in case your double click timing was a little off? I have never gotten an hour glass when I do this. It's instantaneous.

The reason the Ctrl-click didn't work is because it only works if your Background layer is converted to a regular layer. You can't create a layer below a Background layer.

Your method works just fine. There always are multiple ways of doing things in Elements.:)

Diana

[mikecox]

Hi Mike,

Don't know why the Alt-click doesn't work to change the Background layer to Layer 0. Did you try it more than once in case your double click timing was a little off? I have never gotten an hour glass when I do this. It's instantaneous.


Hi Diana

I wasn't clicking on the background layer itself, but on the new layer Icon :o


The reason the Ctrl-click didn't work is because it only works if your Background layer is converted to a regular layer. Now it's working!

There always are multiple ways of doing things in Elements.:)It's one of the things I love about PSE :cool:

The 'different" approaches I discover here tend to make it easier for me to figure out how to solve completely unrelated problems. It's like every approach has several applications for unrelated problems.

Does that make sense :confused:

[Diana]

Does that make sense :confused:

Of course!;)

Diana