Problems with "Frame Your Words"

[CraigT]

I've been studying "Frame Your Words" (page 19) in the latest issue of Elements Techniques (Jan/Feb 2009). I do fine up until step 10 when it should actually reveal the end result with the final step of Group with Previous.

Everything up to that work is by the book and works fine but when I go to click on "Group with Previous" there is no change as the article suggests there should be.

Any thoughts on what I may have done wrong? CraigT

[CraigT]

I tried it on my laptop and must have missed something. On my iMac I got it to work correctly. Thanks for a nice technique, Diana Day. Craig in Indiana

[elwoodsusanm]

Still waiting for my issue:(

[Priyanka Azad]

"Group with previous" basically changes the visibility of the group layer with the base layer. For example, if the base layer has some transparent pixels, say it is in the shape of a heart - then the layer grouped with it would also show up the region in shape of a heart and other pixels would not be visible.

It basically defines regions/shapes that you want to show up for layers grouped with the base layer.

[Diana]

I tried it on my laptop and must have missed something. On my iMac I got it to work correctly. Thanks for a nice technique, Diana Day. Craig in Indiana

You're welcome, Craig.

Diana (in Michigan)

[Shooter7]

I too have followed every step and when I get to step 10, ctrl-G, nothing happens. What am I missing? I don't see the answer in the above replies. Maybe I'm just too dense, sorry.

[Diana]

Hi Shooter,

You do have your photo on the top layer and your template in the layer beneath it, with the top (photo) layer active, right?

If so, pressing Ctrl-G should group them and give you the effect.

Diana

[Shooter7]

Yes, the bottom layer is the white background layer, on top of it is layer 1, the black square with the word, on top of that is the photo layer. I am using a jpeg photo, is that ok?
I have tried it half a dozen times exactly as the instructions state and still no luck.

[Diana]

Wow, that's bizarre. Sounds like you've got it set up exactly as it should be.

Could you post a screenshot of your workspace and layers palette. If you're not sure how to do that, here's how:

With the view of your image in the workspace and the layers palette open, press the PrtScr key (usually up in the upper right corner of the keyboard).

In Elements, from the menu: File > New > Image from Clipboard. After the screenshot loads in Elements, File > Save As - Save as JPG on your desktop - just name it Example or something.

Go to www.pixentral.com (http://www.pixentral.com)

Upload the screenshot to that site. After it loads, look at the bottom of the image, there's a code indicating its for Forums. Triple click on the code to select it all, press Ctrl-C to copy it, then go to your post in this thread and paste it with Ctrl-V.

Maybe we can tell something by looking at your screenshot.

Diana

[Shooter7]

Diana, first let me say how appreciative I am that you, and others, take your valuable time, talent, and expertise to help people like me.

Here is my screen shot. I did everything per the instructions and still don't get it to work. I must be missing something.

http://www.pixentral.com/hosted/1ELo5xgpjGmCEaiXvW0PbzmHof9Jv_thumb.jpg (http://www.pixentral.com/show.php?picture=1ELo5xgpjGmCEaiXvW0PbzmHof9Jv)

[Diana]

Thanks, Shooter, this really helps diagnose the problem.

Your text is red, which is different than the tutorial stated, although that shouldn't matter.

You do have the photo grouped with the black square, which is indicated by the indented top layer.

What you have done differently than the tutorial is.... your photo must extend all the way down through the black square and the text for the text to be filled with your photo.

You may need to use a photo that is not cropped so tight around the subject next time.

Repeating the last sentence in Step 8 and part of Step 9....

Notice that the photo comes into the documnt with a bounding box around it, ready to be resized.
....holding down the Shift key, drag inward or outward on a corner handle to resize the photo and then drag it into place until it covers the entire black area of the template (in this case, including your red area).

On your existing project, your photo needs to be stretched bigger to fill in the bottom part of your template. To do that, with the photo layer active, press Ctrl-T (free transform) to get the bounding box with the small "handles" around it. With your mouse, drag outward on one of the corner handles until it fills your whole template, including the letters. (in this case you don't hold down the Shift key, only when using File > Place)

With the image you're using, you'll probably clip off part of your subject when you enlarge it. That's why it's a good idea to use an image that is not cropped to closely for this project.

Hope this helps.

Diana

[Shooter7]

Only with your help though. A thousand thank you's.