Question on "Frame Your Words"

[Lazeegurl]

I get to the final step to "Frame Your Words" from the Jan/Feb. 09 issue and nothing happens. When I get to step 4 to Fill Selection (my PC says Fill Layer) and deselect the selection is black but the view in the layers palette stays white. I tried Select.Deselect but that is grayed out. Is this the step where I start having trouble? Everything else, I think, is according to the directions. Help please. Thanks.

[Bayla]

Hi and welcome to the forum!

If you are getting Fill layer instead of Fill Selection then you aren't making a selection. Go back to step 3, and make a selection on a new layer using the Rectangular Marquee tool - you should get 'marching ants' that indicate an area has been selected. Then carry on from there.

Bayla

[Wendy]

Hi Lazeegurl

... and welcome to the Village :)

Do let us know if that solves the problem and you are able to continue with the tutorial

Wendy

[Lazeegurl]

No, I cannot get the marching ants. I created a new layer, used the rectangular marquee tool and made my rectangle but no marching ants. My drop down Edit file does not even list "Fill Selection". If I go to "Image" I can get the marching ants but around the entire perimeter--not just my rectangle. Sorry to be so dumb but there must be something I am missing! Thanks again for your help.

[Bayla]

Try resetting the Marquee tool. Look for a little arrow at the top of the tool palette, click on it and you should have the option to Reset Tool. Choose that option and see if it makes a difference.

Bayla

[Lazeegurl]

I tried your suggestion and reset tools to default. No luck. I created a new layer but soon as I make my rectangle and release the mouse the rectangle itself fills with black and my new layer in the palette changes to "shape 1". I still can't get any marching ants. I really appreciate your help trying to figure this out! Thanks again.

[Bayla]

Ah, now I know what your problem is. You are using the Rectangle Tool instead of the rectangular Marquee tool!

http://www.pixentral.com/hosted/1IuuMFOQMyjwijCV4zHwgheIwu7UnU_thumb.jpg (http://www.pixentral.com/show.php?picture=1IuuMFOQMyjwijCV4zHwgheIwu7UnU)

Bayla

[Lazeegurl]

I just tried again and did not "fill the selection" since my rectangle was already black. It worked good until the end. The word frame showed the picture behind the name but the rest of the picture is black! Also ended up with a background layer, Layer 1, Shape 1, Text layer and my picture--5 layers. Help, help, help.

[Bayla]

Go back and redo Step 3. You shouldn't have a Shape layer (the one labelled Shape 1)

Bayla

[Lazeegurl]

OK! Now I am getting someplace! I have now gotten to the point of adding the text but do not get a check mark to ok my selection! Yipes. So it still stays black after I place my picture. What next?

[Lazeegurl]

At last! I actually did it! It was so simple once I did it the right way. Thank you so much for your help. :) It's people like you that make these forums such a great place. Thank you again.

[Bayla]

So glad you finally worked it out. Do we get to see the final result?

Bayla

[Lazeegurl]

Oh, oh. Another learning curve! I will have to figure out how to post my picture but will try!

[Bayla]

You can either start a gallery - (go to the top of this page where it says 'How to use the forums', click on it, scroll down to 'Setting up a gallery', there's a great video there) or you can post by uploading your image to www.pixentral.com - HERE (http://www.elementsvillage.com/forums/showpost.php?p=326340&postcount=1) are Diana's helpful instructions for posting to pixentral.

Either way you will need to do Save for Web and make sure your longest side is about 700 pixels.

Bayla