Help, having a cookie cutter problem

[Sharon]

I am having a problem when I use cookie cutter. I select the cutter I want, draw it over my photo BUT it is reversed. the checkerd board is my primary picture and you can only see my photo under the outline of the cutter. I have tried to select inverse after this but I am unable to use the commend. I have installed the program on a different computer and it is doing the same thing. Do you think it is a program problem or I am doing something really wrong? Any help appreciated. I am a very new beginner with this.

[Wendy]

Hi Sharon ...

... and welcome to the forum :)

The Cookie Cutter acts like a cutter that cuts out a section from your photo in the shape of the cutter ...

You may be mixing up the cookie cutter and the Custom Shape tool ... its worth checking to make sure ... :

http://www.pixentral.com/show.php?picture=1CwhNrs3YnW6goLP0Ls36EtldLAcU0

Do let us know how you go on :)
Wendy

[Sharon]

Thanks for the welcome Wendy.. No, it is definetly the cookie cutter tool I am trying to us. Just tried again and it's still doing the same thing. All I get is the checkered patteren and you can see some of the picture in the frame work. Do you think it is in the program it self? As I said I loaded ps on another computer and it does the exact same thing.

[MikeH]

Hi Sharon,

Welcome to the forums :)

This is normal with some of the Cookie Cutter tools... - which one are you trying to use?

Mike

[Sharon]

I've tried all of them and they all do the same thing, it's like it is in reverse

[Sharon]

Ok, I did just try it again and it is only the FRAMES cookie cutter that is not working. The whole inside of my picture is the checkerboard and then the frame itself is bits of the picture. Has to be something simple I am not doing right
Sharon

[MikeH]

Sharon,

That is how the Frames shapes work... they crop the image into the frame area...

Mike

[kerriann85]

Just an idea, are you trying to cookie cut on a layer with only part of picture on it? (i think i've only actually used the tool once)

[ATR]

Usually, I ask questions. This is my first try at trying to help someone else. So, here goes.

In the Subscriber Area, there is a Matt Kloskowski video "Realistic Wood Frame Video". If you hang in there as he prepares the "wood", toward the end of the video you will see a great application of Cookie Cutter/Frames.

There is another Cookie Cutter video among those videos, but that one deals more with an edge effect rather than the frame effect.

I have all sorts of tricks to remember where my photo will and will not show after Cookie Cutting with a given shape. But, I think it safer for you to view the videos if you have not already.

ATR

[Pauline]

Try making a new layer on top of your previous layers. Fill it with the colour you want your frame to be. NOW use the cookie cutter tool. You should see your picture underneath through the opening that is cut out by the cookie cutter. This one really miffed me in the beginner. Also you can get confused with the shapes tool which works by adding colour to the shape not cutting it away from!

[Diana]

Hi Pauline,

Doesn't the new colored layer have to be 'under' the image? That's the only way I can seem to get it to work.

Diana

[Sharon]

They should have a VERY BEGINNERS site. I feel like I don't know a thing compared to everyone here. I have ALOT to learn. Thanks for all the support and help. I love ps and I am learning so much from all of you. Still didn't solve my problem but I'm chalking it up to not knowing a thing. Practice makes perfect.
Sharon

[MikeH]

They should have a VERY BEGINNERS site. I feel like I don't know a thing compared to everyone here. I have ALOT to learn.

Hi Sharon,

Everyone here started where you are now at sometime... the only difference is that some of us have been using PSE longer than others.

This is a great and friendly place to learn... you'd be surprised at how many other users have the same question but haven't posted it - it's good that you joined the Forum.

Hope to see you here again... please share some of your work with us...:)

Mike

[Pauline]

Diana if you are picking the shape tool that is a frame with the hole cut out of the center for the image then you would put the coloured layer on top. If you are are using the other frames that just make edges around your picture and cuts off the outside you would do it on your picture. It really depends on what shape you use! Some of them are solid black, some our cut outs. I have to admit I get confused with them myself!! :(

[Wendy]

Sharon ...

I have a suggestion why not let us see the image.

If you are happy to do that then
use the cookie cutter again and then save the image with a new name ...

After that go here:

http://www.pixentral.com/index.php

follow the instructions then when your inage is uploaded copy the URL above the picture and paste it into a message here.

Then we may be able to spot what is causing the problem.


Wendy

[Diana]

Okay, now I got it, Pauline. That's what I get for not reading the original question carefully. I tried it with the frame cookie cutter. And....I learned something new! Thanks.:)

Diana

[lindajay]

I, too, had troubles using the frames when I first tried them. Then I finally figured it out . . . WHATEVER cookie cutter you use, frame or otherwise, only where the cookie cutter is black will the layer/photo be saved. Everything else will be thrown out. Hope this makes sense.

--Linda

[Pauline]

Glad you have it figured out Diana. It's a tricky one for new users and those of us like myself that don't use it often. At least now when I click and it doesn't do what I expected, I know what to do to fix it! :)

[Sharon]

Good Morning,
I "think" I figured it out. I was trying to use the cookie cutter to put a decorative border around my photo. I think it was Wendy that mentioned the Shape tool. I tried the Shape tool and was able successfully to add the "frame" to my picture. So I'm still a little confused as to why they put the "frame" feature in the cookie cutter option when all it does is cut out the picture from viewing and only the "frame" part of the picture is visible. I suppose I will learn in time what this option is for though. Thanks all for you help. I like it here. No one makes you feel stupid.
Sharon

[Pauline]

Sharon, that's why I said that you need a layer on top of your picture. That layer you use the colour that you want your frame to be and then when you cut out the frame it will be in that colour and the whole in the middle will show your layer underneath! Elements has at least 3 ways of doing things!! I guess that way you can pick the one you find easiest!! Sometimes I'd want the shapes tool and couldn't find it and would end up with the cookie cutter instead and get frustrated! :D

You really need to sit down and just play with the shapes, and cookie cutters on layers and see how they work. I did that one day and it does help. Some times I find it harder to answer questions though unless I have elements open and can check what I'm saying.

[Wendy]

Hi Sharon ...

I can be confusing but the the idea of the frame ... is that it creates a frame :)

Wemdy