An easy question for some!

[Shari]

but confusing for me. I'm doing "Getting the Polaroid Look" from Scott's book on Elements 3. I'm trying to try a few new things a week. OK - he says to open the photo and press Control A to put a selection around the entire image. Go under layer>new>layer via cut to remove the photo from the background layer and put it on a separate layer. Then his diagram shows the background layer as being plain white with the photo image as Layer 1.

I can do that - however I was told when working on a photo always start with a duplicate layer. When I do that the background layer shows as checkboard instead of plain white. Does this make a difference.

Also when I get to step three and pressing the M key to switch to the rectangular marquee tool and try to draw a selection a half inch larger than the photo - things jump around all over the place and it is very hard to just put a box around the photo - is there a reason for that?

I have been through the process twice. One turned out fine - one did not and I think it might be because I duplicated the photo at the beginning.
Anyone out there know what I am referring to.

I have to admit this is fun - and I am doing all these steps he says in his book but I honestly don't know why and exactly what I am doing - does this come with using the programme or is it just easier to take out the instructions when I want to try something? Thanks.
Shari

[Daviskw]

Hi Shari

You can make a duplicate layer before you begin his tutorial, but you will need to fill that layer with white. Then you will have an unnecessary layer that is not needed. Remember the actual picture is never trimmed or cut. The background layer is used to increase the canvas size. What I do when I start a new project before I do any changing is save it under a new name. That way my original picture is always safe.
The reason the background layer is white and when copied it is checkered is the background layer can never be transparent which the checkered represents. When you copy via cut on a layer that is not the background you will get transparency, but on the background it is automatically filled with the foreground color.
When you make your marquee selection around your picture layer, be sure you are on the duplicated checkered transparent layer then you will not jump around. Also in case you don’t know, you can press the space bar and move your selection around as long as you keep the mouse button pushed down, this helps in sizing and alignment.

Hope this helps Butch

[Bayla]

Hi Shari,

This isn't going to be a very helpful post because I'm not sure without loading up PSE3 exactly what problems you're encountering and my computer is running so slow it won't let me load up PSE3 and be online at the same time tonight!

But I just wanted to say that eventually you will get to a stage where you are doing things intuitively. It's a bit like learning to drive, eventually you just know which gear the car needs to be in and you just do it....I've just reached that stage after months of following recipes like in Scott Kelby's books. Now I find myself knowing which layer needs to go below which, and why things are being done....at the beginning it made no sense at all, but by continually following instructions & tutorials it's beginning to come together....I also found Barbara Brundage's book 'The Missing Manual' invaluable in explaining the whys and wherefores of PSE3, wish I'd bought it right at the beginning of my venture into PSE3!

Hope someone answers your technical questions tonight, if not I'll have a go in the morning and get back to you....

Bayla

[Shari]

Thank you Butch and Bayla. Both really helped. Right now I am printing these answers and have a three-holed binder I am keeping notes in. My mind cannot seem to take everything in and this way at least I can look under my heading selections for my scribbles and notes. The layers are still a bit confusing to me even though it has been explained many a time. Thank you Butch for the white background info. Now, I could buy the Barbara Brundage book but I'm wondering if these books will be applicable for PE4. Right now I am just getting used to 3 but I will imagine that I will go to 4 at some point and then need more books. One thing I liked when I watched a Video on making slide shows is the pan and zoom effect in 4. I haven't tried my first slide show but if I like doing it I might go for the better version or I might think of buying Proshow Gold. This hobby can become very expensive can't it? Thanks again.
Shari

[Daviskw]

Shari

Just my opinion of course, you are OK to stay with PE3 for now. In fact there are more possibilities for add-ons in PE3 than 4.
If you run a search on this subject you will see that many if not most will agree. Adobe actually reduced the functionality in PE4. I believe it found out that the add-ons people programmed for PE3 were causing people to stay with Elements rather then moving up to CS or CS2.
There are few things in PE4 that cannot be done in PE3. Yet there are many things in PE3 that can NOT be done in PE4.
Another thing to keep in mind, you can have both PE3 and PE4 installed on the same computer with no problems, I do.

Butch

[Wendy]

Hi Shari ...

I agree with Butch about sticking with PSE3 until you have a good grasp of it :)

One thing to bear in mind about books is that having the latest version isn't too important ... techniques stay the same and often changes in Elements are to specific tools. I now tend to look at book for their techniques rather than the version :)


Wendy