Border breakout problems

[mom to 4]

I need a little help....ok, a lot, but that is besides the point. I have been working on this all morning....and it is afternoon already.

Problem: I watched the video about 50 times, while doing this. My cutout is not so good,....need to do better work with the eraser, but I couldn't use the wand and still get the bball.. But I started having problems with the procedure in the video when it came time to cut out the floor . I could not do it as he told me to in the video. and get it on the layer he said it would show up on. I am not explaining this too well. At one point he says to click duplicate layer (on the background layer)layer and just the portion of the floor I cut out would show up. That would never happen it would just duplicate the whole background. Has anyone else had this problem? I ended up cutting and pasting, but that created other issues down the road I think. Anyway....this took hours and it is not right....aside from the eraser not being finished....but I thought I would write and ask if anyone else did that tutorial and had my problem........

Thanks!

[mom to 4]

PS: The photo is in my gallery....can't miss it.

[kayser]

Colleen, I think I know what you mean, and I am wondering if it is a PSE3 vs. PSE4 problem, or just us?:) I remember being really frustrated the first several times I did this one. I think you should do "new layer via copy" instead of "new layer" at that point, and you'll get what you need.

Let us know if that works!

[mom to 4]

Kay

Thanks for the infor...while you were typing I was playing with another picture and I think I went through every option available! i saw the layer via copy and IT WORKED!!!!! This one only took about 1/2 hour and I wrote down every step...next one should be much easier. Check my gallery in a few mnutes and take a look at my duck....I think it looks much better.

[mom to 4]

Duck is now in my Gallery

[kayser]

Oh, good job! Isn't this fun?!

[mom to 4]

Kay:

Just left you a post on your "batty" issue! I can't believe you even thought of taking a picture of it!

[kayser]

I didn't think of it at the time- can you imagine, the flash goes off, and the bat goes crazy:eek:

[waydon64]

Hi
I love your duck was just wondering if someone could help me with my issue, I have been trying to work out how to make the photo look like its laying flat on the floor and the images are coming out of it similar to your duck
Thank you in advance
Donna
Aussie Girl

[karen donnybrook]

Colleen, your duck is absolutely marvellous. The breakout is my next project, so I will remember the tip about layer via copy :D

[kayser]

Donna- Did you try free transform layer and then holding down CTRL T and then getting the right perspective?

[waydon64]

hi
Yes I did try that Kay but maybe my perspective was off a bit it just looked drunk LOL,maybe that what I need to do have a scotch Ha Ha, it might look straight then, I thought there might be a trick to it that someone could share...
Well maybe I will try a beer and then have another go
Thank you in advance
Donna
Aussie Girl

[Wendy]

Hi Colleen ..

Oh that looks great .. its a good image to use this technique on. Well done!!

I know that you found it hard to do but you really will find it easier the next time you do it ... you can use any of the selection tools its just that he uses the magic wand. :) :)

Wendy

[Wendy]

Hi Kay ...

The trick is in the angle of the frame ... thats the only thing that needs transforming. The best way to get the angle right is to look at images that have the right perspective then try to copy that angle (sketch it out first on a piece of paper and see if that helps )

Wendy

[mom to 4]

Donna:

Did you take a look at the basketball one I did with the jump ball? That was my first attempt, and I am not very happy with it, but that was my daughters comment too......make the floor look flat......I wonder if just dragging it back and down while holding the Ctrl key would do the trick Take a pic of your floor with one SIMPLE object on it and play with it......maybe not for 4 or so hours like I did....but that was the best thing for me ...to play with the picture.

I just love the way my duck turned out. The basketball one was a pain to try to cut the players and the ball out......magnetic lasso wasn't a good choice to use......the duck was a piece of cake compared to the other!

Good luck!

[Hamlet 77]

After Wendy (I think) saw the orginal in my gallery she suggested a break out attempt with the photo montage. It is now in my gallery it looks about as good as I am going to get it and don't anyone dare ask how I got there. There are more layers than strictly neccesary and don't anyone dare to zoom in as the joins are pretty ropey.

The reason for this is after so many attempts now it actually looks not awful I am determined to show it someone. This method is obviously going to need a lot of work before I am satisfied with it.

[Wendy]

Hi Hamlet ...

:eek: You are actually doing so well with it, and its not an easy technique so stop putting yourself down !! ... it looks really good. :)

The trouble is that all of us are very critical about out own images ... when you have worked on a zoomed in image for ages its very hard to step back and see it as a whole. To you at 500% magnification the edges may look ropey but they look just fine to me :)

Wendy

[mom to 4]

Hamlet:

I think it looks great! Wendy is right we are all to hard on ourselves over how things look. We see the mistakes others don't, only because we know where they are and are looking directly at them. I think your breakout is terrific!

I started working on, what is called in the video subscriber section, Wedding Template. Only I used it on an older photo of 3 of my kids, and another one from President Reagan's funeral. My 13 year old son (at the time) took the picture with my digital camera, which at that time, I hated! I have since upgraded to a Canon Rebel (as of last Friday!)

I hope you are having as much fun with this stuff as I am........

What do you think of my additions to my gallery....

[CarolLHB]

Ooohh...another Digital Rebel!

[Pauline]

Colleen your duck out of water is fabulous!! I love the way it turned out.

[Hamlet 77]

Hi Hamlet ...

:eek: You are actually doing so well with it, and its not an easy technique so stop putting yourself down !! ... it looks really good. :)

The trouble is that all of us are very critical about out own images ... when you have worked on a zoomed in image for ages its very hard to step back and see it as a whole. To you at 500% magnification the edges may look ropey but they look just fine to me :)

Wendy

Welll sorry it's people like you that are half the problem, look at your gallery it is SPECTACULAR, makes some of my attempts look very amateurish and after having spent so long on stuff some might get downhearted..... ME, I just realise just how powerful and just what the heck PSE can do (BTW has anyone thought of something PSE can't do? Repair the machine machine is about as close as I have got) and get stuck in again bringing on headaches by staring at the screen and being hyper critical.... BUT having spent so long on a projectette someone has got to suffer my fumblings and looks like you lot are the chosen victims.......

Of course the added problem of hanging round here is that by the time you have some technique cracked, someone annoyingly suggests or even shows something else that I KNOW I have got just the right photo that could with a bit of 'level breakout layer adjustment cuboid film strip' or whatever...... AARRRRRRRRRGGGGGGGHHHHHHHH

Please take this post in the humour (poor as it is) was meant

[Wendy]

Hi Hamlet ...

Oh dear and I look at my Gallery and spot parts of images where I went wrong so I guess that really does confirm that others don't see them :D ...

We have to face it that we are always going to see things like that in our own work and there are never going to be enough hours in the day to do all the new techniques :) :) Now I wonder if Elements can fix that !!

You really are doing well ... :)

Wendy

[Hamlet 77]

Hi Hamlet ...

Oh dear and I look at my Gallery and spot parts of images where I went wrong so I guess that really does confirm that others don't see them :D ...

We have to face it that we are always going to see things like that in our own work and there are never going to be enough hours in the day to do all the new techniques :) :) Now I wonder if Elements can fix that !!

You really are doing well ... :)

Wendy

Hmph, having spent enough time, to be considered cyber stalking in parts of China, looking at your gallery. I STILL can't see the joins.

H77 may flounce off in a huff and actually take some photos for a change, instead of playing with the ones he has (actually going off in a caravan for weekend IN MARCH, IN THIS WEATHER, probably a fair indication of his sanity in reality.)

[Pauline]

Hamlet it can be frustrating, but it's great to have wonderful people that you can look up to and aspire to be like. It pushes you to go that extra mile to improve. It doesn't matter how much you learn there is always more you can learn and that is a wonderful thing. As Wendy has said many times, she does a tutorial each day! I've tried, but it just never happens. Your work is great. Enjoy the challenge and the journey. Don't strive to be like someone else. Push yourself to do YOUR best.

[Wendy]

Oh Hamlet ...

Having moved south from my native Lancashire many years ago ... I had almost forgotten just how funny real Northern Humour can be. You brightened up my day :) :)

I have spent many a wet, windy March day in a caravan on Angelsey ... where abouts are you going to?

Do hope that you get some new photos to play with :)

Wendy

[w7vp]

Wendy
do you still caravan? We have a wonderful "trailer" that we use to go camping. There is an area north of us that is one of the largest tulip producers hereabouts (Laconnor). We will be going there as soon as the tulips are up to take some pictures. Sure would be nice if our friends from Vancouver could come to meet us there (it is about half way to Vancouver for us).:) :) :)

http://www.pixentral.com/show.php?picture=1DttTpOOgPmuAqDxilEwhTDOhS9ryG (http://www.pixentral.com/show.php?picture=1DttTpOOgPmuAqDxilEwhTDOhS9ryG)

Bill

[Wendy]

Hi Bill ...

Oh that does look nice !! ..

Nowadays we don't caravan at all ... the one we used to use was a little old battered static one and it even had a stove in it. Oh my that is going back some time :)

Wendy

[Hamlet 77]

Oh Hamlet ...

Having moved south from my native Lancashire many years ago ... I had almost forgotten just how funny real Northern Humour can be. You brightened up my day :) :)

I have spent many a wet, windy March day in a caravan on Angelsey ... where abouts are you going to?

Do hope that you get some new photos to play with :)

Wendy

er actually not that far, as I discovered on the way home, getting there took longer cos directions were rubbish. The only reason I went wa because the caravan club rally I was due to go was cancelled and my mother wanted the house empty for having guests on Saturday night (boisterous Tyr and widow's dodgy knees and sundry other ailments don't mix)

I ended up going to my caravan supplier to stock up on with essentials and walked the dog in Delamere Forest. Only the second time I have been out in this caravan after 20 odd years of 'slumming it' in 4 star hotels etc.. lol Caravanning has changed SOOO much in the time since we gave it up years ago, with electrical everything, heaters/air conditioning, hot running water ALL THE TIME, I think I am still in shock whenever I set up, which is the only down side to what I remember, it used to be put the legs (stabilisers) down, level it off, fill the water butt, pump your foot like crazy to fill the kettle and sit back and 'enjoy'. NOW you have to plug in to the electrical supply, switch to mains power, prime the water pump, load the chemical toilet (one GOOD change is the chemicals these days do not make your eyes water as you set up), set the fridge/FREEZER to mains power, check EVERYTHING is doing what it should and panic when you think it isn't...... I haven't even mentioned the awning....

We are away this weekend again..... BIG problem is MOTHER IS COMING TOO, this is going to be fun.

I will try to take a piccy of my 'Bailey Pageant Champagne' but sat on the path is probably not it's best way to show it off and as I haven't managed to get the awning right yet I have not bothered with it 'on site'.

Sorry to ramble...

[Wendy]

Hi Hamlet ...

Sounds like the modern caravans really impressed you ... its a long time since I stayed in a caravan and those were the days of no mod cons too. No fridges, freezers and not a lot of heating ... well a stove in the corner that you had to keep stoked up.

Oh yes and getting up in the middle of the night, finding your wellies, torch and coat and going to the toilet block. The alternative was the dreadful chemical loos ... if you wore goggles then your eyes were just fine !!

Oh those were the days before we too were reduced to slumming it in hotels :) :)

We have a hugh caravan shop near us and when we looked in there a while back I was just amazed at the things they have now :eek:

Hope the next trip goes well ... Umm and Mother too. Now that could be interesting !!

Wendy

[Hamlet 77]

Just had another go at a photo that I wanted to do, when I found it. Anyway I am getting results, but the whole thing is something of a botch job, obviously on the gallery you can't see the size of the whole file, but I am sure the results I am geting must be able to be created without so much altering, erasing and extra layers (why I always seem to end up with far too many layers when I try this technique is a mystery).

One day I'll get it right....... One day.

[Wendy]

Hi Hamlet ...

It doesn't matter how many layers you use uts the final result that counts ... and you are doing well. Your breakouts are looking good !! :)

... and on the plus side you are getting plenty of experience of multi layer :D :D

Seriously you are doing well with the effect ...

Wendy

[Diana]

Colleen,

Your duck break-out image looks great to me. I found it quite frustrating when I first started with trying to isolate an object and clean up the edges but it gets easier with practice. You've got a great start!

Diana

[mom to 4]

Thanks Diana!

I am really trying! Actually, I am trying lots of new things on old photos!! I took that duck about 4 years ago!!!! I have become so wrapped up in trying things that I have not been taking pictures, but I am sure that will even out!

Thanks again!

Colleen