Creating Digital Frames

[ELFritzen]

I've been creating digital frames around my pictures using the tutorial found in Scott Kelby's book "The Photoshop Elements 4 Book for Digital Photographers". The tutorial works fine, but I have a question. The tutorial essentially has an image layer above a background layer. One creates a new layer below the image layer. With the new layer active, one draws a rectangular selection a few inches larger than the image and then fills the selection with black. Without deselecting, you then contract the selection and then delete the selection. This leaves a nice black frame. I've found out that after you first create the new layer below your image layer and select the entire layer either with the rectangular selection tool or by Selecting All, you can't contract the selection after it's filled with black. The only option available under Select>modify is Border. You can only contract the selection if you haven't selected everything. This always leaves a little white outside the frame from the background layer, which can be easily cropped away, but adds an extra step to the process. One can get a pretty cool looking frame by choosing border though. Does anyone know why one cannot contract a selection if the entire layer is selected? Just wondering..... I hope I've made myself clear. Thanks for the tips.

[gez]

Ed,

I can't help with your question. But, I just wanted to let you know I've admired the photos in your gallery in the past. Nice work. The BIRI shots bring back fond memories.

[jwhitten]

Ed,

It sounds like what you want to do is use the Transform tool or click the Move tool at the top of the tools. You can press CTRL-T or go to the Image menu to access the Transform tool.

Joe

[ELFritzen]

Ed,

It sounds like what you want to do is use the Transform tool or click the Move tool at the top of the tools. You can press CTRL-T or go to the Image menu to access the Transform tool.

Joe

I understand about the Transform tool, but it's not exactly what I want to do. I just wanted to know why one can't "contract" a selection, if you select an entire layer. Maybe it's just PE4 on for the Mac, but try it. Create a new blank document and select all. Then go to Selection>Modify. The only option that's not greyed out is Border. Deselect then draw a rectangular selection slightly smaller than the layer. Go to Selection>Modify and now all the options are available. There have been times when I've wanted to select all on a layer and contract by X-number of pixels. I was just wondering if anyone else had noticed this, and whether or not this is a bug in the program. Thanks for the reply.

Ed

[ELFritzen]

Ed,

I can't help with your question. But, I just wanted to let you know I've admired the photos in your gallery in the past. Nice work. The BIRI shots bring back fond memories.

Thanks for the kind words, George. Everyone's work on their galleries is so impressive, that I feel my pictures pale in comparison. I still take pictures, and I'm working on taking "photographs". I've only visited Block Island once and have a few more pictures I might post some day. It's a beautiful place. Thanks again for the compliments.

Ed

[Wendy]

Hi Ed ..

I don't know why it works in that way but it isn't a bug ... all of the versions of Elements and Photoshop work in this way too.

I wish that it was possible to contract a selection from Select All as it would make some of the things I do so much easier ... but I'm afraid that it just isn't possible. I end up putting guides on the page just to make sure that I get it even all the way round the image and that takes so much longer. I haven't even been able to find a workaround (except by doing a new selection as close as possible to the whole screen.)

Wendy

[ELFritzen]

Hi Ed ..

I don't know why it works in that way but it isn't a bug ... all of the versions of Elements and Photoshop work in this way too.

I wish that it was possible to contract a selection from Select All as it would make some of the things I do so much easier ... but I'm afraid that it just isn't possible. I end up putting guides on the page just to make sure that I get it even all the way round the image and that takes so much longer. I haven't even been able to find a workaround (except by doing a new selection as close as possible to the whole screen.)

Wendy

Yes, Wendy, you understand exactly why I am also interested in doing this. It would make centering images within frames and mattes so much easier. In addition, it saves me from having to crop excess from my framed image. I'm glad to know that it isn't a bug, and that the program is supposed to work that way. If you do select all and choose "Border" though, it does produce a pretty neat "frame". Thanks for the reply.

Ed

[Wendy]

Hi Ed ...

I never thought of trying that ... thanks for the tip :)

Wendy