Canvas Color

[e-mailsucks]

Afternoon all. I made the canvas size on a picture that I'm trying to make a frame for, two inches larger all the way around the picture. That is going to be part of my mat. Problem is, my mat is clear. The color option at the bottom is greyed out. How do I make a textured color mat with a clear mat?

Brian :(

[Carbone]

If you want the canvas surrounding your image to be clear, make sure your image is on its own layer and that an empty layer is under this image layer. This way, you'll have a clear mat.

If you want a coloured mat, you can either add a colour adjustment layer under your image, or leave it as the background layer, before resizing the canvas.

Hope this helps!

X-Ray

[kimi_boo]

Try this open a new layer.
fill your layer with your paint can
Make sure you stay only on this layer

This makes a very nice matt
try...
filter -add noise (play with controls until you like it)
filter- brushstrokes -crosshatch (also play)

Then go to layer, arrange - send backwards untill you get it where you need it to be

Or try the same thing using the marquee tool to mark off your matt on the layer that you have. when you see the marching ants then hit control J to put that selection an it's own layer.

[e-mailsucks]

Thanks you guys, I'll give it a try. This relationship I'm having with Elements is really turning into a Love/Hate affair. The hate is starting to take over :twisted: .

Brian :o

[e-mailsucks]

:mad: Well, I think I bit off more than I can chew. The frame I am trying to make is just too difficult for me. I think I'll just trying making a square box.

Brian :)

[kimi_boo]

Try this, I printed it out and did it over and over until I understood.

http://www.myjanee.com/tuts/frame/frame.htm

Good Luck

[e-mailsucks]

Kimi, that's the one I'm trying to do. I can't believe you did it. Not that you're not good, just, it seems impossible. I have to email Janee and tell her that she's not working with a beginner here, I need baby steps. She's already assuming that I know something :rolleyes: . Oooh, I get so pissed at this program, I could scream. Why can't they make it simple, you know, like a button you push for frames, and then select which one you want. They have to be nice ones though, like the one Janee has done, and you :o . Hey, I just checked out your gallery, very nice work.

Brian :(

[kimi_boo]

Ok Brian,
which part did you have trouble with??

[e-mailsucks]

Kimi, did you really do that frame? For starters, I couldn't even make a mat the right way. I've done one, but I don't know how, it's just not even close to how she did hers. I couldn't get all the boxes that she talks about to come up. I can't find reflective for the gradient tool. I held my cursor on the gradient tool, but nothing popped out like she said it does. I don't think she's even using Elements 3. I need instructions, step by step, right from the start, and not assuming that I know what I'm doing. Editing pictures is so much easier than making stuff. My problem is is that I see what others have done and want to do it too. I guess it's like keeping up with the Jones's. Update! I've figured out how to make a mat, even the right way.

Brian :o

[kimi_boo]

Brian, Here is the one I made following the tut. My colors may be off but the frame and matt worked out OK. Don't give up. Go to the videos and the tuts on gradients. I haven't really gotten into those yet.

http://www.pixentral.com/show.php?picture=1PhtpSp3JnIlp6mVj7sqNbVD3vcCLb1

[e-mailsucks]

Hey Kimi, that looks good. I think I'll have to email Janee and ask her where the Radiant Gradient is in Elements 3. Heck, maybe it doesn't have one anymore. I'll play around with it again tomorrow. Thanks for staying up so late to help me out. You'll be a Senior Member by the time I learn this one :D .

Brian :o

[ktnoon60]

Brian the reflected gradient is herehttp://www.pixentral.com/hosted/1pkxZKeb8RsusWNxBuegW1lM1nkMS0_thumb.jpg (http://www.pixentral.com/show.php?picture=1pkxZKeb8RsusWNxBuegW1lM1nkMS0)

Terry

[Bayla]

Brian,

Or go to the layers palette & select gradient

http://img134.imageshack.us/img134/6963/gradient9ne.th.jpg (http://img134.imageshack.us/my.php?image=gradient9ne.jpg) & then to http://img164.imageshack.us/img164/5578/gradient26ci.th.jpg (http://img164.imageshack.us/my.php?image=gradient26ci.jpg) & play around to your heart's content!

Bayla

[e-mailsucks]

Thanks Terry & Bayla. Pictures are a great help. I've been reading, "The Missing Manual" this morning. I got up at 5:30am and took Panzer for a walk and was thinking about Gradients the whole time. This program is starting to consume me. I have to get out more and occupy my mind with other things. I'm going to have breakfast and get back at it and see if I can accomplish the dreaded, "Reflected Gradient".

Brian :o

[e-mailsucks]

Hi Terry & Bayla. Well, I finally finished it. It's not bad for an extreme beginner. I sure learned a lot. I'll have to try another one later. I don't know how you get the thumbnails in your threads, but here is the link to my project.
http://www.pixentral.com/show.php?picture=1imwGl3R3Wt6uQwhiY1u7vzEWRiVOm1

Thanks for everyone's help on this one. I couldn't have done it with out you all.

Brian :)

Oh, welcome back Wendy.

[ktnoon60]

Looks good Brian, nice picture too.

Terry

[Bayla]

Brian

Well done. I've only got as far as bookmarking the frames tutorial - you've inspired me to have a go:)

Bayla

[kayser]

Brian- Nice job, good color choices. (i think you've moved up from extreme beginner.)

[kimi_boo]

Brian, I knew you could do it!!!! :D

Looks Great!

[Diana]

Brian....what a great job you did....I knew you could do it...and think how much you learned doing it...even if did stress you out....at least you didn't give up!:D

Diana

[e-mailsucks]

Thanks so much you guys. After reading such compliments, the struggles are so worth it. I'll do a better job next time.

Brian :) :)

[karen donnybrook]

Brian, your frame is marvellous and really compliments your photo - well done. Now you have done it once, it will be easier next time.

[e-mailsucks]

Thanks for the comments Karen. After looking at your Gallery, I see I've got a long long way to go. Very nice frames. Oh, the pictures are nice too. Kerria loves your work as well. The dog one with the film strip is especially cute & adorable. You've really got some talent. I'm hoping you're retired with nothing to do and that's why you're so good, otherwise, I have no excuses :D .

Brian :)

[Wendy]

Hi Brian ...

Oh your frame is really good !! ... I love the way you have picked up the colour from the image itself :)

Wendy

[Norm F]

Good job Brian! You chose a pretty complicated frame for starters and did a great job of bringing it together. Mitre joints and the whole bit.

[karen donnybrook]

Brian, yes I am retired (but mainly tired :D ). It's funny, isn't it? I don't think I have any reall talent when I look at other galleries. When it comes to drawing and painting, I don't have an artistic bone in my body but I am really enjoying working with PSE. Thanks for the kind comments regarding Gypsy (dog) and yes she is adorable but very rarely stays still long enough to photograph.

[vawitt]

Brian - there IS kind of a button you can push for frames....look at the Frames options under the Custom Shapes tool. You can drag a frame around your photo and then apply any kind of layer style you like. You may have to cut the middle out of the frame (I can't remember) but there are about 20 different options to play with there.

~Val in muggy IL

[e-mailsucks]

Thanks Val, I'll check that out on the weekend. I don't do much during the week with Elements because I just don't have time to. I just received my Newsletter, and it looks pretty good. Geez, does life ever slow down?

Brian :)

[karen donnybrook]

In a word Brian - no :eek:

[e-mailsucks]

That's not very encouraging Karen. I really don't know how some people do it. When a person works full time, has a married life, pets, exercising (trying to loose 15 lbs) computer stuff, my God, 24 hours in a day just isn't enough. No wonder I don't know how to do anything in Elements. Well, when Elements 20 is released, I'll be retired and then I'll be doing it 8 hours a day, 7 days a week like you guys get to. Is that what they call the Golden years? My fantasy is to have your relaxing life.

Brian :)

[Wendy]

Hi Brian ...

There really is no hope ... once you stop work then Elements expands and fill up all of the extra time. Before long you start to wonder how you ever found time to work :)

Wendy

[e-mailsucks]

Thanks for the bad news Wendy. I knew I should have been a house husband. I see women playing with their kids in the parks here, and think to myself, life is so good for them. Every day is a holiday for those women. Us poor dogs work day after day, yard work, TV, exercising, computer stuff, it just never ends. OK, I'm getting tired just reading all the stuff I do on a daily basis. I need a nap.:rolleyes:

Brian :)