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Posted on 30/09/10 04:31:59 AM |
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Shidoshi
* Posts: 12 Reply  |
Probably a Stupidly Simple Solution but . . .
. . . I'm new at all of this and I keep running into a frustrating problem because I tend to work faster than I think. When I open a new project in Photoshop, sometimes I start designing right away and forget entirely that I haven't opened a new layer first and I'm editing solely on the locked background layer. I've attempted to unlock it and take the design I was working on into a brand new layer with transparency, but I can't figure out how to do that. What's the simple answer (other than pay attention to laying down your layers first)? 
Also, when making selections of any kind, if I prematurely end my selection before sizing it properly (let's say when using the rectangle slection tool for example), is there a way for me to manually stretch and shape that existing selection out how I need it or will I always have to de-select and do over again? Thanks in advance to anyone who's able to help me out! Respectfully, Shidoshi |
Posted on 30/09/10 07:41:04 AM |
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Steve Caplin
Administrator Posts: 7052 Reply  |
Re: Probably a Stupidly Simple Solution but . . .
Well, the best answer is to make a new layer first! If you mainly use Photoshop for creating new artwork, you might set up your New Document settings so they're always created without a background. This may seem like an awkward question, but do you have How to Cheat in Photoshop CS5? If so, then to remove the white from a background layer you've inadvertently painted on, you could try using the Background Eraser tool (page 196); Auto Masking (page 76); or Advanced Blending (pages 78-81). To extend a selection, use the selection modifier keys (page 4), or go into QuickMask and extend the selection there (pages 8-13). Also, see the tutorial movies on the DVD for ways to make easier selections. |
Posted on 01/10/10 00:34:41 AM |
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Shidoshi
* Posts: 12 Reply |
Re: Probably a Stupidly Simple Solution but . . .
Thanks Steve! i'm currently using Photoshop CS2 right now but planning to upgrade to 4 or 5 as soon as it's financially possible to do so. Shidoshi
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Posted on 01/10/10 07:31:36 AM |
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Steve Caplin
Administrator Posts: 7052 Reply |
Re: Probably a Stupidly Simple Solution but . . .
Ah, OK. Well, if it's any help, most of the stuff in the latest version of the book will apply to CS2 as well - certainly as far as the basic techniques goes. Reading my earlier post I think it may have looked a little harsh, and if so I apologise. But it seems to me you could do with rather more help with Photoshop tools than we're able to offer through the forum: it would take a long time to go through selection tools, erasing and masking techniques, and all the other Photoshop tricks and workarounds that make it such a powerful program. There's a huge amount to learn in Photoshop, and a lot of it isn't obvious. Such as the fact that you can use Shift to add to a selection, and Alt to subtract from it. In the days when Photoshop used to come with a printed manual we could browse through it, but that's not so easy with a browser-based guide. That's one of the reasons I wrote the book in the first place. |
Posted on 01/10/10 12:13:55 PM |
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Nick Curtain
Model Master Posts: 1768 Reply  |
Re: Probably a Stupidly Simple Solution but . . .
A couple of tips To make the background an editable layer with transparency, double click on the thumbnail. A box will appear creating Layer 0. However, best practice is always work on new layers and leave the background as the base. If you have drawn a rectangle / elipse and you want to change the size / shape, go to Select - transform selection and by moving the bounding box, in the same way as free transform, you can usually make it fit what you want. Hope this helps Nick |