ChrisAnn
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Post by ChrisAnn on Aug 11, 2015 20:44:57 GMT
I'm following a lesson on converting a photo into a Sketch. www.photoshopessentials.com/elements/8/photo-effects/portrait-to-sketch/But the instructions are for Elements 8 and I'm using 13. The instructions say: When I try to do this I can't get the drop down menu to function. I assume the routine has been altered since Version 8 - can anyone tell me what I should be doing please. |
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Post by Sepiana on Aug 11, 2015 21:06:28 GMT
This technique remains the same across versions of Elements. The key to success is to slide the cursor down until you get to the Merge Visible option in the menu. Then, you can let go of the mouse.
Here is another way to accomplish what you want, i.e., to create a stamp visible layer.
1. Make sure the top layer is activated. 2. Press Ctrl-Shift-Alt-E (Cmmd-Shift-Option-E on a Mac).
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ChrisAnn
Junior Forum Member
Posts: 227
Open to constructive criticism of photos: Yes
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Post by ChrisAnn on Aug 11, 2015 21:14:16 GMT
Thank you Sepiana. I still can't get at the drop down menu it just won't drop down while I'm clicking the Alt Key - but the Ctrl-Shift-Alt-E sequence works for me. I hoped someone might know and I guessed it might be you.  |
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Post by PeteB on Aug 11, 2015 21:50:51 GMT
Here’s an easy method … using the Layers Panel, select the top layer, right click (and hold) to bring up a pop-up menu. Slide the cursor down to Merge Visible, hold down the Option (Alt) Key and then release the mouse button. Check the Layers Panel to make sure the Stamp Visible layer is present.
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ChrisAnn
Junior Forum Member
Posts: 227
Open to constructive criticism of photos: Yes
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Post by ChrisAnn on Aug 12, 2015 6:28:01 GMT
I tried that and got the drop down list, but no Stamp Visible layer was there. Will try again when I have a bit more time. Thanks for the suggestion PeteB.
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Madame
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Post by Madame on Aug 12, 2015 7:51:55 GMT
Make sure you hold the ALT key when you click "merge visible". That will take you there.
There is no stamp visible command.
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Post by Sepiana on Aug 12, 2015 14:26:11 GMT
Let's try this,
1. Press and hold down the Alt key. 2. Go to Layer in the menu bar. 3. Click on Layer to bring up the drop-down menu. 4. With the mouse button pressed down, slide the cursor down the menu until you get to "Merge Visible". 5. When "Merge Visible" gets selected, release the mouse. 6. Release the Alt key.
NOTE: The technique suggested by Pete (via the Layers panel) works the same way. Just make sure that the Alt key is pressed down all the time and that you are sliding the cursor down the menu.
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ChrisAnn
Junior Forum Member
Posts: 227
Open to constructive criticism of photos: Yes
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Post by ChrisAnn on Aug 14, 2015 19:36:13 GMT
Wow! Sepiana, that works! Thanks so much.  I still can't get a drop down menu on the layers panel while pressing alt but that doesn't matter now that I know to do it on the menu bar. Sorry it's taken me a few days to get back to you - life keeps getting in the way of what I really want to do.  Thanks to everyone else who has help me too. I'm now off to get on with what I was doing. |
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Post by Sepiana on Aug 14, 2015 20:34:55 GMT
ChrisAnn,
Going via the Layers panel (Pete's suggestion) works just fine. It is all a matter of not letting the mouse go until you have the Merge Visible option selected in the drop-down menu.
1. Press and hold down the Alt key.
2. Click on the four-lined square in the upper right corner of the Layers panel to bring up the drop-down menu.
3. With the mouse button pressed down, slide the cursor down the menu until you get to "Merge Visible".
4. When "Merge Visible" gets selected, release the mouse.
5. Release the Alt key.
The same applies here as well -- Just make sure that the Alt key is pressed down all the time and that you are sliding the cursor down the menu.
You can also make it easier. Use the shortcut I suggested earlier in this thread.
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ChrisAnn
Junior Forum Member
Posts: 227
Open to constructive criticism of photos: Yes
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Post by ChrisAnn on Aug 15, 2015 6:55:48 GMT
I can get to stage 2 with the above instructions but the drop-down menu doesn't appear when I'm holding down the alt key (it's there OK when not using Alt). I can see a little 'flash' which looks like the drop down menu but it doesn't stay in place. I have the alt key pressed and also the little square icon pressed with the mouse but there's no menu to slide down. However the other method works just fine and achieves what I need and your short cut combination works fine too - I just need to remember it. |
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shaun
Junior Forum Member
Posts: 85 
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Post by shaun on Aug 15, 2015 7:57:37 GMT
Hi all. Pete's suggestion would not work for me either, if I hold Alt the layer menu won't appear. Your suggestion works Sepiana. I have a bonus with my system as I have elements xxl and the stamp visable command is visble in layer menu. I normally use the short cut Contl Alt Shift E, but its good to find alternative methods .
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Madame
Established Forum Member
Posts: 504
Open to constructive criticism of photos: Yes
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Post by Madame on Aug 15, 2015 8:01:17 GMT
I'm lousy remembering shortcuts, but this one I remember if I think "CASE" : Ctrl-Alt-Shift-E
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Post by Sepiana on Aug 15, 2015 8:18:32 GMT
Here is another way to create a composite layer.
1. Make sure the top layer is activated.
2. Select>All
3. Edit>Copy Merged
4. Edit>Paste
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ChrisAnn
Junior Forum Member
Posts: 227
Open to constructive criticism of photos: Yes
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Post by ChrisAnn on Aug 15, 2015 8:21:04 GMT
So many ways. I am going to have to extract the instructions from this thread and print them out - I'm never going to remember what to do the next time I need it. Thanks.
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Post by PeteB on Aug 15, 2015 13:32:52 GMT
Hi ChrisAnn
It seems that I have created some confusion..so for clarification purposes … there are at least 5 different ways to create a stamp visible layer. My chosen method involves using the right click button on a mouse. BTW, I am using a Mac with PSE 12.
My chosen method
Select the top active layer in the Layers Panel
Right click on that layer and hold the right-hand button down
A pop-up menu appears and while holding down the button, slide the cursor down to Merge Visible.
Hold down the Option (Alt) key and then release the mouse button.
In the Layers Panel, a new layer should have been created. It will not say Stamp Visible, it will have a Layer number. (But if you check the History Panel, it will say Stamp Visible)
I hold down the Option (Alt) key just before releasing the right click button, but if you want, you can hold down the option key at the beginning of the method
For the record, here are the 4 other methods that I have discovered.
Keyboard shortcut
Command/Shift/Option/E
The long method …
Select > All Layers
Select > All
Edit > Copy Merge
Edit > Paste.
Layers Panel flyout
Click on flyout menu (upper right hand corner of the Layers Panel)
Hold down Option (Alt) key
Select Merge Visible
The method that started this thread
Select the top layer (Layers Panel)
Hold down Option (Alt) key
Layer > Merge Visible
HTH
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I still can't get a drop down menu on the layers panel while pressing alt but that doesn't matter now that I know to do it on the menu bar.
