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Post by Inspeqtor on Sept 11, 2016 14:17:20 GMT
1. You have a blank, new layer at the top of the stack 2. Hold down the shift key as you drag out the circle with the Elliptical marquee tool. You should see the "marching ants" in the configuration of a circle 3. Go to Edit>Stroke(outline) selection and place the stroke inside. You should see the circle with transparency inside & surrounding it. 4. Press CTRL+D to get rid of the marching ants. 5. With the layer with the circle at the top active, use the move tool to position the circle. Thank you for this! One of my problems was I copied the Background Layer (CTRL-J) |
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ken1
Junior Forum Member
Posts: 83 
Open to constructive criticism of photos: Yes
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Post by ken1 on Sept 11, 2016 14:28:37 GMT
You are very welcome. Glad to help.
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Post by Inspeqtor on Sept 11, 2016 14:42:08 GMT
Sepiana, THANK YOU! Yes that is what I was after! Another question, if I am not happy with the location of the circle, how do I move the circle? When I first draw the circle it is not possible (at least I don't see how it is possible) to know where the center of the circle will be, or if the object I am putting the circle around will be centered.... Charles, you are most welcome! Glad to hear that's what you were after.
Yes, you can from the onset determine the center of your selection. This will eliminate the need for having to move the selection later one.
Place your cursor on the area which you want to be the center of the circle. Hold the Alt key (along with the Shift key if you want a perfectly circular selection) as you drag out the circle.
NOTE:
You could first find the center of your image by using this technique, which I found somewhere on the Web. If you have a version of Elements which can create Guides, you can do this.
1. Turn on the Ruler.
2. Do Free Transform (Ctrl-T, Cmmd-T on a Mac).
3. Place your cursor on the vertical ruler. Click and drag the Guide line to the middle handle of the Free Transform bounding box. The Guide line will snap to this handle.
4. Do the same with the horizontal ruler.
Sepiana, Thank you also! I did get the "Hold ALT Key and Shift Key" trick to work, that is slick trick! However in step 3 that I am not getting to work. If I have a New Blank Layer active with nothing in it I get an error, so I try using the Background Layer but I don't know what the Guide Line is to be able to drag it? (I have pressed CTRL-T) What am I missing? |
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Post by cats4jan on Sept 11, 2016 18:09:42 GMT
To do guide lines: Step #3 said: I'll paraphrase -- With the rulers visible, go onto the ruler itself, hold down the left mouse button and drag and let go. You will see a guide line wherever you let go of the mouse. You can do this from the top ruler or the side ruler. You do not have to have anything but a new blank project open to use the guide lines - you aren't doing the lines on any particular layer.  |
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Post by Sepiana on Sept 11, 2016 18:17:55 GMT
Sepiana, Thank you also! I did get the "Hold ALT Key and Shift Key" trick to work, that is slick trick! However in step 3 that I am not getting to work. If I have a New Blank Layer active with nothing in it I get an error, so I try using the Background Layer but I don't know what the Guide Line is to be able to drag it? (I have pressed CTRL-T) What am I missing?
Charles,
It looks like you are not placing the cursor on the vertical ruler, i.e., where the vertical ruler starts, on "zero". Then, you have to do the same for the horizontal ruler, place the cursor where this ruler starts, i.e., on zero.
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Post by Inspeqtor on Sept 11, 2016 18:32:38 GMT
Jan,
Thank you Jan,
I got it done, but then I found I still have to put my cursor on the cross lines then hold ALT-Shift to put my circle on center. I believe though that with the cross lines there it is easier to find (what we think is) center, am I correct?
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Post by Sepiana on Sept 11, 2016 18:45:02 GMT
Charles,
There are a few techniques to determine the center of an image. Here are two of them.
Activate the Line Tool (U) and draw two diagonal lines. The spot where these two lines intersect will be the center of your image.
When you use this technique, Elements creates two shape layers. You can just delete them after they have served their purpose.
Go to Edit>Preferences>Guides & Grid. Make the following changes:
Gridline every = 50 Percent Subdivisions = 1
NOTE: You can also change the color of the Grid for more contrast.
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Post by Inspeqtor on Sept 11, 2016 18:45:59 GMT
Jan, You changed your reply after I had already clicked on the "Reply" button, and taking my time as I was also working in PSE figuring what I had to do. Also while I was taking my time, Sepiana you also replied during that time! Thank you both, and also Ken1 that replied to this post to help me as I am trying to re-learn how to use Elements I think now I may have tackled this project  |
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Post by Inspeqtor on Sept 11, 2016 18:56:49 GMT
And again as I was typing even more, Sepiana you added another helpful post! What would we do without all this great help we get from this wonderful forum! I am sure very happy we found a new home after EV had to close. I am so very grateful Rick LePage was able to give us warning AND time to find a new home! Here is the project I was working on to show a friend about a question I had for him involving learning to photograph stars. I still have a LOOONG way to go in that new hobby.  |
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Post by Sepiana on Sept 11, 2016 18:59:45 GMT
Jan, Thank you Jan, I got it done, but then I found I still have to put my cursor on the cross lines then hold ALT-Shift to put my circle on center. I believe though that with the cross lines there it is easier to find (what we think is) center, am I correct? Charles,
I am not Janice but . . .
If you follow the instructions I posted earlier, the point where the two lines (guide lines) intersect will be the center of your image. Elements has done the work for you. As I said before, I believe the problem you were having with this technique was related to the placement of your cursor on the vertical/horizontal rulers. You need to have your cursor where each ruler starts, i.e., on "zero".
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Post by Inspeqtor on Sept 11, 2016 19:03:24 GMT
Jan, Thank you Jan, I got it done, but then I found I still have to put my cursor on the cross lines then hold ALT-Shift to put my circle on center. I believe though that with the cross lines there it is easier to find (what we think is) center, am I correct? Charles,
I am not Janice but . . .
If you follow the instructions I posted earlier, the point where the two lines (guide lines) intersect will be the center of your image. Elements has done the work for you. As I said before, I believe the problem you were having with this technique was related to the placement of your cursor on the vertical/horizontal rulers. You need to have your cursor where each rules starts, i.e., on "zero".
Thank you Sepiana, I believe you and I were typing online at the same time. See my replies above |
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Post by Sepiana on Sept 11, 2016 19:26:37 GMT
I am trying to re-learn how to use Elements Charles,
Here is some information on how to use rulers and guides in Elements.
Rulers, grids, and guides
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Post by cats4jan on Sept 11, 2016 19:47:01 GMT
Sepiana - I like your idea of using the diagnal crossed lines method of determining center - for me, that's much easier than using the guide lines.
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Post by Sepiana on Sept 11, 2016 20:16:28 GMT
Sepiana - I like your idea of using the diagnal crossed lines method of determining center - for me, that's much easier than using the guide lines. Janice,
I myself prefer using the rulers/guide lines. I have been using this technique for so long that it just comes naturally. Once you get the hang of it, it is a piece of cake.
What I don't like about the diagonal crossed lines technique (Line tool) is the fact that is somewhat "manual". It also creates extra layers.
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Moto
Established Forum Member
Posts: 662
Open to constructive criticism of photos: Yes
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Post by Moto on Sept 12, 2016 10:04:14 GMT
Another option to center Guide Lines is to use: The View Menu / New Guide (lines). Use the New Guide twice with a Position of 50%. Once Horizontal and once Vertical. Notes: The ruler does not need to be visible. To clear guide lines use View menu / Clear Guides, (when the ruler is not visible). |
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