ChrisAnn
Junior Forum Member
Posts: 227 
Open to constructive criticism of photos: Yes
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Post by ChrisAnn on Feb 11, 2017 15:20:09 GMT
I have been given a series of photos of groups of people and asked to cut out each face into an oval 14mm high.
a) How do I ensure that each oval shape is exactly the same size?
Just to help matters along, in two of the photos the faces are much smaller than required so I have to make them larger as well as cut them out.
I have scanned all photos in at 1200 ppi although, of course, the ultimate collection will be printed out at 300 ppi. I appreciate that the resolution is only as good as the original photo - some of which are black and white so go back a very long way but will do my best.
b) Should I enlarge the photos by 120% in image>resize until I get them large enough - or is there a better way?
c) Do I make the finished collection 300 dpi after working at 1200 ppi or should I go back and scan in at 300 ppi?
It seemed easy enough when I agreed to take on the job ... now, of course, I am beginning to wonder whether I'm out of my depth.
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Post by Major Major on Feb 11, 2017 17:53:05 GMT
How do I ensure that each oval shape is exactly the same size? Make one oval on its own layer of the correct size, then duplicate that layer as needed, then use the move tool to put the ovals where you want them. |
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Post by cats4jan on Feb 11, 2017 21:26:23 GMT
(photo from Pixabay)
Draw an oval shape. This is your template. Clip/Group a photo to the oval shape. If you are putting all photos on the same project, duplicate the oval shape - one for each photo. Place the photo above the oval shape and while on the photo layer, control/command g to group/clip the oval and photo. Note: Keyboard shortcut may have changed for PSE15 - I am using PSE11
If shortcut doesn't work, layer> create clipping mask will work. Make sure you are on photo layer. The up-side to using clipping is that you can manipulate your photo layer after it's clipped - using the move tool - to get just what part of the photo you wish in your oval. Make sure you are on the photo layer, grab the move tool - move the photo around, enlarge it, make it smaller, etc. After you clip the photo and oval and position your photo in the oval, link the two layers together, so repositioning your oval photo is easy to do. You will need to move the two layers as one - linking will allow this to be done easily.  
If you are doing only one photo on each page, save your oval shape as a template. Save it as a png to maintain transparency around the outer edges of your oval shape. You place your png onto your project the same as you would a jpg. Add a photo. Then clip the photo to the oval.
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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 Feb 11, 2017 23:25:38 GMT
Thanks - I'm off to see what I can do. I may be some time there are loads of 'em!
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Post by cats4jan on Feb 12, 2017 0:33:20 GMT
Good luck with your project.
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Post by Sepiana on Feb 12, 2017 1:08:03 GMT
Place the photo above the oval shape and while on the photo layer, control/command g to group/clip the oval and photo. Note: Keyboard shortcut may have changed for PSE15 - I am using PSE11
If shortcut doesn't work, layer> create clipping mask will work. Make sure you are on photo layer. Yes, indeed. Adobe has changed the shortcut to create a clipping mask in Elements 15.
Clipping Mask Gets a New Shortcut
As a side note, you can also create a clipping mask this way. Adobe has not changed it.
In the Layers panel -- Hold down the Alt key (Option key on a Mac) and then move the cursor over the line which separates the two layers you want to group. The cursor will turn into two linked circles. When this happens click once; Elements will group the two layers together (with a clipping mask).
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Post by cats4jan on Feb 12, 2017 1:49:29 GMT
I used to use that link between layers thing until I got used to the keyboard shortcut and then they went and changed my shortcut. 😥😥
For PSE 15
alt control g for PC
opt command g for Mac
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Post by Sepiana on Feb 12, 2017 1:55:14 GMT
I have been given a series of photos of groups of people and asked to cut out each face into an oval 14mm high. Just to help matters along, in two of the photos the faces are much smaller than required so I have to make them larger as well as cut them out. b) Should I enlarge the photos by 120% in image>resize until I get them large enough - or is there a better way? ChrisAnn, you already got all the help you need. I am just going to address this resizing issue.
I am afraid that, once you enlarge the photos by more than 100%, they will get pixelated. This will also apply if you create an oval template, clip the photo to it, and use Free Transform to enlarge the photo to fit the template. If you need to enlarge the photo by more than 100%, you will see pixelation. Fortunately, there is the workaround below.
Bring your photo into Elements as a Smart Object by using the File>Place command. The advantage of working with Smart Objects is that they can be enlarged, shrunk, transformed, etc. without any problem. Open your oval template first and, then, bring your photo into Elements by doing this command. Now, after you clip the photo to the oval template, you can resize, transform the photo without its quality being affected.
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Post by cats4jan on Feb 12, 2017 3:07:12 GMT
Finally, a reason Smart Objects are worth the effort. I had heard something about resizing, but I didn't know it worked this well. Thanks for that great explanation, Sepiana.
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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 Feb 12, 2017 9:10:58 GMT
I am afraid that, once you enlarge the photos by more than 100%, they will get pixelated. This will also apply if you create an oval template, clip the photo to it, and use Free Transform to enlarge the photo to fit the template. If you need to enlarge the photo by more than 100%, you will see pixelation. Fortunately, there is the workaround below.
Bring your photo into Elements as a Smart Object by using the File>Place command. The advantage of working with Smart Objects is that they can be enlarged, shrunk, transformed, etc. without any problem. Open your oval template first and, then, bring your photo into Elements by doing this command. Now, after you clip the photo to the oval template, you can resize, transform the photo without its quality being affected. Thanks Sepiana - didn't know that. Will paste this info somewhere safe so that I can find it again as I'm sure I'm not going to remember precisely what to do. |
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Post by cats4jan on Feb 12, 2017 11:45:21 GMT
ChrisAnn - it all seems more difficult than it really is. You will do fine. Can't wait to see your project.
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Post by Sepiana on Feb 13, 2017 0:00:15 GMT
Finally, a reason Smart Objects are worth the effort. I had heard something about resizing, but I didn't know it worked this well. Thanks for that great explanation, Sepiana. Janice, you are most welcome! And in the case of ChrisAnn they are indeed worth the effort. She stated she wanted to enlarge the photos by 120%. If she followed your suggestion to create a larger oval template to clip the photo to it and, then, enlarge the photo to fit the template, the quality of the photo would be affected, i.e., pixelate would develop. Going the Smart Object route will protect the integrity/quality of the photo(s).
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Post by Sepiana on Feb 13, 2017 0:08:09 GMT
I am afraid that, once you enlarge the photos by more than 100%, they will get pixelated. This will also apply if you create an oval template, clip the photo to it, and use Free Transform to enlarge the photo to fit the template. If you need to enlarge the photo by more than 100%, you will see pixelation. Fortunately, there is the workaround below.
Bring your photo into Elements as a Smart Object by using the File>Place command. The advantage of working with Smart Objects is that they can be enlarged, shrunk, transformed, etc. without any problem. Open your oval template first and, then, bring your photo into Elements by doing this command. Now, after you clip the photo to the oval template, you can resize, transform the photo without its quality being affected. Thanks Sepiana - didn't know that. Will paste this info somewhere safe so that I can find it again as I'm sure I'm not going to remember precisely what to do. ChrisAnn, you are most welcome! Success with your project! Post back if you have any questions about using Smart Objects in your project.
And, if you are interested in the subject of Smart Objects, you may want to check . . .
All About Smart Objects
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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 Feb 13, 2017 7:46:29 GMT
Thanks Sepiana and Cats4jan - my project is very boring as I am printing out a sheet of faces for someone else to cut out and paste into their own handicrafts project - I think I prefer to do my projects all on a computer.  |
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Post by cats4jan on Feb 13, 2017 10:47:40 GMT
Can't get the quote to work  Amen to that. I tried making hybrid greeting cards and stamping and decided I so much prefer doing the whole project on the computer. You are a good friend for taking on this project. Once you get moving on it, it won't be as big a deal as it sounds. You aren't going to need to make a composition of all these photos, so it'll be half the work. I don't envy the person cutting out all those ovals. If they were straight edges, one could use a paper cutter, but ovals? Yikes. |
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