ChrisAnn
Junior Forum Member
Posts: 227 
Open to constructive criticism of photos: Yes
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Post by ChrisAnn on Jul 8, 2021 16:42:27 GMT
I have a photo I wish to crop with a shape from the shape tool. I've chosen the shape and dragged it over my photo as it says in the help page ![]() but instead of it cropping ie cutting stuff out, it blanks out the shape from the original photo leaving visible the edges I want to remove.
Original picture
Blanking it out rather than cropping
These are my settings for the Shape Tool
Am I using the shape tool incorrectly? If it is working as it should what is it used for?
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Post by hmca on Jul 8, 2021 16:49:40 GMT
ChrisAnn, try clipping your photo to the shape. I think that should work.
Place the photo above the shape layer.
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Post by Sepiana on Jul 8, 2021 17:12:54 GMT
I have a photo I wish to crop with a shape from the shape tool. I've chosen the shape and dragged it over my photo as it says in the help page ![]() but instead of it cropping ie cutting stuff out, it blanks out the shape from the original photo leaving visible the edges I want to remove. Am I using the shape tool incorrectly? If it is working as it should what is it used for? Hi ChrisAnn, You need to use the Cookie Cutter Tool (nested with the Crop Tool). Select Crop Shapes from the Custom Shape Picker. Then, Elements will crop your photo to the given shape. Use the Cookie Cutter Tool (Help file) Crop Photos into Shapes with Photoshop Elements |
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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 Jul 10, 2021 8:17:16 GMT
Thank you for your suggestion Helen - I really need to get to grips with clipping - I do so little 'playing' with my photos that I forget what I knew.
Sepiana you've hit the nail on the head - I was using the wrong tool. I knew it would be something basic that I'd got wrong. Now all I need to do is remember this fact for future reference. 
Now I can do it I'm not so sure I like it - so I'm going to have another 'play' to find just what I'm looking for. It's to go on the cover of an A5 magazine I edit. The front cover always has a photo of a cliff in Dorset called Golden Cap. As you can imagine, there's not much you can do to make the same subject 'different' so I thought I'd have a go at a variety of crops. I'm not sure that this is the right one but at least I can now get on with finding one.
Thank you both.
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Post by cats4jan on Jul 10, 2021 9:42:35 GMT
I like clipping to a shape rather than using the cookie cutter. After you draw your shape and clip the photo to the shape, the shape can be moved and manipulated. After clipping, go to the shape layer and select the move tool - For more flexibility and control, rather than the Move Tool, use Transform - keyboard shortcut Control T (Command T on a Mac) While on the shape layer, pull/push at the corners and the shape will grow or get smaller and when it does that, more or less of your photo will appear. Move the shape around and different parts of the photo will appear. The shape can be distorted, also. That’s why Control/Command T is a better choice than the Move Tool when manipulating the shape layer.Or maybe you would be happier using a mask rather than a shape. Less harsh effect. A mask can be used just as you would use a shape - clipping the photo to the mask If areas on the mask are too transparent, use a soft brush on the mask layer to fill in areas of the mask
Fill in mask areas after clipping to the photo - that way, you will see the immediate results of your brush strokes.When acquiring masks, make sure they are in png format 
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Post by hmca on Jul 10, 2021 10:53:45 GMT
ChrisAnn , Janice has given you the basics as to the versatility of using clipping masks. They might be something to consider for your layouts as they will offer you many different options. I am including screenshots of the same landscape using two different masks that I purchased from Etsy. They are very reasonable.  
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Post by cats4jan on Jul 10, 2021 11:10:31 GMT
Helen - Those are great examples
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Post by Sepiana on Jul 10, 2021 12:59:21 GMT
I really need to get to grips with clipping - I do so little 'playing' with my photos that I forget what I knew. ChrisAnn, this may help you get to grips with using a clipping mask. All About Clipping Masks
Clipping Mask -- A Workflow WorkaroundSepiana you've hit the nail on the head - I was using the wrong tool. I knew it would be something basic that I'd got wrong. Now all I need to do is remember this fact for future reference. These two tools -- Custom Shape and Cookie Cutter -- can be quite confusing as they share the same library of shapes. Here are a few things to remember when using the Cookie Cutter. By adjusting the Tool Options settings, you can . . . - Set a fixed size or constrain the proportions of the shape.- Feather the edges of the shape.- Reposition or resize the shape mask.- Skew or distort the shape created by using the Transform options.- Enhance the results by adding a stroke or applying a layer style.NOTE:As the Cookie Cutter replaces the areas (pixels) it removes with transparency, it's hard to see what is going on. Try this trick! Create a blank layer underneath the cropped layer and fill it with a contrasting color. Once you are done and satisfied with the results, just delete this layer. Last by not least you can use the Cookie Cutter in this way, . . . Using the Cookie Cutter to Create a Border |
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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 Jul 10, 2021 14:55:19 GMT
Wow! hours of fun here. Thanks so much everyone. I know I really need to get to grips with all the options in Elements - no time to get bored even during these strange times.
Edit to say that I've just realised that I can email a link to this thread to myself so that I can always come back and look again when I've forgotten precisely what it was I need to do. Now I must go back and find my other questions and their solutions so that they don't get lost in the mist of time. |
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Post by Sepiana on Jul 11, 2021 2:11:12 GMT
Wow! hours of fun here. Thanks so much everyone. I know I really need to get to grips with all the options in Elements - no time to get bored even during these strange times. ChrisAnn, you are most welcome! Glad to help. If I remember it correctly, you have Elements 2020. So, here is one more option. Back in Elements 2018, Adobe introduced the Shape Overlay Effect (Guided Edit > Fun Edits). This effect allows you to crop your photo according to the shape you have added to it.Shape Overlay Effect Guided Edit (Help file) Shape Overlay in Photoshop Elements |
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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 Jul 11, 2021 8:38:08 GMT
OOH! more playing time. Thanks Sepiana.
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