help with quick class creating a basic page *Photoshop*

[alliazon]

Hi, I am very, very new computer scrapper and I'm having difficulty with your quick class on creating a basic page in photoshop 7. I hope someone can help. I am getting stuck at the journal box. I followed the directions word for word. The problem I'm having is that it tells me to click on my layer named background. I don't have a layer named background showing. I have layer 1, which is my background color, layer 2 is my big photo, small photo, title layer, and journaling box layer. I decided to click on layer 1 as if that was my layer named background and continue following the directions. I drew the rectangle all the way across the page and then clicked on the eyedropper and got the color of my font. When I try to fill the rectangle with the paint bucket it says "Content of Layer is not Directly Editable" I have no idea what to do next.

Any ideas what I might have done wrong?

Thanks,
Allison

[SuzanneCWalker]

Hi, Allison!! I think you're almost there...... I don't have my ps open, but I think you can create a new layer for your journaling box instead of trying to find that elusive "background" (which may or may not even be there - those darned PS Gremlins! Kidding). So..... Go into the layers pallet and right click, select "create a new layer", and then go back to your instructions and start with the rectangle shape. Does that make sense? I'm not a very good tutor, but I think you're ALMOST there!!! Can't wait to see it!

[Margie]

layer 1 is your background layer, it's just unlocked, no biggie. i'd use the marquee tool instead of the rectangle tool, then you can fill it. if you use the rectangle tool, you need to rasterize it then you can change the colors on it. we'll revise that step too! let us know if it works for you! Ü

[alliazon]

Margie and Suzanne,
Thanks for the help, but I'm still having a little trouble. Ok, I did the rectangle marquee and then filled it in with my color, the next step is to rastersize it, but it won't let me...that is grayed out. I skipped over that step and then went to add the frame around it by going to edit, stroke. Now, the problem is the 2 things aren't connected together...the frame and the long rectangle. And, when I go to move the pictures, the rectangle marquee moves with them....the color doesn't but the dotted line rectangle does. Ack!! What did I do? LOL.

Allison

[alliazon]

more questions---I backed up a few steps and started over w/the journaling box. This time I created a new layer, then selected the color I wanted, then drew the rectangle using the rectangle tool. The problem now is that I cannot do the stroke thing to get a frame around it. Stroke is grayed out. I can rasterize vector mask, but that still does not allow me to add the frame. So I am at a complete loss.

I'm sorry for asking so many questions!

Allison

[alliazon]

oh, oh, I got it to work....just have to figure out how....k, I had to send the layer back twice, then I was able to rasterize the shape and then it allowed me to add the frame via stroke. Might want to see what needs to be added to your directions :-)

on to do the rest of the tutorial! yay!!

ALlison

[Margie]

let's see, when you fill the rectangle marquee, it's already a raster, so you can't rasterize it. a shape must be rasterized before editing, not a fill.
after you do the fill you have to deselect to get rid of the walking ants (around the rectangle). or it'll stay active on whatever layer you're clicked on.
on the rectangle made with the shape tool, you have to right click and rasterize. (nothing with a vector mask) then it will let you do a stroke.
you have to be very careful that whatever you're trying to do is on the right layer. it must be highlighted on the right. hth and glad to see you got past it! Ü

[JYWhite]

I am at the same place in this tutorial. Except my problem is that the Journal box overlays the small picture! How do I 'send it to the back' so it is behind the small picture as in the example??

[elizabethlmccoy]

If you click on the layer you want to move in the Layers Palete.. click & hold and drag it down to below the layer you want to be ontop of it...does that make sense? I'm not in photoshop right now so i can't be more specific

[JYWhite]

If you click on the layer you want to move in the Layers Palete.. click & hold and drag it down to below the layer you want to be ontop of it...does that make sense? I'm not in photoshop right now so i can't be more specific
Well it took me a few trys but you made enough sense for me to figure it out! Yeah, and thank you so much! Now to continue, I am lovin this!

[elizabethlmccoy]

Yippie!!! have fun...and be careful it is addicting hehehe :D :D