Creating a Quick Click

[MarsOlson]

I thought I would try making my own quick click from one of my sketches. I use PSP. I made each layer seperate with the shape and saved as png files. I pasted the layer into the layout the same way I would for a store bought quick click. The problem is the shape doesn't go to the right spot. It just pastes as if it was a single object into the center. I was wondering how the designers make the shapes end up in exactly the right spot. I tried saving with masks and without but so far I can't figure it out. When I use a DSP quickclick the invisible background moves with each shape on a layer but how is that done? Hope that makes sense.

[Amanda]

Hahaha...but that is one of the secrets of our fabulous designers :) It's a trade secret I'm not sure they will be willing to share :)

[MarsOlson]

lol. After I posted that I started thinking that might be the answer! Will have to keep experimenting!

[isshinryu_mom]

A bit off topic of this thread... but isn't it fun to see something the designer's have created and say to yourself "hmmmm... I wonder how she did that?" and then off you go and try to do it yourself. (It's fun alright, but not so good for that pile of laundry on the couch!!!)

[ScrapMel]

I think I know how they do it ... not 100% sure because I never actually tried it....hhhmmmm, or maybe I only ASSUMED I knew how they did it? I have to get to my laptop ... wonder if they would miss me at work?

[lvg4him]

well, i am not sure HOW the designers do it, BUT you might try placing it in a 12x12 with the background transparent. On the transparent background place the shape where you want it and save it as a png file. When you copy and paste into a NEW 12x12 they should show up where they are supposed to be. HTH!!

[MarsOlson]

Actually that is exactly how I tried doing it. It doesn't seem to be as simple as that. But thanks anyway. The empty space must get filled somehow. I am still trying to find a way.

[lvich]

I just tried creating a simple one and did it that way and it worked for me! The only thing I did differently was instead of copying and pasting, I drag the layer into the new document and make sure I hold Shift before letting go of the mouse to ensure that the layer is exactly in the middle.

As long as each part is on a separate layer within the 12 x 12 document, and you turn off all the layers except the one you are saving at the time as a .png file, this should work. At least it does in PS CS2!

[MarsOlson]

Maybe it's just me or the way PSP works. I created the seperate layers of my template(qc) and saved each one as a png. To put it together I tried to copy and paste each png into a new file the same way I do for the DSP quick clicks. PSP only seems to recognize the non-transparent data and places it in the center. I don't want it in the center, I want it in it's proper place in my lo design. I finally figured out a way to paste so it is aligned the same way as my template(qc) layer. I filled each corner with an invisible pixel. Now PSP pastes the layer data the same size as the image with the shape where I intended it to be. I think I wasted most of the day trying to figure out a way to do this and then it was such a simple little thing! BTW thanks for the responses, it kept me working on it.

[doda]

Congrats Mars.. I've been thinking alot about the QC's lately too. Will have to try one. Would love to see a LO with one you created.

[Pam]

When you paste a new layer in PSP it's always in the middle. But selections remember where they are. Select an area and save selection to alpha channel. You can save several selections to one document without anything in them. Then reload them one at a time and fill them (each on a different layer). And no, this isn't how the designers are doing their quick clicks, but a selection does remember where you saved it.

[MarsOlson]

oh I didn't even think of that. I did try selecting and pasting but I didn't know about saving the selection to alpha channel. Going to try that now. Thanks.

[scrapper girl]

I was wondering the same thing. I have been trying some today just for kicks but can't get it to stay in the same place. I use PSE 3 and if I flatten image 1st then save as png, it stays in the same place but I lose the transparent background. Any suggestions? :confused:

[lvich]

You don't want to flatten the image - that's why you are losing transparency. All you need to do is to turn off the eyeball of all layers except the one you want to save as a .png file. Then choose File, Save As and choose .png. Do that for each layer you need to save as a .png file.

[scrapper girl]

What if I only have one layer? Do I create another layer underneath and turn this off?

Scrapper Girl

[scrapper girl]

How would you get it to paste in the same location it was created? When I paste it to the new location it goes straight to the middle instead of the top where it was originally created.

[canay]

I filled each corner with an invisible pixel.

Mars,

I've been wondering the same thing about making QC's in PSP but didn't have the nerve to ask. Thank you for starting the thread. So...how do you fill a corner with an invisible pixel?

[debbers]

I filled each corner with an invisible pixel.

OK, Mars, I was following the rest of this until you mentioned an invisible pixel. HOW do I make an invisible pixel?!

deb

P.S. I had to do this a month or two ago in PSP, and forget exactly how I did it. I may have reverted to alpha channel selection, too, though.

[debbers]

Er .... I just pulled out my PSP ... now I remember how I did it.

Click on the layer
Selected the stuff on it with a wand
Go up to the selections menu and choose ALL
Copy
Paste into new layer
Voila!

deb

[Pam]

When you highlight a section and Selections > Load/Save Selection > Save Selection to Alpha Channel, you can name that selection. You can save many selections - each with a different name. Then when you use it to create, you would create a new raster layer, load a selection (from alpha channel) for that layer, fill the selection with color or background material. Repeat. Each area is on it's own layer. Selections know where you saved them.

[scrapper girl]

When you highlight a section and Selections > Load/Save Selection > Save Selection to Alpha Channel, you can name that selection. You can save many selections - each with a different name. Then when you use it to create, you would create a new raster layer, load a selection (from alpha channel) for that layer, fill the selection with color or background material. Repeat. Each area is on it's own layer. Selections know where you saved them.
Does Anyone know how to do this in Photoshop Elements 3?

[lvich]

Yes! For instance, if you created a new file with a white background layer and then created a new layer on which you placed an object, you would turn off the eyeball for the background layer, just leaving the other layer showing. When looking at the document on your desktop, you would see the object with space around it (transparency represented by a checkboard-like pattern).

Hope this helps!

[scrapper girl]

Yes! For instance, if you created a new file with a white background layer and then created a new layer on which you placed an object, you would turn off the eyeball for the background layer, just leaving the other layer showing. When looking at the document on your desktop, you would see the object with space around it (transparency represented by a checkboard-like pattern).

Hope this helps!
I've tried this but when I go to copy and paste it still places the object in the center instead of where it was created. Are you saying that I need to have more than one layer because when I was trying it was just on one layer.

[canay]

Er .... I just pulled out my PSP ... now I remember how I did it.

Click on the layer
Selected the stuff on it with a wand
Go up to the selections menu and choose ALL
Copy
Paste into new layer
Voila!

deb

This works if you are pasting in on a new layer but not if you are pasting in in a new image. Right?

[debbers]

It worked fine into a new image ... tested it before I posted.

But SELECT ALL from the selections menu was the key (after I'd already selected the opaque stuff with the magic wand).

deb

[debbers]

Just checked again ... I didn't actually need to select anything before going to the Selections menu -- if you select SELECT ALL -- it just does it.

You learn something new every day! I thought things on that menu just *modified* a selection.

deb

[MarsOlson]

Mars,

I've been wondering the same thing about making QC's in PSP but didn't have the nerve to ask. Thank you for starting the thread. So...how do you fill a corner with an invisible pixel?

I put a low opacity dot in each corner of the png files. The dot is so tiny it is invisible. Now PSP pastes the entire layer with my object right where I wanted it.

I tried several other ways and some work with extra steps but I wanted it to be as simple as the ones I have used from DSP. I still don't know how they do it but this worked for me. This is what I came up with after spending far too much time experimenting.

Layered Template (http://www.digitalscrapbookplace.com/gallery/showphoto.php?photo=126820&cat=2174)

[lvich]

I've tried this but when I go to copy and paste it still places the object in the center instead of where it was created. Are you saying that I need to have more than one layer because when I was trying it was just on one layer.

Ok, I have made some screen caps to help you out.

http://www.digitalscrapbookplace.com/gallery/showphoto.php?photo=126840&cat=500&ppuser=6302 Look here to see the complete layered document and the layers palette that it produces.

http://www.digitalscrapbookplace.com/gallery/showphoto.php?photo=126841&cat=500&ppuser=6302 Look here to see all but one layer's eyeballs turned off and the resulting image.

I hope this helps you out! If you are using Photoshop Elements, you should be able to do this. Perhaps, instead of copying and pasting into a new document, open the document you want to get the layer from and the new document side by side. Drag the layer from the layers palette into the new document and hold Shift before letting go of the mouse. Hopefully that should do it for you!

[Pam]

I put a low opacity dot in each corner of the png files. The dot is so tiny it is invisible. Now PSP pastes the entire layer with my object right where I wanted it. Exactly! But it also takes the room in memory that an entire layer would -- I have 512 MB of Ram and these bog my computer down so badly ... PSP selections don't need dots. I followed a tutorial a long while back to create a graphic using selections - you loaded each selection and filled - first the bear's body, then his ears, then a bow around his neck, then eyes, ... you get the idea. Well this works for a scrapbook page as well. Once you've saved your selections, you can save the file to use many times -- and the file is often less than 500 KB.

[canay]

You know Pam, that is a great idea for PSP users. When I was first learning a few years ago I followed a bunch of tutorials that used selections. The same concept would work great for a scrapbook layout.

[scrapper girl]

Ok, I have made some screen caps to help you out.

http://www.digitalscrapbookplace.com/gallery/showphoto.php?photo=126840&cat=500&ppuser=6302 Look here to see the complete layered document and the layers palette that it produces.

http://www.digitalscrapbookplace.com/gallery/showphoto.php?photo=126841&cat=500&ppuser=6302 Look here to see all but one layer's eyeballs turned off and the resulting image.

I hope this helps you out! If you are using Photoshop Elements, you should be able to do this. Perhaps, instead of copying and pasting into a new document, open the document you want to get the layer from and the new document side by side. Drag the layer from the layers palette into the new document and hold Shift before letting go of the mouse. Hopefully that should do it for you!
lvich, Thank you so much for taking the time to do the screen shots and all to help explain how you are making the templates. I understand all of that and was doing those things. Like mars said, I wanted to be able to figure out how to get them to work like the designers have created them to go right to their saved spot by copying and pasting to new file. I decided to try in PSE what mars was trying to do in PSP by addng lowered opacity dots in corner of png file and it worked. Thanks Mars and Lvich for your suggestions. Glad I checked for this Thread.