Totally Thick!!!

[VAL DER RE]

well, I have decided that I am totally thick. I have spent all night on the PC and I just can't seem to get it to do what I want. It is driving me mad. In fact my OH says he is going to take it off the computer!!. After tonight I think I am going back to paper, you know where you are with paper, you make your background with ink and stamps and they stay there, not keep disappearing.

Sorry, but I needed that. I am normally quite good with things like that but it has got me beat. I am sure it must be something so simple but it is just beyond me.

Val

[Emma]

Oh, Val! I spent my fair share of time yelling at the monitor too, LOL! I said, "With paper you can just pick up a pair of scissors and CUT it! Even a preschooler can do that!" And my husband replied, "If you were going to do that, why has you paper stuff been sitting for two years?"

Ouch, so right ;)

Then I suddenly realized one day that no one cared if the layout didn't have "that" think on it if I didn't know how to do it! I read tutorials, and even if they were too hard, I learned something new regardless of whether it was the intended technique or not. I stopped trying to make my layouts harder than I could handle, and just started adding things here or there that I learned from tutorials. I made a ton of layouts during that time, praciticing this or that, but never so much that I got frustrated.

I can't remember the last time I got frustrated after that first few weeks, save for one tutorial last year where I was yelling at it, the author, the screen, my husband! Not because I couldn't do it, but because it was incomplete: covered the basics then said, "Play to get cool results" and the final result didn't look like anything in the previous steps.

Anyway, all this is to say, it's not worth being frustrated, but it's also worth doing. If you like it, and you think it's beautiful, then just take a deep breath and don't try to absorb everything in one gulp.

As I said, the class is sure to help you. Sign up, even take a few weeks off to relax, and start again using the class as support.

AS ALWAYS, we are HERE to answer questions. Just ask :) We can't help if you don't ask. Don't be afraid, we need questions here, that's WHY we're here. Ask all you want, there will be multiple replies.

So...what's gotten you so frustrated? Let's figure it out :D Hugs!

[Meryl]

Val, there can't be too many of us who have not felt like you at times, but just stick with it, it IS wort it, I promise! There are lots of great tutorials here at DSP & on the web, lots of classes to take here, and many to help. Sudeenly things will just click!

[VAL DER RE]

Thank you for taking the time to reply to me. As I said I am sure it is something simple that I am not doing. Can I tell you what I am doing.

Okay, so I have Adobe Photoshop Elements. All I am trying to do is make my own background. I am opening a new file, at this point, should I be opening it as white, transparent or coloured. Then I am applying colour - sometimes this doesn't even work and as I click on other things the colour will change for no apparent reason. I am then putting on some texture which is okay. Then I am using the brush tool to apply a pattern, for instance the daisy.
Once I have finished applying the pattern how do you get rid of the brush????
I normally click on the marquisee tool but what happens then is my daisies disappear and turn into marching ants. When I click back on the brush they come back. That is why I am so frustrated. Should I be doing the pattern on a separate sheet.

See what I mean though, I am okay if I am using ready made kits I am move these around great. It is when I want to create my own background that I have problems.

Last night I was using the brush tool to draw some fibres, but I couldn't put any shadow on them and again, when I clicked off the brush tool they just all turned to marching ants - PLEASE, PLEASE, PLEASE, what am I doing wrong.

Val

[VAL DER RE]

Emma,

Thank you for your kind words. I have put a reply on the thread, could you look at it please, please, please. I am very sad.

Val

[elizabethlmccoy]

Val, Have you had the opportunity to check out the tutorial section of DSP?

Here is a background tutorial done by meryl for photoshop....not sure if it will be too difficult to relate to Elements:
http://www.digitalscrapbookplace.com/university/tutorials/ps_bkgndtextures_mb.shtml

[VAL DER RE]

Thanks, yes I have looked at this and all through the various tutorials but there isn't anything there that's relevant - I wish. As I said the main problem is when I use the brush to put something on top of the colour, when you click off the brush the daisies or whatever you have put on turns from a picture to just ants marching round where the daisy should be.

But thanks anyway.

Val

[elizabethlmccoy]

Sorry Val...I've never had that problem...but Emma is super smart so I'm sure she'll be able to help you figure this out...

[Emma]

Are you using PSE? Sounds like you're using the Selection brush instead of the regular brush. The Selection Brush icon is near the top of the Toolbox and has a brush with a little dotted line box next to it.

The raster brush that you WANT is near the bottom/middle of the Toolbox and has JUST the brush on its icon. To make sure you have the right one, simply tap B on your keyboard to choose the brush.

Now go brush some pretty pictures ;) And next time, holler before you get frustrated; you don't need to pile through all the info and tutorials first. It's great to try to find the answer yourself first, but don't look too hard if you're frustrated. We know this site pretty well and can usually direct you to what you're looking for, or just answer the question in less time than it takes you to try to figure it out. We've all done the same things. Go ahead and ask, we won't bite :) Hugs!

LMK if this fixes the issue

[VAL DER RE]

Emma,

Thank you I hope this solves my problem. I am at work at present to can't try it, but you are correct, I have been using the brush at the top of the toolbox and not the one at the bottom. I will let you know how I get on.

Val

Are you using PSE? Sounds like you're using the Selection brush instead of the regular brush. The Selection Brush icon is near the top of the Toolbox and has a brush with a little dotted line box next to it.

The raster brush that you WANT is near the bottom/middle of the Toolbox and has JUST the brush on its icon. To make sure you have the right one, simply tap B on your keyboard to choose the brush.

Now go brush some pretty pictures ;) And next time, holler before you get frustrated; you don't need to pile through all the info and tutorials first. It's great to try to find the answer yourself first, but don't look too hard if you're frustrated. We know this site pretty well and can usually direct you to what you're looking for, or just answer the question in less time than it takes you to try to figure it out. We've all done the same things. Go ahead and ask, we won't bite :) Hugs!

LMK if this fixes the issue

[VAL DER RE]

Emma,

One last question (hopefully if my brushes work). When I have "picked up" any of the tools how do I "put them down" again. As I said I have been clicking on the Square Marquise Tool - is that right?

Val

P.S. So sorry to be a nuisance.


Are you using PSE? Sounds like you're using the Selection brush instead of the regular brush. The Selection Brush icon is near the top of the Toolbox and has a brush with a little dotted line box next to it.

The raster brush that you WANT is near the bottom/middle of the Toolbox and has JUST the brush on its icon. To make sure you have the right one, simply tap B on your keyboard to choose the brush.

Now go brush some pretty pictures ;) And next time, holler before you get frustrated; you don't need to pile through all the info and tutorials first. It's great to try to find the answer yourself first, but don't look too hard if you're frustrated. We know this site pretty well and can usually direct you to what you're looking for, or just answer the question in less time than it takes you to try to figure it out. We've all done the same things. Go ahead and ask, we won't bite :) Hugs!

LMK if this fixes the issue

[Emma]

You are NOT NOT NOT NOT a nuisance! If we didn't want to answer questions we wouldn't hang out here! ASK ASK ASK!!!!!!

You don't have to put down your tool. Just click on something else to change tools. If you're using the brush, an want to use the eraser, just click the Eraser. If you're using the eraser and want to run a filter, just go run it. Doesn't matter what the tools are

LMK when you get home if this works for you, anxious to find out how your brush situation goes, glad to hear that'st he one you're using since hopefully that'll fix it!

Have fun!

[Kristen]

Emma,

One last question (hopefully if my brushes work). When I have "picked up" any of the tools how do I "put them down" again. As I said I have been clicking on the Square Marquise Tool - is that right?

Val

P.S. So sorry to be a nuisance.

I like to "put down" many of the tools as well. I usually click on the Move tool because that's frequently what I'll want to do next - but the Marquee tool works too.

There have been enough times when I use the brush, look at the layout, decide "I'll just move that photo up a bit" and surprised myself with color (or worse yet, butterflies!) when I just meant to move something!

Oh - and those of us who like to post answers generally really like to be helpful, so people with questions make us happy. :^)

[VAL DER RE]

Oh, Zip a de do da, zip a de hey - I am so happy it worked, thank you soooooooooooooooooooooo much, big ((((((hugs)))))) to you all for helping me, I just knew it would be something simple.

So thanks again for your perseverence, I feel so much better.

So, do you think that the beginners course would still be good for me?

[Emma]

Beginners course is FOR you, exactly about whre you are. You can pick up tools, click around, you've taken a look at palettes and layers, and now you're ready to steam ahead. Luckily class starts soon, so you won't have to wait too long. Click the link in my sig to sign up

If you prefer to 'put down' your tools, the Move Tool is a good choice, Kristen. I never do it because the icon shows me what I have and I've gotten used to looking at it. However, hitting V is a fast way to get the Move Tool, and less clicking around

I'm SSOOOOO happy this worked for you! WTG sticking with it :)

[VAL DER RE]

Been playing all evening with my backgrounds and had to come back again to thank you all. I have actually learned quite a bit tonight playing around everything has gone perfectly. Thank you all so much. I am definately going to sign up for the course now, I feel much more confident - I didn't want to feel like a dunce!.

Anyway, don't know if you will read this now, but it is nearly midnight now so I am off to bed a lot happier.

Val

[Margie]

yay! so good to hear! i remember feeling so dumb when i started! i was a computer expert but i swear photoshop was just not logical!!! :D now i want to marry it of course... :)

[VAL DER RE]

Margie - lol - I know just what you mean though, everytime I find something out or something works out just right I can't help feeling smug. How's your barn roof. Hope there wasn't anyone in it at the time.

Val

[VAL DER RE]

Emma,

Just downloaded a new double page layout, thanks for your help. Suddenly, since you sorted me out with the brushes, other thing seem to have slotted into place.

Thank you