photoshop question

[kimberlytm]

I would like to take a pic and cut it into a heart shape, how can I do this in photoshop? Anyone? Anyone?

[Margie]

as always with ps, there are lots of ways. i'd probably make a new layer and draw a heart with the shape tool. i'd turn down the opacity of the heart layer some so i could see the pic though it. then i'd control T and resize the heart so it fits the pic just right. then i'd select the heart layer (control and click on that layer in the layers palette - or use the magic wand) and click on the pic layer. do shift control I to select the inverse and hit delete. then you should be left with a heart shaped pic. just delete the heart shape layer (or move it behind and use as a mat or something...). photoshop elements has a cool cookie cutter function so you just crop your pic into a heart, much faster! :)

[Emma]

Here's another way, a little faster. Draw the heart shape witht he custom shape tool, but select the little icon in the Options Bar, the square with a pen nib inside of it, Draw as Path. Draw it over your photo just how you want to crop it

Then, open the Paths palette and click the icon at the bottom: Convert Path to Selection. Then Select>Invert and hit Delete on your photo layer.

[kimberlytm]

I don't see an icon for the "convert path to selection".
Also when I select the area to be cropped it fills in with the color I last used, is that what it's supposed to do?

[Emma]

No, sounds like you drew the shape either as New Shape Layer or Fill Pixels. You need to choose the center of the three little options in the Options Bar, it's a square with a little pen nib inside it. That'll create the shape as a thin gray line only; no color, no new layer.

THEN in the paths palette, the icon for Convert Path to Selection won't be grayed out. It's the third or fourth maybe. You have Stroke Path with brush, Fill Path, convert Selection to Path, Convert Path to Selection, in a little row of icons across the bottom of the palette.

LMK if that helps. I can create a screen shot if you still can't find it

[kimberlytm]

perfect thank you so much!

[Emma]

Ah, there you go! Great vday card, glad you got it!