PSE tutorial

[usukhk]

Okay, I'm struggling through mastering the basic page layout in the PSE tutorial. I can get through step four and then I get in trouble. I would like to add a relatively thick border around the photos - sort of like a matt - is there where I would do that? Or is this step for really just for an outline around the photo and I do the matt in a different step?
After I do the border, which I have managed to do, I can't seem to master the dragging of the photo. They are very big, though I've cropped them to 4 x 4.5 before trying to add them. I have PSE 3.0 and changed it out of maximized mode, but still, the dragging tool doesn't seem to work.
I think maybe my use of the tools is messing me up - I can click on them and sort of use them, but I can't seem to "finish" them, meaning, after I'm done working with a tool, how do I end that part of the edit? I click on reset tools, but still seem stuck with the tool.
Arrrrggghhh - am I making any sense? I'm feeling very incompetent with this software......
Thank you for your patience!!
Hilda :o

[usukhk]

Ok, I've managed to drag and drop my photos - I think I've mastered that!

I do not understand the Stroke Outline Selection command. I can make an outline using the Inside command and the Center command, but when I use the Outside command nothing seems to happen. I would like to add a strip of colour all around the outside of the photo, but for some reason that isn't working for me. I Select All, then go to Stroke Outline Selection, choose a colour, choose width, choos outside, but then there is no outline, it only works with the inside and center command. Any idea where I'm going wrong?

I also am bewildered as to why my photos are so huge when I drag and drop them onto my page. If I want them to be all 3 x 5 and crop them to those dimensions, shouldn't they drag and drop at that size as well? Or is it a matter of always having to adjust sizes, whether cropped or not, when you drag the photos to the page? This makes it difficult to put a set of equal sized photos on the page doesn't it?

Sorry for all the questions, just trying to master the tutorial.
Thank you all!!
Hilda :o

[Emma]

Okay, I see where you're coming from

1. Tools
You don't "commit" or "end" the edit, you just do your thing. You don't "put tools down" you just choose a new one and move on to another thing. Just change tools when you're ready to do another "thing" with something else, and keep whatever active tool until another tool is needed

2. Stroke>Outside means that you make the selection and the border goes on the OUTSIDE of the photo, which in your case is OFF the edge of the Image since you did Select>All. Either drag your image over to the layout to see the stroke, or do it AFTER you've dragged to the image. If you like Center or Inside, use that!

3. To put a wide border on, you just choose a larger stroke size. Stroke>Inside will make right angle corners, but Outside and Center rounds the corners the wider the stroke gets. I just make sure I make my selection a lot bigger than what I want my final photo to include, lay on a huge Inside stroke, and crop off what I don't want, then drag over to the layout image. OR...on the layout just make a box UNDER the photo the size you want your border.

4. If your layout is at 200ppi, and your photo is at 300ppi, then the 300 photo dropped onto the 200 layout will be larger, ie less dense pixels. So when you crop, use the box at the top to enter in your image resolution. Or just resize once it's on the layout. I do this, as I use my eye to see what's a pleasing size, rather than doing it before, drop it on, then go back and redo another size until I get it right: tedious! To resize ON the layout, use Ctrl-T and Shift-click and drag the corner handle. It'll look grainy until you commit that change by hitting the Check Mark icon in the Options bar at the top, or double click inside the Transform box.

hth! Keep plugging away!

[usukhk]

Thank you for that - I am feeling a bit more confident! I managed to make a wide border outside the photo with the rounded corners. Now, a couple more questions...

I understand now that if my photo is 300 ppi and the layout is 200 ppi, when I drag and drop it will be huge. The photo is more dense in ppi and I have to adjust the size to have it fit on the layout - right? If I want to avoid this I crop the photo PRIOR to dragging and dropping and set it to 200 ppi, BUT do I HAVE to set a size (3 x3, 4 x 4, etc.), or can I just crop and set the ppi, but not the size?

Also, my layouts are 8.5 x 11 and I plan to print them out on white paper. Sometimes I like to keep the background just white, using the white paper as the background without adding colour or texture. When I am setting up the layout, do I check White or Transparent to do this? I fear if I choose white my printer will end up wasting a ton of ink printing the white paper white!

I understand I do not have to "end" the use of any tools and I only commit when I am done with all the adjustments to the photo/layout - correct? But, once I commit, can I still go in and adjust, or is it now "locked"?

I feel like I'm making some progress with PSE, I just really want to master the tutorial before taking on the class. Thank you so much for all the help!!
Hilda

[Amanda]

you can just change the PPI by going to Image>Resize (I think its something like that) and change the ppi in the pop up box.

Your printer does not have white ink. Anything you leave white on your layout is where is will not put any ink at all. It doesn't matter if you make your background white or transparent. :)

[Emma]

you're getting there!

yes, no white ink! I use white background for these so they show up nicely on my screen, but either is fine for printing.

You can ALWAYS undo! Ctrl-Z to your heart's content, and that's why layers are great: independent editing of each individual layer. You can never have too many...when it doubt, NEW layer!

You can fill out any info in the crop options bar you want, from totally blank, to filled, to partial.

Go ahead and sign up for the next PSE class, doesn't start until Nov 1; you're perfectly ready now, so no worries there!