help with picture tubes and vingettes

[mrshuberism]

OK so I am not new to scrapping but I am far from where I want to be. Today I am hoping someone can help me with 2 things I can not seem to figure out. I work mostly in PSPX right now and although /i love it there are a few things I can not seem to control the way I want, picture tubes and vignettes. I have a ton of really cool picture tubes but no matter what settings I use I can not control the "direction" of the object when it is placed, nor can I affect it once it had been. For example, one Of my favorite tubes has butterflies. I can control the size of the butterflies but not which color butterfly comes out or which way it faces, some are down some up, chaos!

the vingettes... grr. In print shop22 I can do a "soft edge" on any object and affect how "thick" the soft edge is. (I can do other kinds of edges to but I will save that for later) I love the way this, looks like and old fashioned vignette but I can control it. I can use it on any shape and it "snaps" to the edges. In PSPX there is a picture frame called vignette bit I can not control how it sits on the picture and it leaves a white edge around the object that I have to erase and that is frustrating and time consuming. plus it is the same oval shape no matter what shape object I started with and therefore rarely sits correctly on my object or picture. I hope I have been clear enough to get some guidance. If not let me know what other info is needed and I will gladly elaborate.

thanks laura

[Meryl]

I wish i could help here but not familiar with your programs, hoping someone jumps in quickly!

[Muma]

I have not worked out how to control the tubes either so if someone has the know how on that I'd love to know .... the vignette I would use the selection tool with a feather applied. The feather softens the edges of the selection and you can choose anything between 1 and 200 pixels around the edge of your selection. Hope that helps a little.

[debbers]

Tubes ... I kind of gave up on them for the same reason, and never looked back.

But, consider just playing with it a bit. Stamp one tube down. Not the right one? Undo, stamp again. Or stamp on a new layer.

Space them waaaaay out and use a selection to move one to it's own layer, where you can then rotate it as needed.

And really, if all that seems like too much work, go to where your tube is stored on your hard drive, and DRAG it into psp. Then select the part you want and copy it - then paste it into your main image.



I'm all about brute force in software.

deb

[JayandJillsmom]

Laura, Good questions. I've had the same problems with picture tubes, paticularly the ones that have multiple tubes inside like the desserts or leaves. What if you want one in particular? I've usually done what Deb suggested, i.e. keep stamping until you find the one you like, delete the rest (using magic wand to select), and then edit the one you wanted. Problem is, I think there is a size limit so they'll only get so big. I like Deb's suggestion to go into the files and pull it out. I think I'll try that.

I do the feathering as well when I want a vignette and don't bother with the picture frame. There's not enough control with it. You can even use a preset shape tool when selecting then feathering so you could get whatever shape you want. It takes a little practice to select your photo just right. For instance, if doing a polygon, start at a corner of your selection. If using a circle/oval, you have to start in the middle and go out.

Please respond back here to report your success with picture tubes!

Cheers, Jackie

[mrshuberism]

Originally Posted by Muma

I have not worked out how to control the tubes either so if someone has the know how on that I'd love to know .... the vignette I would use the selection tool with a feather applied. The feather softens the edges of the selection and you can choose anything between 1 and 200 pixels around the edge of your selection. Hope that helps a little.

I do not have much experience with the selection tool and so far am not having any luck affecting any changes to my selected picture/object. I s there a particular tutorial you could point me to that would help me work the selection tool the way you have suggested? Thank so much for the help so far.

Laura

[Muma]

I've sent you a PM Laura

[mrshuberism]

So wow Muma helped TONS, pm then IM and walked me through the vignette via selection tool w/feathering. SOOOO grateful. I can even help someone else if she is not available because she is such a great teacher and I have been doing it all afternoon. also picked up a few other things from her during the "lesson"

Thanks,
Laura

[Muma]

Glad to have helped you out .... you picked everything up so quick