PS Elements 12 Editing

[photoartist]

New member here. Having used PSE much lately so I ran into an editing issue.  I am a fine art nature nature photographer and do lots of exhibiting. Wanted to create a different presentation.

Using editor, I created a blank/new page to start with.

Next I opened several photos/images of local backyard birds.

With each bird picture, I want to crop the area around the bird so only an oval with bird inside is there. I am having trouble finding which tool will give me the oval.  Do I do this on the original photo and then add it to the blank page?

Beside the oval tool, I also want to have edge around the oval bleed away to nothing.  How to do this and when?

I tried PSE help but without knowing the names of what I want to do it is very difficult to locate it in help section.

Photo Artist ( alias Gordon) I may be old but I still thirst for knowledge.

[Major Major]

Hi, Gordon  - welcome to the forum!

The oval selection is nested with the rectangular marquee - when you click on that you will see, in the Tool Options, the Elliptical marquee, which is the oval. Once you draw your selection, go to the Select menu and choose Feather. You may have to experiment with the correct setting. On a large photo, try starting with 50.

Hit control (or command)-J to put this selection on a new layer, and delete the original (background layer), AND SAVE THIS AS A NEW IMAGE. You now have your bird in an oval with the edge bleeding away, on a transparent background. Do this for each of the bird photos, then open a blank master file and drag them all into it.

Let us know if this does the trick, and feel free to ask any further questions.

[photoartist]

That sounds simple enough.  I'll work on that now and will get back to you soon.  Thanks again guys.

[photoartist]

Just tried what you suggested.  It worked.

After making a few prints of each and with the proper multiple picture mats I'll have what I wanted.

One more question:

If I decide I want to place more than one picture on a blank image how do I do this?

I have opened a blank image then opened the photos so they appear in the Layers section.  But having no luck in combining then onto the blank image.  Is my sizing the problem?

[Major Major]

Glad you had success in your initial steps.

I don't understand this:

Sept 10, 2015 14:29:31 GMT photoartist said:

I have opened a blank image then opened the photos so they appear in the Layers section.  But having no luck in combining then onto the blank image.

Maybe you could upload a screen shot of your entire work space? (The easiest way is to use the "Upload via postimage.org" button at the top of your reply box.)

Alternatively, I'll describe what I'd do:

1. Create a blank file large enough to hold all of your photos.
2. Open each photo.
3. With you blank file active, click and drag each of the photos from the photo bin into the blank file.
4. Use transform image (control or command-T) to resize the photos if desired (make sure "constrain proportions" is checked in the tool options area).

Does that get you to where you want to be??

[cats4jan]

 

I have opened a blank image then opened the photos so they appear in the Layers section. But having no luck in combining then onto the blank image. Is my sizing the problem?

If they appear in the layers panel, they are stacked one on top of the other in your project and each new one covers the one below it. Grab your move tool and move one of them sideways and see if there is anything underneath.

[Major Major]

Ah - good thought, Janice!

[cats4jan]

If they are there, yes, you will have to resize them.

If you want them all the same size, keep them stacked, choose all the photo layers in the layers panel by control clicking on each photo layer until all layers are blue, and then you can resize them all at the same time using the move tool.

[photoartist]

Major Major and cats4jan

Everything is working great. I will keep your instructions until the process becomes a routine.

Thanks again.

I also installed Photomatrix Pro to add to my choices.

Gordon

[cats4jan]

Glad to hear your project is working.

[Major Major]

Gordon -

Excellent! Carry on.