Cropping and framing...

[rvrkids]

Okay, I have a very basic question and I am somewhat embarrassed that I even have to ask. I have been working on various projects for about 12 hours today and I think my brain is just fried.

All I want to do is crop a photo into a shape other than a square or rectangle (maybe a star or ellipse) and then frame that shape with a white border.

If someone can just pull me out of this rut I would appreciate it...or maybe I will be fresh in the morning and remember how to do it.

Thanks.

[JohnnyO]

Photoshop elements has a cookie cutter which will do what you want.

Bring your photo into Photoshop Elements. Then using the cookie cutter tool, choose your shape. The ones you mentioned are available.

Then stretch that shape over your photo. You will end up with a cropped photo in the shape you want against a transparent background.

To create a color background, create a fill layer, and you will be able to choose the color you want. Then inthe Layer window drag the fill layer below the cropped photo, and there you go.

[rvrkids]

Thanks Johnny...I did that but I am cropping away about 1/3 of my photo and all I want is a thin line of color surrounding my image, not a whole background of color. How do I just get a thin colored border around my image with the rest transparent?

[Steve Grisetti]

The simplest way:

1. Select your entire photo using Ctrl+a. This will create a selection ("marching ants") around the edge of the photo.
2. Go to the Edit menu and select Stroke Selection.
3. Set the Stroke for Inside, set the width of the stroke and set the color you want the stroke to be.

When you click OK, a stroke (outline) will be drawn around your photo.

Is that what you're trying to do?

[Bobby]

Steve, I think he wants the outline of the cropped area (after cookie cutter). But it sounds like he doesn't know how to create a transparent background and not being a PE user myself I can't guide.

[rvrkids]

Steve and Bobby - you are both right.

I do just want an outline drawn around my image but I want it around my shape-cropped image and I want the background to be transparent. So, if I do a star, I will have my cropped image in the shape of a star and that star will be outlined in a color, the background should be transparent.

[Steve Grisetti]

Once you've cropped your image using the Cookie Cutter, you can use the Magic Wand to select outside the shape (everything but the shape). Then go to Select/Inverse to select just the shape.

Then go to Edit/Stroke Selection to create the outline for your cropped image.

Save this as a PSD and it should maintain the transparency around your shape and outline.

Is that what you're looking for?

[rvrkids]

Thanks Steve...that sounds like what I am looking for.

I will try it when I get home tonight.

[Chuck Engels]

Steve's Tip/PDF Tutorial on Creating Graphics with Transparent Backgrounds would help
http://muvipix.com/products.php?searchp ... =0&btn.y=0

[Bob]

As an alternate approach to selecting and applying the stroke command, Photoshop Elements has a stroke layer style. After you cut out your shape, apply the stroke layer style and set the color and width of the stroke in the layer style settings.

[JohnnyO]

Steve - I tried your solution and it works for me.

Bob - stroke layer style is grayed out for me so I can't try your suggestion.

I am using PSE9 - so it may be a little different that previous versions. When I use the cookie cutter, on an image - it automatically makes the image a layer and it his transparent outside the cookie cutter shape.

In ay case, this gives me some ideas for custom button shapes using Sony DVDAS.

[Steve Grisetti]

Thanks for reporting back, Johnny! Glad you got it working.