Photoshopping

[mrv3000]

For angst_angel (who I will thwack very hard if she was just pulling my chain).



Borders (down and dirty):

1. Over in your Layers box (on the bottom right - if not there, click "Window" then make sure "Layers" is checked), right click on the word Background
   
   
2. Click "Duplicate Layer". Then click OK.
   
   
3. Left click once on the new Background Copy so it's selected.
   
   
4. Click the menu - "Layer", "Layer Style", "Stroke"
   
   
5. Change the Position to Inside - and change the size and color to your liking. Ta da!

To change brushes:

1. In your tools box, click on the thing that looks like a brush. *g*
   
   
2. Your bar right below your menu should change. Click in the box right after "Brush:" and you can change the size and the shape.

Resizing the canvas to fit the picture:

1. Well, I rarely change the size of the canvas (unless I'm doing something funky)...I usually just change the size of the image and the canvas changes automatically. On the menu, click "Image", "Image Size". You'll probably want to keep "Constrain Proportions" checked for now.
   
   
2. Handy little hint for after you re-size something - I've found that clicking "Filter", "Sharpen", "Sharpen" *after* re-sizing it can make it all sharp and purty. Sometimes it doesn't look quite right, but most times it brings the pic more into focus. (e.g. the pic on my LJ. *pats sharp, in focus pic*

Comments

[woodface]

Handy little hint for after you re-size something - I've found that clicking "Filter", "Sharpen", "Sharpen" *after* re-sizing it can make it all sharp and purty. Sometimes it doesn't look quite right, but most times it brings the pic more into focus. (e.g. the pic on my LJ. *pats sharp, in focus pic*

You know, I have found that Sharpen sometimes gets things too sharp or not sharp enough. Instead I discovered if you go to Image>Adjustments>Brightness/Contrast you can sharpen the pic by hightening the Contrast. I really prefer the effect it has over the Sharpen function. =o)

[nhawk.livejournal.com]

Or instead of using "Sharpen" use "Unsharp Mask" at about 25-50% - that works very well.

[woodface]

I still prefer Contrast *g*

[nhawk.livejournal.com]

Or you could adjust the "Curves" setting- that looks good ;p

[woodface]

Yeah that if Contrast doesn't work. You change a bit with Curves *g*

[mrv3000.livejournal.com]

Curves - now that's something I haven't played with yet. Where is that? And what does it do?

[nhawk.livejournal.com]

Go into Image>Adjust>Curves and first try hitting "Auto" and see if you like the result. I use "Auto" a lot. But it does depend on the properties of the picture, sometimes it does nothing, other times it brings out the colours and the contrasts really nicely etc.

If you don't like what "Auto" does, try clicking just above or below the line on the curve graph and see what happens. You can get some funky looking effects doing that.

My icon I'm using in this comment was done by adjusting the curves and using a brush on colour dodge. :)

[mrv3000.livejournal.com]

COOL! Thanks! I'll have to try that out!

[nhawk.livejournal.com]

Hee! Have fun. I really know so little about PS. I just fiddle until something happens. I guess one day I'll actually read some instructions on how to do things properly :)

[mrv3000.livejournal.com]

Oh, I know. Most of what I know is just from messing around. *g*

[mrv3000.livejournal.com]

Yeah. I'm lazy. *g* I usually just click Sharpen - then if it doesn't look good I'll undo and fiddle with the Unsharp Mask.

[mrv3000.livejournal.com]

Oh yeah! I hadn't even touched on the whole Brightness/Contrast/Color Adjusting thing! Photoshop has so much power behind it! You can really make a pic look any way you want. You just have to be willing to sit and play until you get the best combination!

I usually hit the Brightness/Contrast/Color Adjusting thing before I re-size and then fiddle with the sharpness/layer styles after.

[woodface]

Ah, I always resize first and then start adjusting the image.

PS does have some really nice features. Although I must say that I don't master that many yet.

[mrv3000.livejournal.com]

Ah, I always resize first and then start adjusting the image.

I wonder if it makes a difference if you do it before or after.

PS does have some really nice features. Although I must say that I don't master that many yet.

Back when I wasn't working, Jojo and I would spend hours on AIM with a conversation much like...

Michelle: Ooo! Check out....
Jojo: Cool!
*hour of silence*
Jojo: Whoa! Did you know you can do ... by clicking...?
Michelle: *gasp* WOW!
*another hour of silence*

:D

[woodface]

I wonder if it makes a difference if you do it before or after.

I don't know. I just always prefer to see the impact of the pic when it's at the size it's meant to be. That and some low quality pics sometimes get better when seized down.

Back when I wasn't working, Jojo and I would spend hours on AIM with a conversation much like...
Michelle: Ooo! Check out....
Jojo: Cool!
*hour of silence*
Jojo: Whoa! Did you know you can do ... by clicking...?
Michelle: *gasp* WOW!
*another hour of silence*

*laughs* I'm going for the Jack response here: Eggheads!!!

[mrv3000.livejournal.com]

I just always prefer to see the impact of the pic when it's at the size it's meant to be.

Good point.

That and some low quality pics sometimes get better when seized down.

That's very true!

I'm going for the Jack response here: Eggheads!!!

I prefer the term "hopeless geek" *VBG*

[woodface]

I prefer the term "hopeless geek" *VBG*

As you wish, desperate Egghead *g*

[angst-angel.livejournal.com]

*smoooooooooooches* Why would I be pulling your chain? People always think the worst of me. *sniffles*

Thank you soooooooooooooooo much, Michelle! *bounces* Yay, now I can try to do something! Wheeeeeeeeeeee! *is very excited*

[mrv3000.livejournal.com]

*smoooooooooooches* Why would I be pulling your chain? People always think the worst of me. *sniffles*

Poor, poor Pam. *pats*

Thank you soooooooooooooooo much, Michelle! *bounces* Yay, now I can try to do something! Wheeeeeeeeeeee! *is very excited*

Welcome! Have fun! Let me know if you need any more help! :)

[angst-angel.livejournal.com]

*sniffles*

Okay, will do! *smooch* :)

[meg-pat2000.livejournal.com]

*clicks copy*

*opens Word*

*pastes*

Thanks guys....I need a little help myself.

I suck with Photoshop.

[lisayaeger.livejournal.com]

Yippee!!

Thanks for the borders help- I always get lost there. Isn't that awful?

*sigh*

[mrv3000.livejournal.com]

Welcome! Of course there are fancier ways of doing borders, but that'll do a basic one. And it's *so* easy to get lost in Photoshop!

[mrv3000.livejournal.com]

Glad it helped! If you need any more help, just ask. Happy to help. :)

[meg-pat2000.livejournal.com]

Will do.

[jemster.livejournal.com]

For angst_angel (who I will thwack very hard if she was just pulling my chain).

You have a chain?

[psquelly.livejournal.com]

Brilliant icon. Gawd she's gorgeous.

[jemster.livejournal.com]

Brilliant icon.

Thank you! It's courtesy of the lovely seldear.


Gawd she's gorgeous.

Isn't she though? *sigh*

[mrv3000.livejournal.com]

I do! It has keys on it!