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06/28/2016 11:22:07 AM · #1
Whether you hate them or not. :)

I never did understand collages. I like the idea, but they always look stupid when I do them. It's kind of like Still Lifes. You'll notice that when I do a still life, there's usually just one or two things in it. Simply because I can't arrange things worth squat. They just look like things plunked down on a table -- no artistic merit to it.

So I hated the collage challenge going in. I looked at wikipedia, and did some research, and there was some amazingly cool collages out there!

I did one.

It sucks.

As expected. :)

HOWEVER!!

I learned something that's been bugging me for a long time. I put about 40 pictures into a single file and then I had 40 untitled layers. I had no idea how to select something without knowing what layer it was in. So it was awful searching through 40 layers just to find out which one was the rabbit picture.

VOILA! Just click the auto select check box when on the move tool, and it will select the layer of whatever you click on! AWESOME!!

Also, I hadn't used the Paste Into command before. You can make a shape using one of the select tools (I was using the polygon select tool), and then use Paste Into to have the picture go into that shape. Instead of trying to mask it out or erase things.

You all probably knew that already, but it was quite cool when doing a collage.

That's why I try to do as many challenges as I can. It's usually the ones that I hate from which I learn the most.

And now back to your regularly scheduled boredom. :)

Thanks DPC!
06/28/2016 03:29:22 PM · #2
You are so awesome :)
06/28/2016 03:47:33 PM · #3
Originally posted by vawendy:

Whether you hate them or not. :)

I never did understand collages. I like the idea, but they always look stupid when I do them. It's kind of like Still Lifes. You'll notice that when I do a still life, there's usually just one or two things in it. Simply because I can't arrange things worth squat. They just look like things plunked down on a table -- no artistic merit to it.

So I hated the collage challenge going in. I looked at wikipedia, and did some research, and there was some amazingly cool collages out there!

I did one.

It sucks.

As expected. :)

HOWEVER!!

I learned something that's been bugging me for a long time. I put about 40 pictures into a single file and then I had 40 untitled layers. I had no idea how to select something without knowing what layer it was in. So it was awful searching through 40 layers just to find out which one was the rabbit picture.

VOILA! Just click the auto select check box when on the move tool, and it will select the layer of whatever you click on! AWESOME!!

Also, I hadn't used the Paste Into command before. You can make a shape using one of the select tools (I was using the polygon select tool), and then use Paste Into to have the picture go into that shape. Instead of trying to mask it out or erase things.

You all probably knew that already, but it was quite cool when doing a collage.

That's why I try to do as many challenges as I can. It's usually the ones that I hate from which I learn the most.

And now back to your regularly scheduled boredom. :)

Thanks DPC!

What language is this? :)
06/28/2016 03:50:45 PM · #4
Originally posted by Hipychik:

Originally posted by vawendy:

Whether you hate them or not. :)

I never did understand collages. I like the idea, but they always look stupid when I do them. It's kind of like Still Lifes. You'll notice that when I do a still life, there's usually just one or two things in it. Simply because I can't arrange things worth squat. They just look like things plunked down on a table -- no artistic merit to it.

So I hated the collage challenge going in. I looked at wikipedia, and did some research, and there was some amazingly cool collages out there!

I did one.

It sucks.

As expected. :)

HOWEVER!!

I learned something that's been bugging me for a long time. I put about 40 pictures into a single file and then I had 40 untitled layers. I had no idea how to select something without knowing what layer it was in. So it was awful searching through 40 layers just to find out which one was the rabbit picture.

VOILA! Just click the auto select check box when on the move tool, and it will select the layer of whatever you click on! AWESOME!!

Also, I hadn't used the Paste Into command before. You can make a shape using one of the select tools (I was using the polygon select tool), and then use Paste Into to have the picture go into that shape. Instead of trying to mask it out or erase things.

You all probably knew that already, but it was quite cool when doing a collage.

That's why I try to do as many challenges as I can. It's usually the ones that I hate from which I learn the most.

And now back to your regularly scheduled boredom. :)

Thanks DPC!

What language is this? :)


If you're having problems with this one, don't read my photographers comments on my Barns, Farms or Rural Countrysides entry!!

Message edited by author 2016-06-28 15:50:57.
06/28/2016 04:16:15 PM · #5
Meanwhile, back at the "I've Been Using Photoshop Sinve Ver 1" Ranch, just color me gobsmacked :-) I knew about the shapes thing, but this layer-selection bit has been driving me crazy for decades! I actually limit the number of layers I use just because it's such a pain-in-the-keister to find and activate the layer I want to work with. Muchas gracias, chiquita!
06/28/2016 04:30:23 PM · #6
Originally posted by Bear_Music:

Meanwhile, back at the "I've Been Using Photoshop Sinve Ver 1" Ranch, just color me gobsmacked :-) I knew about the shapes thing, but this layer-selection bit has been driving me crazy for decades! I actually limit the number of layers I use just because it's such a pain-in-the-keister to find and activate the layer I want to work with. Muchas gracias, chiquita!

Well, I've been using Photoshop since version 0.84 (pre-release) and I never checked the "Auto Select Layer" box either (I avoid almost all things "auto" in the computer world), but I do know that it's easy enough to name the layers describing the content as you create them ... and I use "Paste Into" all the time ... :-)

And when I signed up here, I was under the impression that the "challenge" was to come up with something for every challenge, though it was sure a lot easier when there was only one each week.
06/28/2016 04:41:25 PM · #7
Yeah, the auto select has been dodging me since forever as well. It was once checked inadvertently and I was delighted that I was able to click on an element and it went directly to that layer. But I had no idea why that happened, and I've never been able to recreate it!!
06/28/2016 04:46:22 PM · #8
Originally posted by vawendy:

...Just click the auto select check box when on the move tool, and it will select the layer of whatever you click on! AWESOME!!


Well golly! You'dathunk that I'd have known that.

I didn't.

*sigh*

Thanks, Wendy!

I'm so glad you're on the mend... but so thankful also that you're stuck behind a computer for a while... learning and sharing. :D

06/28/2016 04:47:09 PM · #9
Originally posted by Bear_Music:

Meanwhile, back at the "I've Been Using Photoshop Sinve Ver 1" Ranch, just color me gobsmacked :-) I knew about the shapes thing, but this layer-selection bit has been driving me crazy for decades! I actually limit the number of layers I use just because it's such a pain-in-the-keister to find and activate the layer I want to work with. Muchas gracias, chiquita!


Did you just call Wendy a "banana"?

:D
06/28/2016 04:47:09 PM · #10
Originally posted by tanguera:

It was once checked inadvertently and I was delighted that I was able to click on an element and it went directly to that layer. But I had no idea why that happened ...

That sounds a lot like the "Caps Lock" conundrum* almost every PS user faces at some time or another ...

* when you accidentally have the Caps Lock key depressed it makes the cursor into a cross-hair instead of the (expected) brush shape
06/28/2016 05:01:45 PM · #11
Originally posted by GeneralE:

Originally posted by tanguera:

It was once checked inadvertently and I was delighted that I was able to click on an element and it went directly to that layer. But I had no idea why that happened ...

That sounds a lot like the "Caps Lock" conundrum* almost every PS user faces at some time or another ...

* when you accidentally have the Caps Lock key depressed it makes the cursor into a cross-hair instead of the (expected) brush shape


Ugh -- that one had me pulling out my hair for about a year before I finally asked, and someone explained.
06/28/2016 05:02:51 PM · #12
Originally posted by Lydia:

Originally posted by Bear_Music:

Meanwhile, back at the "I've Been Using Photoshop Sinve Ver 1" Ranch, just color me gobsmacked :-) I knew about the shapes thing, but this layer-selection bit has been driving me crazy for decades! I actually limit the number of layers I use just because it's such a pain-in-the-keister to find and activate the layer I want to work with. Muchas gracias, chiquita!


Did you just call Wendy a "banana"?

:D


I don't know about that -- but I do know...

that I've come to say: Bananas have to ripen in a certain way. When the are flecked with brown and have a golden hue. Bananas are the best and are the best for you!
06/28/2016 05:03:57 PM · #13
Originally posted by Bear_Music:

Meanwhile, back at the "I've Been Using Photoshop Sinve Ver 1" Ranch, just color me gobsmacked :-) I knew about the shapes thing, but this layer-selection bit has been driving me crazy for decades! I actually limit the number of layers I use just because it's such a pain-in-the-keister to find and activate the layer I want to work with. Muchas gracias, chiquita!


I taught Bear something about photoshop!? I'd faint, but that wouldn't be good right now. Remind me to faint in a couple of weeks. ;P
06/28/2016 05:29:40 PM · #14
I know not of auto select boxes, but when I use the move tool, I right-click on the layer I want
06/28/2016 05:42:31 PM · #15
Originally posted by posthumous:

I know not of auto select boxes, but when I use the move tool, I right-click on the layer I want


That works if you only have a couple of layers, and/or if you've been naming each layer. But when you get up to molto layers, it can be hard to find the right layer to right-click on. With the auto-select, you just click on the part of the image you want to process and it goes automatically to that layer.

General, the Caps thing almost made me quit Photoshop :)
06/29/2016 03:52:00 AM · #16
Wow, this is like a whole other language.
06/29/2016 08:53:05 AM · #17
Originally posted by GeneralE:

That sounds a lot like the "Caps Lock" conundrum* almost every PS user faces at some time or another ...

Yup. Still drives me crazy (or at least drives me to Gooogle) from time to time... my short term memory and general distractabilty being what it is.

Now what was I doing before I clicked on this thread?
06/29/2016 08:57:36 AM · #18
even though i am not a PS user (i've used Canvas since v3.5 in early 1990's), i have to agree these Expert/Expanded challenges do make me learn new things
06/29/2016 08:59:20 AM · #19
Thank you very, very much, Wendy. And I only just worked out that naming layers helped. But auto select will be so much better. (I'll prove that to myself tomorrow. Bed time now.)
07/01/2016 03:44:23 PM · #20
This is a great tutorial. I saved it for reference.

Originally posted by vawendy:

Whether you hate them or not. :)

I never did understand collages. I like the idea, but they always look stupid when I do them. It's kind of like Still Lifes. You'll notice that when I do a still life, there's usually just one or two things in it. Simply because I can't arrange things worth squat. They just look like things plunked down on a table -- no artistic merit to it.

So I hated the collage challenge going in. I looked at wikipedia, and did some research, and there was some amazingly cool collages out there!

I did one.

It sucks.

As expected. :)

HOWEVER!!

I learned something that's been bugging me for a long time. I put about 40 pictures into a single file and then I had 40 untitled layers. I had no idea how to select something without knowing what layer it was in. So it was awful searching through 40 layers just to find out which one was the rabbit picture.

VOILA! Just click the auto select check box when on the move tool, and it will select the layer of whatever you click on! AWESOME!!

Also, I hadn't used the Paste Into command before. You can make a shape using one of the select tools (I was using the polygon select tool), and then use Paste Into to have the picture go into that shape. Instead of trying to mask it out or erase things.

You all probably knew that already, but it was quite cool when doing a collage.

That's why I try to do as many challenges as I can. It's usually the ones that I hate from which I learn the most.

And now back to your regularly scheduled boredom. :)

Thanks DPC!
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