I'm Daft! Help Needed with PS line border, please!

01/06/2005 03:32:17 PM · #1

I use PS Elements 2.
In the past I have made a simple line border by doing the following:
1. Rectangular marquee to select all of the image
2. Select>Modify>Border and set number of pixels (this insets the selection evenly on all sides)
3. Edit>Stroke in dialogue box choose # of pixels for width, check "center", mode=normal, opacity=100%
4. Click "ok"
5. Deselect
That USED to produce something like the solid line white border I used on this challenge entry:

But then I entered this

where I was playing around with the border selections when I made it.

NOW, I can't make a solid line border anymore!

I've tried defining brushes to no avail. And I've even reset the defaults on all the tools.

Can anyone suggest what I might have done to screw it up? Is there some sort of brush definition that "stroke" relies on?

01/06/2005 03:36:20 PM · #2

I'm not sure about Elements, but with PS it almos appears as though you are stroking on the "outside". Try changing it to center or inside...?

01/06/2005 03:44:47 PM · #3

I do select center. What happens seems to be a feathering of the border--yet I haven't selected feather (I don't think, anyway) and I have things in "normal" mode (as opposed to "dissolve" or the like).

I'm working on an example of what's happening now--will be up in a few minutes.

01/06/2005 03:48:52 PM · #4

Hmm, when you use the rectangular marquee, you don't have that set to feather, do you?

01/06/2005 03:54:03 PM · #5

Originally posted by ButterflySis:

Hmm, when you use the rectangular marquee, you don't have that set to feather, do you?

Maaaybeee? How would one do (or undo) that?

Here's the sample of what happens:

EDIT:
Hmmm. O.k. I see where the rec. marquee could have been set to feather and it wasn't.

Then, I tried experiment #1001--that is, try to select the area freehand, AND voila!

...a nice fat, solid border.

So was I dreaming? Did I never inset the border by using the adjustments described before? AHHHH!

Thank you ButterflySis for helping me regain some measure of sanity--I've been going nuts for nearly an hour in the "Help-less Files"
By the way, how's the dreary day in your valley?
And thank you again!

Message edited by author 2005-01-06 16:06:06.

01/06/2005 04:03:51 PM · #6

Yea, something is definitely feathering...

I have PS CS, and this is where the setting is for me. I would think it'd be similar for Elements.

Edit: Pulled pic.

Message edited by author 2005-01-06 16:22:07.

01/06/2005 04:16:54 PM · #7

I'm sane again. (Well, maybe that's taking it a bit far.)
See above.

One frustration down, one million and one remaining. Progress!

01/06/2005 04:21:09 PM · #8

You're welcome. That is weird. Wondering what is causing it. If I had Elements I might be of better help.

Things here are very dreary! We wound up with about 8 inches of snow and then freezing rain. I couldn't believe it when they called and cancelled work this morning! Yep! A day off with pay. It's nice working for the State. :-) :-) I think the storm has passed us now.

How are things in PA?

01/06/2005 04:25:30 PM · #9

Originally posted by ButterflySis:

I'm north of the border. And ME TOO--work was cancelled! It hasn't happened in memory! I have flex time, so I get payed as well (others just get a sprinking of "personal days" which they'll have to use). Spent the morning out in the freezing rain taking photos on Binghamton University campus at the nature center. Afternoon devoted to editing and praying for good Bokeh. :) Perhaps we should revive that upstate/central NY Out and About thread?!