PS 7 Question - DPChallenge Forums

05/16/2003 11:37:09 PM · #1

Stoopid Photoshop Question. For some reason whenenver I do "select all" then "selection/modify/border", say 20 px, then "edit/fill" or edit/stroke", my fill or stroke is feathered. I cannot seem to turn this off, even though I can select a rectangular area and fil or stroke are not feathered. Help file is very unhelpful. Anyone got the answer, I'm dying to know!

Canon 12x IS USM (S3 IS built-in Lens) -- 36-432mm (35mm EQ)

05/16/2003 11:45:01 PM · #2

I don't know PS7 as well, but see if there's an option in some pallette or the toolbar area at the top listing a feather value or an anti-aliasing option.

I just checked on my machine at work. When you have the rectangular marquee selected, there's a little box to enter a feather value in the bar across the top, under the menus. Enter 0 px (pixels) and see if that works.

Message edited by author 2003-05-16 23:49:52.

05/16/2003 11:56:12 PM · #3

Yep, the toolbar is there and it works perfectly for a rectangular marquee, but the border still comes up feathered. (!)

rll07

Canon EOS-1D Mark II

05/17/2003 01:11:12 AM · #4

I couldn't get it to work, why don't you just expand canvas size by 20 PX and use the relative box button checked and have the color you want the border to be in the background color selection?

greenem2

Canon EOS-10D

05/17/2003 01:17:30 AM · #5

I played with the border command and all I can say is don't use it. It appears to place a frame around the original selection, all you can do is change colors. Do what rll07 said. It's much more simple.

Canon 12x IS USM (S3 IS built-in Lens) -- 36-432mm (35mm EQ)

05/17/2003 01:25:39 AM · #6

Yeah, but in PS 5.x with the unfeathered selection it's quite a useful tool. Just one of many reasons I generally don't "upgrade" until forced to do so...

05/17/2003 09:49:44 AM · #7

Thanks to all for the responses. It does appear that this is just the behavior of 7.0, though I can't for the life of me understand why. It seems that whenever one performs a Modify/Border command on any selection, rectangular or otherwise, this feathering "feature" is turned on. I can think of creative ways to use this, but it actually makes creating a solid surround more difficult.
In addition, I found that if you Select/All, then try to Select/Modify/Contract to get a centered selection, PS grays out "Contract" when the entire image is selected (!). So I'm still looking for the best way to create a centered selection a known amount in from the edges of an image. I've got to believe there is a way...

Canon 12x IS USM (S3 IS built-in Lens) -- 36-432mm (35mm EQ)

05/17/2003 10:00:52 AM · #8

In PS7 one selection tool option is "fixed size." Set it to the desired size (current minus 2 x border width) and position it manually...

You can also increase the canvas size with a completely contrasting color, magic-wand select that and invert the selection, then contract that selection. You can go back later to crop the extra canvas.

How about using the pen tool to make a rectangular path (use the shift key to contstrain to 90-degrees), convert that to a selection, and go from there...

05/17/2003 10:39:28 AM · #9

Well, my conclusion is, Paul is correct. The "fixd size" selection option works. In order to ensure it is exactly centered, do the following (I'm assumig a 1600x1200 px image and 40 px border):

- Select the rectangular marquee tool
- On toolbar select fixed size and enter 1520 and 1120 for Width & Height (must reduce by twice border width)
- Click once in center of image. Selection will snap to bottom and right edges of image.
- Move the selection 40 px up & left using arrow keys, 1 px movement per keystroke (count carefully!)
- Apply a stroke along the selection edge, or Select/Inverse to select the area outside the rectangle and fill

You would think that since you have a centered selection, the next thing to do would be to Select/Modify/Expand to apply another stroke or fill further out. This does work, but be advised that PS takes it upon itself to bevel the edges of the rectangle as it expands it. Again, why this is so I have no idea.

Message edited by author 2003-05-17 10:40:34.

Canon 12x IS USM (S3 IS built-in Lens) -- 36-432mm (35mm EQ)

05/17/2003 10:49:14 AM · #10

When Microsoft released Word 6/Mac, it was so cumbersome they were forced to offer purchasers the option of a special "downgrade" to Word 5 (a pretty good program). Maybe Adobe will do the same if you complain enough...

The only thngs I've found in PS 7 which are significantly better than 5 are related to web production and automation. If you're not doing that for a living I'd recommend checking out an older version if you can...

Journey

Canon PowerShot G3

05/17/2003 10:58:24 AM · #11

Kirbic, with the move tool, if you press the Shift key while using the arrow keys, it will move 10 pixels at the time instead of just 1, i.e. a lot less counting!

Another general tip: on pretty much all photoshop dialogs you can just click on width and height and then all you have to do is type in the number you want (without having to do that backspace, deleting what was there, and only then typing the number - which is just irritating).

matt betea

Nikon D100

05/17/2003 11:24:14 AM · #12

Here's a useless post:

When you go to Select/Modify/Border, that is setting how much you want it feathered, regardless what your setting is in the toolbar for Feathering. With the Marquee tool, make your selection, right click, choose stroke, then set it to how you want it then click OK. My understanding is you want a thick, solid border? With no fading? Also and easier way to select the whole parameter of the image is hold the control button down and click on the layer in the layer palette, it will make the selection around the whole canvas.

Message edited by author 2003-05-17 11:25:56.

krets

Sony DSC-F707

05/17/2003 11:40:16 AM · #13

GeneralE: PS 7 also has the Heal tool which is great for touch-ups on photos, especially complexions. The brush tool options in PS7 are also far better than those in any previous version of PS for thos of us who like to do digital painting as well.