Help With Cut Outs in Layouts

[teresaj]

Help! I just love all the layouts that have shapes cut out in the background papers and pictures peeking through. For example this layout:http://www.sbelements.com/gallery/showphoto.php?photo=97467. Can someone please tell me how to do this? I have PSE 7. Thanks so much, Teresa

[scrappynana]

Teresa, its easier than you think! Bring up the two papers you want to use as your background. Working with the paper you want to put the holes in, go to your Elliptical Marquee and simply cut out different size circles anywhere on the paper that you want.
Now remember to get the hole and NOT the circle itself you have to go to
SELECT - INVERSE twice. So after you have your circle picked out using the Elliptical Marquee, go to SELECT -INVERSE - SELECT - INVERSE - DELETE - CTRL D. Anyway that is how I do in in PSE 8. Now add a drop shadow.
Now you simply put your second paper behind the paper with the holes in it and the paper will show through the holes.
If you have any questions, just pm me.:)

[kimlizzy]

I just draw out the shape I want and hit the delete key. Doesn't "select/inverse" twice just bring you back to the original shape you drew out??

[scrappynana]

Oh my, yoiu are absolutely right! I just tried it! Thanks for teaching a much easier way. I took PSE lessons on line and that was the way I was taught. :waycon1:
When you hit select, inverse the first time, you are left with your shape, say, the circle. If you hit select inverse the second time, you are left with everything BUT the circle.
I like your way!!!!!!!:)

[teresaj]

Thank you so very much. This sounds easy enough for me to do. Can't wait to try this.

[teresaj]

Ladies that worked so much on the marquee tools just wish I could get more shapes other than squares and circles. Thank you so very much.

[kimlizzy]

Doesn't PSE have shapes??

[kimlizzy]

Teresa, I assume you are using PSE?? There is a Custom Shape Tool in PSE. I have PS but I "think" the custom shape tool is the one that looks like a speech bubble. Click on that and then choose Custom Shapes. You should find a good variety of shapes in that. I'll do some screenshots in PS to show you but it should be the same/similar in PSE.

[kimlizzy]

Teresa, I don't know what version of pse you have but you should see something like this:
http://i22.photobucket.com/albums/b318/kimlizzy/1.jpg
Click on the little arrow in the corner of the shape tool icon and this window opens up:
http://i22.photobucket.com/albums/b318/kimlizzy/SNAG-0001.jpg
Select the Custom Shape Tool.
On the top toolbar you should now see something like this:
http://i22.photobucket.com/albums/b318/kimlizzy/SNAG-0002-1.jpg
Click on the little arrow indicated above and you should see the available shapes. Select the shape you want and draw it out on your background. Simplify the shape layer.
http://i22.photobucket.com/albums/b318/kimlizzy/SNAG-0005.jpg
Make sure the shape layer is selected then hold the Ctrl key down and click on the shape thumbnail on the layers palette. You will see the marching ants around the shape.
http://i22.photobucket.com/albums/b318/kimlizzy/SNAG-0003-1.jpg
Now select the background paper on the layers palette and hit the Delete key.
Delete the shape layer and you are left with the shape cut out of the background paper.
http://i22.photobucket.com/albums/b318/kimlizzy/SNAG-0004-1.jpg
Put paper or a photo behind the hole.


Let me know if this helped.

[teresaj]

Thanks so much Kim I will try this.

[teresaj]

Kim I keep trying this but after I simplify my shape layer and hold down ctrl and click the shape I don't get any marching ants around my shape and if I click on the paper layer and click delete it deletes my paper. Help!

[kimlizzy]

Are you clicking on the shape or the thumbnail on the layers palette??

[teresaj]

I tried clicking the shape on the page and on the shape on the layers palette and no marching ants will show up.

[teresaj]

Woo hoo Kim I finally did it I was bound and determined to figure this thing out and I did. I was clicking on the layer in the palette but not on the shape in the palette. Once I clicked on the shape it worked. Thanks so very very much for all of your help.

[kimlizzy]

Glad you worked it out. Have fun with your newfound technique. :)

[AKrubygal]

A great reminder.........thanks!