Photoshop and Illustrator Support

[TheMailMan78]

I'm sure Ill regret this but I've decided to start a thread to answer Photoshop and Illustrator questions. I see questions pop up about them both from time to time and figured we could consolidate the questions and answers in one place. I've been using them both professionally for over 15 years now and if I don't know something I can guide you in the right direction. So ask away........

[Wrigleyvillain]

Fine let's start simple (at least I think it is...). How do you put an image on a transparent background?

[Soup]

[TheMailMan78]

Originally Posted by Wrigleyvillain

Fine let's start simple (at least I think it is...). How do you put an image on a transparent background?

Well you can do it a few ways. Great thing about Photoshop is there is about 50 different ways to do a single task. If if its just for placement in Illustrator all you have to do is delete the background layer (assuming the document is in layers) and "Save As" a PNG file. This will allow you to place any item on anything and the background of the image will be transparent.

If its for the web then doing the same steps as a .eps or .tif might be a better route.

[GoFigureItOut]

What's the best way to cut/delete someone out of a picture? The magical wand requires a steady hand. =(

[Frick]

Originally Posted by GoFigureItOut

What's the best way to cut/delete someone out of a picture? The magical wand requires a steady hand. =(

Waaay back when I was doing such things in Photoshop 4/5, you zoomed in and was careful.

[W1zzard]

Originally Posted by Frick

Waaay back when I was doing such things in Photoshop 4/5, you zoomed in and was careful.

the most flexible way i know of is to zoom in, create a path around what you want to cut out. the path is editable, so if you mess up, or after cutting, realize you want something different, just adjust the path.

i usually just use the polygon lasso, zoom in and be careful. space+drag to scroll while zoomed in ftw

[TheMailMan78]

Originally Posted by GoFigureItOut

What's the best way to cut/delete someone out of a picture? The magical wand requires a steady hand. =(

Use the pen tool and turn off the mask option in the tool menu bar. Draw around the person using the pen tool. You can adjust the curves manually using the pointer.

Once you have outlined the person/object turn the path into a selection by hitting CTRL+ENTER. Once the selection is made depending on the resolution feather it by 1 point. To do this hit SHIFT+F6, Make the number 1 and hit ENTER. This will soften the edge by one pixel for a more natural look.

Now depending on what you want to do you can just hit delete or inverse the selection and delete. This will eliminate the person/object or if you inverse the selection (SHIFT+CTRL+I)eliminate the background.

[RCoon]

Originally Posted by W1zzard

the most flexible way i know of is to zoom in, create a path around what you want to cut out. the path is editable, so if you mess up, or after cutting, realize you want something different, just adjust the path.

i usually just use the polygon lasso, zoom in and be careful. space+drag to scroll while zoomed in ftw

+1, i do this for a job.

Paths are good, but for the average user i recommend polygon lasso tool and zoom in and be careful. You can remove parts of your lasso selection by holding ALT anyway. After making the selection i recommend feathering the deleted section with ALT SHIFT D(i think, something thereabouts)

[bencrutz]

Originally Posted by TheMailMan78

Now depending on what you want to do you can just hit delete or inverse the selection and delete. This will eliminate the person/object or if you inverse the selection (SHIFT+CTRL+I)eliminate the background.

why not make it a mask? mask is editable (whether it be a vector or pixel mask)

if you delete it, you can not edit later on, if you need to restore something that already deleted, youd have to start from scratch...

non-destructive editing ftw

[Aleksander]

Do you know a way to select 10 photos and resize them all simultaneously from 100% to 40%?
in Photoshop CS6

[bencrutz]

Originally Posted by Aleksander Dishnica

Do you know a way to select 10 photos and resize them all simultaneously from 100% to 40%?
in Photoshop CS6

i would record a new actions start it with ctrl+alt+i fill in the resize size ending it with ctrl+w.
and then open up all the photos, then call the recorded actions

edit: i havent use cs6, only cs5 so far, but it should be pretty much the same

[RCoon]

Originally Posted by Aleksander Dishnica

Do you know a way to select 10 photos and resize them all simultaneously from 100% to 40%?
in Photoshop CS6

irfanview will do this for you

[TheMailMan78]

Originally Posted by bencrutz

why not make it a mask? mask is editable (whether it be a vector or pixel mask)

if you delete it, you can not edit later on, if you need to restore something that already deleted, youd have to start from scratch...

non-destructive editing ftw

Make a duplicate layer instead of a mask if you want to edit it later. 1. It will make the file smaller. 2. Uses less RAM when working with large files. Masks tend to create a few issues when keeping them long term. A big one is cross compatible. Someone who uses an older version of Photoshop will not be able to use a CS5/6 mask the same way. However paths are cross compatible. I tend to stay away from masks as a long term solution if I can.

[bencrutz]

Originally Posted by RCoon

irfanview will do this for you

agreed. free, lightweight, and less headache

Originally Posted by TheMailMan78

Make a duplicate layer instead of a mask if you want to edit it later. 1. It will make the file smaller. 2. Uses less RAM when working with large files. Masks tend to create a few issues when keeping them long term. A big one is cross compatible. Someone who uses an older version of Photoshop will not be able to use a CS5/6 mask the same way. However paths are cross compatible. I tend to stay away from masks as a long term solution if I can.

not sure about the smaller size, maybe i'll try to compare it later, but it indeed uses less RAM (and processing power too)

but i think mask is the way to go, unless backward compatibility is a must.

[TheMailMan78]

Originally Posted by Aleksander Dishnica

Do you know a way to select 10 photos and resize them all simultaneously from 100% to 40%?
in Photoshop CS6

PC or Mac?

[RCoon]

I recommend You Suck At Photoshop. Awesome storyline... oh and the tutorials are good to xD
you can find it on youtube, it was pretty successful.

[TheMailMan78]

Originally Posted by RCoon

I recommend You Suck At Photoshop. Awesome storyline... oh and the tutorials are good to xD
you can find it on youtube, it was pretty successful.

Hes funny but he half asses a lot of the projects.

[RCoon]

Originally Posted by TheMailMan78

Hes funny but he half asses a lot of the projects.

I always thought that was the idea xD get whatever you need done quick and easy!

[TheMailMan78]

Originally Posted by RCoon

I always thought that was the idea xD get whatever you need done quick and easy!

And have it look like shit.

[RCoon]

Originally Posted by TheMailMan78

And have it look like shit.

Where i work they dont seem to think so It's all well and good when you have time on your hands to make a graphic project look good, but sometimes speed is the essence when organisations are as disorganised as they are

[digibucc]

that's the compromise of working for someone else. you are bound to their level of satisfaction and not your own.

I own my own business and do work privately, but then I also contract on with a few companies. The hardest thing is reconciling your work quality with time constraints and employer expectations.

really the best thing to do is get good enough that you can do quality work with speed. until you can do that you either overwork, underbill - or put out sub-par work. if you're going to opt for sub-par work just remember your name is always attached to it. it's sounds like rcoon is less concerned because his company makes the decision and will take the hit - and that's fine - but for me I also happen to own the company so i don't want either to take a hit.

[W1zzard]

Originally Posted by Aleksander Dishnica

Do you know a way to select 10 photos and resize them all simultaneously from 100% to 40%?
in Photoshop CS6

record an action to resize one image, save it to a folder and close the open file
then file -> automate -> batch
then open adobe bridge on that folder and use the batch rename feature to add _small or change them in some other way

[digibucc]

a handy alternative i use is the image resizer powertoy
http://imageresizer.codeplex.com/

[Aleksander]

Looks like Photoshop did the job, but there was a trick on CS6
Thanks for the help!

@mail PC