Preserved Topic: Creating a Vignette using Photoshop!!! (Page 1 of 1)

Help!!! I am trying to create a vignette in Photoshop. I try to bring in say a star that I have created in MS Publisher and place it on a photo but I can't get it to work. Anyone know a web site that I can use or the steps to follow to create this. I am needing it for my students -- SOON! Thanks

Hi Sholland.. welcome to the Asylum

when you bring your star into photoshop from publisher does it come in with a transparent background?

When you save it from publisher does it give the option to save with a transparnt background or at the least a single background colour? The reason for the questions is because this will have an effect on how we use the star once you get it into PS (photoshop).

Lets presume that it doesnt have a transparent background when you bring it into PS. OK?

Right first thing is to open the photograph that you wish to overlay the star on. With this done you will want to open the star image in PS also.

You should have 2 images open in PS now side by side. Next select the 'move tool' from the tool bar (that should be the long vertical 2 column pallette thingy.. you want to pick the first row , second column tool. Thats the 'move tool'.

Make the star image the active window, now drag and drop that image into the photograph image. If all works well it should create a new layer for the star as it is dropped into the photo image. You should notice that this star layer probably covers up the original photo layer. This because it is on the layer immediately above the photo layer.

Now because the satr layer has no transparency we are presuming, if you look in the 'layer pallette' you will see an option for changing the 'opacity' of the active layer (again, the active layer still should be the new star layer).

If you decrease the opacity from 100% to say 50% you should see the photo layer beneath become gradually viisble. OK., ... thast just to show you how the opacity of layers works.. make that star layer 100% opaque again.

Next we want to isolate the 'star shape' from whatever background it is sitting on , we dont need that background, only the star shape. Use any of the selection tools to isolate the background of the satr layer and eitehr delete it or use a layer mask to hide it!.... questions?.. hehe

OK.. now we have just the star on its own layer with either a masked background or know background cos ya just deleted it!.. now play with that 'opacity; again and notice the difference now that we have removed/hidden teh background.. alot better.... (remember, if your star was on a tansparent background originally we could have skipped those last few steps of masking or deleteing).. see ?.. ok.....

So it looks good but no vinegrette yet? ok.. reselect or select again the outside shape of the star.. got it?.. ok.. now go up to your SELECT option from the top menu bar. Look for 'Feather'.... click it and enter a value , try 5 pixels to start and then adjust if needed... apply the feathering to your selection... you might see a slight change to the selection (marching ants) but it shouldnt be much.. might round of the points of the selection a bit. Now again I would apply a layer mask here, but you can also inverse the selection, (reverse it basically) and the hit the delete key.. this will delete some of the stars edges but using the feather it will give you a faded look as opposed to a 'hard' edge.

Thats the basic concept.... important to play around with all the above mentioned things... more experimentation the better the end result and the more you will learn IMHO.

Hope that gets ya started!

~Vp~