Drawing/finding outlines

[divamum]

Ok, this is probably Dumb Question 406b, but on the grounds if I don't ask I may never know...

HOW does one outline a small area for adjustment? I'm using Paintshop Pro and select "freehand" and then just try to draw around the area I want with the mouse. If it's a tiny area, I zoom in, and those are generally easier, but when it's larger I either have to wait for the image to move itself - at which point the mouse slips and I wind up with a big ugly blip I don't want - or try and do it with the image smaller, and am equally inaccurate.

I feel like there MUST be an easier way... but i haven't figured it out yet. Can soemebody enlighten me?! Thanks in advance.

Yours in determined-to-learn n00bness,
Divamum

[glennchan]

Different options:

1- Use some of the other lasso tools, like the polygonal lasso or the magnetic one. You can make a partial selection, and then hold down shift to add to that selection.

2- Try the magic wand (W) and the other wand in that menu. The latter is very interesting and useful for cutting stuff out.

3- If you're using an adjustment layer, you can just add a layer mask that hides everything and use the brush tool to paint into it.

I'm sure there are even more methods...

[luc]

Sorry, I do not know of any better solution with the freehand tool - the only help being to piece the selection together using the shift key. ???

One often used alternative is the Bezier-curve Pen tool, which does not have this problem, but definitely needs some training. (After creating the vector object use : Selections > From Vector Object )

One big advantage of such curves is, that they remain easily modifyable.

[divamum]

Thank you both for your posts. Glennchan, thanks to you mentioning those other tools, I groped around the software and realised there was a submenu I had never even noticed for the freehand tool - there's an "edge finder" and a "magic edge" and a "point to point". The general freehand is, of course, sometimes the only way to go, but the two edge tools in particular make it MUCH easier in certain circumstances.

Thanks! (And if anybody has any other tricks, keep 'em coming!)

[BinaryFx]

It may also help to look into Quick Mask mode, which is a quick temporary way of dealing with selections as rasters (temp alpha channels) or to save selections as true alpha channels for manipulation.


Stephen Marsh

http://members.ozemail.com.au/~binaryfx/
http://prepression.blogspot.com/

[luc]

The OP is using Paint ShopPro which has no "quick mask mode" (but it is not needed).
One way would be to use: Selection > Edit Selection - in PSP


It may also help to look into Quick Mask mode, which is a quick temporary way of dealing with selections as rasters (temp alpha channels) or to save selections as true alpha channels for manipulation.
Stephen Marsh

http://members.ozemail.com.au/~binaryfx/
http://prepression.blogspot.com/

[BinaryFx]

The OP is using Paint ShopPro which has no "quick mask mode" (but it is not needed).
One way would be to use: Selection > Edit Selection - in PSP

Cheers Luc, yes I missed that little (major) point!


Stephen Marsh

http://members.ozemail.com.au/~binaryfx/
http://prepression.blogspot.com/