don't really know how to explain what I want to do - - PLEASE look and help?!

[rosselliot]

okay, so this may seem a bit confusing, but I'm gonna try to explain the best I can. btw, I own photoshop elements 4.0.

okay, so I bought some patterned paper, and I want to scan it and get the pattern and then create shapes and paste them onto cards and print them out. for example, I have some merry christmas cards, and I want to take that paper, find a christmas tree shape, replace the christmas tree's color with the paper's pattern and paste it onto a card. does this make sense? I hope so...if not, I'll try to clarify..

thanks for any help in advance:

- Re

[wxwax]

Makes perfect sense. It's easy to do with layer masks in Photoshop. But I'm not familiar with Elements.

In PS, you want to make your wallpaper your background (first) layer. Make your tree a second layer. Select the tree outline. Make a layer mask. Mask out the tree interior, so the wallpaper pattern shows through. Compress and save.

If you wants lots of patterned trees for a background, select your original patterned tree, copy it and paste it as many times as you want. Resize to taste.

At least, that's how I'd approach it. In Photoshop, there are a million ways. I have no doubt someone will show you an easier way. With luck, one of them can be duplicated in Elements.

[rosselliot]

Makes perfect sense. It's easy to do with layer masks in Photoshop. But I'm not familiar with Elements.

In PS, you want to make your wallpaper your background (first) layer. Make your tree a second layer. Select the tree outline. Make a layer mask. Mask out the tree interior, so the wallpaper pattern shows through. Compress and save.

If you wants lots of patterned trees for a background, select your original patterned tree, copy it and paste it as many times as you want. Resize to taste.

At least, that's how I'd approach it. In Photoshop, there are a million ways. I have no doubt someone will show you an easier way. With luck, one of them can be duplicated in Elements.

under what menu would the layer mask be? like, could I use the magic wand to select the tree? then how do I create a mask from there?

thanks!!!!

- RE