Selection Masking?

[flyingpylon]

This is really a shot in the dark... hoping maybe someone knows how to do this.

I'm using Photoshop 6. When I load an image, I crop it by creating a selection at a 3:2 ratio. This all works fine, but sometimes I find it hard to tell what my crop will really look like before I execute it. Is it possible to make the cropped off area turn black or another color when I create my selection? And then if I move the selection, adjust the mask accordingly? Nikon Capture does this and I really like it, but unfortunately I've had some other issues with Capture and would like to use Photoshop.

I don't know if I'm being clear enough here, but I'd appreciate any advice anyone has.

Thanks,

Paul

[Eric&Susan]

Not sure exactly if this is what your looking for but in PSE 3, so maybe PS6 also, you can press the forward slash key (/) to toggle the shading feature on and off in the crop mode so you can see a shaded area of what you are and are not cropping. Also maybe check marking the preview button, if one is available.:dunno

Hope this helps,

Eric

[rainforest1155]

This was a standard option in my PS6.
Just make a crop selection and then you'll have the following options:
http://rainforest1155.smugmug.com/photos/19951266-L.gif
There you have to select "shield cropped area", choose a color and opacity and you're done.
See the grey area around my cropped white area? This is white, but with a 75% opacity crop shield.

Hope this helps,
Sebastian

[flyingpylon]

DOH! :1drink

It helps when you use the right tool! For some reason I was using the rectangular marquee.

Thanks to both of you for your help!

Paul

[flyingpylon]

AACK!! Now I remember why I wasn't using the crop tool.

I want to crop in a 3:2 ratio. I want the final cropped image size to just be whatever it is after I crop it. I do not want the image to be scaled to a specific dimension in pixels.

Only the rectangular marquee allows me to do this. I select the area I want, then choose Image... Crop.

The crop tool doesn't allow me to input an aspect ratio, it requires a final image size and scales the final cropped image to fit that size.

So I guess I'm back to square one on this. :dunno

[pathfinder]

AACK!! Now I remember why I wasn't using the crop tool.

I want to crop in a 3:2 ratio. I want the final cropped image size to just be whatever it is after I crop it. I do not want the image to be scaled to a specific dimension in pixels.

Only the rectangular marquee allows me to do this. I select the area I want, then choose Image... Crop.

Not correct - read my post below!

The crop tool doesn't allow me to input an aspect ratio, it requires a final image size and scales the final cropped image to fit that size.

So I guess I'm back to square one on this. :dunno

After opening your image, type 'C' on the keyboard to bring up the crop tool. The option menu for the crop tool next to the top of the screen will list the various choices to be made with the crop tool. You can input height and width in inches, cm, or pixels. Just type it in in the height and width boxes.

OR you can hit the 'clear' button and crop whatever aspect ratio your little heart desires. I do it all the time with my crop tool. Photoshop users do it better with the Crop tool!:huh :D

[Mike Lane]

Not correct - read my post below!



After opening your image, type 'C' on the keyboard to bring up the crop tool. The option menu for the crop tool next to the top of the screen will list the various choices to be made with the crop tool. You can input height and width in inches, cm, or pixels. Just type it in in the height and width boxes.

OR you can hit the 'clear' button and crop whatever aspect ratio your little heart desires. I do it all the time with my crop tool. Photoshop users do it better with the Crop tool!:huh :D
The crop tool does not allow you to set in a ratio like flyingpylon wants. He specifically does not want a set number of inches, cm, or pixels, he wants a specific (and exact) 2:3 ratio of height:width. The only way to do this is with the rectangular marquee (I only have experience with CS incidentally).

There is no easy way to mask the unselected area. What he could do is make his 2:3 selection, hit <shift><ctrl>i to select the inverse, <shift>F5 to fill it with a color. If the selection weren't perfect, he could go to the history and delete everything and start over. Sounds like fun.

I'm frustrated by this all the time as well flyingpylon. My one good solution is to eyeball it with the crop tool and then use the marquee to get a 2:3 that fits inside your eyeball crop. It should be easier to crop if there is less to crop.

[cletus]

There is no easy way to mask the unselected area. What he could do is make his 2:3 selection, hit <shift><ctrl>i to select the inverse, <shift>F5 to fill it with a color. If the selection weren't perfect, he could go to the history and delete everything and start over. Sounds like fun.
Would this help???

Make your selection using the rectangular marquee tool
Press 'Q' to jump to quick mask mode
Check your selection
Press 'Q' to leave quick mask mode
Adjust your selection (I'd use Select > Transform Selection)
Repeat steps 2-5 as needed.

[Mike Lane]

Would this help???


Make your selection using the rectangular marquee tool
Press 'Q' to jump to quick mask mode
Check your selection
Press 'Q' to leave quick mask mode
Adjust your selection (I'd use Select > Transform Selection)
Repeat steps 2-5 as needed.


Select > Transform Selection...


Now THAT'S handy! Thanks.