PSE 6 I need help

[ezkaren]

Each time I try to erase the photo/layer that bleeds into another photo on a Quick Page it asks me to simplify. When I simplify the eraser tool removes from both layers. What am I doing wrong? I only want to clean one of the photos. Your tips are appreciated.

I only have this problem in quick pages with openings for multiple photos.

[sarahorton]

Hi Karen! Welcome to Designer Digitals It's great to have you here with us!

Starting with PSE6, the software functionality changed a bit. Dragging an item UP from the bin turns it into a Smart Object (which resizes it and causes it to lose its transparency as well.) You might be getting the "simplify" message because of this. Fortunately, there's an easy workaround: double-clicking the photo to make it the active document (large in the editing window) and then using the Move Tool to drag it down onto the quick page in your bin.

Here are the steps I use with quickpages:

1. Open the quickpage
2. Open the photo
3. Drag the photo down onto the quickpage in the bin.
4. The quickpage will be the active document now, but the photo will be on top. Look in the Layers Palette and drag the photo below the quickpage. Resize/ reposition the photo as needed.
5. If you need to erase a part of the photo, select the photo layer. Get the eraser tool and erase that section of the photo. Or use the Marquee tool to draw out a selection and press Delete or Backspace on the keyboard.

Hope this helps!

[ezkaren]

Sara
I am going to try that right now. Thanks for the tips. I will let you know if it works.

Even if it doesn't work, I learned something from your response.

Karen

[ezkaren]

Sara

I tried doing this and the first photo went in fine. However, when I tried to put another photo in a second layer, it said that the photo in frame layer must be simplified. When I simplified it, the eraser tool removes more than the layer.

So how do you get more than one photo in a 3 or more layer quick page?

[Cassie Jones (1gr8muggle)]

Karen, what template/quick page are you using?

[sarahorton]

Hmmmm... I'm stumped. The only time I get that "frame layer needs to be simplified" message is when I drag something up from the bin instead of double-clicking to make an image active and then dragging down. Usually the "frame layer" refers to a Smart Object.

To add the second photo, I just double-click the photo in the bin to make it active and then drag it down onto the template. I am not getting the "simplify" message that way.

You could try closing the Project Bin and choosing Window > Images > Cascade and then dragging the photos over to the template that way. Just get the Move Tool and drag your photo over to the template document.

This is a wonderful tutorial for learning to work with templates. Cassie explains it all step by step: