Using the Photo Corner Rounder Brush

[ptknox]

I love Katie's corner rounder brush included in the Decorative Scissors Brushes for rounding one or two corners of photos/papers. I've answered the question of "How do I use a corner rounder brush?" and "How do I use the Decorative Scissors" on another board several times, so thought I'd drop my instructions in here in the event that anybody else might find them useful!

1. Place your photo on one layer.
2. Create a new layer above that layer and "stamp" your corner rounder on that layer, lining up the edges to create the round corner.
3. Ctrl-Click on the BRUSH layer thumbnail to select the brush shape and then click on the eyeball icon to hide the layer. (Not necessary but makes it easier to see what you are doing!)
4. Now click on your photo layer and choose: Layer>Add Layer Mask>Hide Selection.

If you're happy with the results you can right click on the mask thumbnail on the photo layer and choose "Apply Layer Mask".

If you're not happy....delete the brush layer and try again until you are pleased with the results.

You can delete the brush layer at this point...you don't need it anymore!

Of course, you can always use the brush as an eraser for a quick job too...but Katie has me hooked on the power of layer masks!

[Andibean]

Pattie I came here to ask this very question, thanks so much. But when I get to the last step the option to hide selection is not available for me (not highlighted). Any idea what I'm doing wrong? Thanks a bunch!
-Andrea

[ptknox]

Andrea, make sure that you are not trying to select from a "background" layer. PS gets very stubborn and refuses to perform many commands on a true background layer.

Look to your layers palette. Did you just open a photo and then use the brush on it? If so, I'll be money that the photo layer is labeled "background." Just double click on that layer in the layers palette and accept the default "Layer 0" name. Now you should be able to apply the layer mask.

Let me know if this is the answer! If not, we'll try again!

[susancurtis]

Pattie, I love PS tips! Keep 'em coming!
Susan

[Andibean]

Thank you, Pattie. I tried again and what you suggested worked but then I ran into another problem and became frustrated! I may try again in the future. Thank you!

[ptknox]

Awww Andi...don't give up! What kind of other problem did you run into? Maybe one of us can help you. PS has such a huge learning curve...when I first started using it (back in Version 3.0....eeeekkkk!) I think I installed and uninstalled it from my hard drive in utter frustration about 100 times...convinced that I would NEVER be able to understand that (insert profanity here) program!

[irishsheila]

Wow, I came to this board looking exactly for this info! Thanks!!

[Andibean]

Ok, I'm going to attempt this again and I will keep track of the problem I run into. Thanks, Pattie!

[Andibean]

Ok, totally and throughly frustrated now. I can tell that something must be wrong with my photoshop settings for it to be acting this way. Thanks anyway!

[dzinah]

As another alternative for rounding corners, you could try using the rounded rectangle tool. You can control the corner radius by manually typing in the amount in the box on the tool bar at the top, or just go with the default.

After selecting the tool, draw your rounded rectangle, and then select it. "Paste into" your selected shape and wah-lah! Turn off your selection, and then you can move and/or resize your photo as necessary within this mask that you just created.

Just remember: "Paste into" is key -- use it instead of "paste" when you want to create a mask!

Hope that helps!

Dinah

[cardaddict]

Hi Pattie, I'm using PSE5 and when I click on Layer, I don't get the option to add layer mask. Could it be under anything else in this version?

Robynne

[katrinak]

Originally Posted by cardaddict

Hi Pattie, I'm using PSE5 and when I click on Layer, I don't get the option to add layer mask. Could it be under anything else in this version?

Robynne

PSE doesn't have layer masks as an option. There is a workaround that Pattie or someone else can explain better than I can!

[mugsbigsis]

OMGosh! I've never noticed these in the store. . . .Into my cart! Thanks so much for the tips Pattie! I've copied them into my "scrapbook tuts" folder. :O)

[ldmeggy12]

Dzinah...I know this sounds totally amateur, but when once I have drawn my rectangle and selected it do I have to copy or cut first and then paste into, because I don't have the option to do that unless I have done one of the two. It makes logical sense that this would be the case, but I just want to make sure I am doing this correctly. Thanks!