Banners

[Koala]

PM, your banner looks great. Well done!!!

[TimothyBFan]

Well then I'm trying that one again also!!! I love the way Lou's always turn out and I'm determined!! Today it is!!

Good job Cathy!! It's gorgeous!

[Prettymaid]

Hey, if I can do it anybody can.

[tequila girl]

Hey, if I can do it anybody can.

Except me!

[TimothyBFan]

Well, reinstalled from your link PM and still getting the memory message. Go figure. Guess back to the one my daughter loaded and struggle through it. I did it but it sure took a long time to do that last one. Hopefully the more I do it, it will get easier.

The things we do for a gorgeous banner!

[Prettymaid]

Maybe try what I did and go to the actual site and don't use a link? I know, shouldn't make a difference but...

BTW, I don't mean to make it sound like I'm not struggling through this. I can do the things Troub laid out for us, but everything else I'm trying is hit or miss. For example, what if I want my background to have more of a watercolor painted look and not be a photo? Haven't figured that one out yet. And I'm trying to use the cropping tool but I don't know how to keep it cropped once I crop it! I know I'm just going to have to play around wiith it and it really is fun trying, except for when I mess up!

[Troubadour]

Cathy - once you have selected the crop tool and selected the area you want in your photo, just double-click in that area. The selection lines (and the unwanted parts of your picture) will disappear! Hope that helps.

[Troubadour]

Also, if you want to make a background picture less opaque or solid, for example, go to the Layers tab, which should be on the right-side of your screen, and lower the Opacity level. It's probably at 100% right now, but make it 70% for example and see how that changes it. Also, next to the Layers tab, you should have an Instant Effects tab. Use that drop-down menu to try out different styles. (Some of them will completely change your photo, others will add cool effects. You can also drag the little triangle left and right along the bar above the menu, to lower or heighten the strength of the effect.) It's all trial and error.

The only other thing I'd say is remember you're working with layers. Once you're happy with the effects on your base picture, remember to "Merge all layers". Then can you begin working on your top layer, without changing your base!

Also, try the Image tab at the top of your window, and then Adjust. It will bring up a list of basic ways you can alter your picture: Auto Levels, Color Balance, Curves, etc. Try them out! It might be that you only need to lighten a picture a fraction, rather than making it more transparent.

[Prettymaid]

Thanks Lou! I don't want you to feel like you have to babysit me every step of the way, but your instructions are really easy to follow. I have to go to work now, but maybe I'll have some time over the weekend to play some more.

[Troubadour]

Not at all! Direct questions like the ones in your previous post are fairly straightforward and I can answer them quite easily. I know what it's like when you're trying to get to grips with something - and I know how much fun it is when you do. I'm happy to help, if I can.