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Posted on 16/11/07 9:07:38 PM |
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cy98
** Posts: 115 Reply  |
save path
Love your new book, but overanxious to get started. Once you have the path completed for object like hands, how to do save it to use later without all the rest of the body adding to file size? |
Posted on 17/11/07 00:30:57 AM |
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tank172
ThreeDee Thriller Posts: 692 Reply  |
Re: save path
Hi cy and welcome to the forum! After you make a shape with the pen tool, you can save it for use later by going to Edit-->Define Custom Shapes. Type a name for the shape. Then, go to your Shapes pallet by going to the Custom Shapes Tool in the left toolbar and find your new shape in the toolbar on the top of your screen. Hope this helps. --Chris  |
Posted on 17/11/07 02:56:36 AM |
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cy98
** Posts: 115 Reply |
Re: save path
Ok that shows me how to save and where to find the Custom Shape tool pallet. However, it just gives an outline of the shape I drew with no detail. I would rather save the image in a separate file. I could then retrieve the hand or cup to use in another image. How do I do that? The way I do it now is with PDF file, but that saves the whole image as well as the selection. Would like to save just the pertanent layer. |
Posted on 17/11/07 03:13:09 AM |
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tank172
ThreeDee Thriller Posts: 692 Reply |
Re: save path
Hmm...sorry, I misunderstood. Maybe, you could open a new document and drag the layer from your artwork document into the new, blank canvas. You could then save that document for retrieval as needed. Also, depending what version of Photoshop, you could use the scripts feature located in File-->Scripts-->Export Layers to Files. Hope this helps. Also, why are working in .PDF files instead of the native, PSD format? Just curious. --Chris |
Posted on 17/11/07 03:14:46 AM |
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Neil O
Cartoon Contractor Posts: 389 Reply  |
Re: save path
you can copy the selection and paste it to a new psd file and save it under the name "hand.psd" or "cup.psd" etc. Thats how I do it. Of course there may be something easier or better that I'm not aware of. Neil _________________ "I haven't failed.... I've found 10,000 ways that don't work!" Thomas Edison |
Posted on 17/11/07 09:26:28 AM |
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maiden
Golden Gif Gagster Posts: 471 Reply  |
Re: save path
Well if I understand fully what you're asking - once you have made your path of say a cup or hand convert the path to a Vector Mask as opposed to a Layer Mask. Layer > Vector Mask > Current Path Once the Vector Mask layer is active and all other layers are invisible go to: Image > Trim > (Based On: Transparent Pixels with all the Trim Away boxes selected) Now when you save the file - the path information as well as the image masked by the path will be there everytime you open without any surplus information. |
Posted on 17/11/07 5:17:17 PM |
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cy98
** Posts: 115 Reply |
Re: save path
Everyone has been most helpful. Will try out the various methods and see which works the best for me. Thanks curt |
Posted on 17/11/07 8:14:51 PM |
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cy98
** Posts: 115 Reply |
Re: save path
Maiden It appears that with your method if I save and then re-open I have to rasterize the path so that it can be resized. Otherwise the vector mask just expands into the base image and the object is lost although the outline is preserved. Perhaps rasterize before using was your thought. |
Posted on 17/11/07 9:12:19 PM |
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maiden
Golden Gif Gagster Posts: 471 Reply |
Re: save path
I'm not sure where your going with this as I don't understand why you have to rasterize the path to expand it. Are you certain you have the Object layer and the Vector Path layer linked? and if you are resizing the path itself, of course it will expand beyond the limits of the object layer - if you simply transform the Object layer as long as it's linked to the Vector Path layer it will resize both the mask and the object. |
Posted on 17/11/07 10:24:37 PM |
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cy98
** Posts: 115 Reply |
Re: save path
Maiden I must be missing something as I have tried it twice with same results. When I open the save file I have layer0 (Former background) linked to the path layer. I have a bird house on a building. I then drag this image into the new picture. When I resize, the shape expands and the birdhouse stays the same size and the side of the house is included in the shape. If I rasterize first then resize the bird house enlarges. Is this the correct way? I migrated from PS7 to CS3 and told myself I would learn how to use more of the features, have a long way to go obviously. |
Posted on 18/11/07 09:25:19 AM |
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David Asch
Tech Support Posts: 1913 Reply  |
Re: save path
Possibly my turn to miss the point. If you're saving the hands, mug, etc. to use in a different image, why do you need to save the path in the first place? You can copy the cut-away layer to a new document without a background and save it as a PSD or TIF which keeps the transparency. _________________ Leap and the net will appear |
Posted on 18/11/07 7:11:10 PM |
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cy98
** Posts: 115 Reply |
Re: save path
Yes, that is the best way I guess. I was trying to minimize the file size of saving the path made into a selection. Don't really understand what is saved if one has the background invisible and you save the document. Does it also save the inviable layers? If it does, when I save the selection to a new document at least it is only saving a white background which does not take up much space. |
Posted on 19/11/07 3:47:32 PM |
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David Asch
Tech Support Posts: 1913 Reply |
Re: save path
You only need to keep the layer the object is on, just remember not to make it a background layer. _________________ Leap and the net will appear |