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Posted on 10/05/11 00:48:51 AM |
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John McAlister
* Posts: 3 Reply |
drawing on the background layer
I recently purchased caplins 100% Photoshop and I am attempting to follow the instructions to create a brick texture. In the instructions is says to draw on the background layer. When I do I get a new layer for each brick I create. When all that is accomplished I, of course have several layers...then I can not go to the next step, Filter >distort>glass because Photoshop does not allow the option. Any ideas on what I am missing with this task. |
Posted on 10/05/11 08:07:08 AM |
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Steve Caplin
Administrator Posts: 7025 Reply  |
Re: drawing on the background layer
Welcome to the forum, John. The reason you have to draw the bricks on the background is because the white base is required in order for the Glass filter to do its job. After drawing the first brick - and with the brick still selected - switch to the Move tool before dragging to make copies. This will make multiple bricks without making extra layers. Switching to the Move tool is something I should have mentioned in the text, and will certainly correct in any future editions. It seems the bricks tutorial is harder than I thought when I wrote it... if you get stuck with it again, check out this thread. |
Posted on 19/05/11 09:03:02 AM |
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Robin Hudson
* Posts: 15 Reply |
Re: drawing on the background layer
Hi, Like John I'm new to photoshop and have just started working my way through the book (100%). I also had a few teething problems with the brick wall. Whilst I managed to draw and copy the brick without creating multiple layers, when I tried to add the glass effect nothing happened. Eventually I used flatten image first which resolved the issue. I assume this is because I started with a transparent background, not white? Next problem - I couldn't find the Lighting effects - tracked this down in the Apple docs to the fact that I'm using a 64bit version Mac OSX which for some reason doesn't support the effect... |
Posted on 19/05/11 09:12:32 AM |
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Deborah Morley
Makeover Magician Posts: 1319 Reply  |
Re: drawing on the background layer
Hello Robin, Yes, the background does need to be white for the glass effect to work. If you look at the thread that Steve has put in, there is a lot about making bricks. Either start PS in 32 bit mode to get Lighting Effects, or I found the easier way is to use an older version of photoshop which is still on the computer to make the bricks with all the effects and then open it in CS5. |
Posted on 19/05/11 11:38:19 AM |
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joeysala
Perfect Palmist Posts: 604 Reply  |
Re: drawing on the background layer
Like John I'm new to photoshop and have just started working my way through the book (100%). [/quoted] Hi Robin - I'm just finishing 100% PS, and I want to tell you, and John, that you're in for such a great treat! I'm truly amazed by how much I've learned from this book! And, when things get tough (and they will!) don't get discourged.....there are many very knowledgable people in this forum that are willing to help! Steve - I'm kinda sorry the book isn't twice as long! Guess it's almost time to try my wings.............Joey |
Posted on 23/05/11 09:10:46 AM |
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Robin Hudson
* Posts: 15 Reply |
Re: drawing on the background layer
Hi, I'm still playing around with the brick wall just to make sure I understand what's going on but still have a couple of queries. With regard to drawing on the background layer, I can't. When I draw the first brick PS automatically creates a new layer. I can then copy the first rectangle to make the grid but have to use Flatten Image to remove the extra layer. I also managed to get the lighting effects working by switching to 32-bit mode as suggested but my wall always ends up looking like plastic and, the area illuminated by the spotlight doesn't cover the entire wall so I get dark corners at the bottom left and top right... Any thoughts? Robin
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Posted on 25/05/11 2:55:21 PM |
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Jota120
Ingenious Inventor Posts: 2615 Reply  |
Re: drawing on the background layer
Robin,
Sorry, not much help, but I tried this again and cannot see how you have the problem i.e. works for me as in the book.
Can you post us an screen shot of your image? There are quite a few steps and subjective setting to get it right, or what you want.
This problem resolved quite easy? you need to ensure the area of the spotlight ellipse boundary is well outside your image to get same results suggested by Steve. Ref the image in Steve's book Step 6. It goes very dark beyond. Or you could also Fade the filter immediately afterwards. Hope some of this helps, Trevor PS Fyi: here are some related bricks I created and messed around with  http://www.howtocheatinphotoshop.com/cgi-bin/simpleforum_pro.cgi?fid=04&topic_id=1306291451 |
Posted on 27/05/11 5:15:02 PM |
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Robin Hudson
* Posts: 15 Reply |
Re: drawing on the background layer
Deborah, I had a few more problems with the brick wall but Steve sorted me out - it was mainly because I was using the rectangle tool, not the rectangle marquee to draw the bricks at the first step. Things are looking better now! Rgds Robin
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