PSP 8 Woes

[ComradeCommisar]

Ok, i have a pretty dumb question that i need answered regarding PSP (since i'm too incompetant to work them out for myself...). I figured that at least some of you guys will be using this programme, or a version of it, even if the majority does use Photoshop.

Anyway my question is about unit 'shields'. How exactly does one go about getting the shield to be in the background so it doesn't overlap the main unit? I've been toying around with the layer tools but to no avail.

Could anyone help me out here?

[curtsibling]

Yep - !
Here is the process I use in PSP 5

1. Use the colour dropper to make the two colour squares match the light pink shade on the units.

2 - Use the rectangle selection to surround the chosen unit.

3 - Use Ctrl-C, then Ctrl-V to copyand paste a small (image1) file of your unit.

4 - Keep this image in the workspace. No need to save it.

5 - Now, go back to your main file and press Ctrl-D to deselect the unit.

6 - Use the same process in steps 1 to 3 on your shield graphic. Only this time press Ctrl-Shift-E.

7 - This will paste a floating selection of your shield graphic over the main unit file.
(if you have the background colour as the light pink, it floats over that colour selection!)

8 - Now position the shield on top of the chosen unit - Don't worry! Overlap all you wish!

9 - When the shield is where you want it, go back to your pasted image 1 file.

10 - With Image 1 as your active file, now press Ctrl-A.

11 - Again use Ctrl-C, then Ctrl-V to copy and paste Image 1.

12 - Go back to your main file and press Ctrl-Shift-E.

13 - Like the shield, the unit now is a floating selection.

14 - Line up the unit with the original, you'll notice the shield overlap is now snugly hidden!

Hopefully now the shield is in the background!

[Mercator]

I'm not sure I understand what you mean. Does the attached image answer your question?

Edit: Bah! Embarassing crosspost.

[Nilat]

I tried curts process and i undertand it, but when I put the actual unit on the shield the pink goes over it..

[Mercator]

Curt's method will only work if the unit background is all pink (one color) and you have the background color in PSP set to that same color (so the Ctrl+Shift+E works correctly)...

Otherwise, between steps 2 and 3, you have to manually adjust the selection so all the background color is deselected. In PSP8 you can remove colors from a selection with the "Select Color Range" tool somewhere in the Selections menu. I can't quite remember what it was in earlier versions. Some option in the selections menu in any case.

[Nilat]

The whole unit backround is pink, but it still wont work..

[ComradeCommisar]

I'm having the same trouble as Nilat, i follow those instructions (which are very clear i might add) but still i'm overlapping the man unit...

[Mercator]

Make sure you've also set the background color PSP uses to pink. I.e. right-click with the color dropper on the pink before you paste it back with Ctrl+Shift+E (step 12).

Oh and AFAIK step 10 is unnecessary, and step 11 should only involve Ctrl+C.

[Harry Tuttle]

Re: PSP 8 Woes

Originally posted by ComradeCommisar
Anyway my question is about unit 'shields'. How exactly does one go about getting the shield to be in the background so it doesn't overlap the main unit? I've been toying around with the layer tools but to no avail.

Well, are you simply trying to change the position of the ingame generic shield or are you trying to overlap a custom shield with a unit picture?

[ComradeCommisar]

Trying to overlap a custom shield with a unit picture, but failing.

[curtsibling]

Can you post the unit file in question, with the shield?

...

[Nilat]

aah!! it works now! Thanks a lot guys!

[CapTVK]

Originally posted by ComradeCommisar
I'm having the same trouble as Nilat, i follow those instructions (which are very clear i might add) but still i'm overlapping the man unit...

I hope this is helpful. I usually do my selections with the magic wand tool.

First I copy&paste the graphic to a new file, paint the background to a single colour (black) and use the magic wand to select that colour and invert the selection to get a perfect selection fit around my unit. After that copy&pasting is a breeze.

Like this:

[Mercator]

That doesn't quite work (well, not in one go) when there are "holes" in the unit though... Using the selections menu to remove the background can be easier in that case...

[CapTVK]

Originally posted by Mercator
That doesn't quite work (well, not in one go) when there are "holes" in the unit though... Using the selections menu to remove the background can be easier in that case...

And that's were holding the shift key during selecting comes in...

There's more than one way to reach Rome