Moving someone within a photo

N
Posted By
Nev
Dec 19, 2004
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1969
Replies
5
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Closed
I’m working on a family photo for Christmas cards, and want to move one of the people closer to another [via layering] so the composition’s more balanced.

I know how to use the magnetic lasso to isolate the person, but can’t figure out how to grab and then reposition some of its points after I’ve closed/finished the magnetic lasso path. As soon as the path’s closed [L click], all the ‘grab points’ disappear and the path’s replaced by the ‘moving ants’ marquee line. The magic wand works, but the adding/subtracting parts of it makes the magnetic lasso seem much quicker in this particular application. The instruction manual’s no help, at least that I can find.

If I could just grab and move the magnetic lasso points before the ‘ants’ appear!

Grrrrrr… simple stuff, but I can’t remember or find the solution.

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C
cb
Dec 19, 2004
If you want an editable path, try using the pen tool. But from what you say, it might be easiest to use Quick Mask mode (Icons near the bottom of the toolbar, just below the foreground/background) to "paint" a selection of your subject. This way you can add or subtract from your selection by using the brush tool. A very intuitive method.
C
Corey
Dec 19, 2004
"Nev" wrote in message
I’m working on a family photo for Christmas cards, and want to move one of the people closer to another [via layering] so the composition’s more balanced.

I know how to use the magnetic lasso to isolate the person, but can’t
figure
out how to grab and then reposition some of its points after I’ve closed/finished the magnetic lasso path. As soon as the path’s closed [L click], all the ‘grab points’ disappear and the path’s replaced by the ‘moving ants’ marquee line. The magic wand works, but the
adding/subtracting
parts of it makes the magnetic lasso seem much quicker in this particular application. The instruction manual’s no help, at least that I can find.
If I could just grab and move the magnetic lasso points before the ‘ants’ appear!

Grrrrrr… simple stuff, but I can’t remember or find the solution.

I just did the same thing with a photo of my parents for their 50th wedding anniversary. Regarding the magnetic lasso, to add or subtract from the selection ("marching ants") just hold down your SHFT key to add or your ALT key to subtract. The "grab points" will always disappear once the selection is complete.

A better idea might be to make a rough selection, copy it into a new layer and position it near where you want it to be. Then use a mask to hide the parts you don’t want visible. Then it’s just a matter of painting with black or white to hide or make visible the portions of the new layer. To make the mask, use the magic wand tool to select the empty pixels outside the new layer, Select Inverse (SHFT+CTRL+I) and click on the layer mask icon at the bottom of the layers palette. Painting with white removes the mask, black adds to it. The cool thing about masks is that you never lose the actual pixels. They just remain hidden or visible depending on the color chosen.

Peadge 🙂
KS
Kataleeya Stecklair
Dec 22, 2004
Hi. Once you have the ‘moving ants’ (which shows you have a selection), just hit ctrl+C and ctrl+V. You’ve got a new layer now with just your selection. From there, change tools to the arrow and move your selection wherever you want.

Hope that answers your question. 🙂

"Nev" wrote in message
I’m working on a family photo for Christmas cards, and want to move one of the people closer to another [via layering] so the composition’s more balanced.

I know how to use the magnetic lasso to isolate the person, but can’t figure out how to grab and then reposition some of its points after I’ve closed/finished the magnetic lasso path. As soon as the path’s closed [L click], all the ‘grab points’ disappear and the path’s replaced by the ‘moving ants’ marquee line. The magic wand works, but the adding/subtracting parts of it makes the magnetic lasso seem much quicker in this particular application. The instruction manual’s no help, at least that I can find.

If I could just grab and move the magnetic lasso points before the ‘ants’ appear!

Grrrrrr… simple stuff, but I can’t remember or find the solution.
KS
Kataleeya Stecklair
Dec 22, 2004
oops–I had a duh moment. 🙂 Now after my reading comprehension has kicked in. . . 😉

Moving points, I use the pen tool (instead of lasso) to make my selection–a lot more freedom that way. To make it a selection, go into "paths" in your layers pallette, then click on "make selection," the third icon from the left across the bottom of the pallette.

Hope *this* is more helpful than my previous. 🙂

(back to lurking :p )
"Nev" wrote in message
I’m working on a family photo for Christmas cards, and want to move one of the people closer to another [via layering] so the composition’s more balanced.

I know how to use the magnetic lasso to isolate the person, but can’t figure out how to grab and then reposition some of its points after I’ve closed/finished the magnetic lasso path. As soon as the path’s closed [L click], all the ‘grab points’ disappear and the path’s replaced by the ‘moving ants’ marquee line. The magic wand works, but the adding/subtracting parts of it makes the magnetic lasso seem much quicker in this particular application. The instruction manual’s no help, at least that I can find.

If I could just grab and move the magnetic lasso points before the ‘ants’ appear!

Grrrrrr… simple stuff, but I can’t remember or find the solution.
TN
Tom Nelson
Dec 22, 2004
The Magnetic Lasso "points" aren’t Pen points and can’t be adjusted individually. As Nev found, they disappear once you close the path and it becomes active.

Instead, adjust the selection with the drawing tools in Quick Mask mode, or add/subtract from the selection with the other selection tools.

Tom Nelson
Tom Nelson Photography

In article
<Hl8yd.1139730$>, Kataleeya
Stecklair wrote:

oops–I had a duh moment. 🙂 Now after my reading comprehension has kicked in. . . 😉

Moving points, I use the pen tool (instead of lasso) to make my selection–a lot more freedom that way. To make it a selection, go into "paths" in your layers pallette, then click on "make selection," the third icon from the left across the bottom of the pallette.

Hope *this* is more helpful than my previous. 🙂

(back to lurking :p )
"Nev" wrote in message
I’m working on a family photo for Christmas cards, and want to move one of the people closer to another [via layering] so the composition’s more balanced.

I know how to use the magnetic lasso to isolate the person, but can’t figure out how to grab and then reposition some of its points after I’ve closed/finished the magnetic lasso path. As soon as the path’s closed [L click], all the ‘grab points’ disappear and the path’s replaced by the ‘moving ants’ marquee line. The magic wand works, but the adding/subtracting parts of it makes the magnetic lasso seem much quicker in this particular application. The instruction manual’s no help, at least that I can find.

If I could just grab and move the magnetic lasso points before the ‘ants’ appear!

Grrrrrr… simple stuff, but I can’t remember or find the solution.

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