Not sure i get exactly what you are trying to do,but if you are trying to make a bigger head fit on top of a smaller one, after you drag your layer over,go to the opacity slider in the layer palette,and reduce it to 50 percent so you can see through to the photo beneath. next go up under edit-transform and pick one of the options there. scale will let you adjust the sides independently or using the corners to adjust both at once. after you size it to your liking, double click to set the changes permanently. if you dont do that,you will not be able to change your opacity slider back.
Edit, cyber gave a more simplified answer,and i type too slow.
Thanks so much Cyber and Donald! That was easy! I knew that my 3 hours of working at this was wasting my time cuz it must be some simple command. But I learned a lot of other things in the process of trying to figure this out. This is a huge program and I no notin’ about it but will learn one step at a time.
Donald, yes, the transparent layer thing is what I’m doing with this so that I can see where I need to sculpt the face differently. Thanks for your very fast help,
Sincerely,
Tamara
(Don’t know if I should make a seperate question on another thread) In order to see the profile very clearly on, let’s say, the sculpture bust, after I make it transparent it’s difficult to see with the other pic over it. I tried to Magic Wand it to maybe outline the edges but that made squiggles everywhere. Can I outline the profile of the face with some simple command?
Thanks once again for any help,
Tamara
Tamara, your last question is fine here. Start another thread for an unrelated topic. That will maximize the number of people who check out the new question.
In the Layers palette, you will find an eye icon at the left end of each layer. You can click those to toggle visibility of the layers. I think that will do what you want.
As you are no doubt learning, there’s almost always more than one way to do anything in Photoshop. My chosen way to align two images is to lower the opacity of the top layer (as you’ve done), and press Ctrl-T followed by Ctrl-0 (zero). The Ctrl-0 zooms back so you can see all the Transform handles.
Also, you can Shift-drag a corner handle to maintain the aspect ratio.
One more? While in Transform mode, you can use the arrow keys to nudge the image into place. Even after finishing with Transform, you can select the Move tool (V) and continue to use the arrow keys to nudge.
Tamara,
If the images are alike length, width, and resolution, then put the bust layer at the top of the stack, over the image layer and change that top layer to "difference" mode.
Where the image is black it is aligned. Zoom in. Where it is not black, it is out of sync.
Joe- Thank you. Just what I needed. The control 0 command was just what I was realizing I needed as well. 🙂 And the the shift drag to keep the same aspect ratio and not distort the pic was also what I needed!
Terrat- Thanks. I used that difference mode and it showed up just where I need to resculpt.
You all saved me so much time. I really, really appreciate it.
~Tamara
Tamara, I think I can speak on behalf of everyone else who offered options for you–you are quite welcome! It always feels good to help a person find a solution, especially someone as nice as you.
You asked about a book to help you learn these things. The problem is that there are many good ones, and different people learn in different ways, so I don’t think it would be in your best interest for me to recommend just one. We all have our favorite books, but those of us who do not do sculpture may not be the best folks to ask.
The best idea would be for you to visit a large bookstore such as Barnes & Noble, one that stocks tons of Photoshop books. An approach that has worked for me in different fields is to have one or two particular questions in mind, and then spend an hour or two perusing several books to see which provides the best answers. Flip to the back of each book and look up a few keywords. I find that a comprehensive index is a sign of a carefully written book. Do that process a couple of times, and I suspect a pattern will begin to emerge that will point you toward the authors who teach to you.
Another approach for you to consider is video training. There are only a handful of companies producing those, so I’ll tell you that my Photoshop favorite is by Deke McClelland, from Total Training. Before you plunk down your money for the entire series, you might check out his books. At least one contains a CD with a couple of hours training, enough for you to decide whether his method is your cup of tea.
For whatever it may be worth, while I continue to learn photoshop, largely as a result of these forums, I’ve never read a book on it. Nor the manual – although I have used the Helpfile extensively.
For me, reading the manual is right up there next to going to hell… <grin>
Hi Joe- Thanks once again. 🙂 Barnes and Nobles is nearby and I never thought that they might have Photoshop books. Should’ve known. 🙂 Good tips, thanks a bunch.
YrbkMgr- Ya, I was thinking the same thing, probably learn more from regularly reading the posts here. I know what you mean about manuals=hell on earth! Drudgery, sheer drudgery. If one is super simple and straightforward with lots of pics, then I can survive with it.
If you guys ever need sculpting advice, I hang out in the sculpting forums and am a guide at Wet Canvas in sculpture. Here’s a thread to my latest sculpt…
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http://www.wetcanvas.com/forums/showthread.php?t=305920& page=10>
The photoshop already helped me out a whole bunch (with your tips) as I was able to see all my errors quickly. Ya!
~Tamara
Very nice sculpture. thats amazing detail.
