Tip #1 Modify CS4 or 5 Default Settings to Place All Images in the Viewing Window at the Same Time
If you work in Photoshop like I do and are compositing several images, you may want to consider changing the default in CS4 or 5 to make it more convenient to see all your images at once. To change the default settings:
Go to Edit>Preferences>Interface (Win) or Photoshop>Preferences>Interface (Mac).
Turn off the following two Tab check boxes:
- Open Documents as Tabs
- Enable Floating Documents Window Docking
- Then hit OK
Now, when you select and open more than one image they will all be floating on the screen at the same time.
TIP #2 Stroking Your Image
When preparing an image for projection, the power of a Stroke will help define your work from the background of the screen. It will give it a more professional look. This process will be done with Layers.
Step 1 Select the image to be projected.
Step 2 Resize the image as required for projection.
Step 3 To make a copy of your background image, Hit Control J.
Step 4 On the bottom left side of the Layer palette you will find an "fx" icon. Click on this icon.
Step 5 Click "stroke" from the "fx" drop-down menu.
Step 6 A "Layer Style Box" will open. The following steps (7 through 14) will occur within the "Layer Style Box":
Step 7 Choose size (generally 3 to 5 pixels).
Step 8 From the dropdown "Position" menu, choose "Center".
Step 9 Leave the Blending Mode at the default "Normal".
Step 10 Leave the "Opacity" at the default "100%".
Step 11 Leave the "Fill Type" option in the default, "Color".
Step 12 Click on the color box below. This will open up an additional "Select Stroke Color" box. Move the cursor to the upper left corner of the box, hovering over the white color and left click.
Step 13 Click "OK" on the "Select Stroke Color" box
Step 14 Then click "OK" on the Layer Style box and
Step 15 Save the image
Note: This blog automatically provides a lighter than background color border around the image so it is better defined. When images are projected, a border does not exist so a stroke is needed to help it stand out from the background of the screen. Image A below is shown without a stroke and Image B is shown with a 3 pixel white stroke. This image (titled White Picket Fence in Moonlight) can be found on our Strange Images Website in the Creative> Circles, Swirls and Transformations Gallery.
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| Image A- Without a Stroke |
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| Image B- with white stroke applied |
When applying filters in Photoshop, you should always apply the filter in a layer copy (open image > click Control J). The benefit of applying a layer copy is to allow the filter (in this case) to be adjusted or removed at any time in the future without effecting the background image. After a filter is applied and prior to proceeding with any other action click edit>fade. This will open a drop-down box allowing you the option of fading the filter's opacity, to taste. Of course, if you are happy with the filter as applied at 100% you don't need the fade step.
