How do I cut out an image?
kav71
If I use the magic wand the edges are jagged even if I select anti-alias.
Is there a way to create a path and delete all that I don't want like in
photoshop? I want to import the image in Flash so the edges need to be smooth.
Help!!!!
Lanny Chambers
"kav71" <webfor...@macromedia.com> wrote:
> Is there a way to create a path and delete all that I don't want like in
> photoshop?
Yes, using a vector mask. Read about them in the online Help, or your
manual.
---
Lanny Chambers
St. Louis, USA
http://www.hummingbirds.net/
Alex Marino
After you select the section you want to delete, go to Select > Feather.
Alex
- - I am out of my mind - please leave a message
kav71
Stéphane Bergeron
> I have tried that. Still looks lousy. I want crisp lines just like in Photoshop if possible.
Well, that would depend on the image. Cna you upload it online so that
we can look at it? There might me a better way to achieve what you want
using a vector mask drawn with the Pen tool instead. Without seeing the
image there's not much more we can say to help.
--
Stéphane Bergeron
reach :: connect :: communicate
www.webfocusdesign.com
personal:
www.pixelyzed.com
kav71
http://www.kavdesign.com/beta/diamondLrg.jpg
If I open it in Fireworks, use the the Magic Wand (Anti-Alias w/ tolerance of
2) and save it as PBG 32 it looks like this:
http://kavdesign.com/beta/diamondLrg.png
(I put the black back ground to show the jagged edges)
I noticed whenever I use the Magic Wand my iage goes to Bitmap mode.
http://
Stéphane Bergeron
That's normal as the magic wand is a bitmap tool. Fireworks is a hybrid
vector/bitmap application that allies the best of tools you'll find in
both Photoshop and Illustrator (as well as ImageReady for that matter.
You'd need all 3 apps to do all that Fireworks can in one seamless
environment).
As for your image, download the PNG file I uploaded at the following URL
and open it in Fireworks:
http://www.pixelyzed.com/pixelforge/examples/Diamond_Ring_Mask.png
The file has 4 layers illustrating a specific step in the process I used
to get the result you'll see on the bottom layer (4).
As I said in my previous message, I used a vector mask to "cut out" the
background of your image. Vector masks are one of the huge advantages
Fireworks has over Photoshop because they are always editable and do not
delete any pixels in the masked image but also, as you can see if you
look at layer 4, it yields much better looking results than the bitmap
tools.
So here's how I did this. I have to admit that I cheated a little. I
could have drawn the vector paths used for masking using the Pen tool
and that's what you'll have to do in Fireworks MX 2004 and earlier. I
was in kind of a hurry at home this morning and I used one of the new
Fireworks 8 features (I am a Fireworks beta tester) which is the
"Convert Marquee To Path feature". Your image was a perfect candidate
for this technique because the background was very clean and even. For
any image with more busy backgrouds, drawing the mask vector shape with
the Pen tool might remain the only option... still beats doing it with
the bitmap Polygon tool which cannot draw curved lines anyway... In any
case, you'll be able to use the very same technique i did very soon but
you should get acquainted with the Pen tool anyway... with practice it
will be far more accurate than converting marquees to paths.
Anyway, here are the steps I used.
1- I started by oprning the JPG file into Fireworks and I used the Magic
Wand tool just as you did. I gave it a tolerance of 4 and clicked within
the hole in the ring. I then converted the resulting marquee to a path
(Select>Convert Marquee To Path). I changed the fill color of the
resulting shape to Red in the Property Inspector then I went to the
layers panel to select the shape and lowered its opacity to 40%. The
reason I did that (and that's something you should do as well when
drawing mask paths with the Pen tool) is that, this way, I can see the
underlying bitmap very well and I can adjust my shape to it. My shape
looks just like a Ruby selection mask you would draw in Photoshop but
it's all vector. In this case I tweaked the path a little in the smaller
curves areas.
2- I used the Magic Wand again and clicked outside the bitmap and
converted that marquee to a path again. The path I ended up with was the
opposite of what I needed as it covered the background and I wanted it
to cover the ring (you'll see why in the next steps). What I did is to
delete the 4 anchor points in the image corners. As you delete each
corner you'll see weird things happening with the shape but keep
deleteing vector points. When done you'll end up with a shape that
covers the whole ring. To ease this process, marquee-select each point
with the White arrow sub-selection tool. After this point, the steps
would be the same if you had drawn the shapes manually with the Pen tool.
3- You now have two vector shapes on top of the bitmap image. One covers
the hole in the ring and the other covers the whole ring. We want a
shape that covers only the ring. To get that you'll need to move the
"hole" shape above the ring shape in the Layers panel. After that,
select both shapes and go to Modify>Combine Paths>Punch. At this point
you should have a translucent red vector shape that covers only the ring
and none of the background.
4- With your vector shape selected, bring its opacity back up to 100% in
the Layers panel and change its red fill to white in the PI. Then, Shif
select the bitmap image so both the shape and the image are selected and
go to Modify>Mask>Group As Mask. I added a black rectangle behind the
mask object in my PNG so you could see how clean the edges are.
You're done!
And the best thing is that you can still tweak the mask vector shape at
will and the underlying image is never modified.
HTH!
kav71
Stéphane Bergeron
> WOW!! Thanks for taking the time to type all that.!!
So... what do you think of the result? I should probably make a tutorial
out of this. Can I use your ring image?
Cheers!
kav71
It was working great but today when I go to cut an image, I use the pen tool
to make the path as I have always done, then I shift select the bitmap and the
path then Modify>Mask>Group As Mask now the edges are all pixelated. ???? I
don't understand. It was working so that the edges of the cutout image were
smooth. Is there some sort of setting I may have messed up? I am just
confused why the edges are rough and not smooth all of a sudden.
Stéphane Bergeron
Two things can be happening. One is that your zoom level is not at 100%.
If you have any other zoom level it will look weird. Secondly, make sure
the fill of your vector mask shape is set to Anti-alias and not Hard
(select it in the Layers Panel to make sure and look in the PI.
HTH!
kav71
This is what it lools like:
http://www.kavdesign.com/bottleTest.png
???
Stéphane Bergeron
All there is in that file is a single bitmap, not a mask. How did you
remove the background?
And no, you don't change the fill of a vector shape with the paint
bucket tool (you're still thinking in Photoshop terms), use the the Fill
settings in the Property Inspector with your shape selected (with the
pointer tool, not a bitmap selection). Do you have another copy of that
file with the mask applied if that's how you did it? You seem to have
flattened or rasterized it of you removed the background with the bitmap
tools which is not what we've been discussing.