"PhotoShop Layer Question"

[CadillacPat]

I'll have to learn my way around the board so bear with me if putting this question in the Tutorial section is wrong.
By all means move it if necessary.

A little background.
I'm using PS 6.
I've got PS 8 installed but everytime I call it up I get a window saying "Sufficient Memory not available to operate"
Well I recently added another 512 of Memory and my Harddrive is 80% free.
I want to uninstall both versions and reinstall the PS 8 but right now I need to finish up lots of stuff and don't want to chance messing everything up and having no PS at all. Both are versions given to me.

Now for my question,
Here's an image I created to go on the upper body side of a MatchBox Panel Truck.


Here's a view of how the finished Decal wil look,


I am working with these images on a transparent background but had to convert them to jpegs in order to post them here.

As you see I desire a double border image with different colors.
I want both borders to lie in separate layers so I may Edit them individually.
I created the inner border by simply using the Magic Wand>Select>Modify>Contract and then using the PaintBucket to fill.
Problem is, both borders lie within the same layer.
I wish them to lie in separate layers so I may use the "Group with Previous" feature to colorize them by laying a picture or colored layer over them and then inserting it into an individual border.
I can achieve vastly different effects this way rather than simply using the PaintBucket to fill each with solid color.
I will also achieve sharper edges.

So,
Starting with just the single Blue outline, how can I trim it with the Green outline in a separate layer?
I don't want to primitively create the Green outline separately and then Edit>Transform>Scale until it snugs up inside the Blue one.

Thanks for any help,

--CadillacPat the UnCustomizer--

[Tami]

The oldest version I still have installed is PS7, even though I use CS now, but it can't be that different from PS6...right? Do you know how to create a new layer? Also, if you use the copy paste features, it *should* create a new layer for you with the pasted image. I had a thought but got interrupted by something in chat, now I've forgotten what it was...*waits for thought process to cycle through again*...it had something to do with selection and resizing....

If you are using the marquee tool to create your shapes, then what you could do is make your shape, but copy it before de-selecting, then paste it to a new layer. That would give you what you want...I think.... 0.o

[CadillacPat]

Thanks Tami,
If I create a new layer there is nothing in it to choose, it's blank.

If I Duplicate Layer then I still have to resize it manually and eyeball my final image.

I need to be able to Select>Modify>Contract and have my selection lie in a separate layer.

--CadillacPat the UnCustomizer--

[Tami]

Still working on a solution for this, just got distracted with the new sites we're working on and a couple of upcoming events.

[CadillacPat]

Well I've come upon a solution for creating my Panel Window trim in two distinct colors.
While both colors lie within the same layer it will be unnoticeable to the eye and either color can be changed independently and cleanly.

This Panel Window trim is different than the one above but will affix to a similar shaped casting.
I simply created the border in its own layer and then used the Stroke feature.
Here you see the Border color, Stroke color and also a little Bevel and Emboss with some Drop Shadow.

One good thing about PhotoBucket is you have a variety of tools at hand to arrive at your solution.



--CadillacPat the UnCustomizer--

[ner0]

I've no idea how this translates back to PS6, but the way I'd do it (in CS2) is...
the same select>modify>contract method.

before using the paint bucket (so while the dotted line's still there), create a new layer, click on that layer, and -then- use the paint bucket.

[CadillacPat]

Thanks Nero,
BUT,
Read my post and reply again,
The whole point of creating a new layer is so you won't affect the underlying layer.

Choosing an area in layer one by using the Select>Modify>Expand feature renders it unaffected by anything you do in another layer.

I'm trying for two concentric borders lying in different planes.
I'm sure it will come. It just may be one of those situations of not being able to see the Forrest for the Trees.

This just hit me.
Maybe create one solid image and duplicate it.
Then shrink the duplicate image on top of the solid image so the original image is left as a border surrounding the smaller duplicate.
Then use the Select>Modify>Expand to select a border within the duplicate image.
Fill both borders in the layers they lie in and then Edit>Cut the inside area of the smaller image.
I think this will leave me with two concentric borders on a transparent background.

--CadillacPat the UnCustomizer--

[CadillacPat]

Looks like this is working.
I'll post a picture when I get things where I want them.

--CadillacPat the UnCustomizer--

[CadillacPat]

Different images, same principle.

Here's a target shaped image created by using the same large background circle dragged into a new blank file, over and over.
Each layer is resized (only by eye) and colored with fill.
Using the Layer>Align>Horizontal Center and Vertical Center features the circles are centered as they decrease in size.
Although they are solid circles stacked on top of each other in separate layers they give the illusion of concentric bands.


In the second image I have inserted Fractals into each respective band using the Layer>Group With Previous feature.


Although I did a decent job of eyeballing the "perceived width" of each band my next step is to learn how to assure that I am left with bands of equal width for a perfect image.
Anybody?????????

The whole point of this process is to be able to trim areas with a double border (both parts lying in separate planes) and at the same time be able to control the thickness of each part of that double border.

--CadillacPat the UnCustomizer--