photoshop 8 stroke/outline help - please!!!!!

[April]

I'm going nuts. All I want is a circle with a dark outer edge fading in to white at the center. A few months back my outline tool was doing it all by itself and it took me hours to get it back to a simple line. Now I can't do the fade thing on purpose.

It was NOT in layers or blend - I just went to edit - stroke (outline) and hit return. See the pretty inside border I did? Anyone know how?


And speaking of blend, how do you convince the little gremlin in the machine to change the blend color? I keep changing it and it stubbornly refuses to do it in anything other than a sickly pale yellow. Just resets itself.

Thank you for the help - I may go back to pencils...

[April]

Hey, I'm getting worried that I'm crazy - all these looks and no replies I concede that I might have done something in layers without realizing it. I'm new, self taught and pretty ignorant. I know for sure I've never used the blend tool until today. So I must have changed a setting somewhere...I seem to remember something about feathering.

Any and all suggestions would be deeply appreciated!

[iDad]

I'm looking on iPhone and saw your IM I think your are referring to inner glow layer style

[April]

only if it can be done in something other than off-white. I've been trying to get that inner glow thing to work all day. It won't change colors

[ibclare]

Have you considered a radial gradient?

Here is a sample.

[Steve]

Try resetting your preferences file.
Start Photoshop and immediately hold down Ctrl+Alt+Shift (Windows)
or Command+Option+Shift (Mac OS X).

Then, click Yes to the message, "Delete the Adobe Photoshop Settings file?"
Why is Photoshop acting strange? Some things just aren't working right.

[ibclare]

I agree with doing what Steve said, but I also think you may not be remembering correctly. As iDad suggested, here is an inner glow. Inner shadow can work also. Anyway, this is using the center choice in the inner glow layer effect.

[April]

ibclare - that is EXACTLY the effect I want. I've been playing with the inner/outer glow and with much messing about got the result I've been trying for. No idea why, but I had to delete the center completely, then use both inner and outer glow, use the cookie cutter to get rid of the outside and then, well I forget. It was complicated. Got it, saved it and will go have a(nother) coffee before exploring radial gradients. And inner shadow sounds exactly what I need but I didn't see any options for having do a complete circumference of a circle - just one side or the other. ???


Steve - forgive my doubt, but do I really want to delete something called "settings"? Sounds ominous.

Thank you both so much! I think I may end up reading everything on the site, but honestly most of it is over my head right now. My stuff is much smaller and simpler than everyone's art - I just make 1" buttons for my badge reels. Can't get too complicated on stuff that small.

[ibclare]

ibclare - that is EXACTLY the effect I want. I've been playing with the inner/outer glow and with much messing about got the result I've been trying for. No idea why, but I had to delete the center completely, then use both inner and outer glow, use the cookie cutter to get rid of the outside and then, well I forget. It was complicated. Got it, saved it and will go have a(nother) coffee before exploring radial gradients. And inner shadow sounds exactly what I need but I didn't see any options for having do a complete circumference of a circle - just one side or the other. ???

That is the problem of getting a result you like but can't repeat it. I've done that. But as you understand the program more, it will happen way less even as you just play around.

Here is how I achieved the inner glow result.

• choose foreground and background colors, one for the circle, one for the glow.
• make the circle, in the color that you want the outer ring to be, and go to layer effects.
• here are approximate settings to get the effect; most are default:
  • blend mode screen
  • opacity 100% (play around with this)
  • noise 0
  • solid square checked, not gradient
  • technique softer
  • source center
  • choke 0 - 10
  • size 40 - 50
  • the rest default

The radial gradient is pretty easy, but has its drawbacks.

• Determine your center point & make a circular marquis selection. Alternatively use the circle shape tool set to path and fixed center.
• As above, set FG & BG colors.
• Select the gradient tool; it might be hidden under the paint bucket. To the right of the colored gradient example at the top you'll see the types of gradients. The second is the radial.
• Find the center of you circle and play around with how far out to drag the tool to get the result you want.
• Now to constrain the gradient properly, you will have to play with the "stops" on the gradient line itself. Double click on the gradient example and you'll see a dialogue box and the gradient settings at the bottom. Play with the stops to get the blending effect; default will not give you that glow on the rim. Which is why using inner glow is much easier

Steve - forgive my doubt, but do I really want to delete something called "settings"? Sounds ominous.

Can't get too complicated on stuff that small.

Nah, it's not ominous. If Photoshop decides to go on an unscheduled vacation, this just brings it back home; you know, yanks the credit card and all.
As for the small stuff ... Oh boy, don't be too sure of that!!

You're welcome April and come back anytime. Don't try to read everything. Just pick the interesting stuff and what looks like it could be helpful. Then someday you'll see a post where you can be helpful. See you around

[April]

Super, super helpful - thank you so much!! I got version 2 done, probably the final as that pink outline on the letter didn't look so good printed and made up. Simple, but I'm happy
This is better, and all thanks to your help. Been playing all this time and I think I might be getting the hang of it - they need a snoopy dance emoticon