Photoshop CS2 Question...

Chris W · 10-03-2006, 20:55

I'm a total photoshop noob...

I'm trying to make an image translucent, but can't for the life of me work out how...

any pointers please!

TIA

10-03-2006, 21:12

I have no idea either but i found ..

http://www.photoshopcafe.com/tutorials.htm

It's free

TheBlueRaja · 10-03-2006, 22:26

Load up the image you wish to make translucent.

On the right hand side of the screen you will see the Layers overlay window, its the one with a mini version of your picture in it.

Right Click on the picture and select Layer From Background and click OK in the dialogue box that pops up.

Then Right Click on the same small picture again and select Blending Options. In there you will see a slider called Opacity, this is where you can adjust the translucity of your image.

But what are you trying to do? Translucency is only going to make something behind your picture in another layer of your picture become more visible. Just making a picute translucent and saving it will only serve to "dim" it.

Angelina1 is the normal picture and Angelina2 is the picture that has had its opacity changed, as there is nothing behind it in the picture it just dims.

If you did have something in another Layer within the picture it would start to show through. Angelina3 is the Picture with Hello All behind it in another Layer, and Angelinas opacity set at 50%, in the final picture the Opacity is set at 20%.

Chris W · 11-03-2006, 07:53

Excellent thanks

One slight problem though... the background image (the one i'm trying to adjust is "locked" (padlock in the layers window) so i can't make any adjustments.

I'm trying to design a business card and i want the background to be a bit faded so it doesn't look too busy....

TheBlueRaja · 11-03-2006, 10:09

Right Click on the "small" picture (in the window to the right) and select Layer From Background and click OK in the dialogue box that pops up.

That unlocks it.

Chris W · 11-03-2006, 17:31

Thanks

Still slightly confused though...

When i reduce the opacity the image just goes really blocky...

I'm so close to just saying sod it and paying a publisher to do this for me

TheBlueRaja · 11-03-2006, 17:34

I dont understand what you want - if i did i would do it for you. That picture you posted - do you just want it reduced in opacity without it being blocky? Or do you just want a part of it reduced?

I mean - throw me a frikkin bone here

And the REASON it goes blocky is because thats the background showing through its not actually IN the picture, photoshop just shows you a blocky background so that you can judge its transparency.

The one here has been reduced by 50% BUT try it youself and save it - the blocks go away.

Chris W · 11-03-2006, 18:12

The image in my post above is the background for a business card that i'm trying to design.

It is going to be printed on clear plastic, and i'm trying to make the image lighter, so the card isn't so heavy on the eyes (am i making sense?!?)

Attached is a sort of idea of what i'd like, but without the light background image! (and not the correct size!!)

grr. can't upload *.psd files... will upload to another webspace...

---------- Post added at 19:12 ---------- Previous post was at 18:56 ----------

item now available on www.jameswakeman.co.uk

TheBlueRaja · 11-03-2006, 18:34

Quote:

Originally Posted by Chris W

The image in my post above is the background for a business card that i'm trying to design.

It is going to be printed on clear plastic, and i'm trying to make the image lighter, so the card isn't so heavy on the eyes (am i making sense?!?)

Attached is a sort of idea of what i'd like, but without the light background image! (and not the correct size!!)

grr. can't upload *.psd files... will upload to another webspace...

---------- Post added at 19:12 ---------- Previous post was at 18:56 ----------

item now available on www.jameswakeman.co.uk

Your sites borked im afraid and im heading out for a few beers so i will pick up on this tomorrow unless somebody else can help you out tonight. Sorry.

---------- Post added at 19:34 ---------- Previous post was at 19:29 ----------

Actually, if you want PM me your MSN ID and you can chat me through what you want done tomorrow if im around.