Photoshop Elements has a really cool tool that is exclusive to elements. It is the cookie cutter tool. Today, let’s explore how to use it and some of it’s benefits in your layouts and designs. This tool allows you to take any of a number of available PSE shapes, and quickly cut the shape from the paper, photo, etc.
In FIGURE 1, you will see that I have several cut hearts from an old book I scanned.
Let me show you where to find this tool, and then we will start cutting!
In this article, I am using Photoshop Elements 6. While the screen may look different in other Elements’ versions, you will have the cookie cutter tool in your PSE and it should have the same or similar icon. Here is the icon for the cookie cutter tool:
Open up a background paper of your choice.
Choose a heart or any other shape from the drop down box. Double click on the shape to select it.
You can soften the edges of your shape by changing the feather values. Also, experiment with the shape options after you feel comfortable with this technique.
Draw your shape on the same layer that has the BOOK or BACKGROUND PAPER.
Grab the corners or any other anchor point to rotate or resize the shape.
When satisfied, click on the GREEN CHECK to confirm.
You will notice that the original book or background paper layer has been replaced with the new shape. I have found that I like to make a copy of the layer before using the cookie cutter so that I can have it available to make more than one shape with ease
Have you been able to make assorted hearts like these? Can you see from which part of the book that each heart was cut?
Here are some ideas how you can use COOKIE CUTTER:
1. Photograph rusty metal and cut shapes from the photograph.
2. Instead of using my BOOK example or a BACKGROUND PAPER, you can use a photo and cut a shape from the picture.
3. Additional shape files are available for purchase, and you may find some really useful or cool ones to install (i.e., primitive stars or hearts) for more effects.
4. elements.
Download a PDF version of this tutorial by CLICKING HERE
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