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SusanMcG · #1 (**permalink**) 08-14-2007

How do you smooth edges on elements, etc. in PSP 9? I am trying to create a sticker and when I fill in the white part, I am getting jagged edges. I've tried the edge preserving smooth, but it doesn't seem to do the job. HELP! LOL

~Amy~ · #2 (**permalink**) 08-14-2007

I haven't used PSP in so long but am sure someone will trolly along and find this here soon

Tracey R (Haley64) · #3 (**permalink**) 08-14-2007

Hi susan, you mean the outer edges of your white fill are jagged right and not the edges of your sticker image?

Modify your selection by feathering it a couple pixels (will vary depending on your sticker image) and then fill it with white. I usually set up my feathered selections before I fill them.

SusanMcG · #4 (**permalink**) 08-15-2007

Thanks, Tracy - now the next question. LOL

I did what you said, but now the "sticker" part is slightly transparent around the edges and not sharp - how do I fix that part? Have you made a script for this?

If not....hmmm...maybe a good idea? You've got 1 customer! LOL

Diamante · #5 (**permalink**) 08-15-2007

Have you tried filling the area a couple times over? That may work.

And yes Tracey's psp script for stickers are HERE.

Tracey R (Haley64) · #6 (**permalink**) 08-15-2007

Quote:

Originally Posted by SusanMcG

Thanks, Tracy - now the next question. LOL

I did what you said, but now the "sticker" part is slightly transparent around the edges and not sharp - how do I fix that part? Have you made a script for this?

If not....hmmm...maybe a good idea? You've got 1 customer! LOL

Aahh doing too many things at once always leads me in the wrong direction! That should have read...expand selection not feather selection. Also make sure the anti-alias is checked on your selection tool. The other problem is if the selection is made from your jagged edge image this will just expand those jagged edges to your new expanded selection. The first key is to make your inner sticker image not have jagged edges by how you extract it, or make it.
I do have a sticker script like lori said but it doesn't correct the jaggies in the original sticker image. Is this an image that you extracted?

If it is, I also have an extraction script in the store, that fixes the jagged edges from the extracted image.
This script while a little harder to use does a fantastic job of extracting because it takes the guess work out of which tool to use, and simplifies it because of the use of selections and all you need to use is the background eraser. It takes you running it and playing with it a few times to see how the color you select, changes how your eraser is going to effect which part of your image.

It is not that I am trying to keep the steps a secret, it is just that they are so hard to explain as it involves inverting selections, feathering at the right times and using the selection modification methods in a variety of different ways all on one object. But the end result is better then the background eraser by far I think. I only used to use that and now I never do!

SusanMcG · #7 (**permalink**) 08-17-2007

Quote:

Originally Posted by Haley64

Aahh doing too many things at once always leads me in the wrong direction! That should have read...expand selection not feather selection. Also make sure the anti-alias is checked on your selection tool. The other problem is if the selection is made from your jagged edge image this will just expand those jagged edges to your new expanded selection. The first key is to make your inner sticker image not have jagged edges by how you extract it, or make it.
I do have a sticker script like lori said but it doesn't correct the jaggies in the original sticker image. Is this an image that you extracted?

If it is, I also have an extraction script in the store, that fixes the jagged edges from the extracted image.
This script while a little harder to use does a fantastic job of extracting because it takes the guess work out of which tool to use, and simplifies it because of the use of selections and all you need to use is the background eraser. It takes you running it and playing with it a few times to see how the color you select, changes how your eraser is going to effect which part of your image.

It is not that I am trying to keep the steps a secret, it is just that they are so hard to explain as it involves inverting selections, feathering at the right times and using the selection modification methods in a variety of different ways all on one object. But the end result is better then the background eraser by far I think. I only used to use that and now I never do!

I never thought you were keeping secrets! LOL

Ok, it isn't an extraction. It's actually an image I created along with a font. When I created my image, I used vector settings, anti-alias, etc. I think the actual problem lies with the font I am using. It's a handwriting font - is there a way to clean that up? And I am totally getting your sticker script! LOL

Tracey R (Haley64) · #8 (**permalink**) 08-17-2007

From what I can gather...I would think that if you selected your text fonts (just the text that is jagged, are they all one color, like black?) if they are then this should work, using the magic wand, Select using All Opaque,
Now depending on the size of your text use Top menu item:
Selections>Modify>Select selection borders. Give yourself a little bit of space on both sides of the text if possible. (This is hard to explain but it kind of is going to almost give you what would be a selected outline of your fonts) Clear as mud right?

Hopefully you only need to select a few of the inside black pixels and give yourself a couple pixels around the outside, because next we are going to use Gaussian Blur to just blur those jagged black pixels into a smoother transition.
Your gaussian blur setting will vary also depending on the size of your text, but I would guess something about 3-5 strength should do it.

Well play with that and let me know how it goes!