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Question

Combining Shapes and Making A Selection Inside the Combined Shapes Transparent

Forum|Forum|6 years ago
August 12, 2019
6 replies
4266 views

Below is a video describing my questions in more detail

I'm having trouble combining shapes and making a selection within the combined shape transparent

Combining Shapes and Transparent - YouTube

My questions are in the video

This topic has been closed for replies.

D.A.R

Legend

I didn't mention in the video but you may already know. If you are on a PC then when I say Command Key, you will use the Control Key.

JJMack

Community Expert

Yes there is much to learn about Photoshop there are usually more that one way to do something in Photoshop some ways are better than others. Many tools have more capabilities then one first realizes for one lack knowledge of modifier keys and don't understand what some option provide. The best way to learn Photoshop is to play with tools and their options see what they do. Once you start to know how Photoshop does some things. You will see other possible thing one can do using tool tools in concert. Some things require the use of more that one tool. Photoshop Powers comes from layers there are many types of layers. Layers have many options and controls. Blend if gray is powerful and often forgotten or overlooked. Photoshop is feature rich. One does not learn Photoshop in a short period of time. I have been using Photoshop 20+ years I know I do not know all there is to know About Photoshop. Some Photoshop features I have no need of . I have even removed tools from my Tool Bar. You will not see an Artboard tool or Frame Tool in my tool bar. What I do in Photoshop does not require the use of Artboards and the Frame tool has place issues and messes up the Layers palette IMO. I do not have document printed professionally so I have never needed CMYK so I did not need to learn about spot channels.. I do not know if there is anyone alive that uses all of Photoshop features and knows every thing there is to know about Photoshop and Adobe keeps piling thing on.

JJMack

Myra Ferguson

Community Expert

I agree with JJMack. I think your Inside layer likely has a fill. If you want to check it, you can Alt + click on the eyeball for the Inside layer so that it's visible while the other layers aren't. Alt + clicking on that eyeball again will turn the other layers back on.

JJMack

Community Expert

It more like from his screen captures it not possible to tell how many of his layer may have a gray fill in the inner key hole area. We see that if the Inner Shape has a fill in that area they have masked it off so one or more of the other layers have gray in the inner key hole area.

I created a PSD for them that has three shape layers none hat gtay ine that area. He most likey tried toe replicate what I cread foe them and was not able toe create the outer shape layer.

He does not understand basic things when it comes to Photoshop. He is trying to skip learning the basics. He doe not seem to believe me that he is making a mistake. I wrote repeatedly learn the basics then learning Photoshop will be easier.

JJMack

Community Expert

It would help if you learned how to use the shape tool better.

JJMack

Community Expert

Learning to set guides and snap to might help download this psd http://www.mouseprints.net/old/dpr/ThreeShape.psd see if it helps.

Also explore the tool options bar

Also remember there are other vector tools you can edit shapes

You can merge shape layers

JJMack

Community Expert

You will not learn to use Photoshop well in a short period of time. Learn the basics, Learn by playing with Photoshop. Make it a toy make it a game relax you will do no harm if you play on copies or new documents. Take it easy you will become comfortable in Photoshop and things will get easier to learn.

JJMack

Myra Ferguson

Community Expert

There are lots of different ways to do any one task in Photoshop. Here is what I think might be the most straightforward method with how you have your image set up. Before we start, it can help to go to Edit > Tools... and make sure Show Tooltips are turned on.

With your layers as they were at the end of your video...

1. In the Layer panel, click on the layer with the shape you combined that you want to select inside and make transparent (I believe it was labeled "Inside")

2. Select the Quick Selection Tool (keyboard shortcut W)

3. Drag inside the shape. The Quick Selection Tool will make a selection of the area up to the edge of the black outline (the area you want to be transparent)

4. Select the gray shape layer in the Layer panel (I think it's the layer labeled "Outside")

5. Go to the bottom of the Layer panel and click the 3rd icon from the left to create a layer mask (When a layer mask is applied to a layer, anywhere there is black the pixels in the layer won't show up, and anywhere it's white the pixels will show up. Levels of gray in the mask will affect the opacity of the image).

6. We're close but not there yet. The layer mask is masking the opposite of what we want (the outside portion is hidden and the inside is still showing). To swap the black and white, make sure the layer mask is still selected and go to Image > Adjustments > Invert.

The gray shape should now be transparent inside of the area outlined in black.

Let me know if you get stuck or need help understanding any of the terms I used or any of the steps.

K

keitha70260201Author

Known Participant

thanks Myra,

I did follow your steps and it seemed like I was getting the correct results for each step.

However, the area I expected to be transparent did not become that. I saved the file as a .png and placed it on a new canvas with the background of red. The red did not show through.

any suggestions?

Myra Ferguson

Community Expert

When you got to #6, was the outside part transparent and the part you wanted still filled? If so, then the layer mask needs to be inverted. Make sure the layer mask (the thumbnail on the right in that layer) is selected (it'll have white lines around the corners when selected). Go to Image > Adjustments > Invert.

Or did you get through the steps, export a png, and that result was not transparent where you expected? How did you export your png and what were your settings? One way to export a png is to go to File > Export > Save for Web (Legacy)... In the panel on the right side, select PNG. You can choose 8 or 24 which is shorthand for 8-bit and 24-bit. When you have a lot of colors, go for 24. It'll have a bigger file size, but it looks better. Because your image is gray and black, you should be fine with 8. Either one lets you select transparency. If you select transparency in the Save for Web dialog, do you get the result you wanted?

If neither of the above help, can you post a screenshot that shows your layers and your result?

JJMack

Community Expert

If you look at your video you will see you see something did happen. Red arrow you painted black on the bottom shape layer layer mask you are masking part of the shape layer. However you have many shape layers above that shape layer circled on green so they are most likely covering the area in the composite where you masked the lower shape layer.

JJMack

K

keitha70260201Author

Known Participant

So, what is the solution? How do I create a transparent selection, like I asked originally?

JJMack

Community Expert

You need to mask all the layers that display in pixels in the area you want transparent. If you target all the shapes you have you have not merged them they are separated shape layers. Once targeted use menu Layer>New Group from layers. Then mask the group

JJMack

Mike_Gondek10189183

Community Expert

Forget the eraser tool exist,.

Click here to make an opacity mask.

The mask will have a black border showign that is what you wil be painting into. Paint on your canvas a tint of black. 100% black is totally transparent, white is opaque..