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A1_Leasing
Participating Frequently
April 22, 2009
Answered

How do I create a feathered square similar to Illustrator?

  • April 22, 2009
  • 7 replies
  • 43849 views

I am coming to this with good familiarity in Illustrator. I am learning Photoshop.

After I use the rectangle tool initially I am then not able to edit its size. Also, it seems to become a mask, which is an element I don't really understand. When I apply some feathering it seems to happen inside and outside the extents of the box.

In Illustrator I can easily create a square, choose a fill color, and feather the edges. The feathering happens WITHIN the shape extents.

How can I do a similar thing in Photoshop?

Thanks,

Mark

    This topic has been closed for replies.
    Correct answer KK_s

    Take the rectangle tool and draw a rectangle. After that goto the top menu -> SELECT->  FEATHER. Shortcut (ctrl+Alt+D), and than give the value according to your work.

    7 replies

    Mohit Goyal
    Community Manager
    Mohit GoyalCommunity Manager
    Community Manager
    November 23, 2021

    Hi all,

     

    Take a look at the following article to move designs between Photoshop and Illustrator for different workflow that suits your design objectives: https://helpx.adobe.com/photoshop/using/move-designs-between-photoshop-illustrator.html

     

    Also, if you are looking to work with Illustrator design in Photoshop? See this: https://helpx.adobe.com/illustrator/using/use-illustrator-artwork-in-photoshop.html

     

    Hope it helps.

     

    Thanks,

    Mohit

    Semaphoric
    Community Expert
    SemaphoricCommunity Expert
    Community Expert
    April 27, 2009

    You can keep it more square than rounded by building your feather with Box Blur, rather than Gaussian.

    You can also improve the appearance of the methoud I suggested by using Curves rather than Levels, and flattening out the 'toe' of the curve.

    Also, it should be noted that, since you're 'throwing out' half of the feather, you have to make it twice as wide in the first place for it to be the correct final size.

    A
    Anonymous
    April 27, 2009

    "...You can also improve the appearance of the methoud I suggested by using Curves rather than Levels, and flattening out the 'toe' of the curve..."

    Very good point.

    I must correct my suggested usage of the Levels Input right-hand slider. You can change the feathering profile with that slider but you cannot push it to be entirely outside the edge. I jumped to that conclusion too quickly because that seemed to mirror the left-hand slider's ability to push the feathering entirely inside the selection's edge.

    The Levels gamma slider can also be used to alter the feathering profile but you have more flexibility in doing so using Curves, per Semaphor, rather than  Levels.

    Semaphoric
    Community Expert
    SemaphoricCommunity Expert
    Community Expert
    April 25, 2009

    You can easily get the feather to go only 'into' the selection. Go to Quick Mask mode, and make sure the Quick Mask is active in the Channels Palette, er, Panel. Run Levels (Ctrl+L), and set the leftmost slider to 127. Exit Quick Mask, and you're done.

    A
    Anonymous
    April 26, 2009

    Semaphoric

    That sounds brilliant and makes sense, but I can't pull it off. I assume you're acting on a feathered mask and moving the Levels INPUT (not output) slider to move the zero opacity point to the edge which would otherwise be at 50% opacity, with a compressed tapering from there inwardly to the fixed 100% point. I think I need a step-by-step because I'm not getting the expected result. 

    A
    Anonymous
    April 25, 2009

    Yes, PS does feather a selection using the edge as the 50% opacity point.  The opacity tapers (gaussian) to 100% inwardly at a distance of 2.7 radii and to 0% outwardly at a distance of 2.7 radii. You can change that to go from 0% at the edge to 100% at 5.4 (2x2.7) radii inwardly from the edge by reducing the size of the selection rectangle by 5.4 radii in length and width and centering the smaller rectangular selection within the original rectangle. The same feathering algorithm applied to the smaller selection gives the result you seek on the larger rectangle. Since you get to choose the feather radius, you can control the depth of the inward gradation.

    Phos_four_dots
    Phos_four_dots
    Inspiring
    April 25, 2009

    It's the weekend, George!

    You can take your propeller-powered beanie off now!!!

    A
    Anonymous
    April 25, 2009

    <LOL> But the on/off switch has failed. The propellor is still whirling, and I gotta add a couple of points.

    First, the blurring suggested by Zeno is not equivalent to feathering. It alters color values, not opacities. The background never shows through, even partially, with blurring.

    Second, feathering via Select>Refine Edge suggested by Paulo is basically the same as feathering via Select>Modify. Both set opacity to 50% at the selection edge. but Modify tapers off in 2.7 radii inward and outward, while Refine Edge does it in one radius. Shrinking the selection to get zero opacity at the edge works in both cases. Shrink width and height 5.4 radii using Modify feathering, and shrink it 2 radii using Refine Edge feathering.

    K
    KK_sCorrect answer
    Participant
    April 24, 2009

    Take the rectangle tool and draw a rectangle. After that goto the top menu -> SELECT->  FEATHER. Shortcut (ctrl+Alt+D), and than give the value according to your work.

    A
    A1_LeasingAuthor
    Participating Frequently
    April 24, 2009

    Thank you for your response.

    I see that Photoshop and Illustrator use different methods. Photoshop feathers the edge centered on the line and Illustrator feathers the edge within the line.

    I prefer the Illustrator method.

    Mark

    Zeno Bokor
    Zeno Bokor
    Inspiring
    April 23, 2009

    if you mean something like this then just make a selection, fill it with black and then, with the selection still active go to Filter->Blur->Gaussian Blur

      Paulo Skylar
      Paulo Skylar
      Inspiring
      April 23, 2009

      Let's see.  When you use the rectangle tool you can create three different entities: a shape layer, a path or an area of filled pixels. You seem to be using the default, which is a shape layer.  After you create the rectangle hit Ctrl + T to free transform that shape, which you can do by pulling on the corners or sides.

      You can also create a rectangle by using the rectangular marquee tool. Draw your shape and then you can hit Alt  + Backspace to fill with the foreground color. While not the same feather function as in Illustrator, you can next click on the Refine Edge button in the control area at the top of the window. In the resulting dialog box you have feather and contract/expand sliders which you can use to create your effect  (in CS3 & CS4 ) - Radius also has an efect. With preview checked you can tune your effect. When you like it click OK and your modified selection is shown. Hit Ctrl + J to put that selection on a new layer. Turn the visibility of the original layer off and you will see your feathered rectangle.  Other ways to work can be devised as well, but I hope this gets you started

      Paulo

      A
      Anonymous
      April 23, 2009

      Just to amplify what Paulo said, the three options for the Rectangle and other shape tools are in the Options bar at the top. (If you don't see it, turn it on via the Window menu – it's vital for all work.)

      Pen options.jpg

      If you forget what they are, the Tool Tips will tell you.

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