How do I cut out a round cornered image?

[sisom]

Hi, I'm trying to cut out part of an image, but I want to cut out a round cornered rectangle of it, not a normal rectangle. I know I saw a tutorial for this somewhere on the internet, but after much searching I can't find it. Can anybody tell me how to do this? I would also like to know how to cut out any shape from an image, i.e. if I wanted to cut out a star shaped section from the image, I would like to learn how to do that.

[Ron P.]

This may seem a little backwards, but it's how they designed it in PI.

• Grab the Path Drawing tool
• In the Attribute Toolbar, select the Rounded Rectangle shape or the shape you want to create a selection from
• In the Attribute Toolbar, change the Mode from 2D Object to Selection
• Now draw out your selection on your image

That's it....

[sisom]

Thanks very much Ron, that's just what I was looking for, I hadn't noticed the Selection option in the attribute toolbar.

Is it possible to use an already existing shape, (i.e. a round cornered rectangle that I've already made) and somehow turn it into a selection, and put it onto another image and select that part of it? It's just that I need to make selections from three different images (and probably more in the future) and want to be able to use the exact same size round cornered rectangle to select from them every time.

EDIT: I've just tried it and it's worked perfectly! I took the original round cornered rectangle, that was previously white (waiting for an image to put in it), copied and pasted it into the image I want to select from, changed the attribute (right click, Edit Attributes) from 2D Object to Selection, then I was able to move it around over the image using the arrow keys, until I had it perfect, then copied, then pasted the selection into my project file, and it's perfect! So many thanks again Ron!

[trueblue]

Hi Sissom have you thought of doing the Beginner's Workshop for PhotoImpact. It teaches just about everything and anything you need to know with PI.
Here's the link: http://pirc-bw.com/

[sisom]

Hi trueblue, thanks for that link, I will join up, looks like just what I need.

I am still having problems with the selection - if I cut out part of another photo and paste it as a new image, and then draw my selection box over it, when I copy and then paste the selection as a new image, all I get is the selection box with nothing in it. I've tried selecting the image I am trying to cut the selection from, before drawing the selection over it, but as soon as I start drawing the selection box, the image is deselected.

EDIT: I just realised I have been drawing the round cornered selection box using the Outline Drawing Tool, instead of the Path Drawing Tool - so all I was selecting was the outline of the box!

[trueblue]

Ahah, problem solved! It's great when you do solve them yourself as you never forget then.

Do give the BW a try, it really is excellent for learning everything you need to know about PhotoImpact.