Photoshop Border Question

[kelly23]

Hi,

I'm fairly new to Photoshop 7 and I'm having trouble creating a simple solid color rectangle with a contrasting border. In the past I've used Paint Shop Pro's vector capability to create these types of shapes, but in Photoshop I've had to create a rectangular selection and fill it with color, then edit the stroke to create a thin contrasting border.

Is there a way to create a thin border line that is editable? Does Photoshop 7 have vector drawing capabilities?

One other question. I have a bunch of layers in a graphic that I'm creating. I've created some guides and they worked fine, but for some reason, now when I try to move the guide I'm unable. I get the circle with a bar across it ... like that feature is unavailable for that layer or something. What might I have done to cause that?

Thanks for any tips.

kelly

[abeall]

Is there a way to create a thin border line that is editable? Does Photoshop 7 have vector drawing capabilities?

No, Photoshop does not have vectors in that sense. It does have "Shape Layers", which are layers with vector clipping paths, and that can give you similar functionality. If you select a shape tool, you'll notice in the Option bar at the top there's a group of 3 buttons to the far left, they represent "Shape layers", "Paths","Fill pixels":
1) Shape layers are what you want. It will create a special layer that is totally filled, but the path you make will server to clip it. By adding layer styles to this shape layer, you can get similar basic abilities as programs with vector objects. Be advised, you can't apply any bitmap editing tools to a shape layer.
2) Paths are not visible, they are only there to assist you in making visuals. A Shape layer is one example, it uses a filled layer with a clipping path. You can create paths and then use them as vector masks, or use it like a selection.
3) Fill pixels makes things with good old fashioned Photoshop style: permantly drawn pixels.

when I try to move the guide I'm unable.
Sounds like you locked the guides. View > Lock Guides

HTH

[kelly23]

Thanks abeall, but when I click on the shape tool, and then the shape layers button and create my rectangle, all I get is the colored rectangle. How can I get a border, or do I have to use the magic wand to select the rectangle and then edit the stroke using the outside selection for the rectangle?

I think I'm missing something.

Thanks a bunch,

kelly

[snowf22]

http://www.neo-luv.com
Has a tutorial for bordering images in Photoshop. Hope it works ;)
~Snowz

[kelly23]

Select All - That was it. I just need to make sure that it has its own layer.

Thank you both!