Help Please with "Canvas Size" for faux Photo Frame

[acroreef]

Dear Folks,

My name is Dave an I am new to this forum. I have PS6 and am trying to diligently learn old photo restoration and retouching. I have watched several of the Lynda.com tutorials and use the exercise files to practice. A recent tutorial has me a bit baffled because I can't duplicate the result from a presenter.

An old photo was cropped and a small white frame border was added using "canvas size." After cropping the image, the presenter clicked on "image" then "canvas size." He added a small amount to the "width" and "height" then clicked enter. A small white border appeared around the photo.

When I try the same as above, the "canvas extension color" is grayed out. I tried this with a locked layer, a layer not locked, still no luck. Any suggestions are greatly appreciated.

Dave

 

[Hoogle]

when adjusting canvas size you will see an option at the bottom to choose a color.

excuse the fact in this poor example that my ps settings has the ps background similar color to what my canvas is.

if you check the relative box then it will just add to the current canvas size so if you just want a 2 cm border click relative and put 2cms in each box.

then select your color at the bottom



Becomes

 

[acroreef]

Thank you John and Hoogle. I'll give the suggestions a try and report back.

Dave

 

[Hoogle]

oh then is it not just a case of going to image > mode RGB color you cant have color on a grayscale image which is probably what photoshop recognises the image as if it is an old restoration

 

[Hoogle]

I stand bye what I say when I went from rgb color to grayscale and then changed the color mode again it has locked out that section of canvas.


humour me and create a new document as normal the same size and copy everything you have over to the new document and see if that works.

 

[Hoogle]

well I am off to get some sleep cant play guessing game without knowing exactly what he is seeing on screen

but yes between creating a background layer and image mode then it should be fixed, however I can only assume you removed background layer when unlocking it.

I normally find lynda.coms tutorials very well made and struggle to see how they have not explained the procedure to you as you go. But I do understand sometimes we jump ahead of ourselves and maybe mis do a step.

Is it the the guide to restoring old photos by any chance been meaning to watch that 1 as it looked to have some good stuff in it, I just dont have time to sit down and watch the courses much these days.

 

[IamSam]

John D is right, color mode has nothing to do with it.

The Canvas Extension Color option can only be chosen when you're working with a document that has it's original locked background layer!

As long as you have the original locked layer, you can change the color mode as many times as you like and you will still have the canvas extension color option. (This works in CS6. I don't know about other versions.)

As long as you have the original locked layer, you can highlight/select any subsequent layer and still have the canvas extension color option available to you.

However, if for any reason you unlock the BG layer, the canvas extension color option will no longer be available to you, even if you choose the bottom most layer. After unlocking the original lock, you can not re-lock the BG layer to bring back the option.

Having the option is irrelevant! Just perform the canvas resizing. The added area will be transparent and you can create a new layer beneath the others and fill it with the color of your choice. You will now have your border.

 

[Hoogle]

Ok let me try and explain myself in a none drunken state at 5am response (saturday night I am getting old not many of those nights left in me before I am to old to do it)

Originally when said grayed out I thought you were referring to the colors of the canvas and re reading the thread it was clear all along I guess that is my fault for speed reading at a glance hence the fact I assumed it could have been image colour mode.

Once realised it was the options which I admit was my own stupidity for misunderstanding and reading without taking in what was actually said the only way I could unlock the background layer was spamming image mode and even now I cant workout how changing colour mode unlocked the bground layer which of course will gray out that option, Maybe I was spamming keyboard shortcuts and accidentally unlocked it without thinking.

I apologogise if I confused you but lets face it if anyone was confused it was me for not taking the time to read the post properly.

 

[acroreef]

Thanks to all for your replies.

Dave