kylahealth

i have been looking for a way to create an exact sized shape (in this case a rounded box) that touches the edges of my image/canvas.

what works: when i draw an image (i.e. a square) using the rectangular marquee tool that is smaller than my canvas (and is not touching any of the sides), i smooth it by 5 pixels and fill it with a color. with this box still selected, i create a new layer and then contract that selection by 4 pixels and fill it with a color. the result, one rounded box with another inside of it.

what doesn't work: i create a new document to the exact size that i want my image to be (say 300 x 200). i then use the rectangular marquee tool with a fixed size of 300 x 200 to fill the box with this image. all 4 of the sides touch. when i go to select > modify, i can only select the border option. if i assign it a border, then the other options are available.

also, when i repeat the previous steps, but only have my image touching the top and bottom of the canvas, i can select the rounded and contract options. unfortunately, you get the following:

question 1: how can i create a shape with the rectangular marquee tool that will be the exact size that i want? this is the most important question.

question 2: why is it that when 4 sides of the box touch the edge, i can only choose border first.

question 3: why is that when 2 sides of the box touch the edge, that i can choose all 4 modify options, but the effects don't work as one would think?


thank you for any and all assistance and feedback,
cardinal

retired_paddza

When you select any tool the info bar at the top of the screen changes to display the tool options for that particular tool. With marquee you can type the specific size you want (including units) into the width and height boxes at the left of that bar. This will allow you to create a marquee of a specific size. This works with other tools as well.

This is just how Photoshop works. It's always done that. It's annoying, I know. You're not missing anything magical here, it just does that.

Photoshop doesn't like having things touching the edge of the canvas when it's trying to perform actions on them. So basically, don't do that. heh

kylahealth

the problem with this is that if i create an image of 500 x 500 and then use the marquee tool to create a fixed shape of 500 x 500, i cannot round the corners with the smooth tool. that doesn't do me any good.

it sounds like my only option then is to create an image (i.e. the workspace) that is larger than my shape (i.e. rounded square) and cropping out the shape. this is problematic because if you have a border on a shape the crop often eliminates it.

using the rounded rectangle tool doesn't work, because you can't get an exact size with it.

in other words, how do you personally create an exact sized shape that doesn't have to be cropped out?

thanks,
cardinal

retired_paddza

Why can't you? Just click on the little drop down arrow in the shapes area of the info bar when you have the rounded rectangle selected. Type in the size that you want and you're all set. Or just click and drag while watching the size on your info palette. Or create guides at the exact size you want and just click and drag from guide to guide.

Gaussian

I don't understand why you don't use rulers, guides and grid, that's what they are for. Also don't limit the canvas size to the exact size you have in mind, just make it bigger than what you need and go wild with the grid/rules/guides. It will also make it easier for you to slice everything.

retired_paddza

That's how I often do these things... or even more often, I'll just draw on the layer while I'm actually watching the numbers on the info palette. In this case though, if he knows he wants, say a 200x200 rounded rectangle... just pick the rounded rectangle tool, type 200 into height and width, and voila. This is good if you aren't comfortable freehanding a shape. I like how illustrator handles this problem better than photoshop... but then... illustrator is made for that sort of thing.

Gaussian

It's my guess he's working on a web page, otherwise size wouldn't matter that much. In that case rules/guides are the way to go, if not than the option bar is indeed a proper solution.

kylahealth

while this is late in coming, i wanted to thank each of you for your insight and help.

talk about missing the obvious. i didn't see the dropdown menu that appers when you select the shape tool that allows you to insert the exact measurements.

while i use rulers quite a bit, i don't take advantage of grids as often as i should. as for your assumption about working on a web page, you would be correct.

overall, i have learned a few new things as a result of everyone's posts. thanks!

retired_paddza

Glad you got your issue resolved and learned something new. I've been using Photoshop for a decade and a half... I still learn new things. It's a fun field to be in!