Overlays and teaching aids.

coop · Expert Member

Overlays… What a tough subject to describe. I actually have a couple of different processes that I use for overlays and building an image as a page using coins that make a point. Such as :

First you need two images that you want to compare. Open them in Photoshop and size them the way you want. I usually size my cropped images to 600 pixels width. The two images will need to be the same size to do a comparison. You can leave them in square boxes for Use the marquee tool to make the image the desired shape. Open the new image feature in the file selection and I usually make the image size quite large, so I set it to 20 X 20 inches to make a large image to later crop. I usually use the paint bucket to change screen to black and it adds a back round in case the images don’t cover all the area desired. If you use a square box and second one the space in between you leave a space or but the images up against each other. If you are using full shots of coins you can use the marquee tool in the round selection to fit the outside edge of the coin and use the cutting tool to slide the coin onto the new page. (If you desire the image to be square or round, then choose that from the marquee selection then hold the left curser down to make the desired size of your selection.) By moving the coins into the New Image with the move tool, click down with the left curser then slide in to the new image then you can add a description with the box marked with the T. You need to make the largest box on the lower part, to set the color of print. With a black back round, I usually use white letters, but another color could be used. So you want the white box to be in the upper left section. Then use the tool marked with a T to type on the new image what you want to indicate. When you have the image the way you want it to look, then you can crop and set to the desired size. I like the 600 Pixel width, as it doesn’t enlarge the screen when you place images on the forum, but it’s your choice of size. Name your new image and save and send to your image host and then post. (After doing this several times it become easier. It’s just the way I make my descriptive images.)

Another feature I use on Photoshop is overlaying of images to see if coins are from the same die. First you need an image of a coin in question and one that is verified as being a certain RPM. If I question a coin that is in my collection to see if it matches one on the site, I take an image of my coin and use the one on the site to overlay it with. I usually crop the image and size it to 600 pixels width. I try to crop it by using the outside of the date as a guide.

Then open the two images in Photoshop. I usually have to adjust one image to be the same size as the other image numbers/letters. If the images are placed one over the other, I try to get the outsides of the date to be the same width. By placing one on the upper part of the screen and the other one below it you can adjust the image size till you get both image the same width with the date.

I usually adjust the lower image as the ones on the site usually are smaller than the one you edit to 600 pixels. After matching the size of the dates on both images, then click on the lower box marked layers, then double click on the image in the small box and this will open a box marked make a layer. Then I usually select 50% in the box and it reduces the opacity and use the move box to move the lower image onto the top image.

If it is the same size the date will match on both images. If not you need to remove the new layer by clicking on the history box above where you just made the layer. This will clear the layer and after adjusting the lower image again, move the layer to see if the date sizes are the same. Then check the placement of the mintmark. If they line up they are from the same die, if not they are from a different die. Never try setting the mintmark first as you could adjust the size and the numbers don’t match in size. Because the date is set into the hub, it will be in the same place and be the same size. The mintmarks are placed into the die and will change as they were added by hand to different locations on the die. Although some may be close in location, seperations may different from different dies.

Hope this helps. Another aid to making overlays is knowing what you can do with the Photoshop program. This book helps, but buy one that corresponds to your edition of Photoshop.

Having this can help you to learn what feature are on the tool bar.

Also there is a page in the front part on how to get to different features in the progam or how to use them.

Bob P · Site Admin

Thanks for jumping on this one Coop. I guess I won't have to send the email I wrote asking for your input huh??
We will see if this is easy enough for folks to follow. If not, I am sure it can be fine tuned. Thanks again Coop.

pennyhound · Veteran Member

Thanks, thanks, thanks,

As stated befor, I will try this more than afew times befor I start posting questions ... but it has headed me in the right direction. Wink

Many heart felt thanks.

pennyhound · Veteran Member

OK, (I'm good to this point)

coop · Expert Member

The box on the lower right that is marked layers. When you are double clicking are you clicking on the lowest image box in the layers box. When you add a layer it will show each layer in the layers box, but the lower one is the current one you are working with. So double click on that image and you should get an options box for layer marked opacity. Change the number there to 50 %. Let me know if it works for you. It should. I just re-read your post. When you mentioned the hand shows when you move over the small image in the layers box. Double click when you see the hand.

pennyhound · Veteran Member

OK ... think I got something here.

If I saved the image as a bitmap ... I have the problem as stated above. Crying or Very sad

If I save the image as a JPG ... it will open as described, I can now double click the image. Wink

(think I can move ahead now ... making progress)

Just read your post above this one ... I have to save image as a jpg befor I get to the point were I can double click the image in the LAYERS box. Wink

coop · Expert Member

If you have a bitmap image you can change it with the "Save for Web" location on the file location. You can change it to edit if necessary, but I usually don't have to change image as I can edit it in bitmap, but it is nice to know you have another option.

pennyhound · Veteran Member

OK (must be the difference/s in 5.0 & 5.0 LE)

What I got now,

I have two pictures open, selected bottom picture and doubled left, clicked it,(small pix in layers tool box - right side of dialog box), then selected: 50% opacity with box next to it: Mode (left on) "Normal".

When I click OK ... I get the "Layer 1" with 50% opacity.

In the Layers box (if this one is selected ... the bottom picture) it showes, Layer 1 with only Layer 1 showing in the Layers box.

I'm look at the top picture and the lower picture (as the Layer 1)

These two pictures are in the open Dialog box now.

I can select either one of them, and in the Layers box it shows only one picture. (as I select each pitcure) is this correct?

How do I get the Layer 1 to more over the intial picture, as I stated can select each picture and only see one picture in the Layers box while selecting each picture to work with one at a time ... that's were I am.

If I read your post right I should have two pictures in the Layers box ... I only have the the one ???

When the lower picture is selected ... the one I did the Layer 1 = 50% opacity for.

I'll work with it a bit more ... I am missing something at this point.

I double click on Layer 1 and it only shows me: Rename Layer option.

coop · Expert Member

Are you trying to make a collage of photos or are you trying to make an overlay of one over the other. If you are making a collage you need to open a new file to tranfer the images to using the move key on the tool bar. That is the one on the upper right. If you are trying to move on image over another, you have to be able to see parts of both images and adjust the opacity to 50 % then more the one reduced in opacity over the second image. When you reduce the opacity the image should look whiter in appearance.

Not sure why you doubled the second image. You just need the two images to do an overlay. The one I place on top is the edited photo and the lower one I transfer is the one I make a layer with. So you have the two images one over the other.

pennyhound · Veteran Member

No ... I'm just trying to get what resembles and overlay.

I've never done this befor and am completely lost. (as how to do it ... lol.

I double clicked the one reduced in opacity, (whiter) because I thought I should be seeing two pictures in the Layers tool (right side) ... this is all new to me.

OK, I got the two photos open, one each as was discribed above.

One regular picture and one re-duced in opacity.

How do I move the one reduced in opacity over the one that isn't reduced in opacity. (overlay)

Then of course save that picture ... the save I got, ... need the overlay.

coop · Expert Member

Actually you need to move the one that has the reduce opacity over the first image. Use the move tool, (The upper right one on the tool bar) and push down on the left mouse button over the image you want to move, then release after your over the first image. then adjust to match the date to see if the mintmark matches.

pennyhound · Veteran Member

By Joe ... now we getting somewere ... think i got it.

Now just need to work with this awhile ... didn't know you could do that ... just hold the left mouse button down and let go (drop) the one photo onto there other one ...

WE getting close now ... thanks COOP ... been a real help here. Wink

Just one other question at this point. (well maybe two)

How to you change a .PSD file to a .jgp ... is that possible, or what did you save yours as, as I dont think you can post or publish .PSD file ... can you?

coop · Expert Member

On the tool bar you can hold down on the buttons and get a different selection from some of the boxes. Try the first one on the left. You can pick from different shapes of marquees.

pennyhound · Veteran Member

Ya I see that now ... you've been loads of help. Wink

Now just need to know this:

How to you change a .PSD file to a .jgp ... is that possible, or what did you save yours as, as I dont think you can post or publish .PSD file ... can you?

Noticed you have changed your .PSD (file) to a .jpg (file) how?

My "Save as" does not give me that option ... least I haven't found it yet.

coop · Expert Member

Always glad to help out. Thats why they call it a hobby so we can share what we know with others.
Re-reading your last post again. The PSD file is used when you don't flatten the image. So use the "Layer" column on the upper bar. You will see the bar listed as:
File edit image Layer Select Filter view window help
Click on Layer and find flatten image about the last item. Click on this to save as a JPG file. Without flattening it offers the PSD file, but after flattenning you have a different choice to save as. I just realized the horizontal tool bar is used a lot also. Another subject on Photoshop. I guess I will have to cover that another day....