CAMEO

CAMEO  Picture

1.     Open a picture of a person in PhotoShop Elements (any version)

2.     Use the Elliptical Marquee tool (not the Rectangular) to select the bust of your subject from the picture.

3.     Adjust the position of the selecting oval frame by judicious repeated tapping of the arrow keys on the keyboard.

4.     Get the Feather Selection box with Alt+Ctrl+D. Start with a radius of 20. Click OK.

5.     Save it to the clipboard with Ctrl+C

6.     Create a new blank image with Ctrl+N. Make it 8 ½ X 11. Click on OK.

7.     Paste your feathered selection in the new blank image with Ctrl+V.

8.     Enlarge it and position it as needed.

9.     If you don’t like the effect, go back to step 3 and try a different radius. Eventually you’ll get a pleasant soft effect around your subject.

Additional touches:

§       If you use a colored baby picture of your grandchild , before you paste  the feathered selection, give the new picture a pastel pink/blue background for a professional look.(Edit menu, Fill)

§       If you work with Grandpa’s colored picture, after pasting, give your feathered image that antique look by turning it to grayscale (Image menu / Mode / Grayscale, Flatten if it appears).

§       Prints on matte paper to get a true “beginning of the century” effect (the twentieth century!).

§       Do that with a friend’s picture. You’ll never have to buy a gift again.