Graphics Programs Reference
In-Depth Information
However, there is a workaround, if you understand layers (which are explained in the next
chapter): put the moved object on its own layer.
To do that, before you start using the Content-Aware Move tool, create a new layer (choose
Layer→New Layer or press Shift+Ctrl+N/Shift-
⌘
-N). Then, activate the tool and make sure
that Sample All Layers is turned on in the Tool Options area. That setting tells Elements to
put the moved object on a separate layer, making it easy to grab with the regular Move tool
(explained next) so that you can flip it, rotate it to a better angle, resize it, and so on. If you
don't create a new layer, once you move your object, it immediately becomes part of the ex-
isting layer, so there's no opportunity to do anything like, say, flipping a table leg so you can
replace one that's missing.
NOTE
If you use this layer trick with the tool's Extend radio button turned on, then only the
moved area appears on the new layer and it's very easy to choose that layer and make
changes to it. However, if the
Move
radio button is turned on, then your new layer will get
material from both the moved object
and
the stuff that Elements creates to fill the hole
where the object was, so you need to be careful to select only the moved object if that's
all you want to change. Turning off the Background layer's visibility (
Managing Layers
)
can help you see what you're doing.
The Move Tool
You can also move things around within a photo by using the Move tool, which lets you cut
or copy selected areas. Unlike the Content-Aware Move tool, if you move an object without
copying it, this tool doesn't do anything about the hole left behind. The big advantage of the
Move tool is that you can resize the object you're moving or adjust it by using the Transform
tools (
Transforming Images
).
Figure 5-22
shows how to use the Move tool to conceal dis-
tracting details.
