Cropping in the New Xara Picture Editor

[Meia]

Let's see if I can explain this... Can I trace the edges around an image to get an exact crop/cut instead of using the square that it automatically uses in the picture editor? For instance if I want a petal off a flower rather than the whole flower, can I do that?

Thanks for any help offered -

Meia

[Meia]

Let's see if I can explain this... Can I trace the edges around an image to get an exact crop/cut instead of using the square that it automatically uses in the picture editor? For instance if I want a petal off a flower rather than the whole flower, can I do that?

Thanks for any help offered -

Meia

[gwpriester]

You cannot do this in XPE.

However you can in Xara X(1).

Use the drawing tools to create a mask shape.

Select the mask shape and the bitmap and Arrange > Combine Shapes... Intersect Shapes.

Once the image is masked, you can add transparency, a bevel, a shadow, and just about anything else you might want to do.

Gary

[raynerj]

Hi Meia,

Only if you take your time... Naw, it is a piece of cake. Connect the dots kind of stuff.

[Meia]

Thanks much,

I see that tracing takes practice! http://www.talkgraphics.com/images/smilies/smile.gif

Meia

[Mickie]

Meia, a tip when tracing...if you use the freehand tool, there is a slider on the control bar for setting smoothing. The default is 50%, when I trace, I usually change it to around 10% to get a more accurate line.

Mickie

[Meia]

Wonderful...thank you so much, I learn much here!

Meai http://www.talkgraphics.com/images/smilies/smile.gif

[raynerj]

"I see that tracing takes practice!" - Meia

What ya want for nuthin?

A rubber Cookie...

That trace took all of 3 minutes to do, and most of that was finding a pretty flower to trace.

[Meia]

I should have said, after seeing your flower, then me trying it, I need practice! http://www.talkgraphics.com/images/smilies/smile.gif

Meia

[raynerj]

Hello Meia,

Personally, I do not use the freehand brush, that takes too long to trace with. I use the shape editor tool, and just place points close to the outside of the object I am tracing. I just bend the lines to make sure I do not cut out any of the object. Then I just feather the object into the background.