Between Selections, Intermediate - Advanced Options

[Heavenleigh]

Once you know the little trick the opportunities are endless, and you can use this method for a lot of your graphics. We are going to make this graphic:


First we start with a new image of 500x500 pixles with a white background. You can add the paintings at this background, but we are going to create a new layer for it, because once it is finished you can use it for many things you like. For example adding it into another image or adding a style to it.
At the new layer we are going to use the single row and column marquee tool for making a selection like a cross just in the middle of the page. First start with the single row marquee tool and then change it to the single column tool and add a selection while pressing the shift key. This provide us to lose the other selection. So now you have a selection like this picture:



When you move your mouse over this selection you see a change of your cursor. Now pressing the right mouse key you click on stroke in the selection window and adding a stroke of 2 pxls in any colour we want. The image now is parted in 4 pieces of exactly the same size. Now we need a little guide to make a perfect circle in the middle of the page, so we are going to use the guidelines. You simply drag them from the right and the top of your rulers into place. I added them at exactly 50 pxls from the middle at 4 places. Select your eliptical marquee tool, holding the shift key to make a perfect round selection, and make it as big as the rectangular guiding you made. You can do this by beginning at one of the lines, when you see the red cross of the cursor change into red you know you hit the right spot. If necessary you can drag your selection into place. This is what you have now:




Rightclick on the selection and add a 2 pxl stroke to it like you did before. You see, the circle is also divided into 4 selections and now you are able to fill each part with the paint bucket tool seperately. Just try it. I filled 2 parts in opposite of each other. Then change your tool into a eliptical marquee tool again and make a bigger circle and ad a stroke to it, using your guidelines too.



What we are going to do now is a little tricky. We are going to use the single row marquee tool again and going to add stripes in one selection of the outer circle. Therefore we need to hold down the shift key to add more selections without losing the other selections. Use your ruler so you have equal space between the selections. When done you take the paint bucket tool to fill the selection within the outer circle. Deselect (ctrl + D) and you see fine lines in the outer circle. Do the same with another selection of the outer circle. If you use the paint bucket tool between the lines you fill each part with of it. If you leave one space empty you get this nice effect. See the examples below:




Now you have learnd the basics of painting into selections you can do what ever you like to complete this image. Remember.... while holding the shift key when you are adding circles or lines or whatever, you can make more at the same time without losing the first selection. You can add a stroke about as many pixels you like, but you are also able to paint between each selection. Lets see the following images to see how I completed this image: