Graphic Fade Out

Check Background

[Vanapalli]

Hi:

Can anyone help me "fade out" or "blend" a graphic so that it can be used as a check background? The background graphic on your personal checks can be seen but you can write over it and see what you have written. Is there a graphic package that anyone can recommend? I have Photoshop elements but if there is something better I would love to know. Help!!!

[mivox]

I'm not sure how many of regular PhotoShop's controls Elements has, but here are two ways I can think of:

1.) If you can use more than one layer, put your picture on layer 1, and make the background layer white. The select the picture in the layers palette, and make the "opacity" setting something like 60%. That will make the picture look much lighter.

2.) Go to "Adjust" under the Image menu, and select "Hue/Saturation." Adjust the "Lightness" slider until the image is as pale as you want it.

If you can use technique #1, that would make it easier to adjust the picture later.

Anyone got ideas I haven't thought of?

[toadhall]

Also try using the "rubber stamp" with reduced opacity. Just put the source image and your target image side-by-side, select from the image (alt click) and paint the image into the target. Use a fuzzy edged brush. If your two background colours are relative or coordinated you can achieve a great deal of control over the blend and its edges.

[crash]

you can also place a White layer Over the image and adjust transparency until it's where you want it.

[JayCee]

The way I do this in PS6 (Don't know if "Elements" has "Curves", but I think so) is by doing a curve that changes absolute, but not relative contrast.

That is, it moves the lights and the darks equally toward white, but keeps them the same relative to other values.

This is easy to do:
Just keep the curve a straight line, while moving the end point up and left (if pure black is on the bottom left corner). I usually move the end points 3-4 full divisions. Sometimes I even run the curve twice, because I can't move it far enough.

Images used on a web page background have to be a lot lower in contrast than you would think! Mock up a test web page and test your image as you go. You'll probably find it has to be 4X less contrasty than you expect.

[mivox]

I don't think I've officially welcomed you to the Graphics forum, JayCee... It's always great to see a new, knowledgable member around these parts. :)

[JayCee]

Hey thanks mivox!

Having just discovered WebmasterWorld a week or so ago, I like it so much that I made it my browser's start page (now to see if I can still get any work done).

So you all better get ready for some loonnngggg posts, 'cause I'm a long-winded pontificator, lol...

And I do love Photoshop!

[mivox]

Sounds like you'll fit right in. But a quick tip: Make sure you set your start page to the "Active Posts List" (www.WebmasterWorld.com/active.cgi) so you don't miss any of the action.

Just a friendly hint from a long-time addict [webmasterworld.com]...

[JayCee]

Thx mivox! Cool, that'l save me a little time every day...