photo in a shape

[mooscrapper]

Hi
Could someone please tell me how to put a photo into a shape. I've tried to stamp a black shape, then open a photo on new layer , but when i do group with previous it does not work.
I have PSE 5 and vista.
thanks
Lisa

[troush]

Lisa,

That's the most common way. I'm not sure why it isn't working. Have you tried using the cookie cutter (it's different than the shape tool)?

-Trish

[Wendy]

Hi Lisa ...

When you stamped it did you stamp it on its own layer

Wendy

[mooscrapper]

Hi
Thanks for your advice, yes I am stamping it on it's own layer. I have now used the cookie cutter for this particular project, but it's a bit confusing why the Group with previous wont work. Is it because I'm using the brush instead if just making a shape with the shape tool or is it because the shape is on the background layer? Really confused!!
While I'm here can I be cheeky and please ask another question.
I have started having trouble getting my brushes installed into my PSE 5. I dont usually have this problem .
This is what I do:
I follow the path C:/program files/adobe/pse/5/presets/brushes
I drag the .abr file into this folder and then hold down shift and open pse 5 and they are not there. Usually they are there straight away.
If I open out the brushes fly out menu I can find them by loading one brush at a time thru the preset manager, but I like to have all my brushes in the list ready to use.
I should point out that I have recently downloaded the trial version of PSE6 and this has only happened since.
I keep closing and opening the editor but they are not there. all my original brushes sre there.
Please help it's driving me mad!
thank you
Lisa

[Heather G]

I couldn't get the group with previous to work if it was stamped or brushed onto a solid color filled layer. It worked fine if the stamp or brush was on a transparent background layer.

As for your problem with your brushes, sorry, I am not sure. I do know that I started having some problems with my PSE4 doing some wierd things after I installed the trial of CS3. The first couple times I opened PSE4 after installing the trial of CS3, I couldn't create any new layers or anything on new documents but could work fine on old files. Once I did some work on old files, it started behaving properly again.

[troush]

Lisa,

It is probably because you were on a background layer. Just make a new layer and stamp on it, then your photo above that and group with previous.

-Trish

[mooscrapper]

All sorted, it works when i stamp on a transparent layer. thanks for your help.
Any ideas with the brushes problem?
Lisa

[troush]

Not sure why they are not loading. I think Linda said that if you load them with the Preset Manager, they hang around the whole session.

-Trish