Making Puzzle Pieces in Adobe Photoshop Elements by Jay Pittman - Scroll Saw Woodworking & Crafts Message Board

Jediscroller · 11-10-2008, 09:55 PM

Thanks to Jay P for sharing this tutorial
Making puzzle pieces in Adobe Photoshop Elements
By Jay Pittman

Open a blank project
Select the "custom shape tool" on the edit bar
Click the dropdown menu beside "shape", then click the right-pointing button in that window and choose "all element shapes".
Select one of the puzzle pieces (there are four)
In the project window, draw that puzzle piece once.
Click on Layer > Flatten Image
Using your "magic wand tool", click once outside the piece to select the white area around it.
Click on Filter > Other > High Pass. Set Radius to 5 or so. Click OK.
With only the outside still selected, click on Image > Adjustments > Threshhold. Set threshhold = 150. Click OK.
Click once in the background to de-select everything.
Click on Image > Adjustments > Invert
Now you have the outline of a puzzle piece. I am sure their are quicker, neater ways to get to it, but this is what I know, and thus all I can tell you. Next.....
Using your "eraser tool", erase the corners of the puzzle piece.
Using your "magic wand tool", click on one side of the puzzle.
Click on Edit > Copy.
Minimize the puzzle piece window, and open the project you are trying to make into a puzzle.
Click on Edit > Paste. The puzzle piece side will appear near the center of your project.
Use the "move tool" to resize, relocate, and rotate the puzzle piece side.
Click on Edit > Paste to add another puzzle piece side, and move/size/rotate it as needed. Repeat until you have the pieces made.
With nothing selected, click on Layer > Flatten Layers
Use the "pencil tool" and the "eraser tool" to clean up the puzzle lines.

Arcy · 11-10-2008, 10:34 PM

Uh oh. Better hide this before Carter sees it

If you don't want highly regular pieces like this will generate, it's easy and more flexible to cut the pieces freehand (pick a starting point and cut out something squiggly and roughly piece-sized. Rinse and repeat until the puzzle is complete).

I use a dry-erase marker to sketch in any special pieces that I can't freehand. The ink wipes right off of the photographs I use for the puzzle images.

--Rob
Does the shape of my puzzle pieces say something about my personality?

Jediscroller · 11-10-2008, 10:42 PM

Hehehe True Rob, but not everyone likes to cut their stuff freehand (I know, I'm one of them and Jay has some terrific puzzle patterns).

11-10-2008, 09:55 PM	#1
Jediscroller American Crafstman Join Date: Jul 2005 Location: Galaxy far, far away Posts: 3,164 Blog Entries: 6	Making Puzzle Pieces in Adobe Photoshop Elements by Jay Pittman Thanks to Jay P for sharing this tutorial Making puzzle pieces in Adobe Photoshop Elements By Jay Pittman Open a blank project Select the "custom shape tool" on the edit bar Click the dropdown menu beside "shape", then click the right-pointing button in that window and choose "all element shapes". Select one of the puzzle pieces (there are four) In the project window, draw that puzzle piece once. Click on Layer > Flatten Image Using your "magic wand tool", click once outside the piece to select the white area around it. Click on Filter > Other > High Pass. Set Radius to 5 or so. Click OK. With only the outside still selected, click on Image > Adjustments > Threshhold. Set threshhold = 150. Click OK. Click once in the background to de-select everything. Click on Image > Adjustments > Invert Now you have the outline of a puzzle piece. I am sure their are quicker, neater ways to get to it, but this is what I know, and thus all I can tell you. Next..... Using your "eraser tool", erase the corners of the puzzle piece. Using your "magic wand tool", click on one side of the puzzle. Click on Edit > Copy. Minimize the puzzle piece window, and open the project you are trying to make into a puzzle. Click on Edit > Paste. The puzzle piece side will appear near the center of your project. Use the "move tool" to resize, relocate, and rotate the puzzle piece side. Click on Edit > Paste to add another puzzle piece side, and move/size/rotate it as needed. Repeat until you have the pieces made. With nothing selected, click on Layer > Flatten Layers Use the "pencil tool" and the "eraser tool" to clean up the puzzle lines.

11-10-2008, 10:42 PM	#3
Jediscroller American Crafstman Join Date: Jul 2005 Location: Galaxy far, far away Posts: 3,164 Blog Entries: 6	Hehehe True Rob, but not everyone likes to cut their stuff freehand (I know, I'm one of them and Jay has some terrific puzzle patterns). __________________ Kevin Scrollsaw Patterns Online Making holes in wood with an EX-30, Craftsman 16" VS, Dremel 1680 and 1671

Thread Tools
Show Printable Version Email this Page
Display Modes
Linear Mode Switch to Hybrid Mode Switch to Threaded Mode

11-10-2008, 10:34 PM	#2
Arcy Senior Member Join Date: Jun 2008 Location: Seattle(ish) Posts: 943	Uh oh. Better hide this before Carter sees it If you don't want highly regular pieces like this will generate, it's easy and more flexible to cut the pieces freehand (pick a starting point and cut out something squiggly and roughly piece-sized. Rinse and repeat until the puzzle is complete). I use a dry-erase marker to sketch in any special pieces that I can't freehand. The ink wipes right off of the photographs I use for the puzzle images. --Rob Does the shape of my puzzle pieces say something about my personality?