Preparation

1) Preserve your original file.

If you haven't already done so, go to Preserve Your Original File.

2) Create a Background copy layer.

If you haven't already done so, go to Create a Background Copy Layer.

Cookie Cutter Tool

1) Select the Cookie Cutter tool.

2) Choose the black, solid, oval shape in the Shape box in the options bar.

3) Click the black arrow next to Shape Options.

Make a selection based on the descriptions below.

Unconstrained

You can click, hold, and drag the marquee to any size.

Defined Proportions

You can click, hold, and drag the marquee to any size, and the aspect ratio of the shape chosen from the Shape box is maintained.

Defined Size

The marquee is the preset size of the shape chosen from the Shape box.

Fixed Size

You can enter specific values in the Width and Height boxes.

From Center

This selection can be used with any of the above choices.

The shape is drawn from the center, where you place the cursor, outward.

To make the Cookie Cutter Options menu disappear after making your selection, click the black arrow.

4) Set the Feather box to 35 px.

Feathering creates an edge that fades out by becoming increasingly transparent and lighter.

5) Click, hold, and drag to make the oval marquee.

Check the Dimensions

Open the Info panel (Info palette) to see the exact dimensions of the marquee.

The dimensions (look for W and H), here, are set to pixels.

To change to inches from pixels, or vice versa, go to Preferences.

Move the Marquee

You can move the marquee back-and-forth, and up-and-down, by using the arrow keys on your keyboard.

Or, click inside the marquee, hold, and drag it.

Change the Size of the Marquee

To change the size of the marquee, click, hold, and drag the handles on the corners and sides of the marquee.

If you press Shift, and click, hold, and drag one of the corner handles, the aspect ratio of the marquee is maintained.

Rotate the Marquee

The marquee can be rotated by placing the cursor in the area outside of the image.

The cursor will change to a curved two-sided arrow.

Click, hold, and drag.

The angle of the rotation is shown in the Info panel (Info palette), as well as in a box in the options bar.

Click the black check mark, or press Enter, to commit the rotation.

To cancel, click the slashed circle, or press Esc.

Commit or Cancel

Click the black check mark, or press Enter, to commit the cropping.

To cancel, click the slashed circle, or press Esc.

Note

The area around the cropped photograph above is transparent.

Two Options

You've got two options.

Option #1

You can copy the oval selection layer and paste it onto a second photograph.

For example, let's say the second photograph is of a new house that replaced the ramshackle trailer.

Your doing a comparison of the old house and the new house.

You can combine the oval photograph of the trailer with the new house.

If you haven't already done so, go to Move a Layer, to learn how to move the oval selection layer to another photograph.

Use the Move tool to position the oval photograph.

To change the size of the oval photograph, use Transform.

Option #2

You can add a colored border around the oval selection.

Do the following.

1) In the Layers panel (Layers palette), click the Create a new adjustment layer icon, and select Solid Color.

2) The Color Picker window will open.

3) Select a color from the Color Picker window.

Here, I entered B0C4DE, Light Steel Blue, in the # box in the Color Picker window.

Light Steel Blue is now the background color.

If you haven't already done so, go to Color Picking.

The chosen color fills the Solid Color layer.

4) Drag the Solid Color layer below the layer with the oval selection.

The oval selection is now visible because it's above the Solid Color layer.

Saving the Photograph

If you haven't already done so, go to Saving Files.