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Why does Select/Modify/Border feather??? (4.0)

This is driving me crazy:

I like to put a white border around scanned photographs.

It seems sensible to do it by Select All, then either doing Select/Modify/Contract or Select/Modify/Border.

However, when I do Select All, Select/Modify/Contract is greyed out, and when I do Select/Modify/Border, and delete the border area, I get a feathering or reduced-opacity effect, i.e. it doesn't completely delete to background colour.

Why is this happening, how can I fix it etc.?

Mac/Photoshop 4.0 in case that makes any difference...

TIA

Johnny99

I have PS 4.01 for PCs and it does the same thing! One work around is to select ALL and then go to Canvas>Image size and set it up that way. Your background color will be what ever secondary color you choose on the palett! Or Paint Shop Pro is Shareware, and I like it better then Photo Shop. you can use all the plug-ins with it and it is much more user friendly!

Osiris010898

Don't use Paint Shop Pro...stick to photoshop!

Here's the easiest way to create a hard edged border-
1. Select All, choose-> Edit->Stroke, specify the size of stroke, choose "inside" specify fore/background color, press okay- there you got a border!

The "border" command under modify, creates feathered borders...period. whether you delete to fore/background or fill in the created border, you will get a feathered border.

The reason "select->modify->contract" is greyed out is because you are selecting the entire canvas when you 'select-all'. However if you want to use this method you would have to do either: 1) make the image into a new layer, increase the background/canvas layer, marquee around the image(top layer) select->modify->contract, specify how many pixels to contract, maintain "preserve transparency" in the layers pallete, select->inverse, fill with desired color, delete background layer. or
2) Make a marquee selection just within the image area's edge (minimum 1 pixel) then you can use "contract", however this method is not so precise, you would have to eye-ball the marquee selection, or create guides/rulers where you want the border, then marquee->contract->select-inverse-.fill or delete to desired colored.

These are way to many steps to create a border around your image!!

Just use the "stroke" command!!

-Osiris

johnny99

ASKER

Dear 894359, I am on a Mac, therefore I would never use Paint Shop Pro. I said I was on a Mac in my post. Your solution is no use to me.

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Osiris010898

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johnny99

ASKER

Good on you, Osiris: I guess stroke is the best way -- but I would love to know /why/ it does it -- am I implicitly using one of the tools which is set to feather/reduced opacity?

And why can't I contract?

Oh the mysteries of Photoshop...