Grouping in PSPX

[~Rachel~]

Is that what you call it? Let's say I have a title made up of individual letters. How can I group them all together if I want to move the whole title? (In PSPX)

[Rose Farver]

Wow great to see another psp user! Well depends on if you have the individual letters made in a raster form or vector.

Personally speaking I always start my lettering in vector forms if each one is an individual vector you use your pick took (the arrow thing) and click on the first one then holding your shift button click on each individual one until they're all selected. Release the shift button and go to the objects menu...choose group and it groups all the letters together into one item to be moved around and resized etc. Hope that's what you were looking for!

[~Rachel~]

Ok, that is what I need.... however they are currently in raster mode and when I right click on them, the option to switch to vector is grayed out. How do I switch them to vectors? And what is the difference between a raster and vector anyway?

[Stephanie]

If all you need to do is move them together, you can use your layer palette and mark them all the same group number and then you can move them together. I hope that makes sense.

[Lisa]

yessssssss! i love it when i learn something new in psp!!! i tried it the way stephanie said, worked like a lucky charm!
thank you ladies!!!

man, i love this place!!

[PaulaM]

That's the way I do it too Stephanie.

[Stephanie]

I'm so glad I was helpful. LOL There is so much for me to learn in PSP still! Let's keep sharing tips!!! :)

[mary5704]

How do I switch them to vectors? And what is the difference between a raster and vector anyway?

You can change a vector to a raster, but you cannot change a raster to a vector.

Raster images are made up of pixels, or tiny squares of color. When raster images are saved, the information on each individual pixel is saved. Zoom in on one and you start to see the little squares.

When vector images are saved, the directions of the path used to draw the image are saved. This creates a much smaller file size than the raster image. If you zoom in, you still see solid areas of color.

But one of the real advantages to a vector image occurs when you need to resize something you have drawn. If you try to enlarge the drawn image, a vector stays smooth because the path is redrawn. The colors you use will stay true. But a raster image can never have more pixels than what it was created with. Enlarging a raster just spreads out the pixels, giving jagged edges and altered color.

In versions 9 and X, the Preset Shape, Rectangle, Ellipse, Symmetric Shape, Pen, and Text tools can create as vectors. Be sure you chose Create As Vector on the Tool Options palette if that is what you want.

I try to create images and text as vectors whenever possible. When I am satisfied with my drawing, I duplicate the vector layer (right-click on the layer, duplicate) and turn one of them off with the eye button. Then I convert the other to a raster (right-click on the layer, convert to raster layer) to add effects, etc. which can only be done with raster layers. If I mess up, I can delete that layer and still have a fresh vector layer to work on without having to redraw it. When I have my image to suit, I delete the extra layer.

HTH