Silly questions

[bkh]

The Vector Lasso technique?

The vector lasso is a new addition in the beta version of PL. It works like "Curve Creation" (i.e. creates Bézier paths), but creates a lasso instead of a vector layer. If you don't use the beta version, you can create a curve and use "Tool -> Lasso -> Layer to Lasso" instead.

Its "clipping property"?

I suppose Ken is referring to "Soft Edge" in the tool settings for the lasso.

Cheers

Burkhard.

[photoken]

The vector lasso is a new addition in the beta version of PL.

No, it's in PL19.03, too.

I suppose Ken is referring to "Soft Edge" in the tool settings for the lasso.

Yes, but when I used the Vector Lasso for this test image, I didn't use a soft edge while drawing the lassos. After I combined all the vector lassos and converted them to a layer, I'm referring to Layer...Clipping Layer...Clipping Width. (In the PL beta, this can also be set in the Layer Properties for the vector layer.)

[brucet]

OK from a newbies perspective with out all the technical 'stuff'! I Have used this technique for years with PSP. It can be slow and boring but can be very accurate. Photoline works much the same.
Open a photo. Select 'Fee Lasso'. You can either drag/draw a 'selection' or do a point to point 'selection'. Close the area of the 'selection' by double clicking. What you do with that 'selection' is up to you. I mostly deleted by hitting the Delete key. (The background colour will show unless you have transparency setup). Your results will vary depending on your 'Soft Edge' and 'Width' settings. While the 'selection' is open try going up to Tool/Color/Hue Saturation. Play with the sliders. Deleting the selection will show the layer below.
I find the Free Lasso a very handy tool for making all sorts of selective adjustments.

Have fun.

regards

[photoken]

I Have used this technique for years with PSP.

Not quite. PSP doesn't have any support for clipping layers.

The layers look like this:

motorcycle layers.jpg

For the motorcycle test image, the "Master mask" vector graphic is a clipping layer that separates the motorcycle from its original background.

The virtual copies of that "Master" are used as layer masks to target the adjustments to either the motorcycle or its original background.

The other difference with PSP is that PL's Vector Lasso allows modifying the clipping by using its Bezier anchor points and control points, as I mentioned.

If the result you want is to delete the areas outside the lasso, then it doesn't matter much if you create the lasso using the Vector Lasso or the Free Lasso. The only difference will be in the methods used to refine the lasso -- either by using the Bezier points or by painting, respectively.

I find the Free Lasso a very handy tool for making all sorts of selective adjustments.

Absolutely!

[brucet]

Ken I'm not talking about clipping layers. Just a very simple use of the Free Lasso.

I think you are over thinking the task.

regards

[photoken]

I think you are over thinking the task.

Well...you know...since the "task" was to dive into the Vector Lasso tool and see what it can do, I plead "Guilty as charged!"

[brucet]

Best way of learning.

regards

[bkh]

The vector lasso is a new addition in the beta version of PL.

No, it's in PL19.03, too.

You are right – seems it was only discussed in the beta forum after it appeared in the official version.

[greenmorpher]

Okay, got it.

Now explain in words of one syllable the advantages of using the vector lasso over simply drawing vector shapes then converting them to lassos.

Also I used to do something like this in Canvas for years -- drawing vector shapes over an image then punching the shapes out using the Combine tool.

The only advantage of the lasso I can see is that you can control the soft edge.

Why use the vector lasso (or vector outline converted to lasso) and not take advantage of curves?

As for the free lasso -- guck! I've never liked them much in any program. I find PL's automatic lasso pretty useful though. The ability to go back using the delete key is of major importance.

Cheers, Geoff

[brucet]

Geoff my only 'excuse' is that it works for me. It's what I know. Given the time I would explore other ways but I don't. The key for me is the precise cutout I can achieve. Old habits??? Anyway I don't think there is a 'right' or 'wrong' way. Just what gets you the results you are after.

I'll be interested in seeing what others say.

regards

[bkh]

Now explain in words of one syllable the advantages of using the vector lasso over simply drawing vector shapes then converting them to lassos.

Just a matter of workflow, as far as I can see. The lasso may be easier to see than a vector line (and you don't have to set line width, line and fill colours). Otoh, vector layer masks let you preview the result in front of the new background – they can even have soft edges, like lassos, and colours and line styles don't matter. Since you can always switch between layer and lasso, you can switch between the two as seems appropriate.

Cheers

Burkhard.

[photoken]

Now explain in words of one syllable the advantages of using the vector lasso over simply drawing vector shapes then converting them to lassos.

Just a matter of workflow, as far as I can see.

Yes. Some things are easier with the Vector Lasso:

• Once you've closed a path, starting another path inside the first path (to create a "hole") automatically creates the appropriate subpath. Using the Curve Creation tool, it's troublesome (and prone to errors) to have to always first select the "Subpath" icon before drawing a new subpath. This is significant when working on something like that motorcycle image where there are a lot of internal subpaths....
• For whatever reason, using my Trackpad with the Curve Creation tool is more prone to creating unwanted vector points (due to inadvertently touching the Trackpad surface) than is the case when using the Vector Lasso tool.
• Since you're creating a lasso, when you're finished you immediately have all the advantages of having an active lasso -- creating an adjustment layer will be automatically masked to the lasso, as well as all the options under Tool...Lasso and under Tool...Mask. No need for the extra mousing around to convert the vector shape to a lasso.

[Martin Stricker]

Now explain in words of one syllable the advantages of using the vector lasso over simply drawing vector shapes then converting them to lassos.

If you need a precise lasso for retouching or to copy out parts of your image, you don't need to convert it first like the vector layer.
There is a preview option in the magnifier panel, so you can adjust your lasso in the first place and see how it looks on different colored backgrounds with different values of the soft edges.
You can add further vector paths without hitting any modifier key unlike the curve creation tool.
There are two new buttons in the tool settings that allow easily to convert to a vector layer or create a mask, this also works for the other lasso tools.
If you create a rectangle, cidcle or any other lasso, just switch to the vector lasso and you are able to modify the lasso like a vector path.

Maybe there are further advantages.

Martin

[greenmorpher]

Now that is what I call explaining in words of one syllable! Many thanks, all, I will give it another look.

I remember back in the day Freehand had a nudge tool for pushing lines and points around to get a smooth curve in the line. You had a circular thing for the nudge and could set the diameter you wanted. Very handy when setting up matching shapes in the general sort of situation we are talking about here. I regretted the loss of that tool when I shifted to Canvas (but Canvas had many other advantages from my point of view -- not least the ability to work in vector and raster together).

Cheers, Geoff