Help with frame in PSE8

I have a photo of a mirror that I would like to use as a frame. I have tried several methods to remove the center and make it transparent but nothing works once I save it. Has anyone done something like this that might be able to give me some advise? I really want to use this in my SBM 2.0!!!!

Thanks

redbird51

I wold use the rectangular marquee tool, if it is a square mirror, or the round marquee if it is circular. Highlight the amount of mirror you want to remove, click the delete button on your keyboard and then you should be left with just the frame to save. I hope this helps, I'm no expert.

I take it that the picture is in JPEG format.After erasing the center do not save it as JPEG but save it as a PNG Format and the center of your mirror will be gone to use as a frame.If you cannot do this send me your photo.

Thanks so much for your reply - after doing a little research (ha! as in reading my HUGE manual) I discovered that not flattening the image and saving it as a png solved my problem. I used the magic extractor to remove the center and that is soooooo easy. It looks beautiful in SBM. The pic is a very detailed mirror with swirls etc. and is wonderful for portrait pics.

Thanks again!!!!

Thanks "cheesepiece"! Normally this would work but the mirror is very ornate with swirls etc so I used the magic extractor to remove the center. I didn't realize that some formats do not support transparencies but png does so thanks to another member I got the results I wanted. Thanks so much for your reply and suggestions!

Don't you just love SBM? :)

Glad it helped.xo

I'm delighted tou found a solution. Your frame sounds lovely, maybe you could upload a layout to let us all see.

I am curious - what is the magic extractor, and where do I find it? Is it the eraser function? and the Marquee is what as well? OH I want to learn!!!

Hi tin tin. The magic extractor does not come with sbm. You need photo shop or photoshop elements programme for these, but they are expensive. You can download free trials before you buy and there are free tutorials online. Hope this helps.

thanks! I was wondering what i was missing. I have been curious about photoshop, but never got into it.