Expert: LizaL - 10/26/2004

Question
Hi

I'm trying now to place images in the shape of the map of britain without the images going over the outline.

Any idea how i do this?

thanks
Dolly

Answer
Hi again Dolly!

You're a busy gal these days, huh! Well, this should be a pretty easy one.

Open your image you want to appear IN the map. If it's more than one image, open them all and put them into one document. You can click on them and drag them into one document, BTW, using your Move (pointer) tool. Then merge those layers so all your images are on one layer.

I'm going to assume your map is a vector (or line art) image. Either place it in a new Photoshop document, or open it in Photoshop. Make sure it's on a layer ABOVE your other image.

Use your Magic Wand tool to select any square edges outside the map shape itself. Then use Cut from the Edit pulldown menu to delete them.

I'm guessing your map will be opaque in the center, so use the Magic Wand to select the center, then Cut the center as well. Now just the lines of the map -- the outline -- should be selected. Keep this selected, and in your Layers palette, select Merge Down. You'll find this option if you press on the little arrow that's on the right side of the palette. Now both the map outline and the image will be on one layer, with the map outline selected.

Now go to the Select pulldown menu, and select Inverse. Select Cut from the Edit pulldown menu again, and the outer edges of the image will be cut away, leaving you with just the map, which will have "cut out" the image below.

Optional Step:
If you have a hard time keeping the map selected, you can make it a path before you Merge Down. With the map selected, go to the Paths palette, and press on the little arrow you see on the right side. Select Make Work Path and say OK -- then go back to the Paths palette and select Make Selection. Then follow the instructions above, starting with the Merge Down step.

Please let me know if you need any more help with this!

Lisa