Helpful Tidbits Selecting and Working With Objects © Lucy L. Page   My major reason for writting Helpful Tidbits is that many times I see tutorials instructing readers to move objects and perform some action on them such as painting. Then the reader is instructed to return the object to it's originial position. Sometimes those instructions work aginst completing a project successfully! This is especially true when working with animations where the slightest misplacement produces unwanted movement. The truth is you don't need to move anything in the first place. In PhotoImpact only the selected object will be afftected by your actions. Try drawing two or three circles then drag them, making sure they overlap each other. Paint on the selected object and don't be careful either! Now move the circle you just painted away from the others. Did you get paint on them? Get my point? The paint didn't even get on your workspace did it? However, if you don't have an object selected then it will paint your workspace, but it won't paint your circle. Try it. When you move your circles you will find paint behind them, but not ON them! If you are easily distracted by the other objects, you can use the layer manager to temoporaily make them go away without moving them. How? Use the eye. The eye is circled in the image above. Click on it and the object beside it disappears, click it again and it reappears. This feature works with GifAnimator as well. Learn to use the eyes. They will be your best friend when doing graphics in PhotoImpact! I hope you have found these tidbits of information useful. Terms of Use are simple. All tutorials, paintings, and pictures, objects, and video's are copyrighted by Lucy Page. Items available for download are noted. Take what you want for your personal use, but do not claim as your own.