Newbie Basic Question about resizing

[bvoges]

So I start with a new, blank image.

I add some text to the image.

So far so good.

Now I import an image as a new layer, and resize it to be smaller. Still good.

Now comes my problem. Any new text I add from here on in, on any layer, is only visible inside the constraints of the resized image that I imported.

What the heck? I'm sure I'm just misunderstanding something. Can someone explain?

[bvoges]

Was able to get around that problem by adding the image last, but I still have an issue.

I am creating a 250 x 250 px image, but the image I'm importing to the new layer, which I'm going to resize down to about 50 x 50, is a 300 x 250 image. Basically I want to put a small version of that 300 x 250 image into the new 250 x 250 image I'm creating. But when I import the 300 x 250 image as a layer, it resizes my whole (image? file? document?) work area to be 300 x 250.

How can I avoid this?

thanks in advance for any help.

[Djisves]

The reason why you can only type over the imported image is because the resized image is an active selection. Edit -> Deselect (Ctrl+D) to cancel the selection and type anywhere on your canvas.

To avoid Paint.NET resizing your canvas (i.e. image size) do not use Layers -> Import from File.

Instead, open the image to be pasted with Paint.NET, Edit -> Select All (Ctrl+A) and then go back to the original image and Edit -> Paste in to New Layer (Ctrl+Shift+V).

A window will pop up with the choices of “Expand canvas”, “Keep canvas size” or “Cancel”. Choose “Keep canvas size”. You’ll notice that only the top left part of the new image that fits in to the original canvas will be visible, but you’ll still be able to see the outline of the new image extending beyond your canvas.

Hold down shift (to preserve the aspect ratio), using the mouse grab any of the corner knobs of the outlined pasted image and drag it inwards to reduce it to your desired size.

Alternatively, open with Paint.NET the image to be pasted, Image -> Resize (Ctrl+R) and reduce to the desired size. Then Edit -> Select All (Ctrl+A), go back to the original image and click Edit -> Paste in to New Layer (Ctrl+Shift+V).

Edited January 21, 2011 by Djisves

[bvoges]

Great. Thanks for the help.

The reason why you can only type over the imported image is because the resized image is an active selection. Edit -> Deselect (Ctrl+D) to cancel the selection and type anywhere on your canvas.

To avoid Paint.NET resizing your canvas (i.e. image size) do not use Layers -> Import from File.

Instead, open the image to be pasted with Paint.NET, Edit -> Select All (Ctrl+A) and then go back to the original image and Edit -> Paste in to New Layer (Ctrl+Shift+V).

A window will pop up with the choices of “Expand canvas”, “Keep canvas size” or “Cancel”. Choose “Keep canvas size”. You’ll notice that only the top left part of the new image that fits in to the original canvas will be visible, but you’ll still be able to see the outline of the new image extending beyond your canvas.

Hold down shift (to preserve the aspect ratio), using the mouse grab any of the corner knobs of the outlined pasted image and drag it inwards to reduce it to your desired size.

Alternatively, open with Paint.NET the image to be pasted, Image -> Resize (Ctrl+R) and reduce to the desired size. Then Edit -> Select All (Ctrl+A), go back to the original image and click Edit -> Paste in to New Layer (Ctrl+Shift+V).