I have been using all kinds of imaging, photo and graphic software but there is one thing that I could not do until today. It is how to convert an image into a perfect circle. For shapes such as squares and rectangles it is a walk in the park with several softwares capable of resizing into whatever width and height that was needed.
But for circles it was one item that I could not find an online image generator anywhere on the internet that would do the job for me. Hence, I had to get back into my Photoshop and learn how to do it. By the way, I am not an accomplished Photoshop user yet.
So, for anyone who is interested to know how an image can be crafted to display as a perfect circle, here is how it is done with Photoshop.
How I do it with the use of Adobe Photoshop Elements 6 with illustrations to help you along.
!. Open Photoshop Elements
2. Select EDIT
3. Goto FILE -> OPEN and import the image file
4. On the left navigation menu, if yours display RECTANGULAR ELLIPTICAL
MARQUEE TOOL, right mouse click on the icon to open a side menu and select the ELLIPTICAL MARQUEE TOOL.
5. Move your mouse cursor over the image. Your mouse cursor will display a “+” (crosshair) cursor.
6.Left click your mouse and hold the left button as you drag your mouse cursor till it forms a circle over the location where you wish the image to be displayed in a circle. Having done that, release your left mouse button.
7. Next, move your mouse cursor back inside the encircled location and right click your mouse. A small window opens. You click on SELECT INVERSE.
8. This will form a second dotted frame at the perimeter of the image.
9. Next go to the navigation tool bar and select the MOVE TOOL. It should be the first one at the top. Move your mouse cursor anywhere on the image outside of the circle, and then go to EDIT and click CUT.
10. Go to FILE, click on SAVE AS, give your file a name and save it as a JPG format.
Resizing your circled JPG file
1. Go to FILE, OPEN and import the JPG file that you just saved.
2. Go to IMAGE and click CROP
3. Point your mouse cursor at the tool tip to resize the image to the size that you deem fit.
4. Save the file in its original file (JPG) format.
How to add transparency for the background area that surrounds, outside the encircled image?
1. Go to FILE, OPEN and import the resized JPG file that you just saved.
2. Create a new layer in order to save the image. Double click on the LOCK in your right, in the Layers section.
A layer window opens, you click OK
After double click, you would see this displayed at your right navigation bar.
2. Select the MAGIC WAND TOOL from your navigation tool bar.
3. Click your mouse cursor in the at any part of the background area.
4. Go to EDIT and click CUT
5. The resized encircled image will now display a checkered background.
6. For transparent image files, save the transparent background encircled image as a PNG or as a GIF format.
7. Create a new layer in order to save the image. Double click on the LOCK at your right navigation bar, in the Layers section.
8.. Eliminate the white part by selecting the MAGIC WAND TOOL on your left navigation bar. Left click inside the white part in your picture, and hit DEL key on your keyboard or you can also go to EDIT and click CUT.
9. Now you save the image in PNG or GIF, so you can have a transparent image.
And finally, this is the encircled image that is produced.
Why did I go through all this learning process?
I wanted to change my Avatar from a square image to this…
